The Miami Hurricanes were eliminated from the postseason last weekend, but they did not waste time turning the page and making a crucial decision about next season. Miami announced they hired Duke assistant coach Jai Lucas for the head coaching job. The tumultuous season started with Jim Larranaga stepping down from the program following an abysmal non-conference slate. ACC play has been no better for the Hurricanes, as they will fail to reach double-digit wins. Following a Final Four appearance only two years ago, the falloff was unexpected to say the least. On the other hand, Duke has been arguably the best team in the country. So what is the grade of the Lucas hire, and will Miami rise to new heights under the new coach or will they be destined for more tumult in the season to come?
Grading Miami’s Hiring of Jai Lucas As Head Coach
Pros of the Lucas Hire
Lucas is one of the elite recruiters in college basketball. He is young, savvy, and knows how to draw in talent. He was pivotal in picking up key pieces in the last two recruiting cycles, like stars Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Duke has the top-ranked recruiting class in each of the previous two seasons. Miami will constantly bring in elite talent with Lucas at the helm. Also, he brings a winning culture from Duke. Miami needs someone who has a history of winning. Lucas has brought in elite talent, but has also played a key role in developing that talent and leading them to wins.
However, it would be remiss not to discuss his key defensive insight as a positive. He has essentially served as the defensive coordinator for the Blue Devils this season. They rank as the fourth best team in defensive efficiency on KenPom. Even injuries to some of their best defensive players can’t stop the Blue Devils. Duke has a great chance to compete for a national championship because of their elite talent and defense. Lucas plays a pivotal role for both of those things.
Cons
Programs that have recently turned around rapidly, like Louisville, relied on bringing in an experienced coach. Pat Kelsey was a seasoned head coach who knew how to win games as the head coach. Dusty May has led a similar turnaround at Michigan. Lucas doesn’t bring any of that to the table. It is worrisome to bring in a coach with no head coaching experience. However, he will always have elite talent and has proven he has the defensive acumen to assemble a winning team. The experience will come, so don’t write him off after one season (if he even struggles at first).
Grading The Jai Lucas Hire
Lucas is an elite hire for a program that desperately needs help on every front. He will bring a great culture with elite talent to a hotspot of college athletics. Remember, this program made the Final Four only two years ago and gave eventual champion Connecticut their toughest game. Players want to be in Miami for various reasons, so Lucas won’t have trouble bringing the talent home. Miami seems destined to be a competitor in the ACC for years to come.
Grade: A
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