No. 23 Miami Hits the Road for Virginia Tech
Jan. 12, 2010
BLACKSBURG, VA. – The No. 23 University of Miami men’s basketball team is off to its best start in 50 years, and takes its seven-game win streak on the road for its next two ACC games, beginning with Virginia Tech on Wed., Jan. 13.
Game 17: Miami (15-1, 1-1 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (12-2, 0-1 ACC)
Date: Wed., Jan. 13, 2010 | Time: 7 p.m. (EST) | Site: Cassell Coliseum
Webcast: theACC.com | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Virginia Tech (www.hokiesports.com)
Tickets: (800) 828-3244
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
03 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 191, R-So.) 11.2 1.8 3.6
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 213, Sr.) 12.3 2.6 1.6
31 DeQuan Jones (G/F, 6-6, 219, So.) 6.2 2.7 0.7^
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 237, Sr.) 4.8 3.9 1.1^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 241, Sr.) 12.9 8.6 1.3
Projected Virginia Tech Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
00 Jeff Allen (F, 6-7, 230, Jr.) 12.0 8.4 2.0
01 Terrell Bell (F, 6-6, 205, Jr.) 5.4 5.1 0.9^
05 Dorenzo Hudson (G, 6-5, 220, Jr.) 12.4 3.7 2.5
14 Victor Davila (F, 6-8, 245, So.) 7.3 5.4 1.0^
23 Malcolm Delaney (G, 6-3, 190, Jr.) 20.2 3.5 3.7
* steals per game | ^ blocks per game
The Hurricanes play three of their first four conference games on the road — and five of their next seven — before retuning home for a re-match versus Boston College on Tues., Jan. 19.
UM is 6-1 outside of Coral Gables this season, with a perfect 4-0 mark on neutral courts and a 2-1 record on opponents’ home courts. Miami’s lone loss in 16 games this season is a one-point defeat in its ACC opener at Boston College on Dec. 6.
With Saturday’s win over Wake Forest, the Hurricanes earned their 15th win in the fewest games (16) since 1959-60.
POLL POSITION
Miami enters the national rankings for the first time this week at No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Under Frank Haith, the Hurricanes have been ranked for three-straight seasons for the first time in program history.
The last time Miami was in the rankings was on Dec. 1, 2008, when the Hurricanes were No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
UM earned eight votes in the Coaches Poll this week.
Miami’s women’s team also cracked the AP Poll at No. 25 for the first time since 2004, and both Hurricanes basketball teams are nationally ranked for the first time in school history.
THE SERIES
The all-time series between the Hurricanes and Hokies is tied, 8-8, however Miami was victorious in its last game in Blacksburg, 74-71, on Feb. 9, 2008. Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg served as an assistant at Miami from 1985-87, during the return of Miami basketball following a 14-year hiatus.
ONLINE BROADCAST
Wednesday’s game will be available live and on-demand online at theACC.com for $9.95. Directions for watching the game are available at http://www.theacc.com/accselect/usersguide-100113vtum.html. Microsoft’s Silverlight is required for watching these online webcasts. A free download is available online at http://silverlight.net/
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Durand Scott was selected ACC Rookie of the Week for the third time this season after finishing with 10 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in helping Miami knock off Wake Forest on Saturday. Scott, the first Hurricane to be honored three times in a season by the ACC, leads all conference freshmen and ranks seventh overall in assists per game (4.4) and is third in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.15:1) behind a pair of seniors.
AT FOR THREE
Adrian Thomas has now converted a three-pointer in 31 of his last 34 games — including 10 straight for the longest active streak in the ACC. With three treys versus Wake Forest – for 11 three-pointers at a 68.8 percent clip over the last three games – he now has 14 games with three-or-more three-pointers over his career, including eight this season.
D-D-D-DEFENSE
Under Frank Haith, Miami is 67-10 (.870) when holding opponents under 40 percent shooting, including an 11-1 mark this season. Wake Forest was limited to 36.2 percent shooting — its second-worst outing this season (35.1 percent in loss to William & Mary). UM has held its last eight straight opponents under 40 percent from the field.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Dwayne Collins posted the 19th double-double of his career and fifth of the season with a season- and game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to push Miami past Wake Forest. He is sixth all-time at UM, trailing Constantin Popa (1991-95) by just one double-double, and is tied for the fourth among active ACC players in career double-doubles.
TICKET INFORMATION
Miami five-game ACC packs start as low as $75 and single game tickets start as low as $10. For more information, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit us online at hurricanesports.com.
