Miami Faces Undefeated Florida, Thursday Dec. 22

Dec. 20, 2005

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Dec. 20, 2005

#5/#5 FLORIDA (10-0, 0-0 SEC)at UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (6-4, 0-1 ACC)

When: December 22, 2005 – 7:00 PM (ET)

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

TV: FSN Florida (Live)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WWFE (670 AM) in Spanish

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); UF (www.gatorzone.com

Up Next: vs. Stetson, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m. – BankUnited Center

Ticket Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Probable Miami Starters

Probable Florida Starters

12Lee HumphreyG6-2192Jr.10.81.72.5

ON FLORIDA:

The Florida Gators are 10-0 this season tying the best startin school-history (1951-52). Florida enters the game ranked fifth inboth the AP and USA Today/ESPN polls.

Florida’s balanced offense is led by sophomore forward CoreyBrewer who is averaging a team-high 14.9 points per game. All five Gatorstarters are averaging in double-figures in scoring including sophomorecenter Al Horford (13.5 ppg), sophomore guard Taurean Green (13.5 ppg),sophomore forward Joakim Noah (11.3 ppg) and junior guard Lee Humphrey(10.8 ppg).

Florida ranks No. 1 in the nation in field goal percentage(.544) and has averaged 43.2 points in the paint over the last fivegames, including 66 in its 101-58 win over Jacksonville on Sunday.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Florida will meet for the 66th time with theGators leading the all-time series 43-22. Miami won last season’smeeting, 72-65, in Gainesville. Thursday’s game marks the first timesince 1990 that Florida has played on the Hurricanes’ home floor.

RESULTS SINCE 1985

LAST SEASON AGAINST FLORIDA:

MIAMI 72, #19/#18 FLORIDA 65

December 4, 2004

O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

Anthony Harris scored 18 of his career-high 23 points in thesecond half to help Miami upset No. 19 Florida 72-65 Saturday and givefirst-year coach Frank Haith his biggest victory.

Miami’s three starting guards combined for 55 points andgave the Gators problems all game – on offense and defense. GuillermoDiaz and Robert Hite added 16 apiece for the Hurricanes.

Harris hit a big 3-pointer with less than 4 minutes to playthat put Miami ahead for good. His shot hit the front of the rim andbounced off the backboard before falling through the net and giving theHurricanes a 63-60 lead. He followed with a floater in the lane.

Diaz sank a hanging runner in the lane with 1:30 to playthat gave Miami a six-point lead. Harris hit all four of his free throwsin the final minute to secure the win

Miami also did a solid job against Florida’s Big Three,especially Matt Walsh.

Anthony Roberson had 20 points and David Lee added 16, butWalsh was 2-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. Hefinished with eight points.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. NC State game will televised live on FSNFlorida Frank Forte (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analysis) will callall 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 actionwith Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studiohost.

The game can also be broadcast in Spanish on WWFE (670 AM).Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Joe Martinez (analysis) will call thegame.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season withthe Hurricanes. His record career record is 22-17 (.564), including a6-4 mark this season.

Florida head coach Billy Donovan is in his ninth season atFlorida and 11th season overall. His record with the Gators is 203-92(.688) while his overall record stands at 238-112 (.680).

HURRICANES ARE STATE CHAMPS:

The University of Miami was a perfect 6-0 against Floridaschools last season. If you include the Hurricanes’ exhibition win overBarry, Miami was actually 7-0.

Miami is 302-145 (.676) against teams from the state ofFlorida. Miami has won 37 of its last 41 games against Florida schoolsdating back to the 1992-93 season. Miami has won seven straight gamesagainst in-state opponents.

Miami vs. Florida Schools in 2004-05:

*Exhibition game

FLORIDA GAME SOLD OUT:

Thursday’s game against Florida is officially sold out. Thesellout is the first this season and the sixth since Frank Haith tookover the head coaching duties prior to last season.

The University of Miami recorded five sellouts in ACC playlast season (NC State, Duke, Maryland, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech) andhad an average attendance of 6,378 in eight league games.

Miami average attendance in ACC games marked a 95% increaseover the 2003-04 season. The Hurricanes’ average attendance in eight BIGEAST games the previous year was 3,270. UM’s overall attendance averagewas 4,303 last season marking a 69% increase over the 2003-04 season.

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:

Over the last two seasons Miami guard Guillermo Diaz hasplayed his best when facing the best. Miami has faced 10 ranked teamsover the last two seasons and in those games he averaged 22.5 points,4.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He shot 81-170 (.476) from thefield against ranked teams including 28-70 (.400) from three-pointrange. Diaz scored 20-or-more points in seven of the 10 games versusranked opponents.

KEEPING UP WITH KING:

Miami junior Anthony King may have been the most improvedplayer in the ACC last season. King went from a little used reserve in2003-04 to starting every game last season. King improved his numbers inevery statistical category last season, a trend which has continued thisseason.

GETTING IT DONE DOWN LOW:

Last season the Hurricanes struggled to score inside.Miami’s post players of only accounted for 20.3 points per game, or 28.5percent of the teams scoring a year ago, and shot a combined 48.7percent from the field. This season the Hurricanes have made a concertedeffort to establish the low post and Miami’s post players have been upto the task. Miami’s post players are averaging 24.2 points per gamewhich accounts for 34.1 percent of the team’s offense, and are shootinga combined 55.8 percent from the field.