Duke men’s basketball team dominated Miami 97-60 on Tuesday night, winning by over 30 points for the fourth time in five games. What made this game even more intriguing was the presence of Jai Lucas, Duke’s associate coach and a potential candidate to become Miami’s next head coach.
Lucas, the son of former NBA coach John Lucas, is expected to be hired as Miami’s new head coach after Jim Larranaga retired in December. The timing of his departure from Duke is being negotiated, but interim coach Bill Courtney downplayed the situation, saying he didn’t address it with Hurricanes players and that they should focus on their own games.
Despite the speculation surrounding Lucas, Miami players seemed unfazed, with Jahil Bethea saying he was focused on playing and not paying attention to rumors. Fellow freshman Divine Ugochukwu also brushed off the speculation, saying “rumors are rumors.”
Duke coach Jon Scheyer praised Lucas as a special coach, citing his attention to detail, ability to build relationships, and on-court success. The Blue Devils shot 56% from the field and 60% from three-point range, with four players scoring in double figures.
The team’s dominance was partly due to the absence of starting guard Matthew Cleveland, who sat out for the second game in a row due to an injured ankle. The Blue Devils have lost just once since Thanksgiving, but Scheyer emphasized that his team won’t become complacent and will remain focused on their mission to win the national championship.
With Lucas potentially joining Miami as head coach, this victory could be seen as a warning sign for the Hurricanes, showcasing Duke’s dominance and potential under new leadership.
Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article300907624.html