Hurricanes To Battle Virginia Tech Wednesday

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Feb. 21, 2006

VIRGINIA TECH (13-12, 3-9 ACC)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (14-12, 6-7 ACC)

When: February 22, 2006 – 7:00 PM (ET)

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

TV: ESPNU

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); VT (www.hokiesports.com)

Ticket Information: $15, $25, $30 – Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Up Next: @ Maryland – March 1 at 9:00 p.m.

Probable Miami Starters

Probable Virginia Tech Starters

13 Deron Washington F 6-7195 So.10.8 5.01.040 A.D. Vassallo F 6-6213 Fr. 6.72.41.033 Coleman Collins C 6-9237 Jr. 15.7 7.30.601 Zabian Dowdell G 6-3200 Jr. 15.2 3.03.422 Jamon GordonG 6-3200 Jr. 11.4 6.24.6

THE MATCHUP:
Virginia Tech (13-12, 3-9 ACC) visits Miami following a 70-64 home loss to NC State on Saturday, the Hokies second straight loss. The Hokies are led by a trio of juniors, including a pair of guards that ranks as one of the best backcourts in the ACC. Junior shooting guard Zabian Dowdell, a native of Pahokee, Fla. ranks second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and leads the team in steals (58) and three-point field goals (46).

Dowdell’s backcourt mate, junior point guard Jamon Gordon ranks as one the league’s best all-around players. Gordon ranks third on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg), leads the team in assists (4.6 apg), is second in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and is second in steals (51). Virginia Tech junior center Coleman Collins leads the team in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg).

Miami (14-12, 6-7 ACC) has lost four consecutive games, all against ranked opponents, and returns home after a consecute road games against Boston College and Duke.

Miami is led by its three guard line-up of senior Robert Hite, junior Guillermo Diaz and junior Anthony Harris. Diaz leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game which included a 23 point performance against Duke on Sunday. Hite (16.6 ppg) ranks second scoring while Harris (11.0 ppg) is third.

One of the three guards has led the team in scoring in 25 of the Hurricanes’ 26 games this season. Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return against Birmingham-Southern on Dec. 3 the trio has averaged 45.7 points per game, or 66.7 percent (870 of 1303) of the team’s scoring. In ACC play this season the trio is averaging 47.9. ppg, or 68.3 percent of the teams scoring.

Over the last seven games, Diaz is 18.9 points while shooting 47-100 (.470) from the field and 23-28 (.821) from the line. In addition he has a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ration (22 ast/8 TO) during the stretch. Hite is averaging 18.7 points is shooting 25-57 (.439) from three-point range over the last seven games.

A WIN AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 15-12, 7-7 in the ACC.Snap Miami’s four game losing streak.Match Miami’s ACC win total from last season.Mark Miami’s first win over Virginia Tech since Jan. 17, 2004.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite needs four three-point field goals to move past Darius Rice into seventh on UM’s all-time single-season list. With six he will move into a tie for fifth with Johnny Hemsley.Guillermo Diaz needs 27 points to move into 12th place on UM’s career scoring list.Robert Hite needs four points to move into sixth on UM’s career scoring list ahead of Dennis Burns who scored 1,594 points from 1985-89.Guillermo Diaz needs eight three-point field goals to move into a tie for fifth on UM’s all-time career list.

ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 30-25 (.545), including a 14-12 mark this season. Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg is in his third season with the Hokies and 16th season overall. His record at Virginia Tech is 36-30 (.545) while his overall record is 257-210 (.550). Greenberg has ties to the University of Miami having served as an assistant coach for the Hurricanes under Bill Foster from 1985-87.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Virginia Tech meet for the only time this regular season and for the 10th time overall. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 6-3. Virginia Tech won both meetings last season.

1-10-01 VT 85, UM 74Blacksburg, Va.2-6-01 UM 86, VT 61Miami, Fla.1-12-02 UM 77, VT 68Blacksburg, Va.3-2-02UM 83, VT 77Miami, Fla.2-11-03 UM 85, VT 65Coral Gables, Fla.3-5-03UM 79, VT 71Blacksburg, Va.1-17-04 UM 65, VT 59Blacksburg, Va.2-2-05VT 73, UM 63Coral Gables, Fla.2-19-05 VT 71, UM 58Blacksburg, Va.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. Virginia Tech game will be televised in on ESPNU. Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Donny Marshall (analysis) will call 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 action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host.

MR. WINDEX:
Robert Hite is not only one the ACC’s best shooters but he also one of the leagues top rebounding guards. Hite ranks second in the league among players under 6-5 (as of Feb. 21).

ACC Rebound Leaders (Players under 6-5)