The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball squad is currently four games into the Jai Lucas era, owning a 3-1 record. It’s been a promising start to the 2025-26 season, as the team has shown glimpses of what could be a surprise contender in the ACC. Miami has yet to face an opponent from outside the state of Florida, but it has generally looked cohesive and strong as a unit.
The Canes won their first three contests against Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman, and Stetson by an average of 32.6 points per game. Then, last Sunday, the team fought but failed to pull off an upset of No. 10 Florida in an 82-68 defeat. During this opening stretch, Lucas’ team has given the college basketball world a glimpse of how they like to play and their strengths.
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Indiana Transfer Is The Leading Man
Malik Reneau has been the brightest star for the Canes during the early portion of the season. It’s fitting, as Reneau was the first acquisition out of the portal when Lucas got the head coaching job at UM. He has led the team in scoring by averaging 21.5 points per game. The former Hoosier is also the second-leading rebounder and shot blocker, only behind fellow frontcourt partner Ernest Udeh Jr.
The senior forward was set to high expectations by Lucas, both through his play and his leadership. After Reneau’s debut, Lucas clearly stated his intentions on how the big man would be featured in the offense.
“Malik, I feel just moving forward will be our leading scorer. Part of that is just the position he’s in at the four, and being a bigger four, and just the advantage, and the mismatches they have on a daily basis.” – Jai Lucas Postgame Presser vs. Jacksonville
Other than him being the offensive catalyst, the Miami native has improved his rebounding total each game, going from grabbing only two boards in the season opener to 11 in the recent loss to the defending champion Gators. He’s posted back-to-back 22-point double-doubles.
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Transitioning into a team’s main scorer for the first time is a daunting challenge. However, he’s succeeded so far. Despite playing particularly well, Reneau has been hard on himself. This was never more evident than after the team’s first loss of the year. He still feels like there is room for him to grow as a leader through communication.
“Having new guys around me and just not being that vocal leader that I’m supposed to be for my guys. Just moving forward, I got to be more vocal and a bigger leader to these guys, especially because we are all 14 coming together.” – Malik Reneau Postgame Presser vs. Florida
Transferring to a new program is a tough change. The transition is even rockier when a player is tasked with being the veteran of the group. It takes time to fully be on the same page with the rest of the team. Despite Reneau’s tough self-criticism, he has done a good job thus far, as his communication skills have shone through the chemistry with his frontcourt partners.
Frontcourt Play Has Excelled Early
Along with Reneau, other players at the forward and center spots have impressed in different ways. Another veteran who shares time in the starting lineup with the power forward is Ernest Udeh Jr. Udeh has been inserted into the starting lineup at the five and has served as the squad’s leading rebounder (9.2 RPG) and top lob threat. The Orlando native quickly built a deep connection with Reneau when both arrived in Coral Gables, and it was seen immediately on opening night.
“It’s big. When I see him in the dunker spot, the big one has to guard both of us, and that’s tough. I’ve got good touch around the rim, so the defense has to pick their poison, either I score, or it’s a lob to him, or I get fouled. That’s how I ended up with 12 free throws. Defensively, too, it’s about communication. We both know we’re the anchors, and we take pride in being physical and holding it down inside.” – Reneau Postgame Presser vs. Jacksonville
Udeh’s ability to collect boards was never in question. Last season, while at TCU, he ranked 12th in the Big 12 for total rebounds (226) and has already grabbed 36 of them through four games as a Hurricane. More importantly, he can be a great rim protector. Currently, the center averages two blocks a night and has continued to be one of the best throughout the nation.
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The other frontcourt starter is highly touted freshman Shelton Henderson, who plays at the small forward spot. Henderson, from Bellaire, Texas, was originally recruited by Lucas at Duke. Lucas is from the same town, and Henderson committed to the Blue Devils before flipping to UM after the head coach’s hiring.
