No. 22 Miami Matches School Record for Regular Season Wins in Jai Lucas' Debut

Hurricanes secure double-bye in ACC tournament with victory over SMU

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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In his first season as head coach, Jai Lucas has led the No. 22 Miami Hurricanes to 24 wins, matching the school record for most wins in a regular season. The Hurricanes defeated SMU 77-69 on Wednesday, ensuring a double-bye into the quarterfinals of the upcoming ACC tournament. Tre Donaldson scored 17 points to lead five Miami players in double figures as the team continues its impressive turnaround from last season.

Why it matters

Miami's resurgence under first-year head coach Jai Lucas has been one of the biggest stories in college basketball this season. After back-to-back losing seasons, the Hurricanes have emerged as a top-25 team and are poised for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. This regular season success is a testament to Lucas' coaching and the team's ability to buy into his vision.

The details

The Hurricanes never trailed against SMU, though the game was tied four times in the first half before Miami took the lead for good on a Noam Dovrat 3-pointer. The Hurricanes built a 16-point lead in the second half but had to hold off a late SMU rally led by Jaron Pierre Jr., who scored 25 of his 27 points after halftime. Miami's balanced scoring attack, with five players in double figures, has been a hallmark of their success this season.

  • The Hurricanes' 24 wins match the school record for most in a regular season.
  • Miami secured a double-bye into the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament with Wednesday's victory over SMU.
  • The Hurricanes play their regular-season finale at home against Louisville on Saturday.

The players

Jai Lucas

In his first season as head coach, Lucas has led the Miami Hurricanes to a 24-6 record and a top-25 ranking.

Tre Donaldson

The Hurricanes' leading scorer in the win over SMU, Donaldson had 17 points.

Noam Dovrat

The freshman guard hit a key 3-pointer to give Miami the lead for good in the first half against SMU.

Jaron Pierre Jr.

The SMU guard scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half, nearly leading a comeback against the Hurricanes.

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What they’re saying

“It takes a whole season to get there and get the guys to understand, but whenever you go into March, you want to be rounding into form. I think we're rounding into form. We're not still quite there yet, and it's just little minor tweaks that I think can make us take another jump.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach, Miami Hurricanes (wbal.com)

“For me and for us as a program, this is something we have to get comfortable in, and be comfortable with, because that is the goal. The goal is to be ranked, and the goal is be in the top half of the ACC, and be fighting for double-byes.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach, Miami Hurricanes (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Hurricanes play their regular-season finale at home against Louisville on Saturday before opening ACC tournament play five days later.

The takeaway

Jai Lucas has engineered a remarkable turnaround in his first season as Miami's head coach, leading the Hurricanes to a 24-6 record and a top-25 ranking. Their success this season has put them in position to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, a testament to Lucas' coaching and the team's ability to buy into his vision.