The University of Miami men’s basketball team jumped eight spots to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll this week. In addition, the Hurricanes moved up six places to No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
For Miami (12-1, 3-0 ACC), the rise comes after knocking off then-sixth-ranked Virginia, 66-64, Tuesday night at the Watsco Center. Head coach Jim Larrañaga’s team went from 208 points in the AP Poll to 658 this week and from 150 points in the Coaches Poll to now 290, an increase of 140-plus in each.
The Hurricanes’ No. 14 AP ranking is their highest since placing sixth on Dec. 18, 2017, and their first top-15 position since coming in at No. 15 on Jan. 1, 2018. Meanwhile, Miami’s No. 16 spot in the Coaches Poll matches its spot on the final 2021-22 list after its run to the Elite Eight.
Isiah Wong of the University of Miami men’s basketball is the ACC Player of the Week for the second time this month, as announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office. Wong, who was also named ACC Player of the Week on December 12, led Miami to a 66-64 win over then-sixth-ranked Virginia last week.
A fourth-year junior guard, Wong scored 24 points and added six rebounds and five assists in the win over the Wahoos. Wong, whose 24 points marked a game high, became the first Hurricane to post four straight 20-point games since Jack McClinton did so in January 2009.
The New Jersey native forced a turnover on the final play to deny Virginia a shot at the Watsco Center as the game clock expired. Wong became the second high-major player in the last decade to record four straight games with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He finished 7-for-13 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line in the victory.
University of Miami head men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga is a first-time nominee for the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as announced Wednesday afternoon.
Larrañaga is one of nine first-time North American nominees, alongside three other coaches (John Beilein, Gregg Popovich and Stan Spirou) and five players (Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade and John Williamson).
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. To be considered alongside some of the giants of our game was beyond my wildest dreams when entering this profession over 50 years ago,” Larrañaga said. “I’d like to deeply thank each of my assistants, staff members and players throughout the years. This recognition would not be possible without them and it demonstrates not what I’ve accomplished, but what we have all done together. I’m so grateful to the administrators and fans who have supported us along the way. I also want to especially thank my wife, Liz, and sons, Jay and Jon, for being by my side through all the highs and lows. I’m excited to continue coaching here at Miami and look forward to further elevating this tremendous program.”
Among the most accomplished coaches in NCAA men’s basketball history, Larrañaga is in his 51st season as a college coach, including his 39th leading a program and his 12th at Miami. He owns 708 victories as a head coach, good for No. 33 all-time on the DI leaderboard, including ninth among active coaches.
Larrañaga began his coaching career as an assistant at Davidson College from 1971-76 and then served as a player/coach for Geronemo Basketball Club in Belgium the following season. The Bronx, N.Y., native returned to the college level in 1977, taking a job as the head coach at American International College. He led the Division II program for two seasons, posting a 27-26 record.