Hurricanes To Host Tar Heels On Sunday

Hurricanes To Host Tar Heels On Sunday

Feb. 10, 2006

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#23/#24 NORTH CAROLINA (14-6, 5-4 ACC)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (14-9, 6-4 ACC)

When: February 12, 2006 – 8:00 PM (ET)

Where: BankUnited Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.

TV: Fox Sports Net

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); NC (www.TarHeelBlue.com)

Tickets: Sold Out

Up Next: @ #17/#18 Boston College – Feb. 16 – 7:00 p.m. (FSN Florida)

Probable Miami Starters
No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
50 Anthony King F 6-9 230 Jr. 8.7 7.0 0.7
02 Gary Hamilton C 6-10 265 Sr. 3.9 6.0 0.8
12 Anthony Harris G 6-2 187 Jr. 11.2 2.2 3.2
13 Guillermo Diaz G 6-2 186 Jr. 16.8 3.2 3.2
22 Robert Hite G 6-2 190 Sr. 16.9 5.8 1.6
 
Probable North Carolina State Starters
No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
03 Reyshawn Terry F 6-8 228 Jr. 13.8 6.2 1.5
34 David Noel F 6-6 232 Sr. 12.0 7.0 3.4
50 Tyler Hansbrough C 6-9 235 Fr. 17.7 7.7 1.3
04 Bobby Frasor G 6-3 195 Fr. 6.8 2.0 4.8
22 Wes Miller G 5-11 185 Jr. 7.2 1.3 1.9

THE MATCHUP:

North Carolina enters the game with a record of 14-6, 5-4 in the ACC, following an 87-83 home loss to Duke on Tuesday. The Tar Heels are ranked 23rd by the Associated Press and 24th in ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.

The Tar Heels have been led this season by freshman center Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough leads the team in scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg) and has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week six times this season. Also averaging in double-figures in scoring is junior Reyshawn Terry (13.8 ppg) and senior David Noel (12.0 ppg). North Carolina ranks No. 1 in the league in both rebound margin (+8.8 rpg) and assists (18.00 apg).

Miami (14-9, 6-4 ACC) is coming off an 86-77 double-overtime loss to #16/#15 NC State on Wednesday and is playing the second of four consecutive games against ranked teams. Miami continues to be one of the league’s top defensive teams ranking No. 1 in the ACC in scoring defense (62.5 ppg).

Miami is led by its three guard line-up of senior Robert Hite, junior Guillermo Diaz and junior Anthony Harris. Hite leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game. Diaz (16.8 ppg) ranks second scoring while Harris (11.2 ppg) is third.

One of the three guards has led the team in scoring in 22 of the Hurricanes’ 23 games this season. Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return against Birmingham-Southern on Dec. 3 the trio has averaged 46.5 points per game, or 67.1 percent (744 of 1108) of the team’s scoring.

Over the last four games, Hite is averaging 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and is shooting 29-58 (.500) from the field, 19-37 (.514) from three-point range and 11-12 (.917) from the line. In addition, Diaz is averaging 19.8 points and has a 3.40 assist-to-turnover ratio (17 ast/5 TO) during the stretch, while sophomore forward Raymond Hicks has given Miami a spark off the bench averaging 7.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while connecting on 13-21 (.619) from the field.

A WIN AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 15-9, 7-4 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s second win over the Tar Heels this season.Match Miami’s ACC win total from last season.Mark Miami’s third win this season over a ranked opponent.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite needs six three-point field goals to move into a tie for ninth on UM’s all-time single-season list. Hite enters the game with a team-high 58 three-point baskets this season.Guillermo Diaz needs 11 points to move into 16th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game with 1,277 points. John Salmons (1998-02) is currently 16th with 1,287. In addition, Diaz needs 16 points to move into 15th-place, and 21 points to move into 14th-place.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 30-22 (.577), including a 14-9 mark this season.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams is in his third season with the Tar Heels and 18th season overall. His record at North Carolina in 66-21 (.759) while his overall record is 484-122 (.799).

THE SERIES:

Miami and North Carolina meet for the second time this season and the 11th time overall. Miami won the first meeting this season, 81-70, in Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heels lead the all-time series, 8-2. This will mark North Carolina’s second trip to the BankUnited Center. On January 4, 2003 the Tar Heels were the Hurricanes’ first opponent in the new arena.

SERIES HISTORY:

Date Result Location

1-13-50 UNC 55, UM 53 UM

1-14-50 UNC 66, UM 51 UM

12-6-86 UNC 122, UM 77 UNC

2-5-90 UNC 87, UM 74 UNC

12-18-99 UNC 78, UM 68 N

12-4-00 UNC 67, UM 45 UNC

1-4-03 UM 64, UNC 61 UM

1-7-04 UNC 89, UM 64 UNC

1-22-05 UNC 87, UM 67 UNC

1-14-06 UM 81, UNC 70 UNC

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. North Carolina game will be televised live around the nation on Fox Sports Net. Tim Brando (play-by-play), Mike Gminski (analysis) and Jenn Hildreth (sideline) will call the action.

The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WQAM (560 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call the action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host.

MIAMI RECORDS SEASON’S THIRD SELL OUT:

The University of Miami men’s basketball game against defending National Champion North Carolina on February 12 is officially sold out. The sellout is the third this season and the eighth since Frank Haith took over the head coaching duties prior to last season. Miami’s games this season versus Florida (Dec. 22) and Clemson (Jan. 18) were also sell outs.

KEEPING UP WITH KING:

Miami junior Anthony King may have been the most improved player in the ACC last season. King went from a little used reserve in 2003-04 to starting every game the last two seasons. King improved his scoring, field goal percentage and free throw percentage each season.

GOOD COMPANY:

As of February 8, Robert Hite and J.J. Redick are the only players in the ACC to rank among the top-10 in the league in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:

Over the last two seasons Miami guard Guillermo Diaz has played some of his best games against ranked teams. Miami has faced 16 ranked teams over the last two seasons and in those games he averaged 20.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He has shot 114-261 (.437) from the field against ranked teams including 43-104 (.413) from three-point range. Diaz scored 20-or-more points in 10 of the 16 games versus ranked opponents.

A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY:

Miami guard Rob Hite ranks seventh in the ACC in scoring at 16.9 ppg but a closer look shows that he is one of the most efficient scorer in the league. When you look at the number of points scored divided by total scoring chances (FGA+FTA), Hite is averaging 1.10 points per scoring opportunity which ranks second among the conference’s top 25 scorers (as of Feb. 10).

MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:

Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.6 ppg), Robert Hite (17.3 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.4 ppg) combined to average 48.2 points per game, or 67.5 percent (1398 of 2071) of the teams scoring last season.

Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return against Birmingham-Southern on Dec. 3 the trio has averaged 46.5 points per game, or 67.1 percent (744 of 1108) of the team’s scoring.

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