The Miami basketball team moved up to 12th in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll that was released on Monday. Miami has earned its highest ranking since they were sixth in the AP Poll and seventh in the Coaches Poll on December 18, 2017. Miami is 13-1 for the first time since they had the same record in 2015-16.
The Hurricanes received 814 points in the AP Top 25 moving up two spots. Virginia who Miami defeated 66-64 on December 20 is 112 points ahead of Miami. Miami moved up four spots in the USA Today Coaches Poll and are 114 points behind the Cavaliers. Arkansas is 13th, three points behind Miami in the Coaches Poll.
Miami moved up following a 76-65 win at Notre Dame. The Hurricanes’ game on Wednesday against Vermont was canceled. The Catamounts were unable to get out of Vermont due to weather problems. The win over Notre Dame improved Miami to 4-0 to lead the ACC. Miami plays at Georgia Tech on Wednesday.
Miami has steadily moved up the rankings after being unranked in the preseason. The Hurricanes still have work to do in the metric rankings. The ESPN College Basketball Power Index has Miami 35th nationally. Miami is ranked 33rd in the NCAA Net ratings. Net Ratings are partially used to determine NCAA Tournament seeds.
Still grinding. Still climbing 📈📈
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) January 2, 2023
Miami checks in at No. 12 in this week's @AP_Top25 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YrAg7XtHYS
Nijel Pack had his best game of the season at Notre Dame with 21 points on 8-13 from the floor, 5-8 three-point shooting, three rebounds and four steals. The performance at Notre Dame by Pack was his second-highest of the season. Pack scored 23 in the Miami basketball win versus St. Francis-New York.
Miami needs more consistent performances from Pack to continue improving and moving up in the rankings, particularly the Net Ratings. The only ACC teams ranked ahead of Miami in the Net Ratings are Virginia which is 16th, Duke 17th and North Carolina 29th. Miami does not play Virginia again this season.
The Hurricanes play at the Blue Devils on January 21 and host Duke on February 6. Miami and North Carolina play in Chapel Hill on February 13 in their only meeting this season. The Hurricanes are currently 4-0 versus quadrant one and need to continue winning quad one games to further improve its NCAA Tournament resume.