Miami didn’t win with style points, but they won where it counts - on the scoreboard.
In a gritty, back-and-forth battle with Boston College, the Hurricanes found just enough to pull through. It wasn’t clean, it wasn’t easy, but it was a win - and in the ACC this season, that’s gold.
After the game, head coach Jai Lucas broke down the performance with the kind of candid insight that tells you exactly where this Miami team is mentally and physically right now. Let’s dive into what he had to say and what it tells us about the Hurricanes’ identity as the conference race heats up.
Owning the Paint - Miami's Calling Card
Early on, Miami made it clear they were going to live in the paint. That’s not just a game plan - it’s who they are.
“That’s kind of how we’re built,” Lucas said. “The formula is points in the paint. We’re big and physical, so we have to fight for our identity every game.”
And for a while, they did just that. Miami came out strong, attacking the lane and asserting their size advantage.
But with a few players missing and others running out of gas, the Hurricanes had to dig deep and adjust. Boston College, to their credit, didn’t back down.
They responded with a run of their own, forcing Miami to re-establish control in the second half.
Weathering the Storm - Experience in Close Games Pays Off
If there’s one thing this Miami squad has gotten used to, it’s close games. And that experience showed down the stretch.
“We’ve been in this game a lot, especially on the road,” Lucas said, pointing to tight contests against Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Cal. “Our team has a lot of confidence in that moment.”
That confidence was tested as Boston College clawed back from a double-digit deficit. Miami missed some key layups and dunks - the kind of missed opportunities that can flip a game - but they never let the moment overwhelm them. Instead, they responded with poise.
Lucas credited his team’s ability to mix up defensive looks - switching between zones, man-to-man, and different schemes - to keep BC off balance. That tactical flexibility disrupted the Eagles’ rhythm and forced them to think more than react, especially as the game tightened.
“We had to give them different rhythms and make them think a little bit instead of flow,” Lucas explained. “That helped down the stretch.”
And it wasn’t just the defensive adjustments. Timely rebounds - both offensive and defensive - gave Miami the extra possessions they needed to close it out.
Self-Inflicted Wounds - But Not Fatal This Time
Turnovers and missed free throws have been a recurring theme for Miami this season, and they reared their head again in this one. But the difference? This time, they didn’t cost the Hurricanes the game.
“I’m worried about us,” Lucas admitted. “It hasn’t been anybody or something someone else has done to make us look bad.”
He pointed to earlier losses - against Cal, against Florida State - where those same issues made the difference in one-possession games. But against Boston College, Miami managed to survive their own mistakes.
“If we can just be the best version of ourselves, I like us against anybody,” Lucas said.
That’s the key. The margin for error is thin in the ACC, and Miami knows it. But even with the miscues, they found a way.
The ACC Gauntlet - No Nights Off
Lucas didn’t mince words about the level of competition in the conference this year.
“We have a top-two conference in the country,” he said. “The only one I’d maybe put ahead of us is the Big Ten.”
He’s not wrong. From top to bottom, the ACC has been a grind. And Lucas believes the league deserves more national respect - and more NCAA Tournament bids.
“I don’t see why [the ACC] shouldn’t have eight, nine, or even 10 teams [in the NCAA Tournament],” he said.
Boston College is a perfect example. They’ve been in just about every game, including a nail-biter against Virginia.
Outside of Duke - who’s separated themselves at the top - every team is in the fight. Every game is a battle.
And according to Lucas, that’s a testament to the upgrades across the league - better rosters, more size, and improved coaching.
Bottom Line
Miami didn’t play their best basketball against Boston College, but they played well enough to win. And in a conference where every game feels like a coin flip, that matters.
They leaned into their identity - physical, paint-first basketball - and made the right adjustments when things got tight. They didn’t let missed opportunities derail them. They stayed composed, rebounded when it counted, and trusted their experience in close games.
That’s the kind of win that doesn’t just show up in the standings - it builds character. And in a loaded ACC, character might be what separates the teams still dancing in March from the ones watching at home.