Hurricanes Face Duke Wednesday Night

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Jan. 17, 2005

#4/#4 DUKE UNIVERSITY (13-0, 3-0)
at
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (12-3, 3-1)
When: January 19, 2005 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ESPN (Live)
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WVUM (90.5 FM), XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 181)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); Duke (www.GoDuke.com)
Up Next: at #3 North Carolina – Jan. 22 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES

ON DUKE:
Duke comes to Coral Gables with a record of 13-0, 3-0 in the ACC, and No. 4 national ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls following an 80-66 home win over Virginia on Sunday. The Blue Devils 13 game winning streak is the third longest in the nation behind Illinois (18) and Boston College (14). Duke has been led this season by the backcourt of J.J. Redick and Daniel Ewing, as well as the inside presence of Shelden Williams. Redick leads the ACC in scoring (21.0 ppg) and free throw percentage (.949), while Ewing ranks second on the team in scoring (16.8 ppg) and leads the team in assists (4.2 apg) and steals (2.7 spg). Williams leads the conference in rebounding (11.5 rpg) and blocks averaging 4.0 rejections per game. The 6-9 forward is also averaging 14.8 points per game and has connected on 74-125 (.592) of his field goal attempts. Duke is one of the top defensive teams in the country holding opponents to a league low 59.7 points while averging an ACC best 8.62 bocks per contest.

ON THE COACHES:
Frank Haith was named Miami’s 11th head men’s basketball coach on April 12, 2004. In his 15 seasons as an assistant at the D-I level, he has helped lead teams that have won an NIT Championship, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen three times, reached one Elite Eight and one Final Four. Haith is 12-3 this season with the Hurricanes. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski is in his 25th season with the Blue Devils and 30th season overall. His record at Duke is 634-181 (.778) while his overall mark is 707-240 (.747). Krzyzewski has guided Duke to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 10 trips to the Final Four, and three National Championships.

LAST GAME – MIAMI 64, FLORIDA STATE 63
January 15, 2005
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
Guillermo Diaz scored 19 points including the game-winning shot with 7.3 second remaining to lead the University of Miami to a 64-63 win over intrastate rival Florida State at the Convocation Center marking the Hurricanes 12 win in the last 13 games. The Seminoles led for most of the game and were up by four points with 90 seconds left. After Miami forced a turnover on an inbounds pass with 34 seconds to go, Diaz made a slashing, spinning move in the lane to beat four defenders, then made the game-winner. Florida State’s Anthony Richardson tried a 15-footer that fell short with 2 seconds left, and Anthony Harris rebounded the ball and dribbled out the clock. Robert Hite scored 18 points for Miami, and William Frisby added 12 rebounds to help give the Hurricanes a 41-31 edge on the boards. Adam Waleskowski made two free throws for Florida State with 51 seconds left giving the Seminoles a 63-60 lead. Harris was fouled on three-point attempt and had a chance to tie the game with 37 seconds remaining but made only two of three free throws. Then came the costly turnover by the Seminoles. Adam Waleskowski’s pass from under the Miami basket led teammate Isaiah Swann too much, and the ball rolled out of bounds next to the Hurricanes bench setting up Diaz’ game winner.

A WIN VERSUS DUKE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the ACC this season.
Improve Miami’s home record to 10-1 this season.
Mark Miami’s fourth straight conference win.
Mark the Hurricanes’ 12th win in the last 13 games.
Mark Miami’s third win over a ranked opponent this season.
Mark the highest ranked opponent Miami has defeated at home since defeating 2nd-ranked Duke, 71-69, on Dec. 21, 1962.
Equal UM’s BIG EAST conference win total from last season.

TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Duke game will be broadcast live on ESPN. Mike Patrick will handle the play-by-play duties with Len Elmore adding analysis. The game will also be broadcast 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. WVUM (90.5 FM), the University of Miami student radio network, will also broadcast the game.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Duke meet for the sixth time with the Blue Devils leading the all-time series, 4-1. Miami and Duke last met on December 10, 1988 with the Blue Devils winning 117-102 at Miami Arena. Miami holds a 1-2 home record against Duke. The Blue Devils have won the last four meetings.

TALKING RPI:
As of January 16 the Hurricanes were No. 69 in the RPI rankings according to Collegiate Basketball News. The ACC is currently the nation’s top-rated conference and has eight teams ranked among the top-70 in the RPI.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
The Hurricanes are 20-22 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in 10 of the last 11 seasons. Miami is 29-88 (.249) all-time against ranked teams including a 26-74 (.260) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH: Miami has defeated at least one ranked opponent at home in nine of the last 10 seasons. Since 1994-95 the Hurricanes have knocked off 13 ranked teams at home.

MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite (19.0 ppg), Guillermo Diaz (17.6 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.4 ppg) have been difficult for Hurricane opponents to contend with this season. The trio have combined to average 49.0 points per game, or 66.8 percent (735 of 1100) of the teams scoring this season.

ACC’S TOP SCORING TRIOS:
The University of Miami trio of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and Anthony Harris has combined to score 735 of UM’s 1100 total points this season. The three have accounted for 66.8 percent of the team’s scoring which is the highest of any trio in the ACC. Duke’s J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Shelden Williams rank second having accounted for 64.2 percent (624 of 971) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season. In addition UM’s guards are the third highest scoring scoring trio in the ACC averaging 49.0 points per game. Duke (52.0 ppg) and North Carolina (49.1 ppg) rank first and second.

HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS:
Miami is the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in the ACC averaging 15.4 offensive rebounds per game. The Hurricanes have taken advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 231 offensive rebounds this season into 247 total points, or 1.07 points per offensive rebound. Miami is averaging 16.5 points per game off offensive rebounds or 22.5 percent of the team’s scoring. Miami has three players that rank among the top-10 in the ACC in offensive rebounding including Anthony King (2nd), William Frisby (3rd) and Gary Hamilton (8th).

TAKING ADVANTAGE:
This season the Hurricanes have been able to take advantage of opponent turnovers. Miami is averaging 1.0 points per turnover forced (207 points/207 opponent turnovers).

LOCKING UP: This season the Hurricanes have held teams without a field goal for four minutes or more a total of 21 times. Miami held Massachusetts, Stetson, Appalachian State and Florida State without a FG for four minutes or more three times each.