Men's Basketball Takes on Virginia Tuesday
Feb. 22, 2010
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team will play its first back-to-back home ACC games of the season, taking on Virginia on Tues., Feb. 23, at the BankUnited Center at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast regionally, with FS Florida carrying the action live in South Florida.
Game 27: Miami (17-9, 3-9 ACC) vs. Virginia (14-11, 5-7 ACC)
Date: Tues., Feb. 23, 2010 | Time: 7 p.m. (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: RSN; FS Florida | Radio: 560 WQAM, 1450 ESPN Deportes
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Virginia (www.virginiasports.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 195, Fr.) 8.8 3.8 3.7
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 213, Sr.) 12.3 2.6 1.6
25 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 193, Fr.) 4.3 2.3 0.8*
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 241, Sr.) 12.0 8.1 1.0^
45 Julian Gamble (F, 6-9, 255, So.) 2.7 2.0 0.7^
Projected Virginia Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Jontel Evans (G, 5-11, 135, Fr.) 2.6 1.3 1.9
05 Assane Sene (C, 7-0, 234, So.) 1.7 3.7 0.9^
13 Sammy Zeglinski (G, 6-0, 182, So.) 9.2 3.8 2.7
15 Sylven Landesberg (G, 6-6, 207, So.) 17.0 5.1 2.9
32 Mike Scott (F, 6-8, 239, Jr.) 13.4 7.4 1.3
* steals per game | ^ blocks per game
The Hurricanes have already had a pair of back-to-back road games during its challenging conference schedule (at Virginia Tech and at Virginia in mid-January; at Wake Forest and at Florida State to open February) and welcome their first consecutive home games of 2010. Tuesday’s re-match with the Cavaliers is in the midst of the Hurricanes’ first three-game ACC homestand since joining the league in 2004-05.
Miami is 11-2 at home in the BankUnited Center this season and has won 13 of its last 15 at home. Through 13 home games this season, the Hurricanes are averaging 77.5 points per game, converting 48.8 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, out-rebounding opponents by 5.1 rebounds per contest.
THREE FACTORY
Converting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc this season, Adrian Thomas leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage and has hit a three-pointer in 19 of the last 20 games, including converting 62.5 percent (10-16) from long range over the last four games. He went a perfect 2-of-2 versus Duke.
It marks the second-straight season and the third time in the last four years, Miami has had the league’s most accurate three-point shooter. Two-time First Team All-ACC pick Jack McClinton led the conference in 2008-09 and 2006-07 and was the second most proficient shooter in 2007-08, closing his career as the ACC’s all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage (.440).
Averaging about two three-pointers per game, the three-point trio of Adrian Thomas (54), Malcolm Grant (50) and James Dews (47) are on pace to become just the second trio in Miami basketball history to hit at least 50 three-pointers in a single season — both under head coach Frank Haith. The first Hurricane triumvirate to accomplish this was Robert Hite (72), Guillermo Diaz (61) and Anthony Harris (52) in 2004-05.
The Hurricanes rank second in the ACC with 7.7 three-pointers per game, converting 37.7 percent to rank third in the league.
THE SERIES
Miami leads the all-time series versus Virginia, 6-4, and has won three of its last four meetings versus the Cavaliers. Virginia, who got off to a quick start in ACC play — including a 75-57 victory over Miami in Charlottesville on Jan. 16 — has since hit a rough patch, dropping five-straight ACC games entering Tuesday’s re-match.
James Dews led Miami’s effort at Virginia with a team-high 13 points, including hitting all six free throw attempts, while Dwayne Collins finished just short of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Four Cavaliers scored in double figures, led by Sylven Landesberg’s 18 points (8-14 FGs).
Landesberg leads with 17.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to rank sixth in the ACC in scoring, while converting 82.2 percent of his free throws to rank fifth in the league. Mike Scott adds 13.4 points and 7.4 boards per game, on 52.7 percent shooting from the field — second-best in the ACC — and 76.4 percent shooting from the line. Sammy Zeglinski (9.2 ppg) adds a long-range threat, averaging 2.0 three-pointers per game (tied for fifth in the ACC) at a .400 clip (third in the ACC).
DID U KNOW…
Tuesday’s game versus Virginia is the 1500th men’s basketball game in Miami program history… Miami has now converted at least 50 percent of its field goals 11 times this season — including in back-to-back ACC games at Clemson (.520) and versus Duke (.556), surpassing the nine times UM accomplished that over the previous two seasons combined (2007-08 and 2008-09)… Durand Scott needs just five assists and Malcolm Grant needs 12 to become the first UM duo since 1992-93 and the fourth overall to collect 100 assists in the same season… The Hurricanes have defeated at least one ranked team in 14 of the last 15 seasons… Home teams are 53-21 (.716) in ACC play this season…
DURAND THE (FRESH)MAN
The versatile Durand Scott needs just five assists and one rebound to become the second freshman and fifth Hurricane in UM history to record 100 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in a single season. Bryan Hughes (1985-87) was the first UM freshman to achieve this.
The other non-freshmen to accomplish this are: John Salmons (2000-01, 01-02), Vernon Jennings (1999-2000) and Jerome Scott (1990-91).
TICKET INFORMATION
Miami 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.
