Hurricanes' Game vs. Wake Forest Tonight is sold out
Feb. 14, 2005
#5/#5 WAKE FOREST (21-3, 9-2)
at
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (15-7, 6-5)
When: February 15, 2005 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: Sunshine Network
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WVUM (90.5 FM); XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 180)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); WF (www.wakeforestsports.com)
Up Next: at Virginia Tech, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: The game is sold out. Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES.
ON WAKE FOREST:
Wake Forest travels to Miami to face the Hurricanes following back-to-back home wins against North Carolina State (86-75) and Florida State (87-48).
The Deamon Deacons enter the Miami game with a record of 21-3, 9-2 in the ACC, and a No. 5 national ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls. Wake Forest has won five consecutive games and boasts one of the ACC’s most potent offenses which ranks second in the conference, behind only North Carolina, in scoring (86.2 ppg), field goal percentage (.495) and three-point field goal percentage (.401).
The Deamon Deacons are led by one of the nation’s top backcourt duos in sophomore Chris Paul and junior Justin Gray. Paul is arguably the best all-around point guard in the ACC ranking among the league leaders in scoring (14.7 ppg), assists (6.7 apg), steals (2.4) and assist/turnover ration (2.60).
Gray leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) and is one of the ACC leaders in three-point field goal percentage (.397). He has made at least on three-pointer in 44 consecutive games.
Down low the Deamon Deacons have junior center Eric Williams who is averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds 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 15-7 this season with the Hurricanes.
Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser is in his fourth season with the Deamon Deacons and 12th season overall. His record at Wake Forest is 87-32 (.731) while his overall mark is 252-110 (.696).
A WIN VERSUS WAKE FOREST WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 16-7 overall and 7-5 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s fourth win over a ranked opponent this season.Mark the highest ranked opponent Miami has defeated at home since the rebirth of the program in 1985-86.Mark the highest ranked opponent Miami has defeated since knocking off 2nd ranked Connecticut, 73-71, on February 20, 1999.Be Miami’s first win over Wake Forest (0-3).Be Miami’s third consecutive win.
TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Wke Forest game will be televised in Miami on Sunshine Newtork. Bob Rathbun will handle the play-by-play with Dan Bonner 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 game can also be heard on the University of Miami student radio network, WVUM (90.5 FM).
THE SERIES:
Miami and Wake Forest meet for the second time this season and for the fourth time overall. Wake Forest has won all three previous meetings including a 94-82 win in Winston-Salem earlier this season. This will mark the Deamon Deacons’ first visit to Coral Gables, Fla.
TALKING RPI:
As of February 14 the Hurricanes were No. 49 in the RPI rankings according to Collegiate Basketball News. The ACC is currently the nation’s top-rated conference and has seven teams ranked among the top-50 in the RPI.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
The Hurricanes are 21-23 (.477) versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in 10 of the last 11 seasons. Miami is 30-89 (.252) all-time against ranked teams including a 27-75 (.264) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:
This season Miami sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz has played his best when facing the best. Miami has faced seven ranked teams this season and in those games Diaz is averaging 24.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. He is shooting 61-122 (.500) from the field against ranked teams this season including 25-55 (.455) from three-point range. Diaz has scored 20-or-more points in six of the seven 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 13th, Diaz is the only player in the ACC to rank among the league leaders (conference games only) in scoring (2nd), rebounding (23rd), field goal percentage (6th), free throw percentage (14th), three-point field goal percentage (8th) and steals (2nd).
ROCKING THE CONVO:
The University of Miami has already recorded three 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 six ACC home games this season the Hurricanes are averaging 6,171 fans per game marking a 75% increase in attendance over last season. Last season Miami’s average attendance through six BIG EAST home games was 3,536.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami has defeated at least one ranked opponent at home in nine of the last 10 seasons. Since 1994-95 the Hurricanes have knocked off 14 ranked teams at home. Miami is 3-3 against ranked teams in the Convocation Center.
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.
MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.5 ppg), Robert Hite (17.9 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.7 ppg) have combined to average 49.2 points per game, or 66.7 percent (1082 of 1622) of the teams scoring this season.
ACC’S TOP SCORING TRIOS:
The Miami trio of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and have accounted for 66.7 percent of the team’s scoring which is the highest of any trio in the ACC. Duke’s J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Shelden Williams rank second having accounted for 66.3 percent (1148 of 1731) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season. In addition UM’s guards are the second highest scoring scoring trio in the ACC averaging 49.2 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 15.14 offensive rebounds per game. The Hurricanes have taken advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 333 offensive rebounds this season into 349 total points, or 1.05 points per offensive rebound. Miami is averaging 15.9 points per game off offensive rebounds or 21.5 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.
HITE REACHES 1,000:
Rob Hite recorded 17 points against Virginia Tech to become the 27th player in UM history to score 1,000 career points. Hite currently ranks 23rd on UM’s career scoring list with 1,052 career points. Hite needs 25 points to pass Whitey Campbell (1946-50) into 22nd place. Miami’s all-time leading scorer is Rick Barry who recorded 2,298 points from 1962-65.
20 AND COUNTING:
Miami guard Guillermo Diaz has scored in double-figures in 20 consecutive games. The streak is currently the longest in the ACC. Duke’s Shelden Williams is second having scored in double-figures in 11 straight games.
KING MOVES UP BLOCKED SHOT LIST:
Anthony King has already recorded 71 blocked shots this season which ranks fourth on UM’s all-time single-season list. King is on pace to record 90 blocks this season which would set a UM single-season record. King is just the fourth player in school-history to register 70 or more blocks in a season.
