Miami G Brown (foot) expected to miss NCAA Tournament

Miami Hurricanes starting guard Bruce Brown Jr. isn’t expected to return for the NCAA Tournament as he continues to recover from left foot surgery.

Brown, still wearing a walking boot Sunday, underwent surgery on Feb. 1. and was initially expected to miss six weeks. The sophomore is scheduled to be re-evaluated by doctors on Monday, though even if he is cleared, he will need six weeks of rehabilitation for his foot, Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said Sunday.

Larranaga has already ruled Brown out for sixth-seeded Miami’s matchup against Loyola-Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

“He hasn’t played in six weeks,” Larranaga said. “It’ll take him six weeks to rehab the foot. You go to the NCAA Tournament and you play Bruce Brown, you think he’ll play hard? You’re darn right, and that would (increase) the danger of him reinjuring it. There’s no chance he will play Thursday.”

Miami has gone 7-4 since losing Brown and advanced to the quarterfinal of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament before being bounced by North Carolina.

If his season is over, Brown averaged 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 19 games. Brown could end his collegiate career and enter the NBA draft this summer — he’s projected to go in the first round — but Larranaga is saving a spot for him in next year’s lineup if he chooses to return.

“Let me put it this way: If Bruce decides to come back next year for his (junior) year, then we’ll plan on playing him,” Larranaga said.

–Field Level Media