Canes Debut at No. 12 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Canes Debut at No. 12 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team will begin the season as No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll, the publication released Thursday.

The Hurricanes (21-12, 10-8 ACC last season) finished in the top half of the 25-team poll after collecting a total of 383 points, 34 more than No. 13 Cincinnati.

This is the fourth time that Miami begins the season in the USA TODAY preseason coaches poll. The No. 12 ranking is the Hurricanes’ highest preseason ranking ever and the team’s highest ranking since the final poll for the 2015-16 season, during which the Canes made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Miami was the third-highest Atlantic Coast Conference team in the poll. Duke topped the poll with 20 out of the 32 first-place votes for a total of 774 points. Defending national champion North Carolina was ranked ninth with 515 points. Last season, the Hurricanes defeated both the Tar Heels – 77-62 on Jan. 28 – and the Blue Devils – 55-50 on Feb. 25 in ACC play.

No. 14 Notre Dame (305 points) and No. 16 Louisville (295) concluded the ACC representation in the poll.

The Hurricanes open the 2017-18 season on Nov. 10, against Gardner-Webb at the Watsco Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

To keep up with Miami’s men’s basketball team, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.