Ayrton Oneill
The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team has had its ups and downs over the years. Formed in 1926, the team was dropped by the University in 1971, only to resume play in 1985 and join the Big East Conference in 1991. Since then, the Hurricanes have had some notable successes, including winning the ACC tournament title in 2013 and reaching the Final Four in 2023. However, they have also experienced setbacks, such as a recent eight-game losing streak under interim head coach Bill Courtney during the 2024-25 season. The team has a rich history and a passionate fan base, with students packing the arena for games and creating a vibrant atmosphere. With new players joining the squad and a recent coaching change, the Miami Hurricanes are looking to improve their performance in the upcoming seasons.
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What You'll Learn
The Miami Hurricanes' worst start
The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team has had its fair share of ups and downs since its formation in 1926. The team experienced a period of inactivity from 1971 to 1985, when it resumed play as an independent team before joining the Big East Conference in 1991. While they have had some notable successes, including reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament multiple times and winning the ACC tournament title in 2013, the 2024-25 season marked one of their worst starts in recent memory.
Under the leadership of fourteenth-year head coach Divine Ugochukwu, the Hurricanes began the 2024-25 season with three consecutive victories over non-Power 4 opponents. However, their luck quickly took a turn for the worse. The team suffered a string of losses in quick succession, starting with a defeat to Drake in the Charleston Classic Quarterfinals. They then lost to Oklahoma State and VCU, finishing in eighth place in the tournament. Their struggles continued with close losses to Charleston Southern and Arkansas in the ACC-SEC Challenge.
The coaching change from Jim Larrañaga to Bill Courtney midway through the season did little to improve their fortunes. In fact, the Hurricanes went on an eight-game losing streak under Courtney, which included narrow losses to Virginia Tech, Florida State, and California. They finally broke the streak with a win against Notre Dame but soon found themselves in another six-game losing streak, capped off by a defeat at the hands of the second-ranked Duke.
The Hurricanes finished the 2024-25 season with a disappointing overall record of 7-24 and a conference record of 3-17, placing them in eighteenth place in the ACC standings. Their poor performance resulted in them failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament, the NCAA Tournament, or the NIT. This marked a significant low point for the team, highlighting the challenges they faced during one of their worst starts in recent memory.
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Jim Larrañaga's resignation
On December 26, 2024, Jim Larrañaga announced his resignation as head coach of the University of Miami's men's basketball team, the Hurricanes. Larrañaga stepped down amid his 14th season as Miami head coach, citing exhaustion with the new era of NIL-fuelled college basketball recruiting. He said: "I'm exhausted. I've tried every which way to keep this going... There is never a great moment to step away, but I owe it to our student-athletes, our staff and the University of Miami to make this move now when my heart is simply no longer in the game."
Larrañaga's resignation came as a surprise to many, given his long and successful coaching career. He had taken over as Miami's head coach in 2011, leading the Hurricanes to six NCAA tournament appearances, four Sweet 16 appearances, and a Final Four run in 2023. During his tenure, Miami won two ACC regular-season championships and achieved a record of 274-174, becoming the winningest coach in the program's history.
In the 2023 tournament, the Hurricanes made history by defeating top regional seed Houston and second-seeded Texas, advancing to the program's first-ever Final Four. However, they were eliminated by eventual champion UConn. Following this successful season, Miami ended the 2023-24 season with a 10-game losing streak and a 15-17 record.
The 75-year-old Larrañaga expressed his struggle to adapt to the new era of NIL-influenced college basketball, where players could be openly paid by boosters. He acknowledged that the game had become professional and that he lacked the energy to navigate the new landscape. Larrañaga's departure from Miami left a lasting impact on the program, with Associate Head Coach Bill Courtney named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
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The team's 2012-2013 season
The 2012–2013 season was a successful one for the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team. Led by second-year head coach Jim Larrañaga, the team represented the University of Miami during the 2012–2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. With a veteran roster, the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a conference record of 15–3 and won the ACC regular-season championship—the program's first-ever outright regular-season conference championship.
