Miami basketball moves to 22nd in both national polls

The Miami basketball team moved up three spots each this week in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today coaches poll from 25th to 22nd. This is the highest Miami has been ranked since it was also 22nd in the final regular season AP Top 25 in March 2018. Miami plays its biggest game of the season hosting Virginia on Tuesday.

Virginia lost its first game of the season on Saturday to number three Houston on Saturday. Miami lost its only game this season against a team currently ranked versus Maryland who is 23rd in the coaches poll. Miami gained 95 points in each poll this week. Miami has 208 points in the AP Top 25 and 150 in the Coaches Poll.

The Miami basketball team won its seventh game in a row with a 97-76 victory over St. Francis-Pennsylvania on Saturday. Miami is 2-0 in the ACC with wins over Louisville and North Carolina State earlier this month. Virginia is 8-1 overall and earned its only ACC win this season over Florida State on December 3.

Miami is the fourth-highest-ranked team in the ACC which is where the Hurricanes were picked to finish at the beginning of the season. In addition to Virginia, Duke is 10-2 and ranked 14th in both polls and Virginia Tech has started 11-1 and is 21st in the AP Top 25 and 20th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Miami plays at Duke on January 21 and hosts the Blue Devils on February 6. The Hurricanes host the Hokies on Jan 31 and travel to Blacksburg on February 21. Miami needs to start earning wins against quality opponents. The Hurricanes are ranked 60th in the NCAA Net Ratings which helps determine NCAA Tournament seedings.

Miami is 8-0 at home this season. A win against Virginia who is 16th in the net ratings would be a huge boost to Miami. Virginia swept Miami last season. Virginia at Miami will tip off at 8:30 PM ET on the ACC Network. The 7-4 Miami women’s basketball team also has a big game hosting Florida State at noon on Wednesday.