Men's Basketball Back on Road at Clemson
Feb. 12, 2010
CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns to the road for its seventh ACC road game, traveling into wintry weather to face Clemson on Sat., Feb. 13, at Noon. FS Florida will carry the game in South Florida.
Game 25: Miami (17-7, 3-7 ACC) vs. Clemson (17-7, 5-5 ACC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 13, 2010 | Time: Noon (EST) | Site: Littlejohn Coliseum
TV: RSN; FS Florida | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Clemson (www.clemsontigers.com)
Tickets: 1-800-CLEMSON
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 195, Fr.) 8.3 3.8 3.7
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 213, Sr.) 12.3 2.7 1.5
25 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 193, Fr.) 4.3 2.4 0.8*
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 241, Sr.) 11.8 8.F3 1.1^
45 Julian Gamble (F, 6-9, 255, So.) 2.6 1.9 0.7^
Projected Clemson Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
02 Demontez Stitt (G, 6-2, 175, Jr.) 10.6 2.8 3.2
05 Tanner Smith (G, 6-5, 220, So.) 9.7 4.3 2.3
15 David Potter (F, 6-6, 215, Sr.) 7.2 2.8 1.3*
35 Trevor Booker (F, 6-7, 240, Sr.) 15.3 8.2 1.4^
45 Jerai Grant (F/C, 6-8, 220, Jr.) 6.7 4.7 1.9^
* steals per game | ^ blocks per game
The Hurricanes are looking to put together back-to-back ACC wins for the first time this season, following Wednesday’s 64-62 victory over No. 20/20 Georgia Tech. Miami is 3-1 at home in the BankUnited Center versus conference opponents, but has not fared well on the road in league play and looks to earn its first conference road win versus a tough Tiger team on Saturday.
Following Saturday’s matinee, the Hurricanes have just one conference road contest remaining, a March 2 date at North Carolina.
THE SERIES
Clemson leads the all-time series with Miami, 8-6, and has won two straight over the Hurricanes, including a 79-69 decision in the program’s last meeting in Littlejohn Coliseum on Feb. 27, 2008. UM last defeated Clemson, 75-72, on Jan. 27, 2008, in Coral Gables.
Serving as an assistant coach for USA Basketball’s World University Games men’s basketball team, Miami head coach Frank Haith worked closely with Clemson’s Trevor Booker.
In the team’s lone meeting last season, the then-No. 25 Tigers overcame an early 12-point deficit to defeat the Hurricanes, 91-72, in the conference opener for both teams in Coral Gables. K.C. Rivers scored a game-high 28 points for Clemson, while Trevor Booker grabbed 16 rebounds. Miami struggled with a season-high 22 turnovers and missed 12 of its first 17 free throws, despite a fast start for an early 21-9 lead. Four Hurricanes finished in double figures, including 20 points from Jack McClinton, 11 points and three blocks from Cyrus McGowan and 10 points from Dwayne Collins.
Clemson’s pressure defense leads the ACC and ranks seventh in the nation with 10.2 steals per game, while ranking third in the ACC and ninth in the nation with a stifling three-point defense, limiting opponents to 28.4 percent shooting from long range.
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
With nine of 13 Hurricanes in their freshman or sophomore years, Miami has a decidedly youthful feel this season. Wednesday’s win over No. 20/20 Georgia Tech marked the second-straight career starts for freshman Garrius Adams and redshirt-sophomore Julian Gamble, as the Hurricanes started three underclassmen — two true freshmen and a sophomore — with a pair of seniors for the second-straight game. UM freshmen have made a combined 24 starts, while sophomores account for 26 starts. Miami has started a pair of freshmen five times this season.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
With Wednesday’s win over No. 20/20 Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes are now 16-1 when leading at the half, 16-1 when leading with four minutes remaining in the game and 16-0 when leading with two minutes to go. Entering Saturday’s noon game at Clemson, Miami is 7-1 in afternoon games this season.
UP NEXT FOR MIAMI
Following Saturday’s game at Clemson, Miami opens a three-game homestand on ESPN versus No. 7/8 Duke on Wed., Feb. 17. The Hurricanes knocked off the Demon Deacons in their last contest at the BankUnited Center, 96-95, on Feb. 20, 2008, and took Duke to overtime at Cameron Indoor Stadium in their lone meeting last season before falling, 78-75.
HONORING THE HURRICANES
During halftime of Miami’s game versus Duke, three former Hurricane greats will be paid tribute to with the institution of honored jerseys, as Jack McClinton (2006-09), Don Curnutt (1967-70) and Dick Hickox (1958-61) will have their jerseys raised to the rafters of the BankUnited Center. McClinton and Curnutt, as well as Rick Barry, will be on hand for the celebration, while the late Hickox will be represented by his wife, Silvia.
A special luncheon featuring the honored recipients will be held on Feb. 17 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Hurricane 100 Room of the BankUnited Center. Tickets may be purchased for $40 apiece by contacting the Hurricane Club at (305) 284-6699.
LAST TIME OUT
James Dews made a 15-footer at the buzzer to give Miami the 64-62 victory over No. 20/20 Georgia Tech. Dews — who had made 21 of his last 23 free throws (.913) entering Wednesday’s contest — missed the front end of a one-and-one with 19 seconds left, and Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert sank a layup to tie the game with 10 seconds to go.
Following a timeout, UM moved the length of the court and Durand Scott fed Dews, who faked out a defender before swishing his shot and leaping into a mob of jubilant teammates.
Miami (17-7, 3-7 ACC) improved to 11-1 at home – 3-1 in ACC homes games, while Georgia Tech (17-7, 5-5) fell to 1-4 in ACC road games.
Dwayne Collins had 13 points and 11 rebounds for his 21st career double-double and eighth of the season, Adrian Thomas scored 12, all on 3-pointers, and Malcolm Grant had 11 in the first half. Reggie Johnson added 10 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes.
DID U KNOW…
Miami has defeated a ranked team in 14 of the last 15 seasons… With six important points versus the Yellow Jackets, James Dews became the 31st Hurricane to score more than 1,000 career points. He’s the second active Hurricane with more than 1,000 points — joining Dwayne Collins who accomplished the feat earlier in the season… Dews’ game-winning shot was his second of the season, as he also hit the game-winner at home against Wake Forest (Jan. 9)… With 11 rebounds versus Georgia Tech, Dwayne Collins became just the second player in UM history to amass 1,000 points, 850 rebounds and 100 assists in a career… Miami has converted better than 73 percent from the charity stripe over the last five contests, despite hitting just 65.7 percent over the season to rank ninth in the ACC. However, UM is shooting 70.5 percent against league opponents — sixth-best in the ACC.
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.
