The University of Miami men’s basketball team continues to gain national recognition as the Hurricanes re-entered both major polls this week following a strong stretch of play.
Miami checked in at No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll on Monday, marking the program’s first appearance in the rankings since Dec. 11, 2023.
The Hurricanes have built that momentum by winning six of their last seven games, improving their overall record to 23-6 while posting a 12-4 mark in ACC play.
The turnaround has been especially notable under first-year head coach Jai Lucas, who has guided Miami to one of the best seasons in program history during his debut campaign. The Hurricanes’ 23 wins already stand as the most ever recorded by a Miami team led by a first-year head coach. Even more impressive, the program’s 16-win improvement from last season represents the largest year-to-year turnaround by any team in the country.
Miami now enters the final week of the regular season with several program milestones within reach. The Hurricanes are one victory away from tying the school record for most regular-season wins and are also on the verge of matching the program’s mark for home victories, currently holding a 15-2 record at the Watsco Center.
Saturday’s win over Boston College helped solidify Miami’s return to the AP Top 25 and further highlighted the team’s recent surge. Within the conference, the Hurricanes currently stand as the fourth-highest ranked ACC team behind No. 1 Duke, No. 13 Virginia, and No. 17 North Carolina.
Miami has faced several top opponents throughout the season, posting a 1-2 record against teams currently ranked in the poll. The Hurricanes earned a signature victory over North Carolina but fell short in matchups against Florida and Virginia.
Two important games now await the Hurricanes to close out the regular season. Miami will travel to face SMU on Wednesday night before returning home for the regular-season finale against Louisville on Saturday.
