Miami Hurricanes' Jai Lucas Prepares for Crucial February Stretch

Head coach discusses upcoming games against Boston College and North Carolina as team aims for NCAA tournament return.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Miami Hurricanes head coach Jai Lucas is focused on the team's upcoming game against Boston College, despite a crucial matchup against No. 14 North Carolina looming. Lucas discussed the challenges Boston College's defense presents and the importance of the Hurricanes' upcoming stretch of games, which includes several highly ranked opponents. The status of key guard Tru Washington, who has missed time due to personal reasons, remains uncertain. However, freshman Dante Allen performed well in Washington's absence. Lucas also praised the growth and versatility of senior forward Malik Reneau, who was recently named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.

Why it matters

The Hurricanes are aiming to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2023, and the upcoming stretch of games will be crucial in determining their postseason fate. A strong performance against Boston College and the other highly ranked opponents on the schedule could solidify Miami's position as an NCAA tournament team.

The details

The Hurricanes face Boston College on Saturday, followed by a matchup against No. 14 North Carolina on Tuesday. Boston College enters the game with a 2-7 conference record and a strong defensive unit, which Lucas says the Hurricanes will need to find ways to attack. After the Boston College game, the Hurricanes will face a difficult stretch of games, with three of their next four opponents ranked as a No. 7 seed or higher in the latest bracketology projections. Winning at least two of these games, along with the Boston College matchup, would put the Hurricanes in a strong position to make the NCAA tournament.

  • The Hurricanes play Boston College on Saturday, February 8, 2026 at 2 p.m.
  • The Hurricanes play North Carolina on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Jai Lucas

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team.

Tru Washington

A key guard for the Miami Hurricanes who has missed time due to personal reasons.

Dante Allen

A freshman guard for the Miami Hurricanes who played well in Tru Washington's absence.

Malik Reneau

A senior forward for the Miami Hurricanes who was recently named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.

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What they’re saying

“They're big. They're physical. They do a great job of protecting the paint. They do a great job, especially in their ball screen coverages, of rotations and getting back in front.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach (on3.com)

“I feel [that] we're right where we need to be. Of course you have two one-possession losses that could go either way, and you look at it differently. We've grown from those losses. I feel the team has done a good job throughout the season, just getting better and dealing with adversity.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach (on3.com)

“He's not back yet. He's still dealing with some personal stuff, and we're just here to support him, and whenever he's ready to come back and rejoin the team, and whenever he is able to do that, we're here.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach (on3.com)

“It just shows you, one, just his growth [that] he's made this year. And it also just goes to show that you can go somewhere else and kind of reinvent yourself, and you can become someone else, and he's been able to do that.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Hurricanes will need to win at least two of their next four games, which include matchups against highly ranked opponents, in order to solidify their position as an NCAA tournament team.

The takeaway

The Miami Hurricanes are in a crucial stretch of their season as they aim to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2023. Head coach Jai Lucas is focused on the team's upcoming game against Boston College, but the Hurricanes will also need to perform well against several highly ranked opponents in the coming weeks to boost their postseason chances.