Miami Men's Basketball Takes on Kentucky
Dec. 5, 2008
LEXINGTON, KY – The No. 21/22 University of Miami men’s basketball team returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 6, with a tough road test at Kentucky, winners of five straight. ESPN will televise the 5:30 p.m. game.
Game 7: No. 21/22 Miami (4-2) at Kentucky (5-2)
Date: Sat., Dec. 6, 2008 | Time: 5:30 p.m. (EST) | Site: Rupp Arena
TV: ESPN | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Kentucky (www.ukathletics.com)
Projected Miami Starters
| No. | Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) | Pts | Reb | Ast |
| 01 | Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 183, Sr.) | 9.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 |
| 33 | Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) | 15.2 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| 23 | James Dews (G, 6-4, 209, Jr.) | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.8 |
| 20 | Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 236, R-Jr.) | 8.8 | 6.5 | 1.0^ |
| 21 | Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) | 12.7 | 10.2 | 1.3 |
Projected Kentucky Starters
| No. | Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) | Pts | Reb | Ast |
| 23 | Jodie Meeks (G, 6-4, 208, Jr.) | 24.6 | 4.4 | 2.0 |
| 54 | Patrick Patterson (C, 6-9, 235, So.) | 17.7 | 8.1 | 2.9 |
| 01 | Darius Miller (F, 6-7, 223, Fr.) | 5.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 |
| 21 | Perry Stevenson (F, 6-9, 207, Jr.) | 6.0 | 5.1 | 2.0^ |
| 13 | Michael Porter (G, 6-3, 198, Jr.) | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
^ blocks per game
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The University of Miami men’s basketball team will play their fourth game of the 2008-09 campaign away from home on Saturday, Dec. 6 — yet their first on an opponent’s home court. The Hurricanes travel to historic Rupp Arena for a 5:30 p.m., ESPN-televised match versus the Wildcats of Kentucky.
THE SERIES
Saturday marks the fourth meeting between the Hurricanes and Wildcats, with Kentucky holding the 3-0 all-time series advantage. These programs last met on Jan. 29, 2000, in Miami, Fla., resulting in a 60-57 victory for the then-No. 16 Wildcats. That game featured five players that would go on to NBA careers — John Salmons and James Jones of Miami and Tayshaun Prince, Jamaal Magloire and Keith Bogans of Kentucky.
ACC CAREER LEADERS
In his third season with the Hurricanes, Jack McClinton ranks second among ACC career leaders in both free throw percentage (.907) and three-point field goal percentage (.435).
Jack McClinton converted 4-of-4 three-point attempts versus Ohio State for a 1.000 three-point field goal percentage to tie the single-game school record. A Hurricane has now shot perfectly from beyond the arc (minimum of four attempts) eight times.
Over his Hurricane career to date, McClinton has converted 200 of 460 attempts and has hit three-or-more treys in a game 40 times (in 69 games) and five-or-more treys eight times — including a career-high seven (7-12) in a 95-93 win over Virginia on March 1, 2008.
If McClinton continues at his current pace of 2.5 three-pointers per game — third-best in the ACC, he could potentially break UM’s career three-point record in just three seasons. Steven Edwards set the current career three-point record of 265 over his four-year career.
ON THE DOUBLE
Cyrus McGowan posted his first career double-double versus Ohio State, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He is among three Hurricanes to have posted a double-double in six games this season, while Miami is among four ACC teams to have a league-best three separate players post a double-double this season (North Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech).
Over his last two games, McGowan is averaging 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Dwayne Collins, who has played in every game since becoming a Hurricane — making 72 appearances to date, including 46 starts — is averaging a double-double of 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He is one of just three players in the ACC averaging a double-double.
ROAD WARRIORS
In 2008-09, the Hurricanes will play at some of the most historic venues in college basketball — Rupp Arena (Dec. 6 vs. Kentucky), Madison Square Garden (Dec. 27 vs. St. John’s), the Dean E. Smith Center (Jan. 17 vs. North Carolina) and Cameron Indoor Stadium (Feb. 7 vs. Duke).
HITTING THE BOARDS
The Hurricanes have out-rebounded their last three opponents by an average of 10.3 rebounds per game, including a +15.0 rebounding margin in Tuesday’s effort versus Ohio State. Dwayne Collins leads Miami on the glass with 10.2 rebounds per game — which ranks third best in the ACC.
Collins is among six ACC players to have grabbed 15-or-more boards in a game in 2008-09, with a season-high 16 rebounds in the season-opening win over Florida Southern.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
After opening the season with a pair of losses, the Kentucky men’s basketball team has bounced back to win five straight – including claiming the Las Vegas Invitational championship with wins over Kansas State and West Virginia. The NCAA’s all-time leader with 1,971 wins, the 2008-09 edition of the Wildcats is led by a pair of players averaging double-figure scoring – reigning SEC Player of the Week junior guard Jodie Meeks (24.6 ppg) and sophomore center Patrick Patterson (17.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg), who scored a career-high 31 points in Wednesday’s 103-61 home win over Lamar.
Kentucky’s starting lineup is in question, as usual starters Ramon Harris and Michael Porter are listed as day-to-day after a collision in Wednesday’s game.
