Miami Hurricanes Lock In on Boston College, Not Looking Ahead to UNC
The Miami Hurricanes have a marquee matchup with No. 14 North Carolina looming, but head coach Jai Lucas isn’t letting his team look past what’s right in front of them. Before the Tar Heels come to town, the Hurricanes have a critical road test against a tough, physical Boston College team - and Lucas is making sure his squad treats it with the urgency it deserves.
“We're not in any position to be worried about a 'trap game,’” Lucas said. “Every game for us is important.
I haven't thought about North Carolina yet. I'm just focused on Boston College.”
That mindset reflects where Miami is in its season. At 17-5 overall and 6-3 in ACC play, the Hurricanes are very much in the thick of the NCAA tournament conversation, but recent stumbles have made the margin for error razor-thin. Miami has dropped three of its last five, including close losses to Clemson, Florida State, and Cal - games where execution in the final minutes proved costly.
Despite those setbacks, Lucas believes his team is ready to bounce back.
“I anticipate us firing on all cylinders,” he said.
That bounce-back effort will be tested against a Boston College team Lucas called “one of the best defensive teams in the league.” The Eagles bring size, physicality, and discipline on the defensive end - a combination that has frustrated plenty of opponents this season.
“They do a great job of protecting the paint, very disciplined, and don’t foul a lot,” Lucas noted. “It’s one of those games where you have to work it until it opens up.”
Miami’s identity starts on the defensive end, with senior forward Malik Reneau and senior center Ernest Udeh Jr. anchoring the frontcourt. But even with that presence inside, foul trouble has been a recurring issue.
In the losses to Florida State and Cal, Miami struggled to stay out of foul trouble, sending opponents to the line too often. Those two teams combined to shoot 74.5 percent from the free-throw line, while the Hurricanes hit just 70.8 percent of their own attempts - a small difference that looms large in one-possession games.
The Hurricanes will also be without one of their key backcourt contributors in junior guard Tru Washington, who missed the last game due to personal reasons and remains unavailable for the trip to Boston College. Washington, who averages 11.9 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, has been a steady two-way presence for Miami all season.
With Washington out, freshman Dante Allen is expected to step into a starting role alongside senior guard Tre Donaldson. Allen has shown flashes of promise, but Miami’s bench production has been inconsistent - and that lack of depth could be tested against a Boston College team that doesn’t give much away.
Still, Lucas has brought a new energy to the program in his first year at the helm, and this next stretch - starting with Boston College and leading into the showdown with UNC - could be pivotal in defining Miami’s season.
A win in Chestnut Hill wouldn’t just steady the ship. It would send a message that this Hurricanes team is focused, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead - one game at a time.