The Miami basketball team finishing 9-1 in non-conference play earned them a spot among 247 Sports’ “College basketball’s 11 biggest winners from non-conference play.” Miami added a 3-0 start in the ACC to post a 12-1 record before their final non-conference game of 2022 was canceled versus Vermont on Wednesday.
The Catamounts could not get out of Vermont because due to the weather. Miami earned a 76-65 victory at Notre Dame on Saturday in their first of 17 ACC games to end the season. Miami is 13-1 overall and 4-0 in the ACC entering the new year. The Hurricanes enter the New Year undefeated in the ACC for the second straight season.
Miami had good resume-building wins in non-conference plus their 66-64 home victory over Virginia last week. Entering 2023, Miami has its highest rankings in five years. Miami is 14th in the AP Top 25 and 16th in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Hurricanes have accomplished a lot without Nijel Pack playing up to expectations.
Pack was lauded as one of the best transfers during the 2022 offseason. Forward Norchad Omier has been a rock for the Miami basketball team in the post after transferring from Arkansas State. Omier is averaging 13.8 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and shooting 62.1 percent from the floor.
"MIAMI HURRICANESNon-conference record: 9-1Key wins: vs. Rutgers, at UCF, vs. Providence (neutral)“A neutral-site loss to Maryland — even by 18 points — won’t hurt much if at all here. Miami played a not-terrible non-conference schedule that admittedly was home-heavy, but the Hurricanes did make the most of their big games against Rutgers, UCF and Providence.This appears to be one of the ACC’s better teams, and Miami succeeded at not screwing up in its non-conference slate. That will limit the ‘Canes’ seeding downside unless they absolutely botch conference play, as there are no bad losses here so far.”"
Miami has started 13-1 for the sixth time in school history and the first time since 2015-16. Following the win at Notre Dame on Saturday Miami surged from 40th to 32nd in the Net Ratings. Miami travels to Georgia Tech on Wednesday in the back half of consecutive games on the road.
The Hurricanes will have a week off following the game at the Yellow Jackets. Miami returns home on January 11 to host Boston College on January 11. The 4-0 start in the ACC has built a solid foundation for Miami in the conference. Miami started 4-0 in the ACC last season before finishing 14-6 and in fourth place in the conference.