Head coach Jai Lucas returns to familiar territory as the Miami Hurricanes prepare for a high-stakes Houston clash against the Texas Longhorns in an Elite Eight rematch.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program already has exciting matchups scheduled for the 2026-27 season. They will face the Florida Gators in college basketball’s opener at Tampa, then travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, and partake in the Players Era Tournament. Coming off a historic 26-9 turnaround season, coach Jai Lucas is amplifying the level of competition in the upcoming schedule, but it might not compare to a hometown reunion.
It was originally reported on Friday afternoon that the Hurricanes will face the Texas Longhorns. There isn’t an official date listed, but the matchup is set to take place in Houston. However, instead of playing at Moody Center, both teams will meet in a “neutral” environment: the Toyota Center, home of the two-time NBA Champion Houston Rockets.
Coach Lucas isn’t just a Texas native, but an alumnus of the University of Texas. After playing for the Florida Gators as a freshman for the 2007-08 season, he transferred to the Longhorns, playing as a junior and senior. Lucas averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists in 58 total games with the local program. After calling it quits as a player, he spent seven seasons on the Longhorns staff, the beginning of a long college coaching career.
Lucas made a couple of stops with the Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils before arriving at Coral Gables. The 37-year-old delivered an immediate, significant impact on the Hurricanes men’s basketball program as a first-time head coach. After successfully establishing the foundation and standard, coach Lucas is prepared to kick things up a notch.
The Hurricanes last faced the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament on May 26, 2023. It was the Elite 8; coach Jim Larranaga and the team faced a 13-point deficit. However, the Hurricanes displayed resilience under the bright lights, carving out a 13-2 run to complete a comeback and earn an 88-81 victory, clinching a spot in the Final Four.
Coach Lucas is looking to contend among the nation’s best. He successfully revamped the Hurricanes’ roster, including sophomore guard Acaden Lewis, who officially withdrew from the upcoming NBA Draft on Friday. They’re expected to be one of the best teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Despite the University of Miami finding tremendous success in football and baseball, the men’s basketball program has never won a National Championship. However, coach Lucas is looking to change that, taking the process one step at a time.
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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
