UM basketball team might finally have full roster for Boston College on Wednesday
The injury-plagued University of Miami men’s basketball team might finally have a full roster Wednesday for its 7 p.m. home game against Boston College. That is welcome news for the Hurricanes, who are tied for last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 3-10.
Miami is coming off a 99-81 road loss at No. 8 Florida State on Saturday. Point guard Chris Lykes and Kam McGusty returned to the active roster after missing four games with injuries, but neither started and McGusty (back spasms) played sparingly. Center Rodney Miller missed the game with a sprained ankle.
“We’ve been frustrated with all the injuries we’ve had to deal with, but I’m hoping, and have my fingers crossed, that by Wednesday, when we play Boston College, we’ll have a full roster available,” UM coach Jim Larranaga said. “Chris and Kam came back against Florida State. Chris showed he’s almost back 100 percent...looked like his old self. He may not have shot the way he’s capable of shooting it, but I thought he handled the ball and defended well. Kam still has a way to go. He looked stiff, didn’t look like himself.
Miller is expected to return against Boston College.
“I’m hoping with all the treatments Rodney’s getting, he’ll be ready to go,” Larranaga said. “I’d say he’s a probable. If we have our full roster, it will be interesting to see how well we can play.”
The challenge for Larranaga and his staff is to decide the starting lineup and rotations. Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong started in place of Lykes and McGusty and played well. Wong scored a career-high 23 points against FSU, and Beverly had 14.
“We’re almost back to where we were in November,” Larranaga said. “Now, our freshmen have been in the starting lineup for four games and played well, so it becomes a matter of who’s going to handle whatever role they’re asked to play the best.”
The Eagles (12-12, 6-7 ACC) have won three of their past five games. They are led by Derryck Thornton, who averages 13 points per game.