What was initially suspected when it was announced he was out for six weeks, Miami Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown will be out through at least the ACC Tournament.
An Associated Press report on ESPN said that Miami Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown will have his injured left foot examined by a doctor on March 12. That is the day after the NCAA Tournament bids come out and two days after the ACC Championship game.
The NCAA Tournament committee will now have to examine Miami without knowing whether or not Brown will return for the Tournament. Brown last played at Florida State on January 27. He had surgery on the foot five days later.
Six weeks out from the Surgery days is March 15. That’s also the day the NCAA Tournament begins with the 64 team field. If Miami closes out the regular season with two wins they are likely to begin their tournament run on Thursday, March 15 or Friday, March 16.
Brown was leading the Miami Hurricanes in rebounding and assists at the time of his injury. His season did not live up to expectations, however. Brown was averaging 11.4 points per game, shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and 26.7 percent on threes. There has to be some question if Brown is ready for the NBA.
8 Points, 9 Seconds
Miami is 4-3 in Brown’s absence. They won the first three games without him over Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. They followed that with losses to Boston College, Virginia and Syracuse. Miami ended the losing streak with a win on Monday night at Notre Dame.
Miami now closes the season with games against Boston College, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Miami is currently in a three-way tie for seventh in the ACC. As it stands now, Miami holds the tiebreaker over Florida State and Louisville with who they are tied.
Miami would currently get a bye in the first round of the conference tournament. They would play the winner of Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes swept the Panthers and lost at home to the Cuse.
Jim Larranaga has changed the lineups a few times with Brown out. The current lineup went big and more experienced against Notre Dame.
Junior Center Ebuka Izundu and Senior point guard Ja’Quan Newton were inserted into the lineup and Sophomore shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic and Freshman point guard Chris Lykes were moved to the bench.
The move paid off immediately. Izundu had the best game of his career against the Fighting Irish. Izundu had 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks in Monday night’s victory. He was extremely efficient from the field making seven of his eight shots from the floor.
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Lonnie Walker has also upped his play with Brown out. Walker is averaging 15.6 points per game, shooting 38.3 percent on threes and shooting 85.7 percent from the line since Brown has been out.