Miami Hurricanes 2023-24 MBB Schedule Is Set & Projected Starting Lineup
The wait is over, Hurricanes nation. Miami’s in-conference schedule is here, and it’s beautiful, one featuring twelve home matchups at Watsco Center, and eight road games.
“The Atlantic Coast Conference is annually one of the toughest leagues in America. The opportunity to compete against the best players and programs in the country is among the reasons why many of our players choose to attend Miami,” Hurricane head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “We are excited to, as always, play such a strong slate of conference opponents. Our incredible fan support helped us win a share of the ACC regular season title last year and we look forward to seeing the Watsco Center rocking once again this coming season.”
Miami has one ACC game in December, beginning league action on its home court Dec. 2 at noon against Notre Dame on The CW. Following five more non-conference affairs, the Hurricanes play 19 straight ACC games after the turn of the new year.
To begin 2024, Miami hosts Clemson for an 8 p.m. matchup Jan. 3 on ESPN. The team’s ACC road opener is against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., slated for Jan. 6 at 2:15 p.m. on The CW.
FULL 2023-24 ACC SCHEDULE
Dec. 2, noon, The CW: Notre Dame
Jan. 3, 8 p.m., ESPN: Clemson
Jan. 6, 2:15 p.m., The CW: at Wake Forest
Jan. 10, 7 p.m., ACCN: Louisville
Jan. 13, 7 p.m., ACCN: at Virginia Tech
Jan. 17, 7 p.m., ACCN: Florida State
Jan. 20, TBD, ESPN/2/U: at Syracuse
Jan. 24, 7 p.m., ESPN/2/U: at Notre Dame
Jan. 27, TBD, The CW: Pittsburgh
Jan. 30, 9 p.m., ESPN/2/U: at NC State
Feb. 3, noon, ESPN/2: Virginia Tech
Feb. 5, 7 p.m., ESPN: at Virginia
Feb. 10, 4 p.m., ESPN/2: North Carolina
Feb. 14, 7 p.m., ESPN/2/U: at Clemson
Feb. 17, 4 p.m., ACCN: at Boston College
Feb. 21, 7 p.m., ESPN/2/U: Duke
Feb. 24, 4 p.m., ACCN: Georgia Tech
Feb. 26, 7 p.m., ESPN: at North Carolina
March 6, 7 p.m., ESPNU: Boston College
March 9, 4 p.m., ESPN2: at Florida State
Projected Starting Lineup!
After losing to UConn in the NCAA Tournament with a 29-8 record last season, Miami lost six players, including four to the transfer portal. In the months since, thirteen season head coach Jim Larranaga has added four newcomers – including one transfers – to a reloading roster.
Miami has five new players — FSU transfer Matthew Cleveland and four freshmen — and seven returning players, including forward Norchad Omier and guard Nijel Pack.
Here’s what the starting lineup could look like when the Hurricanes tip off the 2023-24 season.
Point guard, Nijael Pack:
Pack played a key role for Miami last season after transferring from Kansas State. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. His biggest game came at a good time as he dropped 26 points to help lead the Hurricanes past No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet Sixteen.
Pack is a excellent, old-school point guard who can run an offense, and also run the break and provide critical veteran leadership.
Shooting Guard, Wooga Poplar:
Jim Larranaga said in his press conference that Poplar is like a Isiah Wong but in his junior season. Poplar, who averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a starter on the Hurricanes’ Final Four team, he will be looking to take another step in his game for his junior season
Poplar was efficient last season, shooting 47 percent from the field on 6.7 field goal attempts per game. He shot 37.5 percent from 3and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line for a true shooting percentage of 57.7
Small Forward, Matthew Cleveland
At his time at FSU Cleveland averaged 13.8 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game last season. He comes to Miami with two years of eligibility remaining. he stands at 6-foot-7 and i’ve seen him listed as both guard and a forward.
Cleveland had an eight-game stretch last season when he recorded double-doubles in each game and averaged 17.5 points and 11.9 rebounds. The Miami basketball team will slot Cleveland either in the 3 or the 4 but i picked the three position. now this was a great pickup for the Hurricanes after losing forward Jordan Miller
Power Forward, AJ Casey
Miami brought in four players in the 2022 recruiting class and only former four-star and top-100 prospect AJ Casey, a 6-foot-8 power forward, was in the rotation as the fourth player off the bench. Casey appeared in 29 games for the Hurricanes and averaged 6.3 minutes while scoring 27 points and grabbing 30 rebounds. His development in the offseason is great I heard from Coach Larranaga. And Miami needs some size at the forward position and I think Casey fits that spot very well.
Center, Norchad Omier
Omier, listed as a 6-foot-7 forward, established himself in Coral Gables this season as one of the most impactful bigs in all of college basketball. He posted averages of 13.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest and helped lead the team to their first ever Final Four appearance, falling to the eventual National Champions in the UConn Huskies.
Omier transferred over from Arkansas State, and immediately showed that he is one of the best rebounders in the nation and earning the respect of many. Alongside fellow transfer Nijel Pack, the two made instant impacts in their first seasons.
In conclusion the Hurricanes are going to be very exciting team to watch this year in front of a packed Watsco center I am super excited to see these new faces on the court and see them progress in the Hurricanes jerseys
What about you all? Who do you think will start in the season opener in November, let CanesToday know in the comments!
Trinton is the owner of CanesToday. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, he is a freshman in high school and wants to graduate from the University of Miami
