Where Miami basketball ranks nationally in way too early top 25s

The Miami basketball team ranks in the top 15 of most of the Way Too Early 2023-24 preseason top 25s. Jordan Miller is the only player on the Miami roster who does not have eligibility remaining for the 2023-24 season. Guard Isaiah Wong is expected to enter the 2023 NBA Draft.

Miami is expected to return the remainder of its key players from the 2023 Final Four team. Head coach Jim Larranaga expects Wooga Poplar to improve significantly in 2023-24 and be a bigger contributor offensively. Larranaga also stated the coaching staff will work with Norchad Omier on his offense during the offseason.

If Wong leaves as expected, Nijel Pack is likely to increase his points per game with a year in the Miami system. Bensley Joseph is likely to replace Wong as a starter. Joseph and Pack will likely share the point guard duties next season. Miami could lose transfers and are likely to bring in new players from the portal.

Miami is the only team nationally to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two years. The 2022 Elite Eight run and 2023 advancement to the Final Four were the first in school history. Miami will hope to build on the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Tournament runs next season.

Heat Check College Basketball ranks Miami 12th with the expectation that Wong will leave. The Sporting News ranks Miami 14th without any synopsis of the expectations for Miami next season. Heat Check College Basketball and the Sporting News posted their rankings prior to the NCAA Championship game on Monday night.

The rankings for the Miami basketball team vary from as high as fourth to the mid-teens with sites speculating on the potential return of Wong. ESPN ranks Miami 14th with a projected starting lineup of Nijel Pack (13.8 PPG), Wooga Poplar (8.7 PPG), Bensley Joseph (5.2 PPG), Anthony Walker (2.9 PPG) and Norchad Omier (13.3 PPG).

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports ranks Miami fourth with the caveat that it is predicated on the Hurricanes returning four starters. The NBA Draft early entry deadline is April 23 at 11:59 PM ET. Even if Wong doesn’t return a backcourt of Joseph, Pack and Poplar would be one of the best in college basketball.

It is unlikely that Walker would be a starter. A.J. Casey has a bigger upside or expect Miami to look to the transfer portal to sign a center or power forward to give Omier help up front. Miami also returns rising sophomore Favour Aire who needs to fill out and signed 2023 6’10. 240-pound center Michael Nwoko.

Seth Davis of The Athletic and CBS Sports ranks Miami fourth with the expectation that Harlond Beverly and Walker will leave and Wong returns. John Fanta of Fox Sports ranks Miami 11th with the notice that the Hurricanes will move up if Wong returns. Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated ranks Miami 11th.

The Miami women’s basketball team who could return almost everyone next season wasn’t considered for the ESPN way too early top 25. Miami loses Destiny Harden. Seniors Haley and Hanna Cavinder and Lola Pendande have the option of returning for their covid years as Miami hopes to build on their Elite Eight berth.