Led by the return of fifth-year guard Nijel Pack, who was named first-team preseason All-ACC and senior forward Matthew Cleveland, Miami was expected to earn a 2025 NCAA Tournament berth. Miami started the season 4-8 and losses to Presbyterian and Mt. St. Mary's were the final games Jim Larranaga would coach for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes lost their first nine games under interim head coach Bill Courtney, which extended their losing streak to 11. Miami ended the losing streak with a 63-57 win over Virginia and their interim head coach Ron Sanchez. A 91-84 win over Syracuse two games later made it two wins in three games for Miami.
Miami lost its next six games after the win over Syracuse before beating North Carolina State 72-70 on a buzzer-beating dunk by Brandon Johnson to finish the regular season. The Hurricanes finished the season with seven wins, a program-record tying 24 losses and missed the ACC Tournament.
The inability of the Miami transfers to reach what was projected of them and injuries led to arguably the worst season in Miami history based on expectations. Cleveland earned honorable mention All-ACC by averaging 17.6 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
"Grade: FMyron Medcalf, ESPN
There are no silver linings here.
The Hurricanes were picked to finish sixth in the ACC's preseason poll before falling apart in a disastrous season that featured Jim Larranaga's surprise resignation in late December. The injury to standout Nijel Pack, who played only nine games, had already put them in a difficult spot -- but Larranaga's departure forced them to tread water for three months, finishing at the bottom of the ACC only two seasons removed from their first trip to the Final Four, when they seemed poised to thrive in the current college basketball climate."
Miami was the only team in the ACC to receive an F grade from Medcalf for the 2024-25 season. Boston College, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest all received Ds. North Carolina was the only one of those teams to receive an NCAA Tournament berth and the Tar Heels won their game in the First Four.
Miami finished 3-17 in the ACC in 2024-25. The Hurricanes went from first to worst in the ACC in two seasons. Only the top 15 teams made the ACC Tournament, as North Carolina State, Boston College and Miami failed to earn berths.
Pack played in only 34 games in his final two seasons with Miami as the only remaining player from the 2024 Final Four team. Pack entered the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season and will play with Oklahoma in 2025-26. Miami lost nine other players to the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season.
Guards Jalen Blackmon and Paul Djobet and center Kiree Huie, who played in only 14 games with Miami due to injury, are still looking for new programs. New Miami head coach Jai Lucas has quickly pivoted and signed the 21st-ranked transfer class nationally, per 247Sports.