Hurricanes Set To Take On Seminoles Tuesday at 6:30pm

Hurricanes Set To Take On Seminoles Tuesday at 6:30pm

Feb. 21, 2005

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (15-9, 6-7)atFLORIDA STATE (11-15, 3-9)

When: February 22, 2005 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Leon County Civic Center (12,100) – Tallahassee, Fla.
TV: Sunshine Network
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 191)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); VT (www.hokiesports.com)
Up Next: vs. Georgia Tech, February 26 at 4 p.m. at the Convocation Center
Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES

ON FLORIDA STATE:

The Florida State Seminoles welcome the Hurricanes to the Leon County Civic Center with a record of 11-15, 3-9 in the ACC following a heartbreaking 76-75 loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday.

The Seminoles have now lost six consecutive games including an earlier contest against Georgia Tech (64-61), North Carolina (81-60), Virginia (56-55), Wake Forest (87-48) and Massachussets (78-68).

FSU has been led this season by sophomore guard Von Wafer who is averaging a team-best 13.9 points per game. Wafer is the only Seminole averaging in double-figures in scoring this season. Wafer is one the ACC’s top three-point shooters connecting of 63-145 (.434) three-point field goal attempts. He currently ranks second in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage and third in the conference in three-point field goals made.

Sophomore forward Alexander Johnson leads the team and ranks 23rd in the ACC in rebounding at 4.6 rebounds per game. Junior Todd Galloway is the Seminoles’ top assist man at 3.1 assists per game.

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 15-9 this season with the Hurricanes.

Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton is in his third season with the Seminoles and 17th season overall. His record at FSU is 44-44 (.500) while his overall mark is 244-254 (.489). Hamilton coached Miami from 1990-2000 registering a 144-147 (.495) record and leading UM to three NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 1999, 2000).

A WIN VERSUS FLORIDA STATE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 16-9 overall and 7-7 in the ACC.Give Miami a sweep of the regular season series with FSU.Improve Miami road record this season to 5-4.Equal Miami’s road win total from the last two season’s combined.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami-Florida State game will be broadcast live in Miami on the Sunshine Network. Mike Goldberg will handle the play-by-play duties with Mike Gminski adding analysis.

The game will be broadcast 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 SERIES:

Miami and FSU meet for the 54th time second time this season. The Seminoles lead the all-time series, 28-25, although the Hurricanes won the first meeting this season in Coral Gables. UM and FSU have faced nine times since the Hurricanes brought backetball back in 1985 with the Seminoles winning five times. Miami’s last road win against FSU was January 16, 1960 (93-91).

22 AND COUNTING:

Miami guard Guillermo Diaz has scored in double-figures in 22 consecutive games. The streak is currently the longest in the ACC. Duke’s Shelden Williams is second having scored in double-figures in 13 straight games. Diaz’ streak is tied for the fourth-longest since UM reinstated the program in 1985-86.

Current ACC Double-Figure Scoring Streaks:

22 Guillermo Diaz, Miami13 Shelden Williams, Duke12 Raymond Felton, North Carolina11 Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech11 J.J. Redick, Duke10 Von Wafer, Florida State10 Eric Williams, Wake Forest9 Sean May, North Carolina8 Justin Gray, Wake Forest7 Chris McCray, Maryland

Top UM Double-Figure Scoring Streaks (Since 1985-86):

55 Johnny Hemsley, 1998-200038 Eric Brown, 1987-8926 Steven Edwards, 1992-9322 Guillermo Diaz, 2004-0522 Robert Hite, 2003-0422 Tim James, 1998-99

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:

This season Miami sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz has played his best when facing the best. Miami has faced eight ranked teams this season and in those games Diaz is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. He is shooting 69-138 (.500) from the field against ranked teams this season including 25-57 (.439) from three-point range. Diaz has scored 20-or-more points in seven of the eight games versus ranked opponents.

PLAYING LIKE A FIRST-TEAMER:

Guillermo Diaz has put together a season worthy of first team All-ACC consideration. As of February 21st, Diaz is the only player in the ACC to rank among the league leaders (conference games only) in scoring (2nd), rebounding (21st), field goal percentage (6th), three-point field goal percentage (10th) and steals (3rd).

ROCKING THE CONVO:

The University of Miami has already recorded four sellouts in ACC play this season and announced on Monday, Feb. 7 that the Georgia Tech game on Feb. 26 at the Convocation Center is also a sellout. Through the first seven ACC home games this season the Hurricanes are averaging 6,290 fans per game marking an 86% increase in attendance over last season. Last season Miami’s average attendance through seven BIG EAST home games was 3,374.

KEEPING UP WITH THE ANTHONY’S:

Miami sophomores Anthony Harris and Anthony King may be the most improved duo in the nation. Both have gone from sparingly used freshmen last season to starters this season. The two have improved their numbers in every statistical category.

VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:

Miami is 301-145 (.675) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 36 of its last 40 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season. Miami has won six straight games against in-state opponents.

MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:

Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.3 ppg), Robert Hite (17.1 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.7 ppg) have combined to average 48.1 points per game, or 66.3 percent (1155 of 1743) of the teams scoring this season.

ACC’S TOP SCORING TRIOS:

The Miami trio of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and have accounted for 66.2 percent of the team’s scoring which ties for the highest trio in the ACC. Duke’s J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Shelden Williams also account for 66.3 percent (1259 of 1898) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season. In addition UM’s guards are the second highest scoring scoring trio in the ACC averaging 48.2 points per game. Duke (54.7 ppg) ranks first.

HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS:

Miami is the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in the ACC averaging 15.08 offensive rebounds per game. The Hurricanes have taken advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 362 offensive rebounds this season into 369 total points, or 1.02 points per offensive rebound. Miami is averaging 15.4 points per game off offensive rebounds or 21.2 percent of the team’s scoring.

Miami has three players that rank among the top-10 in the ACC in offensive rebounding including Anthony King (2nd), William Frisby (5th) and Gary Hamilton (10th). No other ACC school has more than one player ranked among the top-10 in offensive rebounding.