NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 25 team backcourts for 2023-24 season

9. Miami Hurricanes

With all respect to effective big man Norchad Omier, the backcourt prevailed the program to its first-ever Final Four appearance. Isaiah Wong led the team with 16.2 ppg and 3.2 apg and earned ACC Player of the Year honors. So it’s going to be tough to replace his lost production, along with the departure or rotation piece, Harlond Beverly.

The good news is that everyone else is back. Nijel Pack (13.6 ppg and 2.3 apg) may have played second fiddle to Wong but he’s more than capable of running an offense. He’s also one of the best pure shooters in all of NCAA Basketball, making 40% of his shots from deep. Another returning starter is Wooga Poplar, who produced 8.4 ppg on 38% from deep and should have an even larger role this season.

Thanks to a lack of seniors/transfers from last year’s roster, the Hurricanes have plenty of viable depth. Bensley Joseph, Christian Watson, and Jakai Robinson are former four-star recruits, while international freshmen, Paul Djobet and Kyshawn George are highly-touted.

Coach Jim Larranaga has shown he can develop all kinds of players so expect this new core to be just as good. But will they be good enough to compete once again in March? It’ll come down to who joins Pack as an all-league caliver player.