Hurricanes Host No. 5 Duke Sunday
Feb. 12, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CORAL GABLES, FLA… The University of Miami men’s basketball team rides a three-game win streak into the BankUnited Center for Sunday’s showdown versus No. 5 Duke. The Blue Devils, also winners of three straight, match the Hurricanes for the longest active win streak in the league. Fox Sports will broadcast the 6:45 p.m. game nationally, including on Sun Sports in South Florida.
Game 25: Miami (15-9, 4-6) vs. No. 5 Duke (22-2, 9-1)Date: Sun., Feb. 13, 2011 | Time: 6:45 p.m. | Site: BankUnited CenterTV: Fox Sports (Sun Sports in South Fla.) | Radio: 560 WQAM (WQAM.com),90.5 FM (WVUM.org), 1450 ESPN Deportes (en español),ACC IMG College Network (XM 143 & 190, Sirius 122 & 220)Web Video: NoneWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) | Duke (www.GoDuke.com)
Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 13.7 4.3 3.103 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.2 1.7 3.525 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 196, So.) 7.4 3.4 1.845 Julian Gamble (F, 6-9, 258, Jr.) 3.3 3.3 0.8^42 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 12.5 9.8 1.3^
Projected Duke StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast02 Nolan Smith (G, 6-2, 185, Sr.) 21.5 4.7 5.512 Kyle Singler (F, 6-8, 230, Sr.) 17.6 6.3 1.505 Mason Plumlee (F, 6-10, 240, So.) 6.9 8.8 1.7^34 Ryan Kelly (F, 6-11, 235, So.) 6.3 3.8 1.6^03 Tyler Thornton (G, 6-1, 185, Fr.) 1.4 0.6 1.1
^ blocks per game | * steals per game
Miami’s three-game ACC win streak is its longest since winning four straight in 2007-08 (2/9 def. Virginia Tech, 2/17 def. Georgia Tech, 2/20 def. Duke, 2/23 def. Maryland).
Although Duke leads the all-time series versus Miami, 14-2, four of the last five meetings have been decided by single digits, with the Hurricanes leading the Blue Devils at the half in four of those contests. Over the last five meetings between the teams, the average margin of victory has been just 5.0 points per game. The Hurricanes last defeated Duke, 96-95, on Feb. 20, 2008, in Coral Gables.
In the last meeting between the programs on Jan. 2 in Durham, Nolan Smith scored 28 points to lead then- top-ranked Duke to the 74-63 win over Miami in the league opener for both teams. Andre Dawkins added 16 points and Kyle Singler had 14 points. Smith had a run of 13 straight points in the first half that gave Duke its double-digit lead, and the Hurricanes played the reigning champions basically even the rest of the way. Reggie Johnson tied his then- career high with 22 points for Miami and added nine rebounds and a pair of blocks, despite battling foul trouble much of the game and playing just five minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls. Duke has dominated the series overall, but the Hurricanes had played the Blue Devils well of late, edging Duke by one at home in 2008 and losing the next three meetings by a combined 13 points. This one fit right in for about 15 minutes, but that’s when Smith got rolling.
Miami has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. Scoring in double figures in 18 of his last 20 games, Grant is contributing a team-high 15.2 points and 3.5 assists per game, while converting 87.0 percent from the line (2nd in the ACC), 42.2 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from long range (2nd in the ACC), with league-high 2.6 three-pointers per game. Scott adds 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 42.0 percent from downtown and 86.4 percent from the line (3rd in the ACC). Big man Reggie Johnson — who knocked down a career-high 25 points in his homecoming at Wake Forest on Wednesday — has notched 10 double-doubles this season, and has grabbed 10-plus boards in four of the last six to average 12.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
Duke, who returns to the hardwood following Wednesday’s comeback win over North Carolina, boasts a 22-2 overall mark and a 9-1 record in conference play — with its lone league loss at Florida State, 66-61, on Jan. 12. The Blue Devils have two active players averaging double-figure points, including the ACC’s scoring leader Nolan Smith with 21.5 points, a league-high 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds an outing. Smith suprassed his scoring average in the second half alone versus the Tar Heels, scoring 22 of his game-high 34 points to fuel the Blue Devil rally. Kyle Singler adds 17.6 points and 6.3 boards per game. As a team, Duke leads the ACC in scoring offense with 84.4 points per game, scoring margin (+19.5), three-point field goal percentage (.391) and turnover margin (+3.8).
