’Canes finish 3rd in coaches poll
A historic season for the Miami Hurricanes basketball team ends with their highest ranking in a decade.
Following their firstever appearance in the Final Four, Miami (29-8) was voted third in the end-of-season USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday afternoon. Florida Atlantic, which also reached the program’s first-ever Final Four, ranked fifth.
The No. 3 position is the second-highest ranking in UM history. Miami ranked second in the nation twice in February 2013. The Hurricanes had never finished the season higher than eighth in any poll.
The final AP poll of the season was issued before the NCAA Tournament began, and Miami was ranked 16th.
However, once the tournament began, the Hurricanes beat 12th-seeded Drake before taking down fourth-seeded Indiana.
In the Sweet 16, Miami beat No. 1 Houston to clinch its second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight, where it beat No. 2 Texas.
The Hurricanes ultimately lost to eventual national champion UConn in the national semifinal.
“It’s been special each year,” Miami guard Jordan
Miller said after the Final Four loss, referring to the Hurricanes’ back-to-back deep tournament runs. “We found a way to make school history both years, which is very rare. I think the core of this team is very young. If everyone decided to come back, they could be very special again.
“We just tried to build what every Miami basketball team should try to reach each season. I think we did a good job of laying down that foundation. Obviously, it didn’t end out the way we wanted it to, but regardless, at the end of the day, if you make history, school history, you’re a winner in some shape or form.”