Hurricanes Prepare For In-State Showdown

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March 3, 2006

FLORIDA STATE (18-8, 8-7 ACC)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (15-13, 7-8 ACC)

When: March 5, 2006 – 1:00 PM (ET)

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

TV: WBFS-TV (UPN)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); FSU (www.seminoles.com)

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

Up Next: at ACC Basketball Tournament, March 9-12 in Greensboro, N.C.

Probable Miami Starters

50 Anthony KingF 6-9230 Jr. 8.76.90.602 Gary HamiltonC 6-10 265 Sr. 3.95.80.812 Anthony Harris G 6-2187 Jr. 11.0 2.23.413 Guillermo DiazG 6-2186 Jr. 17.3 3.12.922 Robert Hite G 6-2190 Sr. 16.4 5.41.6

Probable Florida State Starters

THE MATCHUP:

The Florida State Seminoles enter the game with a record of 18-8, 8-7 in the ACC, following an impressive 79-74 win over No. 1 ranked Duke on Wednesday in Tallahassee. FSU has one of the league’s most high powered offenses ranking fourth in the ACC in scoring (78.2 ppg), fourth in scoring margin (+8.9), second in field goal percentage (.485) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.382).

Florida State has been led this season by junior forward AlThornton who leads the team in scoring (16.8 ppg), is second in rebounding (6.7 rbg), and is shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 52.9 percent from three-point range, and 73.8 percent from the line. In league games this season Thorton is averaging 18.4 points per game.

Miami (15-13, 7-8 ACC) is coming off a 65-61 loss at Maryland on Wednesday. The Hurricanes are the ACC’s top denfensive team ranking No. 1 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. Hite (16.4 ppg) ranks second scoring while Harris (11.0 ppg) is third.

One of the three guards has led the team in scoring in 27 of the Hurricanes’ 28 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 45.9 points per game, or 67.2 percent (963 of 1434) of the team’s scoring. In ACC play this season the trio is averaging 47.7. ppg, or 68.6 percent of the teams scoring.

Diaz has been on fire over the last three games averaging 23.0 points while shooting 24-45 (.533) from the field. Over the last nine games sophomore forward Raymond Hicks has give Miami a boost off the bench averaging 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 21-38 (.553) from the field.

A WIN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 16-13, 8-8 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s fourth straight win over Florida State.Clinch the fifth-seed in the ACC Tournament…Miami would face 12th-seeded Wake Forest at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite needs four 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 nine points to move into 11th place on UM’s career scoring list, and 18 points to move into 10th…he needs 15 points to become the first player since Johnny Hemsley (1998-99, 1999-00) to score 500 points in consecutive seasons…he needs three three-point field goals to move into fifth on UM’s all-time career list.Gary Hamilton needs one blocked shot to move into a tie for tenth on UM’s career list.

SENIOR DAY:

The Miami-Florida State game marks the final home game for seniors Lee Butler, Gary Hamilton, Robert Hite and Eric Wilkins. The four will be honored in a ceremony prior to the game. Miami is 13-7 on Senior Day since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami has won five of its last eight games on Senior Day.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 31-26 (.534), including a 15-13 mark this season.

Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton is in his fourth season with the Seminoles and 18th season overall. His record at FSU in 63-56 (.529) while his overall record is 263-266 (.497).

THE SERIES:

Miami and FSU meet for the 56th time with the Seminoles leading the all-time series, 28-27. The Hurricanes won the first meeting this season in Tallahassee and have won the last three against the Seminoles. UM and FSU have faced 11 times since 1985 with Miami winning six times.

SERIES RESULTS SINCE 1985-86:

1-20-86UM 83, FSU 75 Miami2-3-86 FSU 90, UM 72 Tallahassee2-4-87 UM 63, FSU 57 Miami2-26-87FSU 108, UM 84 Tallahassee1-18-90UM 101, FSU 97 (2OT) Miami2-17-90FSU 92, UM 73 Tallahassee12-8-02FSU 72, UM 55 Tallahassee12-14-03FSU 67, UM 58 Miami1-15-05UM 64, FSU 63 Miami2-22-05UM 65, FSU 49 Tallahassee1-29-06UM 84, FSU 78 (OT) Tallahassee

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. Maryland game will be televised in on WBFS-TV (UPN). Steve Martin (play-by-play) and Cliff Ellis (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.

HURRICANES VS FLORIDA SCHOOLS:

Miami is 304-146 (.675) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 39 of its last 44 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season. Miami is 9-1 against in-state opponents under head coach Frank Haith.

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 1,617 points. Diaz ranks 12th with 1,376 points.

UM Career Scoring List:

2. Eric Brown (1985-89)2,2703. Don Curnutt (1967-70)2,0064. Darius Rice (2000-04)1,8655. Tim James (1995-99)1,7136. Robert Hite (2002-2006)1,6177. Dennis Burns (1985-89) 1,5948. Dick Hickox (1958-61)1,5299. Johnny Hemsley (1996-00) 1,49710. Steven Edwards (1992-96) 1,39311. Ron Godfrey (1958-61) 1,38412. Guillermo Diaz (2003-06)1,37613. James Jones (1999-03)1,35614. Mike Wittman (1964-67)1,31915. 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 trio has averaged 45.9 points per game, or 67.2 percent (963 of 1434) of the team’s scoring. In ACC play this season the trio is averaging 47.7. ppg, or 68.6 percent of the teams scoring.

Combined Scoring (Diaz, Harris, Hite)

12-03-05 Birm.-Southern 44 82 .53612-10-05 Wofford 40 71 .56312-18-05 at NC State 38 69 .55112-22-05 Florida 53 67 .79112-27-05 Stetson 42 65 .64612-31-05 vs. Louisville25 43 .5811-2-06 Sacred Heart 43 63 .6831-7-06 Maryland 65 84 .7741-14-06 at North Carolina 65 81 .8021-18-06 Clemson 31 62 .5001-21-06 Boston College 43 61 .7051-24-06 at Virginia 33 51 .6471-29-06 at Florida State 68 84 .8101-31-06 Wake Forest 59 78 .7562-4-06 at Georgia Tech 40 70 .5712-8-06 NC State 55 77 .7142-12-06 North Carolina 48 70 .6862-16-06 at Boston College 36 54 .6662-19-06 at Duke42 71 .5922-22-06 Virginia Tech 47 70 .6713-1-06 at Maryland 46 61 .754

A THIEF IN THE PAINT:

Gary Hamilton has recorded 101 steals during his UM career marking the sixth highest total by a Hurricane forward or center in school history.

UM Career Steals (forwards/centers)

2. Darius Rice, 2000-04 1293. Tim James, 1995-99 1274. Eric Brown, 1985-89 1225. Alex Fraser, 1993-97 1126. Gary Hamilton, 2002-06 101

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 March 3).

ACC Rebound Leaders (Players under 6-5)