CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The road to Indianapolis begins Friday at 10:10 p.m. ET in St. Louis for head coach Jai Lucas and his No. 7 Miami Hurricanes.

Miami earned a No. 7 seed in the West Region and will face No. 10 Missouri (20–12) of the SEC.

Miami is back in March Madness for the first time since its historic Final Four run in 2023 -- a run that included several upset victories.

Lucas has turned the Miami program around in his first season in Coral Gables, guiding the Hurricanes to a 25-8 regular-season record and a 13-5 mark in the ACC.

It came one season after the Hurricanes finished 7–24 overall and 3–17, worst in the conference -- with former coach Jim Larrañaga stepping down.

Other notable teams in the West Region include No. 1 Arizona, No. 2 Purdue, No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Arkansas.

The winner of No. 7 Miami and No. 10 Missouri will play the winner of No. 2 Purdue and No. 15 Queens in the Round of 32 on Sunday.

No. 7 Miami draws No. 10 Missouri in opening round of March Madness

Miami opens its NCAA Tournament run Friday in St. Louis

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Brandon Liguori