When you rewind to the Miami Hurricanes' 2024-25 season, it’s hard not to wonder what went wrong. Just a couple of years removed from a Final Four appearance, the dramatic downturn was unexpected for Miami's basketball program.
The Hurricanes wrapped up that season with a tough 7-24 record (3-17 in the ACC), a performance that was difficult for fans to witness. The team struggled on both ends of the court, failing to live up to the storied legacy of Miami basketball.
This challenging season led to the resignation of longtime head coach Jim Larrañaga, who acknowledged the challenges of adapting to the new era of NIL and its complexities.
Enter Jai Lucas. Formerly the associate head coach at Duke, Lucas took the reins at Miami, a move first reported by CanesInSight’s Peter Ariz.
Lucas wasted no time in revitalizing the program, diving into the transfer portal to bring in pivotal players like Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington, and Malik Reneau. His efforts injected a fresh energy into the team.
Lucas quickly made his mark, becoming the fastest first-time head coach in the ACC to notch 20 wins since Bill Guthridge did it with North Carolina in the 1997-98 season.
Approaching his one-year anniversary in Miami, Lucas has already brought in a top-15 portal class and has the Hurricanes sitting pretty in the top-15 for the 2026 recruiting class. Most importantly, he’s winning games.
In a remarkable seven-day stretch, Lucas led Miami to victory over No. 11 North Carolina, maintaining the lead throughout.
He then showcased his coaching prowess by outmaneuvering Will Wade in a nail-biting finish against NC State, holding them to just seven points in the final minute. Just yesterday, they added a win against Virginia Tech.
Now, Miami boasts a 21-5 record and is 10-3 in the ACC. Lucas has indeed flipped the script for Miami Hurricanes basketball.
He was the right hire.
Go Canes.