Miami basketball losing Keith Stone shortens Hurricanes rotation
After being credited with being a big part of the five-game winning streak that the Miami basketball team had to end December the Hurricanes have lost graduate transfer for Keith Stone indefinitely.
Shortly before they took the floor at Louisville on Tuesday night the Miami basketball team announced via their official twitter account that graduate transfer forward Keith Stone will be out indefinitely. Losing Stone further shortens the rotation for the Hurricanes. They are now down to three big men.
Redshirt junior Rodney Miller at center, redshirt junior Sam Waardenburg and freshman Anthony Walker at forward are the only Miami basketball players healthy and eligible on the roster who are over 6’6. Waardenburg has come on over the Hurricanes six games prior to their 74-58 loss at Louisville Tuesday night.
The 6-10 New Zealander averaged 10.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, one block and shot 59 percent from the floor and 35.3 percent on threes in the five MIami games in December and their loss to Duke on Saturday. Waardenburg had five points and 10 rebounds against Louisville but shot just 1-4 from the floor.
The Hurricanes need Miller and Walker to step up while Stone is out with the knee injury. Stone was providing solid play off the bench averaging 5.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG while playing 17.8 minutes per game since making his Miami debut following the torn ACL nearly a year ago exactly while with Florida.
Redshirt senior forward Keith Stone is out indefinitely due to a left knee injury.
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) January 7, 2020
Miller has started every game this season as Jim Larranaga has had the same starting lineup in all 13 games. The 6’10 junior center is averaging 6.1 PPG and 4.9 RPG. Miami needs Miller to try and reach the production Ebuka Izunda put up last season at center. Izundu was more athletic but not as good of an offensive player.
With Miami using a six-man rotation in 2018-19 Izundu averaged 10.9 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Miami will be a much better team if Stone has a short absence. The Hurricanes are down to eight scholarship players that are healthy and eligible. Only six played major minutes against Louisville.
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Walker and fellow freshman Harlond Beverly plus former walk-on Willie Herenton combined fo play just 10 minutes in the loss on Tuesday. If Stone is out for a prolonged stretch Miami could be headed for another tough season like 2018-19.