FAU No. 10, Miami No. 13 in AP Preseason Men’s Basketball poll after Final Four runs

Slowly, but surely, the University of Miami men’s basketball program is getting national respect.

The AP Top 25 Preseason Basketball Poll was released on Monday and the Hurricanes, coming off a historic Final Four run, are ranked No. 13. It is the first time in six years that UM is ranked in the preseason.

Two years ago, the Hurricanes reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament despite never being ranked all season.

Last season, they reached the Final Four after being unranked until mid-December. In fact, when Miami broke into the Top 25 at No. 25 on Dec. 12, 2022, it was the first time the Canes were ranked in five years.

Florida Atlantic University, which also made the Final Four last March, enters the upcoming season at No. 10 in the AP poll. The Owls won 35 games last season and are bringing back all five starters after nobody left for the transfer portal or NBA Draft.

The Hurricanes lost two starters from their Final Four team, Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, both of whom signed NBA contracts. But the rest of the key players are back. Guard Nijel Pack and power forward Norchad Omier opted to return after testing the NBA waters. Guards Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph, both of whom made huge strides last season, are back.

Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, a 6-7 forward who averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds and knows the ACC, should help make up for the loss of Miller.

The top five teams in the AP preseason rankings are: Kansas, Duke, Purdue, Michigan State, Marquette.

The Hurricanes and Owls were ranked in other preseason polls, as well.

In the FOX Sports poll by John Fanta, Miami is No. 10 and FAU is No. 11.

Fanta wrote: “The Hurricanes have reached back-to-back Elite Eights and went to the Final Four this past year. There are no signs that Jim Larrañaga’s team is going anywhere.”

As for FAU, “It’s simply unbelievable that (coach) Dusty May kept his roster totally intact in the transfer portal era after the Owls did the unprecedented and reached the Final Four. This year, the Owls will certainly have a target on their backs, and credit to May for putting together a schedule with several marquee games.”

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello ranked FAU No. 11 and Miami No. 19.

Borzello wrote of FAU: “Ranking the Owls 11th in the country might seem lofty given they were a 9-seed in the NCAA tournament and nearly lost to Memphis in the first round. But this is also a team that won 35 games, made a Final Four run and is bringing back all five starters. It’s a testament to Dusty May that he was able to keep the core of this group together, with zero players entering the transfer portal or NBA draft. FAU is stepping up in competition to the AAC, but the Owls will be the favorite to win it in their first season there.”

On UM, Borzello said: “After Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier opted to return to Coral Gables instead of entering the NBA draft, Jim Larrañaga had one of the best inside-outside duos in ACC around which to build. The big question was how Miami was going to replace Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller. Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland should fill Miller’s shoes, but Larrañaga will need Bensley Joseph to be a factor alongside Wooga Poplar on the perimeter.”

The Canes play their first preseason game at home Sunday at 2 p.m. against The College of New Jersey.