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2018 ACC preview: Notre Dame, Louisville battle for top

By Arielle Chambers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Miami Hurricanes

Projected finish: 6th

Last year’s record: 21-11, 10-6 ACC

Key returners (last season’s stats):

F/C-Emese Hof, 6’3, (Utrecht, Netherlands), SR-  9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 22.4 MPG.

G- Laura Cornelius, 5’8, (Groningen, Netherlands), R-JR– Returning to the team after missing the 17-18 on medical redshirt (ACL); 2016-17 stats: 8.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 25.8 MPG; currently holds the best career three point shooting percentage in Miami history (39.7).

G- Mykea Gray, 5’4, (Upper Marlboro, MD), SO- 11.7 PPG, 2.3 APG, 25.9 MPG; Blue Ribbon Panel & ACC Coaches All-Freshman Team; Miami Thanksgiving Tournament All-Freshman Team; two-time ACC Rookie of the Week.

(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Biggest losses:

F/C- Erykah Davenport, 6’2, (Decatur, GA)– 12.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 25.8 MPG; Blue Ribbon Panel and ACC Coaches All-ACC Second Team; Miami Thanksgiving All-Tournament Team.

Newcomers:

G/F – Rebecca Ripley, 6’0, (Stratham, NH), R-FR – 2017 Rose Classic Participant; New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year; McDonald’s All-American nominee.

F – Beatrice Mompremier, 6’4, (Miami, FL), R-JR – Transferred from Baylor; Big 12 All-Freshman Team (15-16); averaged 8.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG in 16-17 season with Baylor.

F- Jamir Huston, 6’0, (Cleveland, OH), FR- McDonald’s All-American nominee; 20.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4.1 SPG senior season.

Head Coach

Katie Meier, 14th season

  • Nine consecutive post season appearances
  • Seven trips to NCAA Tournament in last eight years
  • Overall Miami record of 252-163
  • 2011 AP National Coach of the Year
  • 2011 ACC Coach of the Year
  • University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (2017)
  • 2013 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Key Games

Nov 23– Nebraska: 3 pm ET (ACCN)

Dec. 21– Alabama: 6:15 pm ET

Jan 31– @Florida State: 7pm ET (ACCN)

Outlook:

Miami has a strong team this year. Three players are coming back from injury and among those three is Laura Cornelius, Miami’s three-point shooting specialist.  In addition to Cornelius, who has shot 39.7 percent from distance in her collegiate career, the Hurricanes will add Beatrice Mompremier to the lineup.  Mompremier is a Baylor transfer who shot 54.2 percent during her first two seasons. The 2017 recruiting class was strong, and after notable performances from Endia Bankes and Mykea Gray last year, they are returning with a year of experience under their belt.

The past four seasons straight, Miami has made it to the NCAA Tournament. This year, in a post-Erykah Davenport era, they are looking to do the same.

Best case scenario:

Miami will be good. They will have a solid team this year that is very capable of scoring. They are entering a new year healthy and more seasoned. This is a great mixture for success. A fifth-straight NCAA Tournament will happen for the Canes and because of their improved regular season record, they enter with a higher seed.

Worst case scenario:

Miami will be a WNIT team this year. Though they return their three-point shooting specialist, they have graduated their well-rounded post player. They do well in the ACC, but not stellar, and are chosen for the WNIT instead.

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