Miami Loses Without Star Guard Durand Scott, With Scott the Hurricanes Still Aren't a Winning Team

Miami lost to Florida Gulf Coast by double digits on Tuesday Nov. 13 with a final score of 63-51. Big men Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson continue to own the boards, but Johnson’s offensive presence was lacking in the loss. The Hurricanes however were without their best perimeter player in senior guard Durand Scott.

Scott missed Tuesday’s game due to a suspension, which he still has one game left to serve, for receiving impermissible benefits last season. Sophomore guard Shane Larkin and freshman guard Bishop Daniels did pick up some of the slack scoring on the perimeter, but it isn’t enough to compete at this level.

Miami’s next game in against Jacksonville, then Scott will return to the team against an up-and-coming Detroit team.  The schedule gets harder for the Hurricanes at that point, and Scott’s performance coming back to action will shape this team’s success. If healthy, Kadji and Johnson will continue to lock down the post, and Larkin and Daniels give Miami some promise of role players on the perimeter, but Scott will need to have a great year if the Hurricanes are going to win games.

Miami is expected to be at the bottom of the ACC this season and without any depth, these predictions are spot on. Miami could have some close games against their ACC opponents, but the notion that they have any chance come conference tournament time is asinine. Miami’s big men are imposing, and Scott is a terrific scorer, but this team won’t win 15 games in 2012-13.