Miami Hurricanes Surge with Statement Wins, Eyes on Identity Over Rankings
The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team is heating up at just the right time. With back-to-back wins over two high-level ACC opponents-North Carolina and NC State-the ‘Canes are making noise in February.
Yet, despite those resume-boosting victories, they’re still on the outside looking in when it comes to the AP Top 25. Alabama and Wisconsin leapfrogged into the final two spots this week, leaving Miami with just 10 votes and a chip on their shoulder.
But if you ask first-year head coach Jai Lucas, the rankings aren’t what’s driving this group.
“It’s like a tip of the cap,” Lucas said. “We’ve still got a lot of basketball ahead of us. We just have to keep chipping away.”
That mindset has been the heartbeat of this team all season. Lucas has made it clear: the Hurricanes’ success isn’t about flash or outside validation-it’s about identity.
And over the last few weeks, that identity has started to crystallize. Tough, resilient, and locked in on the details, Miami is playing with the kind of edge that wins games in March.
Saturday’s win was a prime example. The Hurricanes didn’t just beat a quality opponent-they imposed their will.
They defended with intensity, moved the ball with purpose, and trusted each other when it mattered most. That’s the formula Lucas wants to bottle up and carry through the rest of the season.
“We’ve got to continue to fight for our identity,” he said. “I think that showed on Saturday, and it’s got to show the rest of the season.”
At 20-5 overall and 9-3 in ACC play, Miami is firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture. That’s a remarkable turnaround from last season’s 7-24 campaign, where the team went just 3-17 in conference play. Now, under a new coach and a renewed culture, the Hurricanes are not only winning-they’re building something sustainable.
And while the AP poll snub might sting a little, Miami has more chances to make its case. A Feb. 21 road game against No.
14 Virginia looms large, followed by a regular-season finale at home against No. 21 Louisville on March 7.
Those are the kind of matchups that can shift national perception-and boost seeding come Selection Sunday.
Lucas knows that accolades will follow wins, but he’s keeping the focus inward. That includes celebrating individual honors, like guard Tre Donaldson being named ACC Player of the Week, without losing sight of what got them there.
“There are things we want that come with winning,” Lucas said. “But we have to understand why it’s happening.
It’s not because you scored 20 points. It’s happening because of what we did together.
We put ourselves in this position, and we have to keep it about us.”
That’s been the message all season long: stay grounded, stay together, and keep climbing. The Hurricanes may not have the national spotlight just yet, but they’re earning respect where it matters most-on the court. And if they keep playing like this, the rankings will take care of themselves.