The Hurricanes entered the ACC tournament as the top seed and, after defeating Boston College and NC State, they beat North Carolina to capture the 2013 ACC tournament championship. This made the University of Miami the first ACC school other than Duke or North Carolina to win both the ACC regular season and tournament championships in the same season since the 1974 NC State team.
The Hurricanes were selected as a 2-seed in the South Region of the 2013 NCAA tournament. They beat 15-seed Pacific in the second round and 7-seed Illinois in the third round to advance to the sweet sixteen, where they lost to Marquette. They finished the season with a record of 29–7, their most victories in a season up to that point.
Individually, Shane Larkin stood out for the Hurricanes in 2012-2013. He was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Year and was included in the AP, NABC Second Team, Sporting News Third Team, John Wooden All-American, and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award and John R. Wooden Award. Larrañaga was also recognised for his achievements, being voted the Associated Press' college basketball coach of the year.
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The 2022-2023 season
The 2022-2023 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team represented the University of Miami during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hurricanes, led by twelfth-year head coach Jim Larrañaga, played their home games at the Watsco Center on the university's campus in Coral Gables, Florida, as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Hurricanes had a strong non-conference schedule, facing opponents from the Big East and Big Ten, including Providence, Maryland/St. Louis, and Rutgers. They also faced Central Florida, who handed them their first loss of the season in the previous year. Miami added some key transfers, including forward Norchad Omier and guard Nijel Pack, to a roster that already included veterans like playmaker Isaiah Wong.
The Hurricanes finished the season with an impressive 29–8 record and a 15–5 record in ACC play, tying for first place and clinching a share of the regular-season title. This was their second ACC regular-season title in program history, the first being in 2013. As the first seed in the ACC tournament, they earned a bye to the Quarterfinals, where they defeated Wake Forest before losing to eventual champion Duke in the Semifinals.
The Hurricanes received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the fifth seed in the Midwest Region. They won their first three games, defeating Drake, Indiana, and Houston, before falling to Texas in the Regional Final. This game was a close contest, with Miami losing by only three points.
Overall, the 2022-2023 season was a successful one for the Miami Hurricanes, as they finished with a strong record, won a share of the regular-season title, and made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
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Jai Lucas' appointment
On March 6, 2025, Jai Lucas was appointed as the 14th head coach of the University of Miami's men's basketball program. Lucas, who had spent the previous three seasons at Duke University as an assistant coach and associate head coach, replaced Jim Larrañaga, who retired in December 2024 after 14 seasons with the Hurricanes.
Lucas acknowledged that his coaching pedigree lacked head coaching experience but believed that his time at "'Blue Blood'" programs had prepared him for the role. He is the son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas, and his father's influence and success in the NBA and college basketball circles were noted by many as a positive factor in his appointment.
Lucas began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Texas, where he spent seven seasons. He then moved on to the University of Kentucky and Duke University, helping those programs to seven NCAA Tournament appearances combined. Lucas played an integral role in Duke's recruiting success, landing the nation's top recruiting class in 2024 and 2025.
The University of Miami's athletic director, Dan Radakovich, expressed his excitement about welcoming Lucas, highlighting his innovative coaching style, relentless recruiting, and proven talent for development. Lucas himself shared his gratitude and honour at being appointed, praising the university's elite academics, passionate fan base, and commitment to excellence in athletics. He also emphasised the abundance of basketball talent in Florida and his intention to build on the foundation laid by Larrañaga.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Miami men's basketball team was formed in 1926 but was dropped by the university in 1971. The team resumed play in 1985 and joined the Big East Conference in 1991. They moved to the ACC in 2004 and won their first ACC championship in 2012-2013. The Hurricanes have since become regular contenders in the ACC and nationally.
Jim Larrañaga, who joined in 2011, led the team to its first-ever winning record in the ACC. He also coached the Hurricanes to their first ACC tournament title in 2013. Jai Lucas, previously an associate head coach at Duke, was named the new head coach following Larrañaga's resignation.
The Hurricanes have experienced some recent struggles, with one source citing issues with transfer players not performing at the required level. Despite this, they have had some notable player transfers, such as Tru Washington, Ernest Udeh, and Malik Reneau, who joined for the 2025-26 season.
