Miami And Xavier Face Off Saturday

Miami And Xavier Face Off Saturday

Nov. 24, 2004

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY (1-1) vs.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (1-1)

MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic
When: November 27, 2004 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: AmericanAirlines Arena (16,500) – Miami, Fla.
TV: Sunshine (Live)
Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Websites: UM www.hurricanesports.com ; Xavier www.xavier.edu/athletics
Tickets: Available at www.orangebowl.org

Probable Miami Starters

No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
34 William Frisby F 6-8 235 Sr. 18.0 5.0 0.0
02 Gary Hamilton C 6-10 250 Jr. 6.0 10.5 2.0
12 Anthony Harris G 6-2 180 So. 11.5 2.0 3.0
13 Guillermo Diaz G 6-2 186 So. 6.5 2.0 3.5
22 Rob Hite G 6-2 190 Jr. 14.5 5.0 2.0

Probable Xavier Starters

No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast
02 Brian Thornton F 6-9 249 Jr. 9.5 9.5 0.5
03 Justin Cage F 6-6 225 So. 9.5 3.0 0.5
15 Justin Doellman F 6-9 210 So. 9.0 4.0 3.5
12 Dedrick Finn G 6-1 180 Jr. 6.5 1.5 4.0
25 Keith Jackson G 6-6 210 Sr. 8.0 3.0 1.5

ON XAVIER:
Xavier enters the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic with a record of 1-1 following a 66-54 home loss to Miami (Ohio).

The Musketeers, under the direction of first-year head coach Sean Miller, return seven lettermen, including two starters, from last season’s team that finished 26-11, won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Xavier has been led by junior foward Brian Thornton who transferred from Vanderbilt following the 2002-03 season. He is tied for the team lead in scoring (9.5 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (9.5 rpg). The Musketeers have had a balanced offensive attack this season with five players averaging eight or more points per game.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Xavier meet for the third time with Hurricanes winning both previous match-ups. Miami and Xavier last met on December 29, 1959 with the Hurricanes coming away with an 87-69 win.

SERIES RESULTS:

2-2-56 MIAMI 77, Xavier 75 at UM
12-29-59 MIAMI 87, Xavier 69 at UM

TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Xavier game will be televised live by Sunshine. Frank Forte will call all the action with Mark Wise adding analysis and Todd Lewis serving as sideline reporter. The game will also 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.

LAST GAME – SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 60, MIAMI 50
November 23, 2004
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
Thurman Zimmerman scored a team-high 17 points to lead South Carolina State to a 60-50 win over the University of Miami at the Convocation Center.

William Frisby had 18 points and Robert Hite added 17 for the Hurricanes, who were outrebounded 34-32 by the Bulldogs. Miami shot just 34.7 percent and turned the ball over 16 times.

Hite pulled the Hurricanes, who never led, to within 54-50 when he drained an off-balance 3-pointer with 2:29 left to play. Zimmerman responded by bulling his way in for a basket and a 56-50 Bulldogs lead with 1:01 remaining.

South Carolina State hit four free-throws down the stretch to seal the win.

A WIN VERSUS XAVIER WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 2-1 this season.Improve Miami’s record against Xavier to 3-0.Improve Miami’s record to 5-6 in the Orange Bowl Classic.

ON THE COACHES:
Frank Haith was named the University of Miami’s 11th head men’s basketball coach on April 12, 2004. In his 15 seasons as an assistant at the Division I level, he has helped lead teams that have won one NIT Championship, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen three times, reached one Elite Eight and one Final Four. Haith, who is entering his first season as a collegiate head coach, has worked at several top-ranked programs including Texas and Wake Forest. Haith is 1-1 this season with the Hurricanes.

Xavier head coach Sean Miller is in his first season as a collegiate head coach. He is 1-1 this season with the Musketeers.

MIAMI IN THE ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC:
The Hurricanes are making their 11th appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Miami is 4-6 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic including a 72-66 win over Temple in last season’s Classic.

OBC Results:
1994 UNLV 56, MIAMI 55
1995 Tennessee 57, MIAMI 55
1996 MIAMI 61, DePaul 45
1997 Georgia Tech 69, MIAMI 61
1998 MIAMI 72, Ohio State 64
1999 North Carolina 78, MIAMI 68
2000 Nebraska 72, MIAMI 64
2001 MIAMI 58, Indiana 53
2002 Florida 94, MIAMI 93 (2OT)
2003 MIAMI 77, Temple 66

MIAMI VERSUS THE ATLANTIC 10:
Xavier will be the first of two Atlantic 10 teams the Hurricanes will face this season. Miami will play Massachusetts on December 12. The Hurricanes are 16-25 all-time against teams in the Atlantic 10.

UM versus the Atlantic 10

Dayton 1-7
Duquesne 2-1
Fordham 1-1
George Washington 0-2
La Salle 4-9
Massachusetts 0-0
Rhode Island 4-1
Richmond 0-0
St. Bonaventure 0-0
St. Joseph’s 1-3
Temple 1-1
Xavier 2-0

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 92-44 (.676) record against non-conference opponents, including a 65-15 (.813) mark at home. Miami was 10-4 against non-conference opponents in 2003-04 and is 1-1 this season.

HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 100:
The University of Miami has always prided itself on playing tough defense. Over the last 14+ seasons the Hurricanes have not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark, a streak of 404 games. The last team to reach the 100-point plateau was Miami (OH) on December 27, 1990 in a 101-99 double-overtime victory over UM at the Eastern Airlines Palm Beach Classic.

The last team to score 100 points against the Hurricanes in a non-overtime game was Providence on February 21, 1990, a 101-67 Friar victory at the Providence Civic Center.

Miami has not allowed a team to score 100 points at home since Kansas defeated Miami 100-73 on January 10, 1990, a current streak of 223 games.