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Miami Preview-Capsule

Published Oct. 26, 2018 9:06 a.m. ET

Miami

Last season: 22-10, lost to Loyola of Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Hurricanes.

Coach: Jim Larranaga.

Conference: Atlantic Coast.

Who's gone: Guard Lonnie Walker IV (NBA), guard Bruce Brown Jr. (NBA), guard Ja'Quan Newton.

Who's back: Forward Dewan Hernandez considered the NBA before deciding to return for his junior season and change his name from Dewan Huell. The 6-foot-10 Hernandez averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. Also back are dynamic 5-7 sophomore guard Chris Lykes (9.6 points), junior guard DJ Vasiljevic (9.0 points), senior guard Anthony Lawrence (8.8 points, 6.5 rebounds), 6-10 sophomore forward Sam Waardenberg (3.3 points), 6-10 senior center Ebuka Izundu (5.0 points) and 7-0 junior center Rodney Miller (1.2 points).

Who's new: Senior guard Zach Johnson transferred from Florida Gulf Coast, where he averaged 16.1 points last season. Redshirt freshman guard Anthony Mack is also expected to contribute.

The Skinny: Miami should reach the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven seasons. With three starting guards departed, depth at that position is a concern, and the Hurricanes will likely go to a bigger lineup and be less perimeter-oriented than a season ago. The athletic Hernandez will face the basket more, and he and Lykes should form a formidable one-two punch. Miami will look for more inside scoring from Izundu and Miller.

Expectations: The Hurricanes are an 85 to 1 choice to win the NCAA Tournament, which puts them 25th in the country and fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.