He has been inconsistent. However, it’s expected for someone who’s playing power conference ball at the tender age of 19. Still, the youngster has shown flashes of the chiseled marvel of an athlete he can be with more seasoning. His big and soft hands, long wingspan, love for contact, and attacking style will enable Henderson to enjoy future success as a star and top-scoring option.
For now, he is in a supporting role for Udeh Jr. and Reneau. He isn’t given the high-leverage responsibilities when Miami has possession, but he’s had a couple of standout performances. Against Jacksonville, Henderson posted 15 points on 75 percent shooting and did the same against Stetson. He also recorded nine rebounds against Bethune-Cookman.
One thing he needs to improve is his handling of the ball. In almost every game thus far, the 6’6” swingman has committed multiple turnovers. Also, developing his jumper is another key for him to grow as a player. If he can become an elite shooter, which is one of the most sought-after skills in modern basketball, the sky will be the limit for the exciting freshman.
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Backcourt Is Poster Child For Tough, Gritty Style
People who have watched this team since the season began know their characteristics. Tough, gritty, imposing, and physical. This is the style that Jai Lucas wanted to implement. The roster is filled with those types of players. The two catalysts behind that culture are starting guards Tre Donaldson and Tru Washington. Donaldson runs the show at the point, while Washington has occupied the shooting guard spot.
Both transferred in from Michigan and New Mexico, respectively. They were brought in to help build a winning culture, and both have the resume and pedigree of winning basketball. Donaldson, a senior from Tallahassee, spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Auburn, mainly coming off the bench. For the Wolverines, last season, he became a starter for the first time.
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Washington, on the other hand, was one of the UNM Lobos’ top players last season after coming off the bench his freshman season in 2023-24. Both bring big game experience. Donaldson has seen the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons and helped lead Michigan to the Sweet 16 last year. Washington helped New Mexico to back-to-back March Madness appearances since the early 2010s. Also, the Lobos won their first tournament game since 2014, when they upset Marquette as a 10-seed.
They have brought the winning attitude and mindset to Coral Gables. Both have contributed to scoring, as Donaldson is averaging 15.5 points per game and Washington is pouring in 14 per night. The 6’3” point guard has also fit the role of an old-school, traditional facilitator for the offense, pairing six assists per game to go along with the 15.5 points.
The most admirable part of their play is how they get involved in doing the dirty work. Donaldson and Washington are in on every play defensively. They have made the opposition uncomfortable and have gotten their hands on the ball, evidenced by their combined 4.5 steals per game. The backcourt is aggressive in forcing turnovers and getting the offense on the break.
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Both are equated to the physical reputation of play that Jai Lucas wants at Miami. They’re always into the game and always give an effort of more than 100 percent. Donaldson can take games over if needed, and it has been seen already. The Michigan transfer gave insight into his aggressive play on both ends of the court after the team’s win over Bethune-Cookman, where he scored 23 points.
“I’m a pass-first point guard, so being aggressive helps our team. The layups and early buckets were just good looks I had, but nothing was forced. It was all about taking the right shots and getting my teammates involved. Being aggressive the right way—that was the focus.” – Donaldson on being aggressive against Bethune -Cookman
He also spoke about the suffocating defense that he’s played a big role in enforcing.
“As a leader, it’s important. If my teammates see me pressing and being pesky on the ball, it gives them confidence to do the same. When we’re able to deflect passes, push teams off the line, and make them uncomfortable, it makes our whole defense better, especially with Earnest (Udeh Jr.) and Malik on the back end.” – Donaldson on defensive pressure
Defense Has Been Significant In Early Success
The starting guards deflecting passes and racking up steals is only part of the story. Miami’s defense is much improved from last season, and is one of the stingiest units in all of Division 1 basketball to open the 2025-26 season. The Hurricanes are just outside the top-100 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 68.2 points per game.
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That’s not too shabby considering there are 365 teams in Division 1 college basketball. While the unit has had moments of breakdowns, especially in the game against Florida, positive results have been seen. Through four games, the Canes have forced a total of 59 turnovers, an average of almost 15 per game. A positive turnover margin of +16 has been recorded through that stretch.
