Men's Basketball Strives for 20-Win Season vs. Virginia
Feb. 29, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home to the friendly confines of the BankUnitedCenter for Saturday’s sold-out showdown with Virginia. The Hurricanes are a program-best 12-2 in the BankUnitedCenter this season, and have already surpassed last season’s home win total by four games. Miami won its first nine home games this season by an average of 22.2 points per game, and has averaged a +14.0 scoring margin at home for the season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game 28: Miami (19-8, 6-7 ACC) vs. Virginia (13-12, 3-9 ACC)
Date: Sat., Mar. 1, 2008 | Time: 2 p.m. | Site: BankUnitedCenter
TV: Raycom Sports/WBFS | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: ACC Select
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Virginia (www.virginiasports.com)
Tickets: Sold Out
Probable Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.7 1.8 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.4 2.4 2.7
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.7 2.8 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.7 6.5 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.4 7.4 1.5^
Probable Virginia Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Jeff Jones (G, 6-4, 193, Fr.) 4.3 1.8 0.6
30 Adrian Joseph (F, 6-7, 201, Sr.) 11.2 6.8 1.1
32 Mike Scott (F, 6-8, 233, Fr.) 5.9 5.8 0.7*
34 Ryan Pettinella (F/C, 6-9, 249, Sr.) 2.6 3.0 0.1
44 Sean Singletary (G, 6-0, 185, Sr.) 18.9 3.8 5.9
^ blocks per game * steals per game
The Hurricanes have gone 4-1 over the second half of the ACC season and will play at home in two of their final three games. With a win on Saturday versus Virginia, Miami would reach seven ACC wins for the third time in four years as league members and earn their 20th win of the season for the 10th time in program history — and the first since finishing 24-8 in 2001-02.
Battling the Best
The 19-8 Miami squad enters Saturday’s game ranked 24th in the latest Collegiate Basketball News RPI with the nation’s 33rd toughest schedule (24 by ESPN.com), while playing in the nation’s top-ranked conference. The Hurricanes have gone 8-5 versus top-100 ranked teams in the RPI, including wins over Duke (4), Clemson (22), MississippiState (41), VCU (51), Virginia Tech (64), Maryland (66) and Georgia Tech (87).
Of the 13 total ACC games Miami has already played, six of those opponents were ranked among the ACC’s top-three teams entering the game.
Did U Know
Miami has shot .509 from the floor over the last three games, including .574 in the win over Duke (second-best shooting performance of season). Dwayne Collins has shot .719 (23-32) over the same span for 16.3 points per game… The Hurricanes have won three of their last four, including two straight at home… Miami has played in four games in 10 days (Feb. 17-27), while their last opponent (Clemson) and their next opponent (Virginia) come off weeklong layoffs entering the game.
The Series
Saturday marks the eighth meeting between Miami and Virginia, with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 4-3. Miami defeated Virginia, 68-60, in their last meeting in Coral Gables on Feb. 21, 2007, to snap the Cavalier’s three-game win streak in the series. The Hurricanes are 2-0 versus the Cavaliers in Coral Gables.
Last Meeting
Jack McClinton came through in a close game — twice. McClinton hit two 3- pointers in the final 1:06 to lift Miami to a 68-60 victory over No. 24 Virginia at the BankUnitedCenter on Feb. 21, 2007. With the score tied at 58, McClinton hit a 3 to put the Hurricanes ahead for good. After J.R. Reynolds converted on two free throws to reduce the Hurricanes’ lead to 61-60 with 52.1 seconds remaining, McClinton hit his second 3-pointer with 25 seconds to play. Brian Asbury secured the victory with four free throws in the final 15 seconds, as Asbury, Anthony Harris and Dwayne Collins each finished with 11 points, and Collins had 12 of his 14 rebounds in the second half.
Sean Singletary scored 17 points to lead the Cavaliers, who had won nine of 10 entering the game.
Harris’ running jumper with 7:51 to play put Miami ahead 53-51 for its first lead since the first minute of the game. The Hurricanes, who twice had 12-point deficits in the first half, tied it at 49 on Harris’ 3-pointer with 9:31 remaining in the second half. The Cavaliers ran off seven straight points in a 1:30 span late in the first half to build a 30-18 lead. But Virginia was limited to 25 in the second half.
A Look at Virginia
The 13-12 Virginia squad has been playing strong basketball as of late and rides a two-game win streak into Coral Gables, including 78-60 home win over NC State in their last game on Feb. 24. The Cavaliers nearly knocked off North Carolina on Feb. 12, falling 75-74 on a last-minute shot by Tyler Hansbrough. UVA is 3-7 away from home this season, including a 1-5 mark in ACC road games — picking up their first league road win on Feb. 17, with a 79-74 victory at BostonCollege.
Virginia is led by senior guard Sean Singletary with a team-best 18.9 points and 5.9 assists per game, while Mamadi Diane adds 11.9 points and a team-high 2.0 three-pointers per game (.419). Adrian Joseph adds 11.2 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds an outing. Singletary, a preseason All-American by three different outlets, has scored in double figures in an ACC-best 47-straight games.
