Miami ranked No. 19 in ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25

Miami is a preseason top-20 program in college basketball entering 2023-24, ESPN listing the Hurricanes at No. 15 overall in the outlet’s way-too-early rankings this week

After Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier opted to return to Coral Gables instead of entering the NBA draft, Jim Larrañaga had one of the best inside-outside duos in ACC around which to build. The big question was how Miami was going to replace Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller. Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland should fill Miller’s shoes, but Larrañaga will need Bensley Joseph to be a factor alongside Wooga Poplar on the perimeter.

Projected starting lineup (by ESPN):

Nijel Pack (13.8 PPG)
Wooga Poplar (8.7 PPG)
Bensley Joseph (5.2 PPG)
Matthew Cleveland (13.8 PPG at Florida State)
Norchad Omier (13.3 PPG)

CanesToday founder Trinton Breeze 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!

Take a look at the outlet’s top 25:

1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Purdue Boilermakers
4. Michigan State Spartans
5. UConn Huskies
6. Houston Cougars
7. Marquette Golden Eagles
8. Tennessee Volunteers
9. Creighton Bluejays
10. Gonzaga Bulldogs
11. Florida Atlantic Owls
12. Arizona Wildcats
13. Villanova Wildcats
14. North Carolina Tar Heels
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Baylor Bears
18. San Diego State Aztecs
19. Miami Hurricanes
20. Texas A&M Aggies
21. Texas Longhorns
22. Alabama Crimson Tide
23. Saint Mary’s Gaels
24. USC Trojans
25. St. John’s Red Storm

Trinton Breeze

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