NCAA Basketball: Purdue, Duke, fall in latest top 25 power ranking
By Joey Loose
12. Miami FL (6-1)
It’s still early enough in the season that we’re lauding the Hurricanes for their Final Four run last season, but they know that last year doesn’t matter. Miami has started the year with relative success, picking up a pair of nice wins in the Bahamas. Jim Larranaga’s squad certainly looks like a contender in the ACC, especially with the talent brought back from last season, though they faced their first big hurdle this week.
The Hurricanes traveled to Lexington and were completely overwhelmed in the second half, falling 95-73 at Kentucky. Norchad Omier had 20 points while Wooga Poplar added 19 but the Wildcats really brought the heat in that game. The weekend was much kinder to the Hurricanes who won their first ACC contest, getting a 62-49 home win over Notre Dame. Transfer Matthew Cleveland had 14 points in his first conference game with the Hurricanes while Omier (13 points, 13 rebounds) was efficient again.
Miami hung with Kentucky for most of the first half but few teams are going to go to Lexington and not get smothered by that team. Aside from that, the Hurricanes have had some nice performances this season and still look really good, especially after allowing less than 60 points for the first time in that Saturday win over Notre Dame. Next Sunday features an intriguing matchup with Colorado, the last significant challenge in nonconference play.