After a breakthrough first season under head coach Jai Lucas, the Miami Hurricanes are entering the 2026-27 season with higher expectations then we have seen maybe ever, a revamped roster and a huge opportunity to prove last year's success was only the beginning for Jai Lucas's group. Miami will get it's first look against outside competition Friday night, welcoming No. 24 Vanderbilt to the Watco Center for an exhibition matchup at 6 p.m ET.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 26-9 season that saw them reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finish 13-5 in ACC play. Lucas changed the win column by a 19-win improvement in his first season, tying the NCAA record for the largest single-second turnaround. Now entering Year 2 in Coral Gables, he faces a way bigger challenge, not just being competitive but now it's time to WIN.

Miami returns sophomores Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen, while adding talent through the transfer portal and high school recruiting. Malik Reneau is back after earning first-team All-ACC honors, while Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis, Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode, Georgia transfer Somto Cyril just to list a few and Mcdonald's All American Caleb Gaskins headline this revamped roster with so much added depth and talent.

For Lucas, Friday's exhibition is the first opportunity to evaluate that progress against another proven program. Vanderbilt finished 27-9 last season and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, making the Commodores a early test for the Hurricanes who's upcoming regular season schedule isn't easy.

With the regular season regular season opener against No. 1 Florida approaching on Nov. 2, the exhibition offers an huge opportunity to show and prove to the nation that the Hurricanes are back on the map and not to overlook this whole season.


No. 14 Miami vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt: How to Listen

• Tipoff: October 23, at 6:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Watsco Center - Coral Gables, Florida
• Matchup: No. 14 Miami vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt
• Game: Exhibition
• Admission: Free for fans


What to Watch for the Hurricanes

The revamped roster: Miami has added a significant amount of talent, and this will be the first real chance to see how the newcomers fit alongside Henderson, Allen, and Reneau.

Lucas's second-year progress: After exceeding all expectations in his first season, Lucas now has a chance to show how his program can build on that success.

Building Momentum: If the Hurricanes can pull off a top-25 win before the regular season even starts that would be huge to say the least. Your looking at a team with a win over a talented Vanderbilt team to open the season against No. 1 Florida.

 

televised or no?

 

televised or no?

No.

 

Anybody heading out to this? Gotta beat that friday rush hour traffic

 

Those attending the exhibition game tonight:

Looking forward to some quality opinions on what you saw. From the size of the crowd through individual player assessments. What surprised you, what impressed you, etc.

 

Yes any insight would be appreciated. Really excited about this team and the infusion of talent Lucas brought in.

 

Reneau is out tonight with a lower extremity injury Should be ok for Gator game. Rhyzov is out tonight as well with an illness. Per Chris Stock at 247

Was hoping to see us full strength for this game

 

**** if I would’ve landed here sooner I surely would’ve went to this.

 

Reneau is out tonight with a lower extremity injury Should be ok for Gator game. Rhyzov is out tonight as well with an illness. Per Chris Stock at 247

Was hoping to see us full strength for this game

Agree but ... that still leaves a load of "new" players to check out. We know what we have in Reneau.

 

Checking in live from Brickell happy hour.. skipped the traffic and just took metro rail, 10 minutes here..

Not sure how long gonna stick around but should be here for full report metro back to downtown heat game at 8pm..

I'll take notes and post after

 

Soo gaskins did football workout? Plays wit wrapped shoulder..

 

94.9 The Fan, Vandy Broadcast in Nashville doing the game: https://www.thegamenashville.com/player/?playerID=2717

 

That was some heinously over-officiated basketball

 

49-44 Miami at half and we had multiple double digits leads but they evaporated 3 times when acaden went to bench. We have no back up point guard. Allen runs the offense and one sequence we gave up 7 points off one trip by turning ball over twice on press.. once Vanderbilt figured we couldn't handle press they just press Allen and he yrun ball over easy.. I think we had 13 point lead under 3 to go and soon as acaden came off court that happened..

Sucks that's first thing talked about because we had a great half before that reared it's head.. first team looked strong.. are rip first thing u notice compared to Vanderbilt is our guard size, they have comparable big size but at guard we were much bigger.. and our defense was suffocating.. acaden quickness allowed him to get inside and create he score 5 quick points and had a couple assist..

Went to bench early, Miller was first off bench, bland came in and scored 9, knocked down a couple 3s and him and Lewis are leading scorers.. henderson and Allen look good goin to hoop, once acaden lewis got in foul trouble 15 point lead disappeared, starters came back built it back up to 13 then down again then the 7 point sequence.. we need someone else to help run offense from what I see.. tanner for Vanderbilt isn't even looking for shot first half.. closed very weak

 

That was some heinously over-officiated basketball

Whistles seemed to work only on one end also

 

Whistles seemed to work only on one end also

At one point I thought they were finally chilling out when they let some heavy contact go on our end, but nope

 

49-44 Miami at half and we had multiple double digits leads but they evaporated 3 times when acaden went to bench. We have no back up point guard. Allen runs the offense and one sequence we gave up 7 points off one trip by turning ball over twice on press.. once Vanderbilt figured we couldn't handle press they just press Allen and he yrun ball over easy.. I think we had 13 point lead under 3 to go and soon as acaden came off court that happened..

Sucks that's first thing talked about because we had a great half before that reared it's head.. first team looked strong.. are rip first thing u notice compared to Vanderbilt is our guard size, they have comparable big size but at guard we were much bigger.. and our defense was suffocating.. acaden quickness allowed him to get inside and create he score 5 quick points and had a couple assist..

Went to bench early, Miller was first off bench, bland came in and scored 9, knocked down a couple 3s and him and Lewis are leading scorers.. henderson and Allen look good goin to hoop, once acaden lewis got in foul trouble 15 point lead disappeared, starters came back built it back up to 13 then down again then the 7 point sequence.. we need someone else to help run offense from what I see.. tanner for Vanderbilt isn't even looking for shot first half.. closed very weak

If only a first team all-ACC player was healthy enough to play tonight and provide offense…

 

49-44 Miami at half and we had multiple double digits leads but they evaporated 3 times when acaden went to bench. We have no back up point guard. Allen runs the offense and one sequence we gave up 7 points off one trip by turning ball over twice on press.. once Vanderbilt figured we couldn't handle press they just press Allen and he yrun ball over easy.. I think we had 13 point lead under 3 to go and soon as acaden came off court that happened..

Sucks that's first thing talked about because we had a great half before that reared it's head.. first team looked strong.. are rip first thing u notice compared to Vanderbilt is our guard size, they have comparable big size but at guard we were much bigger.. and our defense was suffocating.. acaden quickness allowed him to get inside and create he score 5 quick points and had a couple assist..

Went to bench early, Miller was first off bench, bland came in and scored 9, knocked down a couple 3s and him and Lewis are leading scorers.. henderson and Allen look good goin to hoop, once acaden lewis got in foul trouble 15 point lead disappeared, starters came back built it back up to 13 then down again then the 7 point sequence.. we need someone else to help run offense from what I see.. tanner for Vanderbilt isn't even looking for shot first half.. closed very weak

Starting 5 is just dominating Vandy. We'll sort through the bench, but we are getting a lot scoring off the bench. Vandy has already had I believe at least 1 exhibition before us. They are playing 3 exhibitions. We just 1.

 

Gaskins with back-to-back 3s.

 

Lead back up with starters ask gaskins with 3 triples back 2 back 2 back