ACC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

2. Miami Hurricanes

Last season: 29-8, 15-5 in the ACC

The Hurricanes were one of the surprises out of the ACC by season’s end in 2022-23, finishing the season in the Final Four as a No. 5 seed out of the Midwest region in the NCAA Tournament. They were regular season co-champions along with the UVA Cavaliers after winning eight of their last nine games in the conference schedule.

Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier return as is Wooga Poplar, with Breakout Player of the Year on his mind. Pack finished the year with 13.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.0 spg on 40.4 percent shooting from deep in his debut season in the ACC. Omier was right there with him with 13.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 bpg and 1.1 spg on 57.4 percent shooting from the floor.

Poplar enters with Most Improved Player potential after producing 8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.1 spg in his sophomore season. Entering his junior season, he’ll be looked upon to replace the role Isaiah Wong played as their athletic slasher and dynamic playmaker in space.

Matthew Cleveland (Florida State) should replace the role Jordan Miller played last year given his presence on the wing. Cleveland was one of the Seminoles’ top players a season ago, finishing with 13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 1.8 apg on 44.5 percent shooting from the field. He’ll look to inject his prowess into the Miami rotation as they look to finish at the top of the conference once again in 2023-24.