Jai Lucas used a tight rotation in his first season with Miami. Only seven players averaged double-figure minutes. In the 79-69 NCAA Tournament loss to Purdue on Sunday, Lucas primarily used a six-player rotation. There are three Miami players to watch as potentially entering the Transfer Portal.
Guard Noam Dovrat and forwards Salih Altuntas and Timo Malovec are all Miami players to watch as potentially entering the transfer portal. Miami loses senior starters, guard Tre Donaldson, forward Malik Reneau and center Ernest Udeh Jr. from the 2025-26 roster.
Altunas played in all 31 regular-season games, averaging 1.6 points per game, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 fouls in 7.9 minutes. The only postseason game Altunas played between the ACC and NCAA Tournaments was against Virginia. In the ACC Tournament semifinal, Altunas played seven minutes with two rebounds, three fouls and a turnover.
Altunas played double-digit minutes in eight games during the 2025-26 season. All of the games that Altunas played double-digit minutes in occurred before the calendar flipped to 2026. Altunas had season highs of 21 minutes, 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 97-41 win over Delaware State on November 23.
Miami in Year 1 under Jai Lucas:
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 22, 2026
🟢 Won a tournament game
🟢 26-9 overall record
🟢 Reached ACC semifinals
In the two years prior:
🟠Zero tournament appearances
🟠22-41 overall record
🟠9-31 ACC record
The Hurricanes are in good hands.#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/SqSGx2gQwh
The shooter Miami needs
If Dovrat stays with Miami, he can develop into the shooter the Hurricanes lacked in 2025-26. Dovrat averaged 9.4 minutes, 3.8 PPG and 1.0 assist while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 46.6 percent on three-point attempts with a 63.7 eFG percentage.
Dovrat played double-digit minutes 11 times during the 2025-26 season. Three times during the 2025-26 season, Dovrat scored in double figures. Dovrat had a season high 12 points, all on three-point shots, as Miami won 77-69 at SMU in the Hurricanes' final 2025-26 road game.
Malovec played in 33 games, averaging 14.9 MPG, 4.2 PPG and 1.3 RPG on 35.0 percent from the field and 33.0 percent on three-point attempts. Malovec was a key part of the Miami rotation, playing double-figure minutes in 27 games during the 2025-26 season.
In an 88-64 win over Southern Mississippi on December 6, Malovec had season highs of 31 minutes played, 16 points, five of 11 from the field and four out of 10 on three-point attempts with two rebounds. Malovec had a season-best six rebounds in 29 minutes against Delaware State.
The minutes for Malovec mostly waned at the end of the season. In the two ACC Tournament games and two in the NCAA Tournament, Malovec played a combined 17 minutes with three points and only three shot attempts. Malovec could return in 2025-26 with a potentially bigger role or seek a more guaranteed position with another program.