Men's Basketball Takes On Norfolk State This Sunday

Jan. 1, 2005

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY (3-6)
at
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (8-2)
When: January 2, 2005 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: None
Radio: WKAT (1360 AM), XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 181)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); NSU (www.nsu.edu/athletics)
Tickets: $10/$20/$25 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES

ON NORFOLK STATE:
Norfolk State enters its match-up with Miami with a record of 3-6 following a 78-70 overtime loss at Georgetown on December 28. The Spartans are 0-5 on the road this season and are playing the fourth game of a seven-game road trip which already included trips to Clemson and Rutgers as well as Georgetown. Norfolk State does not play another home game until January 19 vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore. Norfolk State has been led this season by senior guard Chakowby Hicks who leads the team in scoring (13.3 ppg), assists (3.4 apg) and steals (3.6 spg), and ranks second in rebounding (6.2 rpg). Hicks, who ranks seventh in the nation in steals per game, is the only Spartan averaging in double-figures in scoring. Norfolk State is one of the top perimeter defensive teams in the nation holding opponents to just 26 percent (53-204) shooting from three-point range this season.

ON THE COACHES:
Frank Haith was named Miami’s 11th head men’s basketball coach on April 12, 2004. In his 15 seasons as an assistant at the D-I level, he has helped lead teams that have won an NIT Championship, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen three times, reached one Elite Eight and one Final Four. Haith is 8-2 this season with the Hurricanes. Norfolk State head coach Dwight Freeman did not make the trip to Norfolk State’s game at Georgetown due to blood clots in his legs but is expected to be in Miami for the Spartan’s game in Miami. Freeman, who served as an assistant at Miami from 1995-2002, is in his third season with the Spartans and seventh season overall. His record at NSU is 29-37 (.439) while his overall record is 75-102 (.424). Assistant Rodney Martin coached the team at Georgetown.

A WIN VERSUS NORFOLK STATE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 9-2 this season.
Mark Miami’s eighth consecutive victory.
Tie for the ninth longest win streak in UM history.
Mark the fourth consecutive season and the ninth time in the last 10 seasons UM has won its first game of the New Year.

TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Appalachian State will not be televised. The game will be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network, WKAT (1360 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call the action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio (Channel 181).

THE SERIES:
This is the first meeting between Miami and Norfolk State.

ACC SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for all eight of the University of Miami’s home ACC contests are on sale now at the Hurricane Ticket Office. To purchase tickets call (305) 284-CANE in Dade County, or 1-800-GO-CANES or go online at www.hurricanesports.com. Atlantic Coast Conference tickets start at just $15.

MCDONALD’S HURRICANE MEAL DEALS:
The Miami Hurricanes have teamed up with McDonald’s to offer a special McDonald’s Hurricane Meal Deal For only $44, each McDonald’s Meal Deal includes four (4) game tickets and four (4) Big Mac extra value meals. McDonald’s Meal Deals are available for UM games against Florida State (Jan. 15), Clemson (Jan. 26), Virginia Tech (Feb. 2) and Wake Forest (Feb. 15). For more information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANE in Dade County, or 1-800-GO-CANES.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 99-45 (.688) record against non-conference opponents, including a 70-15 (.823) mark at home. Miami is 8-2 against non-conference opponents this season.

STREAKING:
Head coach Frank Haith and the Hurricanes are currently riding a seven-game win streak marking the longest by a first year coach at the University of Miami.

WIN STREAK TIDBITS (7-0):
Team – 78.0 ppg; 201-423 (.475) FG; 55-148 (.372) 3FG
Team – .374 Opp FG%; 18.4 margin of victory; 7.9 3FG/G
Hite – 21.3 ppg; 54-103 (.524) FG; 28-55 (.509) 3FG
Diaz – 17.0 ppg; 47-95 (.495) FG
Harris – 14.3 ppg; 5.4 apg
King – 19-30 (.633) FG; 9.3 rpg; 3.7 bpg
Hamilton – 15-26 (.577) FG

MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite (19.8 ppg), Guillermo Diaz (14.8 ppg) and Anthony Harris (13.6 ppg) have been difficult for Hurricane opponents to contend with this season. The trio have combined to average 48.2 points per game, or 65.8 percent (482 of 733) of the teams scoring this season.

GETTING DEFENSIVE:
The Hurricanes have stepped things up on the defensive end holding their last four opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field. The last time Miami held four consecutive teams to under 40 percent shooting was during the 1999-00 season. The Hurricanes have not held five straight teams to under 40 percent shooting since the 1998-99 season. Over the last four games Miami’s opponents have shot 78-225 (.347) from the field.

LOCKING UP:
This season the Hurricanes have held teams without a field goal for four minutes or more a total of 15 times. Miami held Massachusetts, Stetson and Appalachian State without a FG for four minutes or more three times each.

MIAMI VERSUS THE MEAC:
Norfolk State will be the second MEAC team the Hurricanes have faced this season. Miami lost to South Carolina State, 60-50, earlier this season. The Hurricanes are 18-2 all-time against teams in the MEAC. Miami’s only other loss to a MEAC opponent came against Howard, 64-55, on December 6, 1991.

UM GOES FOR UNDEFEATED DECEMBER:
The University of Miami went 6-0 this December marking the third time in school history the Hurricanes have gone undefeated in the month of December. It also marked the ninth time overall UM has gone undefeated during a month (minimum of five games).

Undefeated Months
February 1947 9-0
February 1958 6-0
December 1962 7-0
February 1965 8-0
November 1997 5-0
February 1999 8-0
November 2001 6-0
December 2001 7-0
December 2004 6-0

UM WIN STREAKS:
Miami’s current seven game win streak is the teams longest since the 2001-02 season when UM opened the season with 14 straight victories, tying the school-record for the most consecutive wins which was originally set in 1947.

UM’s Longest Win Streaks
14 *Eastern Michigan (11-18-01) – Georgetown (1-2-02)
14 Stetson (1-25-47) – Tennessee Tech (3-7-47)
12 Rollina (1-23-65) – Tampa (12-1-65)
11 Loyola (12-12-59) – Florida State (1-16-60)
10 Rollins (2-6-59) – Houston (12-9-59)
9 St. John’s (2-3-99) – Georgetown (3-4-99)
9 *Southern Illinois (11-14-97) – Memphis (12-22-97)
9 *Florida (11-30-62) – St. John’s (1-3-63)
8 Florida Southern (1-15-66) – Jacksonville (2-12-66)
8 South Carolina (12-14-49) – Stetson (1-7-50)
* – Season opening win streak.

MIAMI IS BASKETBALL CENTRAL:
The Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Heat have given Magic City hoops fans a lot to cheer about. The two have combined to win 20 consecutive games. The Heat have won a franchise record 13 straight games while the Hurricanes are riding a seven game win streak. Miami hoops fans have not seen a loss by a local team since Dec. 4 when the Heat dropped a 104-95 decision at Denver. The Hurricanes have not lost since Nov. 27 vs. Xavier (83-70).

PLAYING ABOVE THE RIM:
The Hurricanes recorded 90 dunks (3.0 per game) last season. Miami’s 90 dunks were the most since UM had 111 dunks during the 1988-89 season. Rob Hite led the Hurricanes in dunks last season with 29. This season the Hurricanes have recorded 35 dunks (3.5 per game).