Miami To Host Boston College On Saturday

Miami To Host Boston College On Saturday

Jan. 20, 2006

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#21/#21 BOSTON COLLEGE (13-4, 1-3 ACC)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (11-6, 3-1 ACC)

When: January 21, 2006 – 8:00 PM (ET)

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

TV: WBFS-TV (UPN)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WVUM (90.5 FM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); BC (www.bceagles.com)

Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Up Next: @ Virginia, Jan. 24 – 9:00 pm (ESPNU)

Probable Miami Starters
No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
50 Anthony King F 6-9 230 Jr. 9.5 7.6 0.7
02 Gary Hamilton C 6-10 265 Sr. 4.4 6.5 1.1
12 Anthony Harris G 6-2 187 Jr. 10.8 1.7 3.2
13 Guillermo Diaz G 6-2 186 Jr. 16.4 3.3 3.0
22 Robert Hite G 6-2 190 Sr. 15.8 5.6 1.6
 
Probable Boston College Starters
No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
01 Craig Smith F 6-7 250 Sr. 17.7 8.2 1.9
03 Jared Dudley F 6-7 225 Jr. 16.8 7.3 3.2
32 John Oates C 6-10 260 So. 3.5 3.1 0.6
11 Louis Hinnant G 6-4 200 Sr. 6.6 2.4 4.3
23 Sean Marshall G 6-6 212 Jr. 13.1 4.1 2.5

THE MATCHUP:

Boston College comes to Coral Gables with a record of 13-4, 1-3 in the ACC, and a No. 21 national ranking in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls.

The Eagles, who are competing in their first season in the ACC, are led by one the nation’s best front courts in senior Craig Smith and junior Jared Dudley. Smith leads the team in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (8.2 rpg), steals (21) and blocks (16). He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field and has scored in double-figures in 26 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the ACC. In the Eagles, 63-53, win over Holy Cross on Tuesday he scored 19 points becoming the fifth player in BC history to surpass 2,000 career points. Dudley has been just as impressive averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, ranking second to Smith in both categories. He also ranks second on the team in steals (20) and assists (3.2 apg).

Boston College boasts one of the nation’s most experienced teams. Its five starters have played a combined 403 games, making 390 starts.

Miami enters the game with a record of 11-6, 3-1 in the ACC, and are riding a four-game winning streak. Three of the wins have come against conference opponents including an 84-70 win over #14/#12 Maryland, an 81-70 win at #20/#20 North Carolina and a 62-38 win over Clemson on Wednesday. The three wins marks the first time Miami has defeated three consecutive conference opponents (ACC or BIG EAST) by 10 or more points.

Miami’s, 62-38, win over Clemson marked the second lowest point total allowed by UM since the 1947-48 season. Miami defeated Lehigh, 68-32, on December 30, 1996.

Junior point guard Anthony 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 Miami’s guard trio (Diaz, Harris, Hite) has averaged 44.6 points per game, or 64.9 percent (446 of 687) of the team’s scoring. Miami is 7-3 with Harris back in the line-up.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Guillermo Diaz needs 21 points to move into 20th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 21st place with 1,170 points. Rusty Parker (1965-68) is currently 20th with 1,190 points.Robert Hite needs three steals to move into fifth on UM’s career steals list. Hite enters the game in sixth with 165 steals. Jake Morton (1988-93) is fifth with 167.Robert Hite needs two field goals to move into 10th on UM’s career list. Hite enters the game in 11th with 516 career field goals. Ron Godfrey (1958-61) is 10th with 518.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 27-19 (.587), including a 11-6 mark this season.

Boston College head coach Al Skinner is in his ninth season with the Eagles and 18th season overall. His record at Boston College in 160-104 (.606) while his overall record is 298-230 (.564).

THE SERIES:

Miami and Boston College, former BIG EAST rivals, meet for the 26th time with the Eagles leading the all-time series 16-8. Boston College has won seven straight in the series including a 74-72 overtime win on February 11, 2004 in Coral Gables.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. Boston College game will be televised in Miami on WBFS-TV (UPN). Mike Hogewood (play-by-play) and Bobby Cremins (analysis) 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.

The game can also be heard on WVUM (90.5 FM), the UM Student Radio Network.

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

Miami is 4-0 since Janaury 1 marking its best start to open a New Year since January 1960 when Miami won its first five games to start the New Year.

Best January Starts:

1960 5-0

2006 4-0

1949 4-0

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:

Miami is 24-33 (.421) versus ranked opponents since 1996-97. Miami has defeated at least one ranked team in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Miami is 33-98 (.252) all-time against ranked teams including a 29-84 (.257) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES:

Miami’s Guillermo Diaz has stepped up his play in the second half of games this season. Diaz is averaging 9.5 points and is shooting 50.0 percent from the field, including 48.9 percent from three-point range, in the second half of games. His scoring average in the second half of games is over two points higher than the first half while his shooting percentages are over 100 points higher.

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 44.6 points per game, or 64.9 percent (446 of 687) of the team’s scoring.