Jai Lucas didn’t just take over a struggling Miami program - he’s flipped the script entirely in his first year at the helm. The Hurricanes are now a 20-win team, sitting at 9-3 in ACC play, and they’re not just turning heads locally. National voices are starting to mention Lucas in the same breath as some of the top coaches in the country, and with good reason.
Saturday’s thriller in Raleigh was the latest chapter in what’s becoming one of college basketball’s most compelling turnaround stories. Miami pulled off a gritty 77-76 comeback win over NC State, closing the game on an 8-0 run.
The final blow came courtesy of freshman Tru Washington, who calmly knocked down three free throws with 3.7 seconds left on the clock. But the real engine behind the comeback?
Malik Reneau, who poured in 26 points and kept the Hurricanes within striking distance all afternoon.
That win didn’t just move Miami to 20-5 overall - it added another quality road victory to a growing NCAA Tournament resume. And it came just days after the Hurricanes knocked off UNC, a signature win that helped put this team - and Lucas - firmly on the national radar.
Among those taking notice is college hoops analyst John Fanta, who said Lucas is “on my radar for the Naismith Coach of the Year” and included him among his top 15 candidates. That’s no small praise, especially with the official watch list set to drop on February 20. Timing is everything in college basketball, and Lucas is peaking at just the right moment.
What makes Lucas’ case so compelling isn’t just the wins - it’s the context. Miami was in disarray last season, finishing 7-24 in a year marked by transition.
Longtime head coach Jim Larrañaga stepped down in December, and Bill Courtney finished the season as interim coach. The program needed a reset, and Lucas has delivered one in full.
Since being hired away from Duke last March - where he served as an assistant and later associate head coach - Lucas has built an entirely new roster and instilled a new identity. The results speak for themselves: Miami is playing confident, cohesive basketball, and they’re doing it in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Now comes the next test. The Hurricanes return home Tuesday night to face Virginia Tech, followed by a tough road stretch at Virginia and Florida State. It’s a critical stretch that will help define Miami’s seeding - and perhaps Lucas’ place in the national coach of the year conversation.
No matter how the rest of the season shakes out, one thing’s already clear: Jai Lucas has brought belief back to Coral Gables. And if the Hurricanes keep this up, they won’t just be a feel-good story - they’ll be a real threat in March.