No. 14 Miami gave a strong early glimpse of what this group can become, racing past No. 24 Vanderbilt 109-96 in an exhibition that pointed to a deeper, more versatile offense.
The Hurricanes wasted no time setting the tone. Miami opened with a 13-2 burst and never really let Vanderbilt settle in, leaning on a paint-heavy approach that already defined last season’s attack but now looks more complete with better options and more experience around Acaden Lewis, Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson.
That interior pressure opened everything else up. As Miami kept forcing action near the rim, the three-point looks started to follow, and the offense kept expanding from there.
Five-star freshman Caleb Gaskins was at the center of that surge. The start was quiet by his standards, as he had 6 points and was 1-for-3 from the field in the first half while starting against a top-25 opponent.
But the second half belonged to him. Gaskins exploded for 14 points after the break, finished with 20 overall, went 4-for-4 from three and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the second half.
"I think it was just the guys telling me to be aggressive," Gaskins said after the game. "I passed up a couple in the first half, but what had me going was staying aggressive and locked in. That's the biggest thing for me: just staying confident and being ready."
Jai Lucas liked what he saw from the freshman, but he was just as encouraged by the way Miami came out of the gate and imposed itself.
"For us this was just an exciting kickoff for the season," Jai Lucas said after the victory. "That was the main goal of this just to come out and see what we look like to be honest with you.
We've been really banged up. I thought the guys that played did a great job.
"I was really excited about the start of the game and how aggressive and confident we were. They are a good team and have one of the best point guards in the country. Just excited to get them to come down and play against them."
Henderson added 17 points, while Allen finished with 1, and the scoring eventually became a two-man showcase between Lewis and Gaskins in the second half.
Lewis attacked the paint, created problems all over the floor and finished with a double-double, but the turnovers stood out too. He had seven, and both he and Lucas made clear that part of the job now is tightening that area up.
"Acaden is a basketball savant," Lucas said. "Some of these things I have to let go of because he can just create and make things happen.
He shouldn't have seven turnovers in a game. But I thought he played well, getting into the paint and making the reads and kicking it out against the pressure, and it really helped us get started."
Lewis was blunt about the miscues.
"One thing we talked about is not expecting coverages," Lewis said. "Obviously, I can make some better reads at times. I finished with seven turnovers, so I just got to find a way to take care of the ball, especially when I get in tough crowds, just knowing when to simplify the game.
Even with that blemish, Miami still spread the production around, finishing with seven players in double figures and nearly an eighth in a fast-paced offensive showing.
Now the attention shifts to No. 1 Florida and the season opener.
In Other News...
Vanderbilts Exhibition Loss Exposed A Problem That Cant Linger
Vanderbilts final exhibition offered a useful reality check, even if it came in the form of a loss to Miami. The Hurricanes controlled the game for nearly the entire night, and coach Mark Byington treated it less like a setback than a baseline for what still needs cleaning up before the season begins. For a team still trying to settle into its identity, the lesson was plain enough: the Commodores have work to do, and it starts with tightening things on the defensive end.
There was at least a little good news around the edges. TO Barrett and Gabe Nesmith warmed up before the game but did not play, a sign both are trending in the right direction as Vanderbilt looks toward its opener against Bellarmine. Their return would give Byington more options, but the bigger question remains how quickly the rest of the rotation can bring the effort and execution needed to avoid another night where the opposition dictates the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Walks Into A Brutal SEC Test With Kentucky Rolling
Vanderbilt is heading into one of the toughest spots on its SEC schedule with Kentucky suddenly looking every bit like a program on the rise under first-year coach Will Stein. The Wildcats are 6-1 and ranked No. 12 nationally, carrying a five-game winning streak into a primetime home date, while the Commodores are still searching for their first conference win of the season and need something to change quickly against a surging opponent.
The atmosphere figures to be part of the challenge, too. Kentuckys social media account has already leaned into the moment with a one-minute hype video aimed at getting fans louder and more engaged for the game, a reminder that Vanderbilt will not just be dealing with a ranked team but with a crowd expecting another step forward from a breakout season. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Heads To Kentucky With Pressure Rising On A Four-Game Skid
Vanderbilt heads to Lexington carrying the weight of a four-game losing streak, with No. 12 Kentucky next on the schedule after a recent loss to Arkansas. The trip to Kroger Field comes with the pressure only intensifying for a team still searching for a way to steady itself, and the Commodores will have to do it in a difficult road setting with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
The injury picture adds another layer of uncertainty for Vanderbilt as it tries to snap the skid. Several players are already ruled out, while a few others were listed on the latest availability report as probable, giving the staff at least some hope of getting key depth back before facing a ranked opponent that has been far more consistent this season. [Read more 🡒]