Miami Travels To Face Maryland On Wednesday
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Feb. 27, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (15-12, 7-7 ACC)
vs.
MARYLAND (16-11, 6-8 ACC)
When: March 1, 2006 – 9:00 PM (ET)
Where: Comcast Center (17,950) – College Park, Md.
TV: FSN Florida
Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); MD (www.umterps.com)
Up Next: vs. Florida State, March 5 at 1:00 p.m. – BankUnited Center
Ticket Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES
Probable Miami Starters
| No | Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Cl | Pts | Reb | Ast |
| 50 | Anthony King | F | 6-9 | 230 | Jr. | 8.9 | 6.7 | 0.6 |
| 02 | Gary Hamilton | C | 6-10 | 265 | Sr. | 3.9 | 5.7 | 0.9 |
| 12 | Anthony Harris | G | 6-2 | 187 | Jr. | 11.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 |
| 13 | Guillermo Diaz | G | 6-2 | 186 | Jr. | 17.3 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| 22 | Robert Hite | G | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. | 16.3 | 5.5 | 1.5 |
Probable Maryland Starters
| No | Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Cl | Pts | Reb | Ast |
15James Gist F 6-8223 So.8.6 4.71.122Nik Caner-Medley F 6-8240 Sr. 15.36.32.125Ekene Ibekwe C 6-9220 Jr.11.1 6.60.905D.J. Strawberry G 6-5201 Jr. 10.4 3.44.023Mike Jones G 6-5204 Jr.9.9 3.21.4
THE MATCHUP:
The Maryland-Miami game marks a matchup of the ACC’s highest scoring team and one of the league’s top defensive teams. Maryland enters the game with a record of 16-11 record, 6-8 in the ACC, following an 81-57 loss at North Carolina on Saturday.
The Terrapins rank No. 3 in the ACC in scoring offense averaging 79.1 points per game and have five players averaging at least eight points per game. Averaging in double-figures are senior forward Nik Caney-Medley (15.3 ppg), junior center Ekene Ibekwe (11.1 ppg) and junior guard D.J. Strawberry (10.4 ppg).
Maryland is without senior guard Chris McCray who deemed ineligible for failing to meet NCAA academic requirements.
Miami (15-12, 7-7 ACC) snapped its four game losing streak last Wednesday with a 70-59 win over Virginia Tech at the BankUnited Center. The Hurricanes are one of the ACC’s top denfensive teams ranking second in the league in points allowed (65.0 ppg).
The Hurricanes are 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 17.3 points per game which included a 29 point performance against Virginia Tech. Hite (16.3 ppg) ranks second scoring while Harris (11.0 ppg) is third.
One of the three guards has led the team in scoring in 26 of the Hurricanes’ 27 games this season. Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return the trio has averaged 45.8 points per game, or 66.7 percent (917 of 1373) of the team’s scoring. In ACC play this season the trio is averaging 47.9. ppg, or 68.2 percent of the teams scoring.
Diaz has been on fire over the last two games averaging 26.0 points while shooting 19-28 (.679) from the field.
A WIN AGAINST MARYLAND WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 16-12, 8-7 in the ACC.Be Miami’s second straight win.Give Miami a season sweep over the Terps.Mark Miami’s third straight win over Maryland.Surpass Miami’s ACC win total from last season.Clinch at least a .500 record in the ACC.Clinch a winning overall record this season.
THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:
Robert Hite needs one point to become the sixth player in UM history to score 1,600 career points.Robert Hite needs six three-point field goals to become the first player in UM history to record 70 three-point field goals in consecutive seasons.Guillermo Diaz needs 26 points to move into 11th place on UM’s career scoring list.Guillermo Diaz needs 32 points to become the first player since Johnny Hemsley (1998-99, 1999-00) to score 500 points in consecutive seasons.Guillermo Diaz needs six three-point field goals to move into fifth on UM’s all-time career list.Gary Hamilton needs four blocked shots to move into a tie for tenth on UM’s career list.
ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 31-25 (.554), including a 15-12 mark this season.
Maryland head coach Gary Williams is in his 17th season with the Terrapins and 28th season overall. His record at Maryland is 350-189 (.649) while his overall mark is 557-317 (.637).
THE SERIES:
Miami and Maryland meet the 11th time overall and for the second time this season The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 6-4 including an 84-70 win earlier this season. Miami is making its first trip to College Park, Md.
