Miami’s roster just got a lot more dangerous, and the biggest boost is a familiar one.
Malik Reneau has been granted a fifth year and is back with the Hurricanes, giving Jai Lucas a First-Team All-ACC forward who already looked like a centerpiece before the extra year was officially settled. Reneau was already around the program for the first official practice of the season, and Lucas said the team never really treated the situation like a mystery.
"We're operating as normal," Lucas said. "We've had some injuries so it's helped.
We're operating as if he's a part of the team. If that will be something that will be there come November 2 and as we get closer to the game, then that's what it will be.
And if not, then we'll move forward."
Reneau’s return matters because of what he already brought last season. He averaged 19.1 points per game and stretched his game to the perimeter, becoming one of Miami’s best threats from three-point range. That came after a season that ended with him going undrafted, spending a few weeks in summer league, and then making his way back to Coral Gables.
The bigger story, though, may be the way Miami is built around him this time. Lucas said the Hurricanes should have more than six players ready to play, a change from last season when the group wore down late. Reneau was among the players who ran out of gas in the Round of 32 against Purdue, a product of the limited rotation.
This year, Miami wants to go 10 deep and keep bodies fresh. Lucas made clear the identity still starts with size and physical play, but he also pointed to a more complete supporting cast and more shooting than a year ago.
"We always want to be big," Lucas said. "We always want to be physical.
We want to be able to win the free throw line and win the rebounding. So we're built that way, where we have great size.
I think we have more size on the wing than we did last year, but also having the bodies to be able to create the contact and win the physicality battle.
"So some of the things that were kind of staples for us will still be staples, and then we just kind of try to really enhance some of the shortcomings with adding some more shooting with guys like Brent [Bland] and Nick [Dorn] and DeShawn [Goode], and so kind of having some of the same similarities and finding a formula that kind of worked, but also having to restart and do it our own way."
Miami opens the season against Florida with three returning players ready for the opportunity.
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The challenge now is less about catching people by surprise and more about living up to what last season created. Miami also has to deal with a tougher schedule and the higher standard that comes after a breakthrough, and sophomore Shelton Henderson looks positioned to be one of the players who helps define whether the next step is real progress or just another transition year. [Read more 🡒]