Miami Hurricanes PG Chris Lykes starts for Lonnie Walker
The Miami Hurricanes have made another lineup change. Freshman point guard Chris Lykes is making the first start of his career and Lonnie Walker will come off the bench.
Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Jim Larranaga mentioned that Walker was dealing with a stiff back in practice on Saturday. Lykes has played well lately and earned the start even if Walker’s back didn’t stiffen up.
He has reached double figures in four of the Miami Hurricanes last five games. Lykes has scored in double figures in eight games this season.
Walker who was a top 20 recruit in the Class of 2017 has not been as consistent as his classmate Lykes. He has scored in double figures in just six games this season.
Walker scored a season-high 26 in a victory over Boston University last month. He has been exceptional the last two games. Walker averaged 17.5 points per game in the losses to Clemson and Duke.
Over his last six games, Lykes has been a highly efficient scorer. He is averaging 11.7 points per game, shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent on three-point attempts. Lykes needs to work on his assists to turnover ratio. In the last six games, Lykes is at two assists and two turnovers per game.
Earlier in the week on Canes Hotline on WQAM Larranaga mentioned that the Hurricanes need better play from his experienced guards. Ja’Quan Newton, Bruce Brown and Dejan Vasiljevic have struggled lately.
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Brown and Walker are expected to be top 20 picks in June’s draft. He is averaging 11 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists on the season. Brown leads Miami in rebounding and assists.
Other than a 23 point outburst against Florida State, Brown has struggled over his last four games. The Sophomore from Boston scored just 20 points total as the Miami Hurricanes lost to Georgia Tech, Clemson and Duke. Brown made just 25 percent of his field goals and 29.1 percent of his threes in the losses.
Vasiljevic has been abysmal for three weeks. He has not scored in double figures since Miami won on Christmas Day over Middle Tennessee State in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.
In the five games since he is averaging 4.7 points per game, shooting 19.2 percent from the floor and 15 percent on threes. Vasiljevic has reached double figures eight times in non-conference games.
Newton has struggled all season. His numbers are down significantly from the 2016-17 season. The Senior from Philadelphia is averaging 8.5 points per game after averaging 13.5 last season. Newton has made just two of his 15 three-point attempts this season.
Like Vasiljevic, Newton has struggled in January. In 22.8 minutes per game in the first month of the year, Newton is averaging 3.5 points per game and shooting 30 percent from the floor.
Next: Is it time for Miami Hurricanes PG Chris Lykes to start?
The Miami Hurricanes depth at guard is why they were considered a sleeper to contend for the ACC title this season. They will need better play from their perimeter if the Hurricanes are to live up to their preseason ranking of 12th in the nation.