Where Miami Hurricanes basketball ranks in preseason AP poll

University of Miami admin October 20, 2026 0 Comments

Where Miami Hurricanes basketball ranks in preseason AP poll

For just the fifth time in school history, the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team will begin the season ranked.

The Hurricanes checked in at No. 14 in the preseason AP top 25 poll, which was released on Monday, as they prepare for Year 2 under coach Jai Lucas.

It’s one spot below Miami’s highest-ever preseason ranking of 13, done twice — first in the 2017-18 season and again to open the 2023-24 campaign, the latter coming after the Hurricanes’ run to the Final Four a season prior. UM was also ranked No. 17 to begin the 2008-09 season and opened at No. 25 in the 1999-2000 season.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 26-9 season in Lucas’ debut as UM’s coach, a year that included a 13-5 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

UM is one of four ACC teams ranked in the initial poll, behind No. 2 Duke, No. 9 Virginia and No. 11 Louisville.

Miami opens the 2026-27 season against the preseason No. 1 Florida Gators on Nov. 2 in Tampa and are slated to play at least six games this season against teams who were ranked to begin the season. Those other matchups: No. 20 Alabama at home on Dec. 2, No. 7 Texas in Houston on Dec. 12, Virginia at home on Jan. 16, Louisville on the road on Jan. 19 and Duke on the road on Feb. 1.

This doesn’t include Miami’s exhibition against No. 24 Vanderbilt on Friday at the Watsco Center (6 p.m.) or potential matchups in the Players Era 16 tournament from Nov. 24-28 in Las Vegas, which opens against TCU (receiving votes) and could see Miami playing No. 16 Michigan in its second of four games, No. 15 Gonzaga or Alabama in Game 3 and, should they reach the championship, possibly one of No. 8 Tennessee, No. 13 St. John’s, No. 18 Iowa State or Louisville.