Miami Enters New Season With Revamped Roster and High Expectations

The Miami Hurricanes are entering the 2026-27 season with a significantly altered roster and a mandate for excellence, as Sports Illustrated first reported. According to the outlet, head coach Jai Lucas is integrating 12 new players into the program, though he is bringing back some returning talent.

Lucas is coming off a first-year campaign where the team posted a 26-9 record and reached the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. Despite the roster turnover, Lucas told Sports Illustrated that he welcomes the high expectations currently surrounding the program, stating that he wants the team to be in a position where they are competing for conference championships and contending for a national championship every three years.

Lucas, who draws on his previous experience at Kentucky and Duke, emphasized that achieving these goals requires a commitment to the details and a rejection of shortcuts. He noted that the process of building the team from the ground level is exciting, though the influx of new personalities and backgrounds makes the current situation different from previous experiences.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to open their season in a rematch against Florida. Sports Illustrated reports that Miami believes they are better prepared for this specific matchup than they were last season and will bring a "new edge" to the contest.