Fresh off a historic turnaround, Jai Lucas and the Miami Hurricanes eye a second ACC crown with a high-stakes slate featuring crucial road tests against Duke and North Carolina.
Miami, FL. – Following a historic 26-9 turnaround season, the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program continues to schedule elite competition. It was previously reported that coach Jai Lucas and the team will play in two neutral sites, facing the Florida Gators and Texas Longhorns, plus a trip to Las Vegas to participate in the Players Era Tournament in an opening round matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs.
However, the most important games come against other Atlantic Coast Conference programs. The Hurricanes went 13-5 in ACC play last season, including a standout victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Watsco Center, and finished third in the standings.
Given the amount of fresh talent added to the roster, plus the retention of sophomores Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson, the University of Miami could be looking to add its second ACC basketball crown in history. On Thursday morning, the Hurricanes announced the 2026-27 conference schedule, with official times and television distributions not mentioned.
They will face the Florida State Seminoles and Pitt Panthers at the Watsco Center and on the road. The Hurricanes are 15-32 against the Tallahassee in-state rival since 2003. The program had lost six consecutive matchups until Feb. 24, with an 83-73 victory at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
The Hurricanes will host the Clemson Tigers, North Carolina State Wolfpack, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, SMU Mustangs, Syracuse Orange, Virginia Cavaliers, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
On the road, the team will have opportunities to stack Quad 1 victories for the NCAA Tournament resume: Duke Blue Devils, Tar Heels, and Louisville Cardinals. Despite each program losing a lottery prospect to the upcoming NBA Draft (Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, and Mikel Brown Jr.), they are still expected to compete. The Hurricanes defeated the Tar Heels in a regular-season matchup, plus the Cardinals in the ACC Tournament.
Also on the traveling schedule: California Golden Bears, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Stanford Cardinal, and Virginia Tech Hokies.
Despite falling short of a Sweet 16 appearance, the Hurricanes have the components to compete among the best in the nation. Coach Lucas is making basketball relevant in Coral Gables. The 37-year-old added a couple of top-market transfer portal acquisitions in guard Acaden Lewis and center Somto Cyril, along with other pieces looking to make an impact.
The Hurricanes are likely to enter the 2026-27 season ranked among the nation’s top-25. After successfully establishing a foundation and winning standards, the program will soon start taking extra steps forward.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
