By: Ethan Horner
(Photo/Miami Hurricanes Athletics)
The Miami Hurricanes enter the season ranked No. 14 in the country as head coach Jai Lucas begins his second season at the helm. Miami is coming off a strong first year under Lucas, finishing with a 26-9 record before falling to the No. 2-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Hurricanes have high hopes of making a deeper postseason run this year, returning key players while adding the No. 7-ranked transfer class and five-star freshman Caleb Gaskins. The transfer class is highlighted by guard Acaden Lewis, who joins Miami from Villanova. The Hurricanes’ key returning players include sophomore Shelton Henderson and fifth-year senior Malik Reneau. Both players bring valuable experience and familiarity with the offense. Reneau’s return is especially important for Miami’s rebounding and defense, while also giving the Hurricanes one of the country’s top scoring big men.
Miami got its first look at the new roster last Friday in an exhibition matchup against No. 24 Vanderbilt, earning an impressive 109-96 victory. Lewis led the way, shooting 9-for-12 from the field and finishing with 23 points and 10 assists. True freshman Caleb Gaskins also made an immediate impact, knocking down four of his five attempts from beyond the arc while scoring 20 points. Henderson became the third Hurricane to score at least 15 points, finishing with 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting while also contributing on the boards.
Miami secured the 13-point victory without Reneau available, an encouraging sign heading into the regular season. If the Hurricanes can consistently get production from Lewis, Gaskins, and Henderson while integrating Reneau into the lineup, they could develop into one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
The Hurricanes open their regular season next Monday, November 2, against the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators. There will be no easing into the season for Miami, as the Hurricanes will immediately face one of the toughest challenges in college basketball. The opening matchup will provide an early opportunity to see how Miami measures up against the nation’s top-ranked team and whether this roster has what it takes to make a serious postseason run.