Coach Jai Lucas debuts a revamped roster in a high-stakes Tampa doubleheader, seeking redemption against a veteran Florida Gators squad to ignite the Miami Hurricanes’ highly anticipated season.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program is building off the latest success. Coming off a historic 26-9 turnaround season, coach Jai Lucas revamped the roster with top-market transfer portal talent, including guard Acaden Lewis and Somto Cyril. They are an early favorite to be ranked among the Associated Press’ top-25 preseason list.
The program still has two open roster spots, but the team will have an early test to tip off the regular season. It was reported on Tuesday that the Hurricanes will face the Florida Gators in Tampa to start the college basketball year on Nov. 2. The matchup will be part of a doubleheader with the Florida A&M Rattlers facing the Florida State Seminoles.
The Hurricanes and Gators faced each other last season in a neutral site at Jacksonville. Despite the game being played at a neutral site, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, the crowd had a Gainesville home-game feeling. It was the first big test for coach Lucas and the team, but they didn’t meet the challenge.
Notable returns from the previous matchup are Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen, Thomas Haugh, and Alex Condon. A few key departures for the 2026 NBA Draft are Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, Ernest Udeh Jr., and Rueben Chinyelu.
The Hurricanes surpassed expectations last season, finishing third in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. They earned a standout victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels, holding NBA prospect Caleb Wilson to 12 points on 40 percent shooting. The revamped roster is expected to take things a step further.
The former reigning champion Gators were one of the most dominant teams in the nation, finishing the regular season with an 11-game win streak. They had the best record in the Southeastern Conference, but suffered an upsetting loss in the NCAA Tournament to the Iowa Hawkeyes, abruptly ending the back-to-back campaign.
Haugh and Condon’s returns could be described as surprising, as both were projected as first-rounders in the upcoming NBA Draft. They were on the National Championship-winning roster in 2025, playing key roles in the success, but there is a sense of unfinished business after falling short of another deep run.
There were premature reports about the Hurricanes and Gators looking to face off again on the court, but there weren’t any early indications that it would land as the season opener.
An official announcement of the matchup has not yet been published. The streaming platform wasn’t shared in the report, but the expectation would be ESPN. More information will be shared as the new college basketball season approaches.
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