CARDIAC KINGS
Dubbed the “Cardiac Kings” by Hurricanes play-by-play announcer Joe Zagacki, the Hurricanes have played an ACC record eight-straight games that have been decided by four points or less (essentially on the final possession). Miami opened this nerve-wracking stretch with a one-point win over Boston College on Jan. 15, and then suffered four-straight losses by a combined 11 points — marking the first time in program history that UM lost as many consecutive games by less than five points. Miami followed up a two-point loss to Florida State (1/19), a two-point loss at NC State (1/23) and a three-point loss to North Carolina (1/26) with a four-point decision at Virginia Tech (1/30), before bouncing back with three-straight wins with a two-point victory over Georgia Tech (2/3), a two-point overtime victory over Virginia (2/5) and a one-point win at Wake Forest (2/9).
WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY
Big man Reggie Johnson scored a career-high 25 points and nailed a pair of free throws with just four seconds remaining at Wake Forest to seal Miami’s first road ACC win since 2009… He shot 8-of-10 from the field 9-of-12 from the charity stripe (including a perfect 8-8 in the second half as the `Canes converted all 16 free throws in the final stanza)… Over Johnson’s last two games versus his hometown Demon Deacons, he has converted 16-of-18 field goals and 15-of-18 free throws… After a pair of subpar games while battling the flu, Durand Scott got back on track at Wake Forest, with 17 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, perfect 3-of-3 shooting from long range and a 6-of-6 showing from the line… Sixth-year player Adrian Thomas notched his first career double-double in the overtime win over Virginia, with career highs of 20 points — including six three-pointers — and 10 rebounds… Went 6-of-12 from long range versus the Cavaliers for his 11th game of the season with at least three threes… Thomas added a pair of threes at Wake Forest en route to 10 points for his second-straight double-figure scoring game and 10th of the season… Former `Cane and current Miami Heat player James Jones is one of six participants competing in the NBA All-Star three-point contest on Feb. 19. As a Hurricane, Jones knocked down 124 three-pointers between 1999-2003, 12th most in program history. He converted 47.1 percent (41-87) as a sophomore for the second-best single-season percentage in UM history, while shooting 38.3 percent over his career — seventh best in the UM recordbooks.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Currently averaging 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, Reggie Johnson could become the first Hurricane to average a double-double since Joe Wylie posted 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds over 28 games in 1990-91. Wylie is the lone `Cane to accomplish the feat since the return of the program in 1985-86. According to available statistics, just nine players in program history have averaged a double-double for a season 17 times — including the great Rick Barry doing it three times, including 37.4 points and 18.3 boards per game in 1964-65.
TURN OF FATE
En route to Miami’s last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007-08, the Hurricanes went 6-2 over their last eight ACC games. UM has gone 2-0 to start the final half of conference games this season.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Hurricanes are 10-2 at the BankUnited Center this season. Over the last four seasons, UM has compiled a 48-12 (.800) record at home, and is 78-29 (.729) at home overall under head coach Frank Haith — including nine wins over ranked opponents. The Hurricanes have now notched double-digit home wins at the BankUnited in four-straight seasons and seven times in eight full seasons calling the arena home. UM has won 20 consecutive non-conference regular season games at home.
LEAGUE LEADERS
Malcolm Grant and Reggie Johnson are among just eight ACC players ranked among the league’s top five in at least three statistical categories. Grant’s among the leaders in three-point field goals made (2.6, 1st), three-point field goal percentage (.434, 2nd) and free throw percentage (.870, 2nd), while Johnson is among the top five in rebounding (9.8, 3rd), offensive rebounds (3.8, 2nd) and defensive rebounds (6.0, 4th).
CHAT WITH FELLOW `CANES
Log onto HurricaneSports.com during Miami athletic events to chat with Miami insiders and other fans about the game and your favorite student-athletes. To join the chat, click on the Cover It Live program found online with each game’s preview, beginning 30 minutes before tip-off.
SECURE YOUR SEATS NOW
Individual game tickets for Miami’s ACC games are now on sale to the general public. The Hurricanes will host a regular slate of eight ACC games, including 2010 national champion Duke on Sun., Feb. 13. Prices for most ACC games begin as low as $15. For additional information or to order season tickets, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office online at www.hurricanesports.com or by phone at 1-800-GO-CANES.
