UM to honor Jim Larranaga with tribute before Tuesday’s home game vs. FSU
The University of Miami men’s basketball team planned to watch the Hurricanes’ national championship football game against Indiana on Monday night at a campus watch party at the Watsco Center.
On Tuesday, coach Jai Lucas and his team will be back in their home gym for a game against rival Florida State. A ceremony honoring retired legendary Miami coach Jim Larranaga will precede the 7 p.m. game.
The Hurricanes, 15-3 overall and 4-1 in the ACC in Lucas’ first season, have been energized by the football team’s success and will rely on that spirit to help them rebound from a 10-point road loss to 22nd-ranked Clemson over the weekend.
That loss snapped Miami’s 10-game win streak and likely kept UM from breaking into the Top 25 this week.
Tre Donaldson, the ACC Player of the Week last week and one of the top point guards in the nation this season, had an off night against Clemson. He went 2 for 10 for five points and had just two assists, far short of his season average (6.9).
“Tre wasn’t feeling his best; it’s that time of year where that bug is going around,” Lucas said. “He tried to battle, and he has been playing great for us. Sometimes those games happen, and Clemson can make you look that way, as well. We’re just getting ready to turn the page and get ready for FSU, which is a big game.”
Lucas added that the Seminoles are better than their record suggests.
FSU is 7-11 overall and 0-5 in the ACC under first-year coach Luke Loucks, who at 35 is the youngest head coach in the conference. Lucas is second youngest at 37.
Loucks is expecting a big game from Donaldson, who grew up in Tallahassee, was a two-sport high school star (football, basketball) at Florida State University School and has strong ties to that community.
“Their team goes as Tre goes, and I am sure he’s going to have a little extra motivation playing his backyard team,” Loucks said.
Loucks, who played at FSU before becoming a coach, has been following Donaldson’s career for many years.
“Trey has some innate leadership qualities,” he said. “He’s got really good parents. He’s played football at a very high level. Some of those leadership traits you can’t teach… dual-sport athletes who played football have a little bit of extra toughness, don’t shy away from physicality. And I don’t know how else to put it, there’s a little bit of crazy factor. You need some of that in basketball, too, an edge, and Tre’s got it.
“He had an off night against Clemson, but, to me, he’s been one of the most consistent point guards in college basketball and certainly in the ACC. We expect a much better performance against us.”
Tuesday evening will begin with a ceremony honoring Larranaga, who led UM to its first Elite Eight and Final Four and retired midway through last season.
Larranaga continues to be involved on campus and sits courtside with his wife, Liz, for most Hurricanes basketball games.
“He’s been great with me ever since I got the job and now that the season has started,” Lucas said. “He never bothers me. If we have a conversation, it’s me reaching out to him. Right now, he and his wife, Liz, are more fans than anything. They enjoy coming to the games and still being a part of it as they should.”
Every chance he gets, Lucas credits Larranaga for elevating the Hurricanes’ program.
“He built this program to where it is and why this job was so appealing because you were able to see what’s possible here with the Final Four, Elite Eight, conference championship,” Lucas said. “For me, he’s been a great sounding board when I have questions about the community, the university, what’s worked here. He’s always been in my corner.”
They have been in touch even more in the past week since the sudden passing of former UM associate head coach Bill Courtney, who died at age 55 in Philadelphia, where he was an assistant at Temple. Courtney was Larranaga’s best friend and Courtney’s son, Billy, is a graduate assistant on Lucas’ staff.
UM will hold a moment of silence in Courtney’s memory before Tuesday’s game.
This story was originally published January 19, 2026 at 3:48 PM.