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.

 

Nice to have some three point shooting

 

Gaskins taking over. 3rd 3 in a row and now a 2. Kid is playing as advertised.

 

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.

How do u sort thru no back up point guard.. that was really only issue I saw.. bench has been fine.. especially with reneau not even playing.. but we have to have someone run our offense..

 

How do u sort thru no back up point guard.. that was really only issue I saw.. bench has been fine.. especially with reneau not even playing.. but we have to have someone run our offense..

Ideally Cason would be healthy. It’ll be by committee but lack of a true backup PG isn’t a huge deal IMO

 

Free throwing shooting is still not great

 

How do u sort thru no back up point guard.. that was really only issue I saw.. bench has been fine.. especially with reneau not even playing.. but we have to have someone run our offense..

I wonder if Henderson could play the PG role when Lewis is on the bench.. At least to bring the ball up against pressure etc.

 

Anybody have a score, out of town and can’t find anything..even WVUM

 

Anybody have a score, out of town and can’t find anything..even WVUM

Up 12. 8 to go

 

Anybody have a score, out of town and can’t find anything..even WVUM

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?m=1&id=681968

 

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?m=1&id=681968

Thanks brother

 

Natty

 

We looked significantly better than Vandy. Without Reneau playing.

 

Gaskins with back-to-back 3s.

Major development

 

DeSean Goode report?

 

 

 

DeSean Goode report?

Didn't do much, look like he needed to get adjusted to speed of game and the ball never really found him.. couple times it did he hesitated on close out, he did pump fake the guy to fly by once but missed the reload shot.. ended up wit 0 I think.. only player not to score and he got ample time on court as they were rotating alot

 

We looked significantly better than Vandy. Without Reneau playing.

Agreed, game was never in doubt.. seemed like whistle was on their side majority of game also which helped it from getting over that 20 point mark..

 

 

So no Egor, no Malik, we expected not much from Burger and Birden, Cason redshirting as is Allen.

Not sure how we’ll handle the front-court rotation tho it’s an amazing problem to have