Miami was a Final Four team in 2023 and Stetson was an NCAA Tournament team in 2024. Both plummeted in the 2024-25 season, finishing with 7-24 and 8-24 records, respectively.
Each will continue their respective quests for turnaround seasons Monday night when Stetson visits Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.
The Hurricanes (2-0) completely revamped their roster under first-year coach Jai Lucas and are off to a hot start with wins over Jacksonville and Bethune-Cookman. The Hatters (1-1) bounced back from a season-opening loss to Rhode Island by beating NCCAA member Fort Lauderdale in their home opener this past Friday.
Miami’s new-look lineup features plenty of size and athleticism led by Indiana transfer Malik Reneau and Michigan transfer Tre Donaldson.
Reneau leads the Hurricanes in scoring (21 points per game) through two games while Donaldson is averaging 17 points per game and a team-best four assists per game.
“I was just being aggressive, being who I am. That’s what this team needs from me,” Donaldson said after Miami’s 101-61 win over Bethune-Cookman last Thursday. “My leadership was really good. I’m a pass-first point guard, so me being aggressive helps our team. There were wide-open layups and buckets, I was getting good looks and getting my teammates involved.”
On the defensive end, Miami will have to contend with a sharp-shooting Stetson squad, which made 16 three-pointers in its 106-77 win over Fort Lauderdale.
Returning starter Jamie Phillips Jr. led the Hatters with 22 points, shooting 7 for 11 from the field. Phillips, who scored 11.2 points per game as a freshman last season, is off to a hot start, averaging a team-high 21 points through two games while leading his team on the boards with 6.0 rebounds per game.
Ethan Copeland is averaging 11 points per game and has made 7 of 14 from 3-point range.
“We have about six or seven guys whose first Division I game was Monday, so we’re still learning who we are,” said Stetson coach Donnie Jones. “I love this group. They work hard. They’re learning who they are, so it was good to see the ball go through the hoop for a lot of those guys.”
