What is happening with the Miami Hurricanes this season feels like more than a hot streak. It feels like a reset.
Just one year removed from a 7-24 season that tested everyone in the program, the Hurricanes have flipped the narrative in a big way. Miami enters Tuesday night at 14-2 overall, 3-0 in ACC play, and winners of nine straight games. The turnaround has been fast, but it has not felt rushed. This group looks comfortable playing winning basketball, and that may be the most telling sign of all.
In a league as unforgiving as the ACC, bounce backs like this do not happen without real buy in.
A New Voice and a Clear Direction Under Jai Lucas
The change starts with Jai Lucas, who is navigating his first season as a head coach. Taking over after a difficult year, Lucas inherited a program that needed belief just as much as it needed wins.
From the outside, it looks like he has given this group clarity. Miami plays with purpose. There is structure on offense, accountability on defense, and a noticeable calm when games get tight. That is not something you see from a team still trying to figure itself out.
The Hurricanes are not freelancing. They are playing connected basketball, and that reflects a staff that knows exactly what it wants.
Players Who Fit the Moment
Miami’s roster looks like it was built for this style of season. Tre Donaldson has grown into the role of floor leader, setting the pace and making sure the ball moves to the right spots. Malik Reneau has been a steady presence inside, scoring efficiently and giving Miami someone it can rely on possession after possession.
What makes this team work, though, is everything around those two. Shooters are ready when the ball finds them. Defenders stay engaged. Role players impact games without needing the spotlight. It is a group that understands winning does not always look flashy.
That maturity has shown up during the nine game winning streak, especially in ACC play.
Nine Straight Wins That Put Miami Hurricanes Back on the Map
Miami’s start to conference play has been clean and confident. Wins over Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech were not perfect, but they were controlled. The Hurricanes found ways to win when things got uncomfortable, which is often the separator in league play.
At 3-0, Miami sits just behind Duke and Clemson, both of whom are 4-0. That context matters. Miami is not hanging around the middle of the standings. It is firmly part of the early ACC race.
Considering where this program was a year ago, that alone says plenty.
Why the Trip to Notre Dame Feels Like a Turning Point
Tuesday night’s road game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is the type of matchup that reveals how real a start truly is. Purcell Pavilion has a history of humbling visiting teams, especially those carrying momentum.
A win would move the Miami Hurricanes to 4-0 in conference play and set the tone ahead of a demanding stretch that includes Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina. Even beyond the standings, this game is about proving that Miami can take its confidence on the road and make it travel.
For a team rewriting its story, nights like this matter.
From Last Place to Legitimate Belief
The biggest difference between this season and last is belief. A year after finishing 7-24, the Miami Hurricanes are playing like a team that expects to win. They score nearly 90 points per game, share the ball freely, and defend with enough consistency to survive off nights.
There will be challenges ahead. The ACC always delivers them. But Miami has already shown it can respond, adjust, and grow week to week.
This bounce back is no longer just a nice surprise. It is becoming one of the most compelling stories in the conference.