UM men’s basketball team to face national champion Florida Gators in Jacksonville
The University of Miami men’s basketball team, which begins a new era this season under coach Jai Lucas, renewed its rivalry with the University of Florida and will play the reigning national champions on Nov. 16 in the Jacksonville Hoops Showdown.
It will be the 72nd meeting between the intrastate rivals and the first since 2019.
The game, presented by the Jacksonville Sports Foundation, was announced Friday and will take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Game time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the event will go on sale Sept. 24, and fans can register to receive information and be eligible for ticket presale access on Sept. 23 by registering online at arena.jaxevents.com.
The Gators hold a 47-24 advantage in the all-time series. The last matchup between the programs came on Nov. 22, 2019, with Florida earning a 78-58 victory in the semifinals of the Charleston Classic.
Florida returns several key players from the championship squad, including starters Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu along with sixth man Thomas Haugh.
The Gators also recruited high-profile transfers such as two-time All-Ivy League standout Xaivian Lee from Princeton and former five-star recruit Boogie Fland, who joined from Arkansas.
Lucas takes over the Hurricanes program after the retirement of Jim Larranaga. Lucas, 36, spent the past 12 years as an assistant at Texas, Kentucky, and most recently Duke, where he was associate head coach.
Miami brings in a whole new roster made up of a top-20 recruiting class and transfers including Tre Donaldson (Michigan), Malik Reneau (Indiana), Ernest Udeh Jr. (TCU), Tru Washington (New Mexico), Jordyn Kee (Georgia) and Marcus Allen (Missouri).
UM will also participate in the 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational over Thanksgiving week in Kissimmee.
The 16-team, three-bracket event will take place Nov. 24-28 at Walt Disney World Resort’s State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Miami will compete in the Magic Bracket, which includes BYU, Dayton and Georgetown. The semifinals will be played on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, with the championship and consolation games on Friday, Nov. 28.