CORAL GABLES, Fla. � None of Miami's players can remember what it was like when the Hurricanes were last ranked so highly in the national polls.
Which makes sense, considering a couple of them had yet to be born.
At No. 13 this week, Miami has its best ranking since the 1991-92 team soared to No. 6 in the nation on its way to a 30-2 season. And that team might deserve a bit of the credit for what the women's basketball Hurricanes of today are doing now ? since they apparently planted a seed or two in their minds last season.
The story goes like this: Miami coach Katie Meier asked members of that '91-92 team back last season, got those who accepted the invite in the same room with her players, walked out and shut the door. The alumni ran the impromptu meeting, detailing what they did to reach heights never before seen at Miami ? and never seen since, either.
"They were significant," Meier said. "They inspired them."
That much is clear. The Hurricanes (22-3, 8-2) visit Boston College on Thursday night, entering play just a game behind Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference race. For a program that has never finished any ACC season even at the .500 mark, and had won eight games ? total ? in league play in the previous three seasons, it's a significant upturn.
Forgive the Hurricanes if they're not overly impressed.
"I definitely don't think we've made it," said junior guard Shenise Johnson, who teams with Riquna Williams to give Miami 41 points per game out of the starting backcourt. "We've definitely progressed. We've definitely gotten better. We've definitely grown. But we're not settling. We're not happy. We're not done. We're still hungry. We still think people don't know about us."
Chances are, that's not the case in the ACC.
Miami lost by 24 at Duke earlier this month, then recovered to beat Maryland and North Carolina ? back-to-back victories over teams that have already reached the 20-win mark and are almost locks for the NCAA tournament.
With an RPI around 12, the Hurricanes can start thinking NCAAs as well. If they make the field, it'll snap a seven-year drought.
"We're playing with purpose," Williams said. "We all have one goal."
Williams and Johnson are more than doing their part to make that NCAA goal a reality.
They're ranked 1-2 in the ACC in scoring, Williams checking in at 21.5 points per game, Johnson at 19.3. Johnson ranks among the ACC's top 10 in a whopping six categories ? scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, assists, free-throw percentage and steals. Her 3.32 steals per game lead the ACC, and Miami also has the No. 2 and No. 3 players in that stat with Morgan Stroman (3.24) and Williams (3.20).
Miami leads the conference in scoring, scoring margin and turnovers forced, and Meier couldn't be more thrilled.
"We're reallty proud of the steps that we've taken this year," Meier said.
The steps really started last year, and not just in that meeting with alums, either.
After not getting an NCAA bid, the Hurricanes gladly accepted a spot in the WNIT, which turned out to be a slightly odd event in terms of scheduling and travel.
Miami started with home wins over Florida Gulf Coast, Florida and North Carolina A&T. Then came a trip to Providence, where the Hurricanes won again. That was followed by the WNIT semifinals at Michigan, where Miami prevailed 76-59. And then they waited to see which way their next flight would go, not knowing until the following night if they were headed to Illinois State or Cal for the final.
It turned out to be Cal. Less than 36 hours after learning that was the destination, Miami had to play a title game across the country. Cal wound up winning, but the seeds were planted a Miami breakthrough this season.
So far, so good, Meier said.
"We're excited how we're playing right now," Meier said. "The ranking, I don't sit there and call them up and say we've moved up in the polls. I don't do that kind of stuff, but I will certainly text them and say 'You're playing great' or let them know how proud I am. That's the stuff we're celebrating."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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