Miami basketball gets Chris Lykes back, Kam McGusty probable, Rodney Miller out
The injury problems for the Miami basketball team is continuing to evolve as the Hurricanes tipoff on Saturday at Florida State. Junior guard Chris Lykes is expected to return against the Seminoles and Kameron McGusty is probable. Junior Center Rodney Miller is out.
Junior guards Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty have suffered through injuries that have caused the Miami basketball team to lose three of their last four games. McGusty played 23 minutes in the one win against Virginia Tech but scored only three points. That is the only game McGusty has played in the last four.
Lykes has missed the last four games. The absence of the Hurricanes leading and third-leading scorer has given an opportunity for freshmen guards Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong to log heavy minutes in the four-game stretch. Beverly and Wong have proven they can score but need to cut down on their turnovers.
Beverly has 15 turnovers and Wong eight in the last four Miami basketball games. The absence of Lykes and McGusty has allowed opponents to focus on senior guard Dejan Vasiljevic. The Aussie is averaging 13.5 points per game and six rebounds with Lykes and McGusty out but has not shot the ball well in the last four games.
Vasiljevic has made just 32.3 percent from the floor and 20 percent of his three-point attempts over the last four games. Getting Lykes and potentially McGusty back are critical for the depth of the Miami basketball team on the perimeter. Losing Rodney Miller is a blow to the Miami depth on the frontline.
Miller is the best inside presence that Miami has. The 7’0 center is averaging 7.0 PPG and 5.7 RPG but has been playing the best basketball of his career lately. Over the last seven games, Miller is averaging 11.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG and shooting 63.3 percent from the floor. Graduate transfer Keith Stone will replace Miller in the starting lineup.
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Stone recently returned after missing three and a half weeks in January with a reaggravated knee injury. Miami loses height with the 6’8 Stone replacing Miller. Stone averages 4.3 PPG and 3.1 RPG. Freshman Anthony Walker will see an increase in playing time with Miller out. At 6’6 he gives Miami more athleticism but less size.