Miami Faces Tough Test at No. 3 Duke
Feb. 1, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team heads to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face third-ranked Duke on Saturday in a nationally-televised game at 3:30 p.m.
Game 21: Miami (15-5, 2-4 ACC) vs. No. 3/3 Duke (18-1, 6-0 ACC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 2, 2008 | Time: 3:30 p.m. | Site: Cameron Indoor Stadium
TV: ABC | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Duke (www.goduke.com)
Tickets: Sold Out
Probable Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.7 1.8 2.333 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.1 2.6 3.123 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 11.0 2.6 2.021 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.6 6.6 1.2^50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 8.3 7.8 1.6^
Probable Duke StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast03 Greg Paulus (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 9.9 1.8 3.512 Kyle Singler (F, 6-8, 220, Fr.) 13.2 5.7 1.315 Gerald Henderson (G, 6-4, 210, So.) 13.8 4.8 1.721 DeMarcus Nelson (G, 6-4, 200, Sr.) 14.9 5.9 3.042 Lance Thomas (F, 6-8, 220, So.) 4.2 2.9 0.4
^ blocks per game
Miami plays its second-straight road game at Duke on Saturday, and will travel to its opponent for three of its next four games. The Hurricanes have dropped their last two ACC road games by a total of four points, including Tuesday’s 70-68 loss at Wake Forest.
Jack McClinton finished with a team-high 16 points – including four three-pointers – versus the Demon Deacons and is averaging 18.0 points over the last 12 games, including 17.2 points per game in ACC play to rank sixth in the league. He has yet to miss a free throw in conference play this season, converting all 18 attempts rank first in ACC-only stats with a 100 percent free-throw percentage. McClinton also continues to lead the ACC in both three-point field goal percentage (.460) and three-pointers per game (2.89).
Dwayne Collins is averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds over his last two starts, converting 73.7 percent from the field, while Brian Asbury has come off the bench to average 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last two, including converting 10 of 13 free throws.
Suits and Sneakers
This weekend, Miami’s coaching staff – as well thousands across the country – are making a statement by wearing sneakers with their suits to raise awareness about the fight against cancer and the American Cancer Society’s efforts to eliminate the disease. Suits and Sneakers is an annual awareness weekend held every February that empowers basketball coaches to lace up their sneakers in support of the Coaches vs. Cancer program — a joint effort by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches to raise funds and awareness to fight cancer. Since the program began in 1993, more than 500 basketball coaches across the country have raised nearly $40 million to help fight cancer and provide hope to those facing the disease.
The Series
Sunday marks the 11th meeting between Miami and Duke, with the Blue Devils leading the all-time series, 9-1. The Hurricanes’ only win to date over Duke occurred in the first meeting between the teams — a 71-69 home win for Miami on Dec. 21, 1962.
A Look at Duke
The third-ranked Blue Devils — the second top-five opponent for the Hurricanes this season — remain the only undefeated team in ACC play, improving to 18-1 overall and 6-0 in the league after Thursday’s 92-72 win over NC State in which four Duke players finished in double-figure scoring — led by Greg Paulus’ 22 points (5-8 3FG). Duke is 10-0 at home this season, knocking off opponents at Cameron Indoor Stadium by an average of 28.7 points per game. They are led by four players who average double-figure scoring, including DeMarcus Nelson’s team-high 14.9 points per game, shooting 50.8 percent from the field — fifth best in the conference. As a team, the Blue Devils lead the ACC in scoring margin (+20.0), field goal percentage (.490), three-point field goal percentage defense (.301 and turnover margin (+5.68).
