Men's Basketball Takes on Maryland
Jan. 13, 2009
Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Raycom Affiliates (PDF)
CORAL GABLES, FLA… – Miami rides a five-game win streak into Wednesday’s late-night ACC contest versus Maryland. The Hurricanes, who will play three of their next four games at home in the BankUnited Center, earned their first ACC win of the season with a 77-71 road victory over then-No. 17/24 Boston College on Saturday. Maryland — who will be playing in its first true road game of the season at Miami — returns to the hardwood following its 68-61 come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Game 16: Miami (12-3, 1-1 ACC) vs. Maryland (12-3, 1-0 ACC)
Date: Wed., Jan. 14, 2009 | Time: 9 p.m. (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: Raycom (WBFS-My 33 in South Florida) | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Maryland (www.umterps.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 183, Sr.) 7.4 1.6 2.5
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 16.9 2.8 3.1
32 Brian Asbury (G/F, 6-7, 221,Sr.) 6.9 5.0 1.3
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 236, R-Jr.) 7.2 6.1 0.9^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) 12.1 7.8 1.1*
Projected Maryland Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
21 Greivis Vasquez (G, 6-6, 190, Jr.) 17.9 6.2 4.9
01 Landon Milbourne (F, 6-7, 201, Jr.) 12.3 5.2 1.1^
05 Eric Hayes (G, 6-4, 179, Jr.) 10.2 3.3 3.3
22 Adrian Bowie (G, 6-2, 180, So.) 9.6 3.1 2.6
35 Dave Neal (F, 6-7, 257, Sr.) 8.0 4.7 0.9
^ blocks per game * steals per game
THE SERIES
Miami leads the all-time series versus Maryland, 9-5. The Hurricanes have won three straight over the Terps and five of the last six meetings between the teams.
WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY
Jack McClinton is averaging 18.3 points, 3.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game over his last seven appearances, shooting .494 from the field, .512 from long range and .844 from the line. Over his last three outings, Dwayne Collins is averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, while converting .600 from the field and .744 from the charity stripe. Over his last three games, James Dews is averaging 11.0 points and 2.7 rebounds for the Hurricanes, while converting all six free throw attempts (1.000).
SWEET CHARITY
For the second-straight game, the third time in the last four games and the fourth time this season, Dwayne Collins recorded double-figure free throw attempts. The 6-8 forward, who is ranked third in the ACC with 7.6 free throw attempts per game, converted 11-of-14 free throws versus Boston College. For the season he has registered a team-high 114 free throw attempts and is on pace to finish the regular season with 220 free throw attempts — which would be the sixth most in a season in program history.
Collins has converted 23-of-30 (.767) free throw attempts over the last two games. Those 30 free throw attempts are more than seven Hurricanes have taken in 15 games this season. His 114 total free throw attempts this season is almost twice as many as Jack McClinton – who has taken the second most free throws on the team with 61 (52-61, .852).
THESE HURRICANES GOT HOPS
Hurricanes fans always enjoy a high-flying slam dunk, however several of Miami’s guards have also shown great leaping ability. Senior Lance Hurdle, a 6-2 guard, has the best “hops” of any Hurricane with a 45-inch vertical jump, followed by 6-8 forward Jimmy Graham‘s 40-inch vertical. High-flying freshman DeQuan Jones, a 6-6 guard/forward, and 6-1 senior Jack McClinton both own 38-inch verticals, while 6-8 Dwayne Collins can get 36.5 inches off the ground.
DID U KNOW…
The Hurricanes are among the nation’s leaders in rebounding margin (+10.3, second in the NCAA), three-point field goal percent defense (.278, fifth in the NCAA), field goal percent defense (.368, 10th in the NCAA) and scoring margin (+14.7, 19th in the NCAA). In addition, Jack McClinton is seventh in the country with an ACC-best .465 three-point field goal percentage.
HOME SWEET HOME
Miami has gone 7-2 at home this season and 51-21 (.708) at home under fifth-year head coach Frank Haith. The Hurricanes have won three straight and 11 of its last 13 games (and 21 of its last 25) at home.
Jack McClinton averages a team-high 16.7 points and 3.7 assists per game at the “BUC”, while Dwayne Collins adds 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per home game. Seven Miami players are putting up 6.0 points or more at home, including four Hurricanes with 8.0 points or more.
ARC SUPPORT
Not only does sharpshooter Jack McClinton lead the ACC in career three-point field goal percentage (.439), he also leads the league in 2008-09 in three-point field goal percentage (.465) and three-point field goals per game (2.7).
Comparing McClinton’s three-point numbers to 15-games into last season — when the arc was one foot closer to the basket — he has hit seven more treys this season (40 in 2008-09 compared to 33 in 2007-08), while his accuracy has dipped just ever so slightly (.465 (40-86) in 2008-09 vs. .478 (33-69) in 2007-08) — but still remains tops in the ACC and seventh in the nation.
In just his third season with the Hurricanes, McClinton ranks fourth in career three-pointers with 225 to date. He is just three treys out of third place, and with an ACC-leading 2.7 three-pointers per game he is on pace to wrap up the regular season with 263 three-pointers — within fighting distance of the school-record 265 treys hit by Steven Edwards (1992-96).
SNAPPING THE SKID
Saturday’s win snapped a 10-year skid at Boston College, as Miami’s last win at BC came on Jan. 24, 1999 (75-67). The Hurricanes — who are only the second visiting team to pick up a win on BC’s home court in 12 games this season — have won two straight over the Eagles.
With their season-long fifth-straight win, the Hurricanes improved to 3-0 on their opponent’s home courts — with wins at Kentucky, St. John’s (Madison Square Garden) and Boston College. Including a 2-1 mark on neutral courts, Miami is now 5-1 away from home.
The win over No. 17/24 Boston College marked Miami’s first over a ranked opponent in 2008-09.
