The Hurricanes‘ historic turnaround this season was no small feat. It all started at the end of last year, when the Canes finished in last place in the ACC. A conference full of some of the toughest teams in the nation, like Duke, Louisville, and Virginia. Their 7-24 record and three conference wins did not sit well with the University, and change was on the horizon.
Jai Lucas You Are a Cane!
One of the biggest changes came at the helm of this Hurricanes team, with the arrival of new head coach Jai Lucas. A former Florida University basketball player found his way back to Florida when the Canes came knocking with the opportunity of a lifetime. He accepted his first-ever head coaching job at the University of Miami on March 6th and would begin the next steps…building a roster.
Quickly after his announcement as Head Coach, the Canes saw several recruits commit to the squad. Three commits that played a huge role this season: Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Ernest Udeh Jr. All three transferred in for their last year of eligibility to make one final run before graduating. This was the moment when the Hurricane started to brew in Miami.
Hurricanes Storm The Nation
The Canes enter the AP Top 25 at #22 after going 6-1 in the month of February.
The one loss…?
It was vs #14 Virginia on the road in a 86-83 win for the Cavaliers.A game decided by a foul call as time expired, sending Chance Mallory to the line in a 83-83 tie game to seal a… pic.twitter.com/Ruq2ITZg7c
— SportswithSeb🏀🏈 (@Sportswithseb) March 2, 2026
UM started the year 5-2 before they really started clicking together as a team, going 10-0 through December. Winning their first four ACC matchups, the Canes had already passed their conference win total from last year. With plenty of season left, the Canes still needed to prove they were a top 25 team in the nation. After a 76-54 win over Boston College, the committee finally ranked UM at #22 in the AP Poll.
Once the ACC tournament started, the Canes had earned themselves a bye until the quarterfinals. Their first test was a familiar foe; in fact, five days prior, they played the same team at the same arena, losing 92-89. A game UM felt confident they could win to finish the regular season, but Louisville would eventually walk away victorious. The rematch was set for March 12th at the Watsco Center, where UM would take a 78-73 win to advance.
Canes Go Dancing
Jai Lucas in his 1st year at Miami 🏀
Hurricanes 7-24 a season ago 🟠🟢
– Finishes 3rd in ACC
– Makes NCAA Tournament
– UM wins its 26th game of the year in round 1 of March Madness
– 19-win improvement ties the largest win total turnaround in D-I men's college hoops… pic.twitter.com/pehFtrI8br
— SportswithSeb🏀🏈 (@Sportswithseb) March 24, 2026
Finishing third in the ACC after a second-round loss to Virginia, the Canes basketball season was far from over. UM has proved themselves time and time again throughout the season, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. A first-round matchup vs Missouri would end in a dominating 80-66 Canes win to advance and play Purdue. UM held a two-point halftime lead, but Purdue outscored them 41-29 in the second half to eliminate the Canes.
Despite the tough loss, the Canes accomplished something only one other team has done. The 19-win improvement tied the largest win total turnaround in D-I men’s college hoops history, a 26-9 record for first-year head coach Jai Lucas. A monumental turnaround for the program earned the Canes third in the ACC, over 25 wins, and a ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Next Season Starts Now
The roster for this team will see a major change-up next season with three starters graduating this year. Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Ernest Udeh Jr played their final collegiate game, leaving the program better than it started. These players will pave the way for future commits to see that UM is not just an excellent football program, but they can also hoop with the best. A historic turnaround for the Canes and the end of a great first year for Jai Lucas.
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