Not only have they done a decent job at limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities and creating havoc, but they have also done a great job defending the perimeter. Of the 112 3-pointers that opponents have attempted, they have only connected on 31 of them, creating a horrendous 27.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Amongst the trio of takeaways, eliminating the 3, and not getting lit up, UM is one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Miami is tied for 38th in the nation by averaging 30 boards on the defensive glass, mainly thanks to the duo of Udeh Jr. and Reaneau (7.3 RPG). However, even Donaldson and Washington have contributed, combining for nearly seven rebounds a night.
Henderson has averaged four boards himself, and key bench players such as forward Marcus Allen and freshman guard Dante Allen (no relation) have stepped up and have contributed to the rebounding. The team as a whole has averaged 8.5 steals and four blocked shots per contest. Overall, they have been solid, and as the year progresses, the defense could get even better.
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Intriguing Depth Gives Lucas Lineup Options
The depth coming off the bench for Miami is not as deep as some other teams, but it is good enough to get the ball rolling for the program. Similar to the starting unit, the bench primarily relies on veteran transfers from power programs, but has one up-and-coming freshman in Dante Allen.
Dante, a Montverde native, originally committed to Villanova to follow in his father’s footsteps. Malik Allen, who is now an assistant on the NBA’s Miami Heat, was a four-year center for the Wildcats. However, Dante’s decision changed when the school fired Kyle Neptune last season after missing the NCAA Tournament.
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That led to him flipping his commitment to Miami. The 6-foot-4 guard has appeared in all four games and has shown the potential to be a great scorer with a great floor general alongside him. The freshman has averaged 19 minutes per contest as one of the top players off the bench.
Allen put together a standout performance against Bethune-Cookman(12 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 71 FG%) on November 6. However, as is often the case, he has mostly struggled when shooting the ball, trying to find his footing at the collegiate level. This includes an underwhelming debut when he didn’t score in 18 minutes against Jacksonville, and a 3-for-9 shooting night against Stetson on November 10.
However, he has shown an I.Q. that only sons of coaches have. He’s a powerful combo guard that can play on or off the ball and can impact games defensively, adding to an already stout team. Another contributor, albeit more consistent and with some more experience, is Marcus Allen. The 6-feet-7 wing transfered from Missouri and is from Miami.
He is one of the many players on this current roster whose birth state is Florida. Last season, the sophomore appeared in 26 games for the Tigers, but mostly as a spot player, not a legitimate bench option. He averaged only nine minutes and has seen his playing time increase by 11 minutes this season. When he’s played, Allen has served as a ‘do everything’-type of player and doesn’t touch the ball much.
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That is a product of Lucas’ system that screams the philosophy of Dean Smith. Everyone gets to touch the ball and shoot, but not at an exorbitant rate. He’s averaging six points per game, but on just 4.8 shot attempts per night. He’s done a great job at contributing in different ways. Allen can pass and rebound well.
Slovakian freshman Timotej Malovec has also had time to shine off the bench early. While playing in 15 minutes per game, Malovec has been able to give hints of his elite shooting touch. He’s played professionally overseas, so the jump to the college level has been more manageable for him. The potential 6’8” forward/center hybrid has averaged seven points on 64.3 percent from the field.
He can be a big-time spark-plug for some much-needed shooting. While Miami is a team that likes to run its offense through its bigs, they don’t have much shooting on the perimeter. Donaldson and Washington are capable shooters, but they are used to playing a style that attacks the rim. So his talents in being able to hit shots from beyond the arc will pay big dividends when ACC play begins.
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Any of these three players gives Jai Lucas some flexibility in the lineup. Malovec became the first bench player to start a game, as he got the opening minutes against Stetson. The Allens can come in at any time and provide the offense with playmaking ability and some scoring. Marcus can score the ball with his slashing skills towards the basket. Dante can rip nets from downtown, given more touches and development, and can get downhill and take contact as well.
