Miami Basketball Fifth in ACC Preseason Poll

The Miami Hurricanes were picked 5th today by the media at  Operation  ACC  Basketball today in Charlotte.

It's a pretty respectable spot considering the returning talent in the conference,

More surprising to me however, is the fact that neither Sheldon McClellan nor Tonye Jekiri were named to the preseason 1st or 2nd teams.

UM opens the regular season on Nov. 13 against UT RioGrande Valley (formerly Texas-Pan Am) at 7 p.m. at the BUC.

Full Story Courtesy UM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The  University of Miami men's basketball team was predicted to finish fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, as announced by the league during Operation ACC Basketball in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday.

North Carolina was picked to win the league, followed by Virginia, Duke and Notre Dame.

Miami's all-time preseason poll breakdowns (votes) and finishes are as follows: 
2014-15 - 10th (442) – t-6th 
2013-14 - 12th (224) – 10th 
2012-13 - 5th (436) – 1st
2011-12 - 5th (455) – t-4th
2010-11 - 8th (305) – 9th
2009-10 - 10th (135) – 12th 
2008-09 - 4th (344) – t-7th
2007-08 - 12th (153) – t-5th
2006-07 - 11th (173) – 12th
2005-06 - 7th (540) – t-7th
2004-05 - 11th (146) – t-6th

When the Canes open the regular season on Nov. 13, UM will have 10 scholarship players available, nine of whom wore a Miami uniform last season. Four starters return for the Canes, including seniors Sheldon McClellan, Angel Rodriguez and Tonye Jekiri, as well as junior Davon Reed.

UM’s back court could be labeled as one of the best in the ACC, as Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan lead the charge for the Canes. Rodriguez averaged 11.9 points and 3.9 assists per game a season ago while McClellan, who is listed on the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Award, posted 14.5 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting from the field.

Miami is receiving 11 votes in the USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Poll.

With a record of 561-383 in 31 seasons as a head coach, Jim Larrañaga is tied for 57th on the NCAA’s list of all-time winningest coaches, and is tied for 12th on the list of winningest active coaches in games against major schools. He holds a 91-49 record through four seasons at Miami and is 41-29 in the ACC.

Miami faces Dowling College in exhibition play Nov. 4, then opens the regular season on Nov. 13 against UT RioGrande Valley (formerly Texas-Pan Am) at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center in Coral Galbes, Fla.

ACC Operation Basketball 2015-16 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Team & Points
1. North Carolina (60): 1292

2. Virginia (18): 1226

3. Duke (8): 1187

4. Notre Dame (1): 949

5. Miami: 841

6. Florida State (1): 827

7. Louisville: 821

8. NC State: 808

9. Syracuse (1): 666

10. Pitt: 623

11. Wake Forest: 391

12. Clemson: 359

13. Georgia Tech: 296

14. Virginia Tech: 260

15. Boston College: 134

2015-16 Preseason All-ACC Team

(votes in parenthesis)

First team
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina (86)
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia (77)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, So., Florida State (43)

Brandon Ingram, Fr., Duke (29)

Demetrius Jackson, Jr., Notre Dame (28)

Second team

Anthony Gill, Sr., Virginia (27)

Grayson Allen, So., Duke (27)

Zach Auguste, Sr., Notre Dame (24)

Anthony “Cat” Barber, Jr., NC State (22)

Brice Johnson, Sr., North Carolina (22)

ACC Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina

Malcolm Brodgon, Sr., Virginia

ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year
Brandon Ingram, Duke