The Miami basketball team opens the 2022-23 season at home versus Lafayette hoping to build on their run to the Midwest Regional Final in March. Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong are the two returning starters for Miami from last season. Wong was voted first-team All-ACC preseason and the runner-up for ACC Player of the Year.
North Carolina center Armando Bacot received 82 votes as ACC Preseason Player of the Year and Wong was second with five. Lafayette is making its debut under first-year head coach Mike Jordan. Miami added high-profile transfers, post Norchad Omier from Arkansas State and guard Nijel Pack from Kansas State.
Wooga Poplar is the fifth Miami starter. Poplar had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in the 89-55 Miami win in its exhibition win over Indiana University Pennsylvania. Miller and Wong led Miami with 19 points. Pack had 11, Omier 10 and Anthony Walker who will be a key reserve this season scored nine.
Lafayette guard C.J. Fulton led the nation with a 3.67 assist-to-turnover rate as a freshman returns for the Leopards. The Leopards are picked to finish last in the Patriot league this season. Lafayette was 10-20 last season. Jordan is succeeding Fran O’Hanlon who retired after 27 seasons at the end of 2021-22.
Lafayette at Miami Basketball game information
"GAME 1 | NOV. 7, 2022 • 7:30 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.Lafayette Leopards (0-0, 0-0 PL)Head Coach: Mike Jordan (Penn, 2000)Record at LC: 0-0 (first season), Career Record: 0-0 (first season)RV/RV Miami Hurricanes (0-0, 0-0 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 226-141 (12th season), Career Record: 696-475 (39th season)SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 4-1 (3-1 since rebirth) | Home: 3-1 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 1-0 | Coach L: 0-0 (0-0 at UM)Streak: Won 3 | Last Meeting: 98-66 home win (Nov. 25, 2006) | First Meeting: 78-75 home win (Jan. 11, 1971)BROADCAST INFORMATIONACCNX • Play-by-Play: Kyle Sielaff • Color: Murray Jarman | es.pn/3UjqWdPFM 96.5 HD-2 • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | audacy.com/hardrock965/listenFM 90.5 WVUM • Wyatt Kopelman • John Reynolds | wvum.orgCourtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
The Miami basketball team is expected to utilize a seven or eight-man rotation this season. The five starters, backup point guard Bensley Joseph and Walker played double-digit minutes in the exhibition. Expect fourth-year junior Harlond Beverly to be brought along slowly after missing most of the last two seasons with injuries.
Miami had good balance in the exhibition opener with four players taking double-digit shots. Omier will provide more rebounding than post Sam Waardenburg did last season. Miller and Omier led Miami with seven rebounds versus IUP. Miami will next play North Carolina-Greensboro on Friday at 7:00 pm.