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Oct 7, 2026 12:00 PM
Following a historic turnaround, Jai Lucas leads a rebuilt Miami Hurricanes roster into a high-stakes opener against Florida, signaling an emergence as a formidable threat in the ACC.
MIAMI, Fla. – In less than a month, the Miami Hurricanes will tip off the 2026-27 college basketball season against the Florida Gators in Tampa, ranked No. 12 in the NCAA’s Power 44 rankings.
Coming off a 26-9 historic turnaround season, head coach Jai Lucas is looking to elevate the program further. He assembled a roster with eight transfers, two freshmen, and three returners, including All-ACC fifth-year forward Malik Reneau. The Hurricanes ranked second among Atlantic Coast Conference programs, with No. 2 Duke at the top.
Before Lucas arrived, Coral Gables basketball was in a rough patch. Former head coach Jim Larranaga retired in late December of the 2024-25 season and the Hurricanes finished with a 7-24 overall record. After Lucas was named the head coach, the roster would soon be empty – no returning players. He took the opportunity to rebuild “The U” from the ground up and made the most of an unconventional situation.
The first-time head coach assembled a roster of six transfers, two freshmen, and three international talents. Lucas led the Hurricanes to exceed expectations in the regular season and return to March Madness. Despite falling short of a Sweet 16 appearance, it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Lucas managed to retain Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson, both of whom were starters last season as freshmen. They’re expected to take on more responsibilities and make a jump in production. Henderson has the higher potential with plenty of room to grow. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points on 56.7 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 35 games (all starts).
The 19-year-old is known to be a force in the paint with a 6-6 and 239-pound frame, plus explosive athleticism. Henderson could emerge as a first-round selection in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Last season, the Hurricanes struggled to generate consistent offense from outside the arc. Lucas pointed to three transfers – DeSean Goode (Robert Morris), Nick Dorn (Indiana), and Brent Bland (Saint Peter’s) – as key solutions. The Hurricanes have a plethora of talent capable of competing against elite opponents.
After establishing a new foundation and standard in Coral Gables, Lucas has an opportunity to carve out greater success. The Hurricanes will enter the 2026-27 season among the top contenders in the ACC and potentially emerge as a dark horse for the National Championship. As football and baseball have several titles, basketball is looking to catch up.
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