Miami Faces Texas in NCAA Tournament's Second Round
March 22, 2008
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami men’s basketball team continues its run in the NCAA Tournament, as the seventh-seeded Hurricanes will take on second-seeded Texas in Sunday’s second round at 2:15 p.m. (EST) at Alltel Arena.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
All-ACC First Team selection Jack McClinton powered the Hurricanes past 10th-seeded St. Mary’s in Miami’s 78-64 first-round win on Friday. The junior used 32 second-half points (matching St. Mary’s team output in the second stanza), en route to a career-high 38-point effort, to catapult the Hurricanes into the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history.
Texas advanced with a 74-54 win over Austin Peay on Friday.
Game 34: #7 Miami (23-10, 8-8 ACC) vs. #2 Texas (29-6, 13-3 Big 12)
Date: Sun., Mar. 23, 2008 | Time: 2:15 p.m. (EST) | Site: Alltel Arena
TV: CBS | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: NCAA.com
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Texas (www.TexasSports.com)
Probable Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.9 2.1 2.5
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 17.7 2.4 2.6
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.3 2.9 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 8.7 6.5 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.1 7.1 1.5^
Probable Texas Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
03 A.J. Abrams (G, 5-11, 155, Jr.) 16.4 2.8 1.6*
05 Damion James (G/F, 6-7, 230, So.) 13.1 10.5 1.4^
14 D.J. Augustin (G, 6-0, 180, So.) 19.4 2.9 5.7
24 Justin Mason (G, 6-2, 198, So.) 7.1 4.4 2.8
32 Connor Atchley (F/C, 6-10, 226, Jr.) 9.5 5.3 2.1
^ blocks per game * steals per game
A WIN ON SUNDAY…
A win on Sunday would give the Hurricanes their 24th of 2007-08, tying the school record for most wins in a season set in 2001-02… It would push Miami into the Sweet Sixteen for just the second time in school history and give fourth-year head coach Frank Haith his fifth postseason win with Miami and his second in NCAA Tournament play… Would give UM its ninth win in its last 12 games.
AND SO WE MEET AGAIN
Sunday’s game features a match up between mentor and mentee, as fourth-year Hurricane head coach Frank Haith served with the Longhorns for three seasons (2001-04: one as an associate head coach and two as an assistant coach) under good friend and mentor Rick Barnes prior to his arrival in Coral Gables in 2004.
HE SHOOTS… AND HE SCORES
With a career-high 38 points in Friday’s NCAA Tournament win over St. Mary’s, Jack McClinton moved into 25th place among Miami’s leading scorers with 1,067 points in just two seasons for the Hurricanes. He is just nine points out of 24th place, held by Whitey Campbell after scoring 1,076 points from 1946-50.
FAMILIAR FACES
With Friday’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament, fifth-year senior Anthony King broke the school record for most appearances by a Hurricane with 125. King made his 104th straight start versus St. Mary’s, and looks to extend his record with an appearance on Sunday versus Texas.
THE SERIES
Miami is tied with Texas, 1-1, in the all-time series, with both contests occurring in the late `80s. A combined 227 points were scored in the last meeting, with the Longhorns picking up the 123-104 win at home to even the series.
MEET THE LONGHORNS
Big 12 regular-season champion and tournament runner-up Texas has become an NCAA Tournament mainstay since the 1990s and is making its 10th straight appearance in the Big Dance. The second-seeded Longhorns have won five of its last six games and entered the tournament ranked seventh in the nation in both polls. Texas is 6-12 in second round action and bowed out of the 2007 tournament with an 87-67 second-round loss to USC.
The Longhorns are led by three players who average double-figure scoring, including All-American D.J. Augustin with 19.4 points and 5.7 assists per game. All Big-12 Second Team selection A.J. Abrams adds 16.4 points per game — including 3.0 three-pointers per game, while Damion James averages a double-double of 13.1 points and a team-high 10.5 rebounds per game. The Longhorns lead the nation with just 9.4 turnovers per game, while ranking 12th in field goal defense, holding opponents to 38.7 percent shooting.
