FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 13, Miami-FL Hurricanes

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted Tom Popadak of Cane Space to break down the Miami Hurricanes.

The Canes are led by Frank Haith who is entering his fifth year as head coach. Canes fans and new UM AD Kirby Hocutt have "Faith in Haith" who signed a five year extension during the off-season and had the Hurricanes ranked as high as No. 19 in the AP Poll last season. In 2007-08, the Canes improved by 10 games over the previous season, beat #4 Duke and finished with a 23-11 record, leading to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament where the Canes managed to advance to the second round of the tourney before losing to Texas.

Miami returns four starters and 82.8 percent of its scoring from last year's team, including Preseason Wooden Award nominee and All-ACC Team pick Jack McClinton. Affectionately known by Canes fans as McClutch or McMoney for his knack of hitting the big shot when needed, McClinton averaged a team-high 17.7 points per game en route to First Team All-ACC honors as a junior in 2007-08. He is the nation's top returning free throw shooter, having converted an ACC-high 91.9 percent of his free throws last season and also finished among the league's leaders in scoring (4), three-point field goal percentage (2) and minutes played (13).

Why the Canes should be ranked here: The Canes had a surprisingly good 2007-08 season while sneaking up on opponents as big underdogs. And while all signs point to the Canes being better than last year when they topped out at #19 during the season, things change this year when everyone in the ACC will be ready and waiting for these upstarts. The Canes will have to prove they can consistently play with the big boys, on the road and in the toughest conference in college basketball. There are no easy games in the ACC, but these Canes appear to be ready for most of the challenges they will face.

Why the Canes should be ranked higher: I recently had a discussion with local Canes insider and Miami Herald reporter Manny Navarro about the Canes' strengths this year. He agreed that in spite of the tough ACC and non-conference schedule, that with some hard work, a little luck and lots of support from Canes fans at "The BUC" (BankUnited Center) that these Canes could go further than anyone expects this year. Here's why: The Canes return four starters, several key bench players and their best player in ACC All-American and Wooden nominee Jack McClinton. They will add to the mix highly regarded freshman recruit DeQuan Jones (#28 overall by ESPN) who is expected to see early playing time and the team will be guided by a seasoned, successful and secure head coach in Haith. These factors all add up to the potential for the Canes best season since joining the ACC five years ago.

Why the Canes should be ranked lower: I previously mentioned that McClinton is one of the nominees for the Wooden Award. Problem is so are seven other ACC players including 2007-08 award winner Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Wayne Ellington (North Carolina), Gerald Henderson (Duke), James Johnson (Wake Forest), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Tyrese Rice (Boston College) and Kyle Singler (Duke). The ACC is stacked and it will be tough sledding for Miami all season long.

In addition, the Hurricanes play at least five games versus 2008 NCAA Tournament teams, including home games versus Clemson and North Carolina, road games versus Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke and up to two neutral site games in the Virgin Islands. And that doesn't even include a nationally-televised ACC/Big 10 Challenge match up versus 2008 NIT champion and 2007 NCAA runner-up Ohio State on Tuesday, December 2.

No matter how the season unfolds, U will get to see plenty of Miami this year. The Canes will have at least seven nationally televised games, including three appearances on ESPN, one on ESPN2 and three on Fox Sports Net. Miami will be gunning for the 2008-09 ACC Tournament which is scheduled for March 12-15 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta where the Canes will be hoping for a hot time in the City.

Thanks to Tom Popadak of Cane Space and Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald for coming into the 'House to break down the Hurricanes.