Date Result Location
1-28-49 MD 43, UM 42 Miami
1-29-49 UM 58, MD 48 Miami
2-1-54 MD 63, UM 57 Miami
1-22-62 MD 71, UM 68 Miami
12-29-64 UM 80, MD 73 Miami
1-30-68 UM 93, MD 73 Miami
12-21-68 UM 92, MD 85 Neutral Site
12-29-70 MD 111, UM 77 Miami
2-5-05 UM 75, MD 73 (OT) Miami
1-7-06 UM 84, MD 70 Miami
TV/RADIO:
The Miami vs. Maryland game will be televised in on FSN Florida. Tim Brant (play-by-play) and Billy Packer (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.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES:
Miami guard Robert Hite has put together a strong senior season. Hite’s scoring average may be down but his numbers in almost every other statistical category have improved over last season.
KEEPING UP WITH KING:
Miami junior Anthony King may have been the most improved player in the ACC last season. King went from a little used reserve in 2003-04 to starting every game the last two seasons. King improved his scoring, field goal percentage and free throw percentage each season.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK:
Miami senior Robert Hite made his 100th career start against Boston College on February 16 to become the fifth player in school history to reach the century mark.
UM Career Starts List:
1. Darius Rice (2000-04) 113
2. Kevin Norris (1994-98) 108
3. John Salmons (1998-02) 106
Eric Brown (1985-89) 106
5. Robert Hite (2002-06) 102
DIAZ, HITE NAMED ALL-DISTRICT:
Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz were both named first-team All-District 6 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches marking the first time in school-history the Hurricanes have had two players named to the first-team in the same season.
Diaz, who was also a first-team All-District selection last season, becomes just the third player in Miami history to earn first-team honors in back-to-back seasons joining Tim James (1998, 1999) and Darius Rice (2002, 2003, 2004). Hite, a senior, makes the All-District team for the first time.
NABC All-District 6 First Team
Guillermo Diaz, Miami
Robert Hite, Miami
Al Thornton, Florida State
Taureen Green, Florida
Jermareo Davidson, Alabama
BIG OFF THE BENCH:
Over the last eight games sophomore forward Raymond Hicks has given the Hurricanes a tremendous boost off the bench. Hicks is averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, and is shooting 21-36 (.583) from the field, while playing 20.8 minutes per game. Hicks has scored 45 of the team’s 93 bench points over the last eight games.
MOVING ON UP:
Guillermo Diaz scored 21 points against Michigan on November 29, 2005 to become the 28th player in UM history to reach the 1000-point plateau. Rob Hite reached the 1,000-point plateau last season and currently ranks 6th on UM’s career scoring list with 1,599 points. Diaz ranks 12th with 1,359 points.
UM Career Scoring List:
1. Rick Barry (1962-65) 2,298
2. Eric Brown (1985-89) 2,270
3. Don Curnutt (1967-70) 2,006
4. Darius Rice (2000-04) 1,865
5. Tim James (1995-99) 1,713
6. Robert Hite (2002-2006) 1,599
7. Dennis Burns (1985-89) 1,594
8. Dick Hickox (1958-61) 1,529
9. Johnny Hemsley (1996-00) 1,497
10. Steven Edwards (1992-96) 1,393
11. Ron Godfrey (1958-61) 1,384
12. Guillermo Diaz (2003-06) 1,359
13. James Jones (1999-03) 1,356
14. Mike Wittman (1964-67) 1,319
15. Joe Wylie (1988-91) 1,297
GETTING IT DONEWITH THE GUARDS:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.6 ppg), Robert Hite (17.3 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.4 ppg) combined to average 48.2 points per game, or 67.5 percent (1398 of 2071) of the teams scoring last season.
Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return the guard trio has averaged 45.8 points per game, or 66.7 percent (917 of 1373) of the team’s scoring. In ACC play this season the trio is averaging 47.9. ppg, or 68.2 percent of the teams scoring.
THE DYNAMIC DUO:
Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite etched their names into the record books as one of the greatest scoring tandems in UM history. Diaz (538 points) and Hite (501 points) became just the fifth duo in school-history, and the second since the rebirth of the program in 1985, to record 500 points apiece in the same season. This season Diaz and Hite have the chance to become the first Hurricane duo to accomplish it in consecutive seasons.
