Hurricanes Hitting Their Stride as ACC Stretch Run Begins
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Miami Hurricanes are exactly where they need to be as they hit the home stretch of ACC play - in the mix, in contention, and improving with every game.
At 17-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play, Miami is tied for fifth in the ACC standings as the second half of the league schedule begins. With nine games left, the Hurricanes are eyeing a strong finish, and it starts this Saturday with a road test at Boston College (2:00 p.m. ET, ACC Network).
Head coach Jai Lucas isn’t shying away from where his team stands - or what’s still on the table.
“I feel we are right where we need to be,” Lucas said. “Sure, we’ve had a couple one-possession games that didn’t go our way, but we’ve grown from those. This group has done a great job of getting better throughout the season and learning how to handle adversity - whether it’s on the road or at home.”
Lucas isn’t just tossing out coach-speak here. Miami has proven it can win away from Coral Gables, boasting a 4-1 road record.
That includes gritty wins in hostile environments like Wake Forest and Syracuse. The Hurricanes’ confidence has been forged through those battles - and it’s showing.
“It really started with that Florida game,” Lucas said. “That was a real test, even if it wasn’t technically a road game.
Then we got over the hump at Ole Miss, and that gave us a spark. For a new team coming together, you need those moments.
Playing in front of 25,000 at Syracuse, winning at Wake - those experiences matter. Now, when we go on the road, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
We’ve been there.”
That road-tested mentality will be put to use again Saturday against a Boston College squad that’s 8-4 at home. And while a marquee matchup against No. 14 North Carolina looms just three days later, Lucas isn’t letting his team look past the Eagles.
“We’re not in any position to be worried about a trap game,” Lucas said. “Every game matters for us.
I haven’t even started thinking about North Carolina. All my focus has been on Boston College.
I expect us to be locked in and ready.”
After Saturday, the Hurricanes enter a critical stretch that will define their postseason fate. They’ll face five opponents between now and the end of the month that fall into Quad 1 or Quad 2 territory - the kind of résumé-boosting opportunities that selection committees love. Miami will also host Boston College again on February 28, but the next few weeks are about stacking quality wins and positioning themselves for ACC Tournament seeding.
The top four teams in the ACC receive double-byes in the conference tournament, while the next four get a single bye - a meaningful difference in a league where depth and fatigue can swing March outcomes.
Lucas knows February is when the pressure ramps up - and he’s embracing it.
“This is why you play college basketball,” he said. “You want to be in games that matter.
You want to go on the road and have to win. You want to come home and protect your house.
There’s more noise now, more attention. But we’ve got to stay focused on the day-to-day - practice by practice, game by game.
That’s my job, to keep us locked in.”
Reneau Earning Recognition
One player who’s been leading the charge is Malik Reneau. The senior forward has been a force all season, averaging 19.9 points (fifth in the ACC) and 6.4 rebounds per game. This week, he was named to the midseason watch list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award - a well-deserved nod for one of the league’s most consistent performers.
“He’s been great,” Lucas said. “I’m glad he’s getting some recognition.
It shows how much he’s grown this year. He’s reinvented himself in a lot of ways, and that takes real maturity.
He’s allowed me to coach him hard, to hold him accountable, to put him in uncomfortable spots - and he’s responded.”
Reneau’s evolution hasn’t just been about the stat sheet. Lucas pointed to his leadership and presence in the locker room as just as important.
“He’s naturally a laid-back guy,” Lucas said. “But now, he’s starting to lead.
He’s using his voice. He’s commanding the team.
That’s what you want from a senior.”
Washington Remains Away from Team
The Hurricanes are still without starting shooting guard Tru Washington, who missed the last game against California due to personal reasons. His status for Saturday remains uncertain.
“He’s not back yet,” Lucas said. “He’s dealing with some personal stuff, and we’re just here to support him. Whenever he’s ready, we’ll be here for him.”
There’s no timetable for his return, and Lucas made it clear the team is taking things day-by-day.
Washington has been a key contributor this season, averaging 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 steals across 20 games, 19 of them starts.
Bottom line: Miami is in the thick of the ACC race, with a battle-tested roster, a star forward in Reneau, and a coach who’s keeping the group focused on the task at hand. The next few weeks will be telling - not just for seeding, but for proving whether this team has what it takes to make noise in March. And right now, they’re trending in the right direction.