Miami (FL) injury woes
What more could bring Miami down? About two months ago, the Hurricanes' all-ACC potential center Reggie Johnson went down with a torn meniscus and will likely miss basketball throughout the end of the calendar year. A key piece to their success, Jim Larranaga faced an uphill battle in his first season at the reins.
But then a major hurricane hit the whole athletic department in connection with a UM booster. While most of the winds circled around the football program, last season's sixth man DeQuan Jones was named in a report as having taken money from the booster to play at Miami. Jones' status for this season is still up-in-the-air, but will likely face a suspension due to improper benefits.
As if that was not enough, Miami's lone healthy big, Julian Gamble tore his ACL and will miss the entire season.
Could things get worse? Well, we've seen three program-changing items hit the Hurricanes this offseason so we won't totally discount that, but the injuries to Johnson and Gamble and the likelihood of losing Jones for some games takes away any chance Miami had in competing for the ACC's fourth best team and a potential tournament bid behind UNC, Duke and Florida State.
Miami has a serious dearth of talent in the froncourt and will likely rely on a lineup of five guards at times, until Johnson returns mid-season.
By President Corey Ruff - 9 - 13 - 11
