CanesHoops Releases Non-Conference Schedule

The long awaited Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball non-conference schedule was released today.

The schedule is as follows:

October

30 Barry University (Exhibition)

November

9 Lehigh

13 Stephen F. Austin

17 Bethune-Cookman

22 vs. La Salle, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU) (Wooden Classic, Fullerton, Calif.)

23 vs. Northwestern or Fresno State(Wooden Classic, Fullerton, Calif.)

25 vs. Grand Canyon, Hawai’i, Seton Hall or Utah (Wooden Classic, Fullerton, Calif.)

28 Rutgers (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)

December

1 vs. Yale (@Hoophall Miami Invitational, AmericanAirlines Arena)

4 at Penn (@The Palestra)

19 Houston Baptist

22 Florida Atlantic

29 Campbell

At first blush the toughest challenges are Stephen F. Austin who won the Southland Conference last season before bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas Tech. SFA has played in four of the last five NCAA Tournaments. Facing a Northwestern, Seton Hall or Utah in the Wooden Classic are bound to give the Canes a good run and Miami shouldn’t sleep on a rebuilding Rutgers team.

Beyond that the schedule looks manageable for UM but the question will be with the new “NET” ratings that the NCAA selection committee plans to use this year, is this schedule one that will be viewed as challenging enough should Miami land on the bubble at year end. Additionally, the Canes cannot afford any “bad” losses given that earlier games now are weighted equally with later games. Miami will have a largely veteran laden team with 3 Juniors and 4 Seniors on the roster to start the season which should help them avoid upsets.

Here is what Miami Coach Jim Larrañaga said about the schedule. ”We are excited for our non-conference schedule, which will provide some good tests as we learn about our team and prepare for the rigors of ACC play. We are playing eight games in the Miami area, including one in the Hoophall Invitational at AmericanAirlines Arena in December, so our fans will have some great opportunities to come out and support their Hurricanes.”

TV assignments for these games will be out at a later date.