This team might be a wagon, folks! The Miami Hurricanes had very little issues putting away the Missouri Tigers in their No. 7 vs. No. 10 first-round game. Miami may have only had a one-point lead heading into halftime, but as the night started to wind down, that is when Jai Lucas' team put on a clinic. Miami crushed Dennis Gates' team in the second half 53-40 to win quite comfortably, 80-66.
And with this game being played in Saint Louis, the Hurricanes put the Tigers out of their Missouri!
PUT THEM OUT OF THEIR MISSOURI 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JtYK4k9HbL
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) March 21, 2026
The fact Miami was able to win in St. Louis over a quality Missouri team speaks volumes. St. Louis is one of the two metroplexes the University of Missouri primarily draws from, with the other being on the other side of the state in Kansas City. It was a very pro-Missouri crowd with a very late tip, but that did not matter for the Canes. They are moving on to the Round of 32 after Malik Reneau's great game.
Reneau led the way with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal vs. Missouri.
Miami took Missouri's lunch money and stuffed the Tigers into a locker
Although the NCAA did not do Miami any favors with such a quick turnaround vs. No. 2 Purdue in their upcoming Round of 32 game on Sunday, we should be fired up over what this team is capable of. Anytime the Hurricanes have a team that is worth celebrating, they let you know all about it. The fact that Purdue is led by Matt Painter, a coach infamous for early-round exits, Miami is thinking Sweet 16.
Even though FanDuel Sportsbook has Miami getting 7.5 points vs. Purdue ahead of their early Sunday afternoon tipoff, Lucas' team will take it. What can we even possibly glean from Purdue's cakewalk of a first-round game over No. 15 Queens? When it comes to Miami, we saw firsthand a team that battled in incredibly adverse situations, enough to beat a quality team in their backyard.
Overall, in the event that No. 7 Miami does beat No. 2 in its Round of 32 game, get ready for the national media to fall in love with this team. It may be an entirely new cast of characters under Lucas' watch, but they are playing together the right way. Friday night may have been Reneau's time to shine, but other guys like Tre Donaldson, Tru Washington, or Ernest Udeh Jr. may need to come up big next.
For now, misery loves company, and that seems to be what is right at home for Missouri after Friday.