UM To Face South Carolina In NIT

March 13, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami Men’s Basketball Team received an invitation to the 40-team National Invitation Tournament. The Hurricanes (16-12, 7-9 ACC) will face the University of South Carolina (15-13, 7-9 SEC) in the first round on Tuesday, March 15 starting at 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Colonial Center (18,000) in Columbia, S.C.

The game will not be televised but can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WQAM (560 AM).

This marks Miami’s seventh trip to the NIT and its 12th post season appearance overall. Miami, which is making its first post season appearance since the 2001-02 season, has now advanced to post-season play in eight of the last 11 seasons (NCAA-1998, 99, 00, 03; NIT-1995, 97, 01, 05).

Miami and South Carolina have seven times previously with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 5-2. The two last met on the hardwood on December 5, 1987 with South Carolina winning 76-63 in Miami.

The Miami-South Carolina winner will play the winner of the Arizona State-UNLV game at a time and location to be determined at a later date.

The game will mark a reunion of sorts for Miami head coach Frank Haith. Haith served an assistant coach under current South Carolina head coach Dave Odom from 1997-2001 while at Wake Forest. In addition, Miami assistant coach Barclay Radebaugh was an assistant coach at USC from 1999-2001 under then head coach Eddie Fogler.

To order tickets, contact the South Carolina ticket office at 1-866-472-8499 or by visiting www.thecolonialcenter.com. Tickets are $17.00 for lower level seating and $10.00 for upper level seating.