Miami Hurricanes
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #38
Conference Rank: #6 ACC
After four straight 20-win seasons from 2015-2018, Miami has now finished below .500 in each of the last two years. The Hurricanes are set up to break that trend this season, as just one starter and one bench player have departed. High scoring guards Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty return, while sophomores Isaiah Wong and Harlond Beverly have potential to breakout. On top of that, Miami brings in two four-star recruits to boost the depth. The Hurricanes should find themselves right back towards the top of the ACC standings this season.
2019-20 Record: 15-16, 7-13
Coach: Jim Larranaga
Coach Record: 190-113 at Miami, 660-447 overall
Key Departed Players:
Dejan Vasiljevic, Guard, 13.2 ppg
Keith Stone, Forward, 4.9 ppg
Dejan Vasiljevic, Guard, 13.2 ppg
Keith Stone, Forward, 4.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Chris Lykes, Senior, Guard, 15.4 ppg
Kameron McGusty, Senior, Guard, 12.5 ppg
Isaiah Wong, Sophomore, Guard, 7.7 ppg
Harlond Beverly, Sophomore, Guard, 7.2 ppg
Rodney Miller, Senior, Center, 7.2 ppg
Sam Waardenburg, Senior, Forward, 5.9 ppg
Anthony Walker, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 ppg
Deng Gak, Junior, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Willie Herenton, Senior, Guard, 0.8 ppg
Chris Lykes, Senior, Guard, 15.4 ppg
Kameron McGusty, Senior, Guard, 12.5 ppg
Isaiah Wong, Sophomore, Guard, 7.7 ppg
Harlond Beverly, Sophomore, Guard, 7.2 ppg
Rodney Miller, Senior, Center, 7.2 ppg
Sam Waardenburg, Senior, Forward, 5.9 ppg
Anthony Walker, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 ppg
Deng Gak, Junior, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Willie Herenton, Senior, Guard, 0.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Nysier Brooks, Senior, Center, Transfer from Cincinnati
Matt Cross, Freshman, Forward
Earl Timberlake, Freshman, Guard
Nysier Brooks, Senior, Center, Transfer from Cincinnati
Matt Cross, Freshman, Forward
Earl Timberlake, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
The Hurricanes return most of their production from last season. Chris Lykes is one of the top scoring guards in the ACC despite standing just 5-7. As a junior, Lykes averaged 15.4 points, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 38.1% from three. Kameron McGusty had a strong first season with the Hurricanes, averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Lykes and McGusty should make up one of the top backcourt duos in the ACC. Isaiah Wong and Harlond Beverly both had solid freshman campaigns as reserves. Wong started 13 games and averaged 7.7 points and 3.0 rebounds while Beverly started five games and averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Both players should see bigger roles and produce more as sophomores. Rodney Miller and Sam Waardenburg are both senior big men who started 28 and 24 games last season, respectively. Finally, Anthony Walker, Deng Gak and Willie Herenton round out the returning rotation. Miami will have one of the most experienced teams in the ACC with so much production returning, and they also add two four-star recruits on top of that. Earl Timberlake is a 6-6 guard ranked in the top-40 nationally while Matt Cross is a small forward ranked inside the top-100. The Hurricanes also bring in Nysier Brooks, a 6-11 big man from Cincinnati. Brooks played three years at Cincinnati and started 35 games as a junior, averaging 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Altogether, Miami will have one of the deepest and most experienced rosters in the ACC. After back to back poor seasons, the Hurricanes appear primed to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.2 (172nd in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.2 (280, 14)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.9 (219, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.3 (253, 14)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.1 (196, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.7 (266, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.9 (30, 1)
Rebound Margin: -4.1 (318, 14)
Assists Per Game: 10.0 (344, 15)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.1 (80, 5)
Madness 2020 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#35 Earl Timberlake
#90 Matt Cross
