When you look back at Miami during the 2024-25 season, you probably ask yourself, what the heck happened? Even after a Final Four run just a couple years ago, no one saw a fall-off like that coming for the Miami Hurricanes basketball program.
Last season, the Hurricanes finished 7-24 (3-17 ACC). It was tough to watch, you can ask me and my dad. The team struggled on both ends and just didn’t look like it was representing the jersey on its chest the way Miami basketball should.
That led to longtime head coach Jim Larrañaga stepping down, admitting he couldn’t keep up with the new era of NIL and everything that comes with it.
Jai Lucas, who was the associate head coach at Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball at the time, took over the job at Miami, first reported by CanesInSight’s Peter Ariz.
As soon as Licas was hired he attacked the transfer portal, brought in key pieces, such as Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington, Malik Reneau and completely changed the energy around the program.
He’s now the fastest first-time head coach in the ACC to reach 20 wins since Bill Guthridge did it at North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball in 1997-98.
in a week from now, Lucas will be in Miami for a whole year. He brought in a top-15 portal class, has Miami sitting inside the top-15 for the 2026 recruiting class, and most importantly, he’s winning.
In a seven-day stretch, Lucas took down No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball at home without ever giving up the lead, then outcoached Will Wade in the closing minutes against NC State, holding them to just seven points in the final minute. Yesterday he also beat Virginia Tech.
Now Miami sits at 21-5 and 10-3 in the ACC. Lucas completely flipped the script for Miami Hurricanes basketball.
He was the right hire.
Go Canes.
Last season, the Hurricanes finished 7-24 (3-17 ACC). It was tough to watch, you can ask me and my dad. The team struggled on both ends and just didn’t look like it was representing the jersey on its chest the way Miami basketball should.
That led to longtime head coach Jim Larrañaga stepping down, admitting he couldn’t keep up with the new era of NIL and everything that comes with it.
Jai Lucas, who was the associate head coach at Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball at the time, took over the job at Miami, first reported by CanesInSight’s Peter Ariz.
As soon as Licas was hired he attacked the transfer portal, brought in key pieces, such as Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington, Malik Reneau and completely changed the energy around the program.
He’s now the fastest first-time head coach in the ACC to reach 20 wins since Bill Guthridge did it at North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball in 1997-98.
in a week from now, Lucas will be in Miami for a whole year. He brought in a top-15 portal class, has Miami sitting inside the top-15 for the 2026 recruiting class, and most importantly, he’s winning.
In a seven-day stretch, Lucas took down No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball at home without ever giving up the lead, then outcoached Will Wade in the closing minutes against NC State, holding them to just seven points in the final minute. Yesterday he also beat Virginia Tech.
Now Miami sits at 21-5 and 10-3 in the ACC. Lucas completely flipped the script for Miami Hurricanes basketball.
He was the right hire.
Go Canes.
