Miami basketball one of last byes in updated ESPN 2025 Bracketology
The Miami basketball team received one of the last four byes with Rutgers, Kansas State and St. Mary's in the "MEN'S BRACKETOLOGY: 2025 NCAA TOURNAMENT" posted by Joe Lunardi on ESPN on Tuesday. Miami will attempt to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it in 2024.
Lunardi projects Miami as a 10th seed and falling versus seven-seeded and rising Illinois. The Illinois Miami winners would play the winner of second-seeded Iowa State and 15-seed and falling Weber State. Second-seeded Miami beat seventh-seed Illinois 63-59 in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Guards Paul Djobet and Nijel Pack and forward Matthew Cleveland are the only returnees for Miami in 2024-25. Miami lost seven players to the 2024 transfer portal and brought in six transfers for the 2024-25 season. Guards Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar and forward Norchad Omier were the most significant losses for Miami.
Miami added Virginia Tech center Lynn Kidd, Yale's Yussif Basa-Ama, Kiree Huie from Idaho State and Brandon Johnson of East Carolina at power forward, Samford combo guard A.J. Staton-McCray and and Stetson combo guard Jalen Blackmon as transfers to its 2024-25 roster.
Men's Bracketology: 2025 NCAA Tournament https://t.co/146SOUuyXo. 🏀🏀 Cooper Flagg and Duke have grabbed all the offseason attention, but it might be that North Carolina is the favorite when the ACC conducts its preseason poll in October. The Tar Heels have risen to a No. 2 seed…
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) July 30, 2024
The Miami transfer class ranks 29th nationally. Miami signed the seventh-best 2024 incoming freshman class. Five-star shooting guard Jalil Bethea leads the 2024 Miami class. Four-star shooting guard Austin Swartz and three-stars, small forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu and combo guard Divine Ugochukwu are also in the 2024 Miami class.
Building chemistry with almost an entirely new roster will be the biggest task for Jim Larranaga and his staff entering the 2024-25 season. Miami upgraded their size, has more depth and Blackmon adds a proven scorer with Pack. Miami should improve over 2023-24 and be a serious NCAA Tournament contender.
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The Hurricanes have been on a roller coaster over the last five seasons. Miami has losing seasons from 2017-18 through 2019-20. The Hurricanes advanced to their first Elite Eight in program history in 2022. That was topped with an ACC regular season title and Final Four run in 2023.