No. 14 Miami’s season opener against No. 1 Florida turned into a rough offensive night, and the numbers make that pretty clear in the 77-67 loss.
The Hurricanes had stretches where the defense did its job. They forced stops, and at times they pushed Florida into dry spells.
In the second half, Miami also made the Gators miss from deep and struggle at the free-throw line. But the bigger story was what Florida’s size did to the Canes.
The Gators controlled the front court, disrupted Miami inside and out, and dragged the game into a style that didn’t fit what the new-look Hurricanes want to do.
That showed up immediately in the ball movement. Miami finished with only six assists, and the turnover battle never tilted in its favor. Florida turned Miami’s mistakes into 21 points, while the Hurricanes managed just seven points off the Gators’ 12 turnovers.
Acaden Lewis was one of the few bright spots for Miami. He showed he can score, getting to the three-point line and attacking the paint.
But as a pure point guard, the night was messy: he finished with just one assist and four turnovers. The return of Malik Reneau also seemed to slow the offense down, especially for a team that wants to play fast and outrun opponents.
The rotation questions were part of the story too. Five-star freshman Caleb Gaskins, described as the team’s best shooter, was held down by foul trouble and didn’t get the kind of minutes or shot volume Miami likely wanted in his Hurricanes debut. Nick Dorn and Brent Bland also didn’t log the bench minutes many expected from the team’s top shooting duo.
Miami’s two star frontcourt pieces never really got rolling together. Shelton Henderson found some room in the mid-range and knocked down two shots there, while Reneau hit a three-pointer in the second half but made that his only field goal. Florida’s front line made life miserable for both of them as Miami kept trying to attack the paint without enough adjustment.
The next test comes against Wagner, and the Canes have a clear list of issues to clean up before then.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Suddenly Hands Miami A Huge Opening In South Bend
Notre Dames injury report ahead of its meeting with Miami has turned a routine pregame update into a meaningful subplot, with several important names either questionable or already ruled out. The list is especially notable on defense, where star tackle Francis Brewu is dealing with a left knee injury and captain linebacker Drayk Bowen will not play because of a right ankle issue, while multiple other linemen are also unavailable.
For Miami, the timing matters. Any trip to South Bend brings its own pressure, but the Hurricanes now have a clearer path to attack a Notre Dame roster that is missing depth in the trenches and a key voice in the middle of the defense. Even before kickoff, the matchup has shifted a bit, and Miami will be watching closely to see whether the Irish can recover any of those pieces before game time. [Read more 🡒]
Elija Lofton Is Giving Miami A New Reason To Feel Dangerous
Elija Lofton has quietly become one of the more interesting pieces in Miamis offense over the last six games, and his expanded role is starting to show up in the kinds of moments that matter. The junior tight end was especially noticeable against UNC, when he caught three passes for 48 yards and helped keep a key scoring drive alive with a 12-yard grab that extended the lead.
For an offense looking for more reliable answers in the middle of the field, Loftons emergence gives Miami another layer to work with. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson singled out his play as pivotal in that crucial drive, and the Hurricanes now have a tight end who is not just filling snaps but helping tilt possessions their way. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Just Got A CFP Reality Check Before Miami
The first College Football Playoff rankings have already stirred up the kind of debate that tends to follow this committee all the way through November, and Miami has a front-row seat to it. The initial reveal looked very different from the AP Top 25, with some notable shakeups near the top and a field that included 10 SEC teams, while Indiana emerged as the highest-ranked Big Ten team despite some surprising factors.
For the Hurricanes, the bigger subplot is what this says about the road ahead and the kind of scrutiny their own rsum will face as the season unfolds. CFP committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said ranking teams in such a competitive year is no easy task, and the early board made clear that reputation, conference strength and small details can all matter just as much as what the pollsters have been saying each week. [Read more 🡒]