Hurricanes Eye Consistency as Turnovers and Free Throws Remain Lingering Concerns
The Miami Hurricanes got the win they needed Saturday, grinding out a 74-68 victory over Boston College to improve to 18-5 overall and 7-3 in ACC play. But if you ask head coach Jai Lucas, the scoreboard only tells part of the story. Beneath the surface, the Hurricanes are still battling the same issues that have haunted them in close losses - namely, sloppy ball control and inconsistent free-throw shooting.
“We’re beating ourselves,” Lucas said after the win. “It hasn’t really been about what other teams are doing to us. It’s the mistakes we’re making - turnovers, missed free throws - that are costing us.”
Lucas isn’t just throwing out coach-speak. The numbers back him up.
Against Boston College, Miami shot just 52% from the free-throw line (13-for-25) and coughed up the ball 13 times, leading to nine points the other way. That’s the kind of inefficiency that can turn a winnable game into a frustrating loss - and it already has.
In their two most recent defeats - narrow losses to Cal and Florida State - the Hurricanes lost by a combined three points. In those games, they shot a respectable 70.8% from the line but committed 21 turnovers, which led to 27 points for the opposition. That’s a brutal stat line when the margin for error is so slim.
Lucas knows what this team is capable of when it plays clean basketball. “If we can be the best version of us,” he said, “I like us against anybody.”
But getting to that best version is a challenge, especially with the roster stretched thin.
Sophomore forward Marcus Allen has been ruled out for the season after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Miami native had been a steady contributor off the bench, averaging 5.8 points, 3.1 boards, and 1.6 assists in just eight games. Though he’s still traveling with the team and supporting from the sidelines, his absence leaves a noticeable hole - both emotionally and in the rotation.
Meanwhile, junior guard Tru Washington has missed the last two games due to personal reasons, and there’s no clear timetable for his return. Washington’s absence removes another ball handler and scoring option from Miami’s backcourt, forcing freshman Dante Allen into the starting lineup.
That shift has thinned out the bench even further. The Hurricanes now lean on junior guard Noam Dovrat, freshman center Salih Altuntas, and freshman forward Timotej Malovec in reserve roles - none of whom are primary ball handlers or offensive focal points. Freshman guards John Laboy II and Jordyn Kee haven’t seen the floor since the start of ACC play.
As a result, the burden has fallen heavily on Miami’s starting five, particularly senior guard Tre Donaldson and senior forward Malik Reneau. The duo has carried the scoring load and leadership responsibilities, but the grind of a long season with limited depth is beginning to show.
And now, the road gets steeper. Next up: a home matchup against a surging North Carolina squad fresh off a statement win over Duke, where the Tar Heels erased a 13-point deficit to take down their archrivals. It’s a marquee opportunity for the Hurricanes - not just for ACC standings, but for their NCAA tournament résumé.
To make the most of it, Miami will need to tighten the screws. That means valuing each possession, knocking down free throws, and avoiding the kind of unforced errors that have already cost them winnable games.
The talent is there. The potential is real. But if the Hurricanes want to make noise in March, it starts with cleaning up the little things in February.