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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams in the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational

By Cody Mitchell

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Kevin Obanor #0 of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks jump for the opening tip off in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Kevin Obanor #0 of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks jump for the opening tip off in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Miami Basketball
NCAA Basketball ESPN Events Invitational Jim Larranaga of the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

8. Miami Hurricanes

Yes, I have a power six school coming in dead last in a power ranking. Maybe a little far-fetched but there are some red flags heading into next season that should have Hurricane fans worried. First off, from what we have seen Isaiah Wong will not be returning for his Junior season. Losing 17.1 points and 4.8 rebounds from a year ago are going to really hinder the Canes.

The Hurricanes don’t have a single returning player that averaged over 10 points a game a year ago. Head coach Jim Larranaga will need Anthony Walker to takes some major steps next season if he wants his team to not finish in the bottom tier of the ACC. Walker gave the Canes a little over nine points a game but really struggled from the outside. That was something the Canes as a team struggled with last season, finishing dead last in the ACC when it came to three-point field goal percentage.

Larranaga does bring in Charlie Moore from DePaul (14.4 PPG) and Jordan Miller from Geroge Mason (15.8 PPG). We will wait and see how Moore does playing in a system where he doesn’t take the majority of the shots. And for Miller, this is a step up in competition points will be harder to come by. The silver lining for Cane fans is incoming recruits, Jakai Robinson and Bensly Joesph will get some minutes early on in their tenure here. Even if it doesn’t translate to immediate success, this season can be a valuable learning experience.

Who knows it is only May, I could way off having a power 6 team dead last in an early-season tournament. Unfournalty for Cane fans, I don’t know if there is a lot that can change. If the transfers can make an immediate impact and the young guys take major steps forward, then maybe the Canes can steal a game in this event. But nothing more than that.

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