As Miami Deal Looms, Jai Lucas Guides Duke to a Dominant Win Over Hurricanes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Jai Lucas devised the game plan that led Duke to a commanding victory over Miami. Ironically, the Hurricanes are now hoping he’ll soon be doing the same for them.

As Duke’s associate head coach, Lucas was responsible for preparing the scouting report for Tuesday night’s matchup, where the No. 2 Blue Devils secured a resounding 97-60 win over Miami. This game came just days after reports surfaced from ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello stating that Lucas has emerged as the leading candidate in Miami’s search for a new head basketball coach.

Meanwhile no agreement has been finalized, the hiring process is expected to follow a traditional timeline, likely concluding near the end of the regular season.

Before the game, Lucas was among the first Duke staff members on the court during warmups, which began about 90 minutes before tipoff. He briefly exchanged greetings with a few individuals, including members of Miami’s coaching staff, before focusing on pregame drills with Duke’s players.

If he ultimately joins Miami, Lucas would replace Jim Larrañaga, who unexpectedly stepped down in December. Longtime associate head coach Bill Courtney was appointed as the interim head coach and will continue leading the team through the rest of the season.

Despite the ongoing coaching search, Courtney has not discussed it with his players and stated that he has not received any updates from Miami’s administration regarding a decision.

“For us, nothing really changes,” Courtney said. “We have to stay focused and keep our priorities straight. I’m sure some of the younger guys might be thinking about it—it’s hard to ignore all the outside noise—but our job is to stay locked in on the season.”