Miami basketball will be led by backcourt in 2020-21
The Miami basketball team will be led by its backcourt coming off back to back losing seasons.
The Miami basketball team will be led by seniors Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty in their backcourt in the 2020-21 season. Miami is expected to play three guards often with Lykes, McGusty and sophomores Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong who both showed promise as freshmen in 2019-20.
Lykes has been the leading scorer for Miami the last two seasons. Last year Lykes missed six games last season with various injuries. Lykes was named first-team preseason All-ACC tied for the last spot on the team. For his career, Lykes is averaging 13.7 points per game, two rebounds and 2.7 assists.
The backcourt will be the strength for Miami in 2020-21. The frontcourt presents a lot of questions. Miami lost stretch four Sam Waardenburg with a knee injury for the season. Waardenburg started 24 of the 30 games he played last season and led the Hurricanes in blocked shots.
Cincinnati transfer Nysier Brooks is the likely starter at center with Rodney Miller who started 28 games last season as the backup. Sophomore Anthony Walker who averaged 3.3 PPG and 2.1 RPG in 12.3 minutes per game in 2019-20 is the projected replacement for Waardenburg as the power forward.
In addition to Brooks, Miami adds freshmen
and
. There has been some speculation that the 6’6 Timberlake who is a wing could be a one and done with a good season. Cross and Timberlake will be important upfront where Miami has to improve from a 4.1 deficit in rebounding from 2019-20.
Miami has to improve its defense finishing 13th in the ACC and 282nd nationally allowing 73.2 PPG. The Hurricanes were 255th nationally allowing a 44.3 field percentage and 239th allowing opponents to make 33.9 percent of their three-point attempts. The interior defense is going to be critical for Miami.
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Brooks averaged 8.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 1.5 blocks two seasons ago for Cincinnati. The expectation is that Brooks will slightly increase those numbers with Miami. Deng Gak returns for Miami after missing most of the last two seasons with knee injuries and should provide depth up front. Miami opens the season Sunday against North Florida.