ACC Basketball: Updated preseason rankings for 2018-19
By Brian Rauf
Miami has made the NCAA Tournament three years in a row and finished with a winning conference record in four consecutive years, but I expect both of those streaks will come to an end in 2019.
Stars Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker are both now in the NBA, and while Miami returns some talented players like Dewan Huell, Chris Lykes, and Anthony Lawrence, they’re all role players. Huell (11.4 ppg) is the only returner who averaged double-figures.
Miami only added Mount St. Mary’s transfer Miles Wilson, who also projects to be a role player, meaning there is a hole of top-end talent and a go-to option or two on the roster.
The Canes largely underachieved last year despite the top-end talent they had. However, head coach Jim Larranaga often works better with veteran teams who don’t have a true star. I just don’t think they have enough firepower to really compete in a very strong year for the ACC.