Men's Basketball Plays Host to Longtime Rival Boston College
Feb. 20, 2009
CORAL GABLES, FLA… – The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home to the BankUnited Center for its second meeting of the season versus Boston College. The Hurricanes look to return to their winning ways versus the Eagles, who UM has won two straight over — including a 77-71 win in Chestnut Hill on Jan. 10.
Game 26: Miami (15-10, 4-8 ACC) vs. Boston College (19-8, 7-5 ACC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 21, 2009 | Time: Noon (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: RSN (FSN Florida in South Florida) | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Boston College (www.bceagles.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 209, Jr.) 8.3 2.6 1.2
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 20.0 3.2 2.9
32 Brian Asbury (G/F, 6-7, 221, Sr.) 7.3 4.7 1.2
00 Jimmy Graham (F, 6-8, 256, Sr.) 3.6 6.2 1.3^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) 11.4 7.3 1.0*
Projected Boston College Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
04 Tyrese Rice (G, 6-1, 190, Sr.) 18.0 4.0 5.5
12 Joe Trapani (F, 6-8, 218, So.) 13.8 6.7 1.6
15 Rakim Sanders (G/F, 6-5, 225, So.) 12.5 4.4 1.5*
11 Corey Raji (F, 6-6, 214, So.) 10.3 6.1 1.7
52 Josh Southern (C, 6-10, 242, So.) 5.5 5.0 0.8^
^ blocks per game * steals per game
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
With one three-pointer at Florida State on Wednesday, Jack McClinton tied the school record with 265 career treys in just three seasons as a Hurricane. The mark was originally set by Steven Edwards (1992-96) and McClinton needs just one more three-pointer set a new UM best.
In addition, the senior sharpshooter passed Duke’s Bobby Hurley (1990-93) in the ACC career record book and owns sole possession of 11th place in league history. He has hit a trey in 28-straight games — the longest active streak in the ACC and the third-longest in UM history.
With an ACC-leading 3.6 three-pointers per game in conference play, he is on pace to wrap up the regular season with a school-record 280 three-pointers — which would get him within eight treys of the ACC’s top 10 career three-point leaders.
McClinton’s 80 treys this season ranks fourth in UM history for single-season three-pointers. He already holds first and second place — with a program-best 94 in 2007-08 and 91 in 2006-07.
THE SERIES
Conference foes in both the Big East and ACC, Boston College has proved a tough contender for Miami over the years. The Eagles lead the all-time series 22-10, however the Hurricanes have won two straight over Boston College — including the 77-71 win on Jan. 10 in Chestnut Hill.
Boston College, who has had all week to prepare for the Hurricanes, returns to the hardwood following its 80-74 upset of Duke on Sunday. The last time these teams met, the Eagles were just one game removed from their win over North Carolina.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
Dwayne Collins had 13 points with seven rebounds and drew a key charging foul on Tyrese Rice in the final minute to lead Miami to a 77-71 victory over No. 17/24 Boston College. It was the second consecutive loss for the Eagles (13-4, 1-1 ACC) — the first was to Harvard — since they beat top-ranked North Carolina to vault into the national rankings.
The Hurricanes (12-3, 1-1) opened an eight-point lead, 49-41, early in the second half.
Rice hit a pair of free throws, and then Reggie Jackson stole the ball from McClinton — drawing his fifth foul when he tried to get it back — and made two more foul shots to make it a one-point game with 33.9 seconds left. Brian Asbury hit two free throws for Miami, then Collins stood under the basket and took the offensive foul when Rice drove the lane. Collins went 11-for-14 from the line for Miami, which has won nine of 10.
Rice, who scored 25 against the Tar Heels and was the ACC player of the week, scored 21 with eight rebounds, shooting 6-for-18 from the field. Rakim Sanders had 18 with five rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
The Hurricanes went 7-of-8 from the line in the final 33 seconds, while BC missed 2-of-4 down the stretch to add to its woes.
HURRICANE WARNING
Miami’s strength of schedule is ranked 11th in the country and third in the ACC. The Hurricanes have played five games versus teams that have been ranked No.1 this season and have played four of the five teams that have been atop the polls in 2008-09 — UConn, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Duke. Pitt is the only team that has reached the top spot this season that Miami is not scheduled to face.
SUNSHINE STATE SERIES
With Wednesday’s loss at Florida State, Miami dropped its first game of the season to an in-state opponent, moving to 6-1 versus Sunshine State teams in 2008-09.
James Dews poured in a team- and season-high 19 points (just one point shy of his career high) versus the Seminoles — including a 3-of-5 effort from long range — for his second double-figure scoring performance in the last three games. He also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in his first start since Dec. 31, 2008.
With a three-pointer about four minutes into the game, McClinton tied the school record for career three-pointers with his 265th as a Hurricane and extended his three-point shooting streak to an ACC-long 28 straight — tops among active players and third best in UM history. He went on to finish with 13 points for his 21st-straight double-figure scoring performance and the 79th of his career (in 88 total games).
Adrian Thomas knocked down a pair of treys to extend his three-point streak to 12-straight games — the third-longest active streak in the ACC. The redshirt junior ranks eighth in the ACC with 2.1 three-pointers per game in conference play.
Florida State converted 31-of-35 free throw attempts — the most free throws made and attempted (as well as the highest percentage) by a Miami opponent in 2008-09. The Seminoles were just the third Hurricane opponent to score 50 points in a half this season (and the first since Clemson on Dec. 21) with 50 in the second stanza — including 20 off free throws.
SENIOR DAY
Join the Hurricanes in their final home game of the regular season on Sat., March 7 vs. NC State at Noon. Miami’s four seniors – Brian Asbury, Jimmy Graham, Lance Hurdle and Jack McClinton – will all be honored before their final home game as a `Cane.
