Jai Lucas has completely turned the Miami basketball program around in his first year. Miami is 23-6 entering its final two regular-season games. The Hurricanes finished 7-24 last season. Miami can set the program record for regular-season wins with victories at SMU and over Louisville in its last two games.
Miami finished the 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2022-23 seasons with 24-6 records. The record does not include the ACC or NCAA Tournaments. Miami won the ACC regular season titles in 2012-13 and 2022-23. The 2012-13 Miami team also won the ACC Tournament.
All three of the previous Miami teams to win 24 regular-season games advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals. In 2022-23, Miami advanced to its only Final Four in program history. This season will be the lowest-seeded Miami NCAA Tournament team if they win 24 regular-season games.
Jim Larranaga led Miami to all of the 24-win regular seasons in Miami history. The 2012-13 team that won 24 regular-season games came during Larranaga's second year with Miami. Even more amazing with the accomplishment of being on the precipice of 24 regular-season wins is that this is the first season for Lucas as a head coach anywhere.
Miami is sitting at 23-6.
— TrintonBreeze (@TrintonBreeze) March 2, 2026
Since the program returned in 1985, the Hurricanes have never won more than 24 regular-season games.
• 2012-13 24-6 (finished 29-7, Sweet 16)
• 2015-16 24-6 (finished 27-8, Sweet 16)
• 2022-23 24-6 (finished 29-8, Final Four)
One more win ties it.…
Lucas making an immediate impact
Larranga was in his 27th season as a head coach when he led Miami to 24 regular-season wins. Lucas has an exceptional pedigree as a player at Florida and Texas and an assistant coach with the Longhorns, Kentucky and Duke. The Miami recruiting has immediately been elevated under Lucas.
Miami has shown resilience and toughness throughout the 2025-26 season. North Carolina State led Miami by seven points with under a minute left in the game before the Hurricanes rallied for an improbable win. Lucas has built a defensive-minded team first that thrives on inside scoring
Miami is currently third in the ACC with a 12-4 record and is 23-6 overall. Virginia is second in the ACC at 13-3 and holds the tiebreaker over Miami. North Carolina and Clemson are fourth and fifth in the ACC with 11-5 records. The top four teams in the ACC receive double byes in the conference tournament to the quarterfinals.