Hurricanes Battle Wofford At Convocation Center

Nov. 18, 2004

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WOFFORD COLLEGE
at
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
When: November 20, 2004 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM)
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com); Wofford (www.wofford.edu)
Tickets: $10/$20/$25 – Call (305) 284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES

ON WOFFORD:
Wofford College, located in Spartanburg, S.C. returns nine lettermen, including four starters, from last seasons squad that finished 9-20, 4-12 in the Southern Conference. The Terriers are led by junior forward Howard Wilkerson who was the team’s top scorer (13.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.0 rpg) last season. Wilkerson, who started all 29 games, led the Southern Conference in rebounding pulling down 8.8 boards per league contest and ranked third in the league with eight double-doubles. Wofford’s only other returning double-figure scorer is senior guard Adrien Borders. Borders, who was the 2003 SoCon Outdoor long jump and triple jump champion, ranked second on the team averaging 10.9 points per game. With an enrollment of 1,100 students, Wofford in the second smallest school in Division I behind Centenary (850 students). The average SAT score at Wofford (1241) is higher than the enrollment (1100). In addition to traveling to Miami, Wofford’s non-conference schedule this season includes road games against Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Wofford will be meeting for the first time on the hardwood.

TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Wofford game will not be televised. The game will 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 in-depth analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host. Fans can also catch the game on WVUM (90.5 FM), the University of Miami student radio network.

LAST GAME – MIAMI 117, INTER-AMERICAN 62
November 12, 2004

Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla. Eric Wilkins and Anthony Harris combined for a pair of double-doubles as the University of Miami men’s basketball team cruised past Inter-American Puerto Rico, 117-62 in the Hurricanes’ final exhibition game of the 2004-05 season. Harris went 6-of-8 from the field with 15 points and dished out 10 assists while Wilkins scored 14 and pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds. Harris and Wilkins were just two of six Hurricanes to score double figures on the night. Senior Rob Hite, who went 9-of-12 from the field, finished with 19 points. Freshman Antonie Mayhand also had an impressive outing, connecting on four threes to close out the night with a total of 20 points, while junior Gary Hamilton fell one rebound shy of being the third UM player with a double-double, grabbing nine rebounds and scoring 10 points. The Hurricanes never trailed against Inter-American Puerto Rico, outscoring IAPR 58-16 in the first half with a defensive effort that limited IAPR to shoot just 20 percent from the field. Miami would maintain the lead throughout the remainder of the game to take the 117-62 victory.

A WIN VERSUS WOFFORD WOULD:
Give Frank Haith his first win as a head coach.Mark Miami’s 11th straight season opening win.Improve Miami’s home record against non-conference opponents to 65-14 (.823).Improve Miami’s record to 5-5 against teams currently in the Southern Conference.

FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL TICKET PROMOTION:
The University of Miami is offering a special Thanksgiving Week men’s basketball/football ticket promotion. Any fan purchasing a ticket for the Miami-Wake Forest football game this Saturday at noon in the Orange Bowl may purchase up to four half-priced tickets for the first two UM men’s basketball games at the Convocation Center. Miami opens the regular season against Wofford this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. followed by a November 23 contest against South Carolina State. Hurricane fans that have already purchased football tickets may redeem their discounted basketball tickets by presenting their Wake Forest game ticket at the Hecht Athletic Center Ticket Office. For more information please call (305) 284-CANE or visit www.hurricanesports.com.

ON THE COACHES:
Frank Haith was named the University of Miami’s 11th head men’s basketball coach on April 12, 2004. In his 15 seasons as an assistant at the Division I level, he has helped lead teams that have won one NIT Championship, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen three times, reached one Elite Eight and one Final Four. Haith, who is entering his first season as a collegiate head coach, has worked at several top-ranked programs including Texas and Wake Forest. Wofford head coach Mike Young is entering his third season as a collegiate head coach, all with the Terriers. His record stands at 23-35 (.397).

FOR OPENERS:
Miami’s game versus Wofford marks the season opener for the Hurricanes. Miami has won its last 11 season openers and is 17-2 (.895) in season openers since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami’s all-time record in season opening games is 42-12 (.778).

MIAMI-WOFFORD CONNECTIONS:
Miami guard Robert Hite and Wofford guard Byron Fields played together at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hurricane forward Gary Hamilton and Wofford guard Drew Gibson both played at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, Calif. Miami assistant Barclay Radebaugh was an assistant at Wofford during the 1989-90 season.

HURRICANES SIGN THREE:
Head coach Frank Haith signed 6-6 swingman Brian Asbury (South Miami), 6-0 point guard Denis Clemente (Miami Calusa Prep) and 6-7 forward Adrian Thomas (Pembroke Pines Flanagan) to national letters of intent to attend the University of Miami next fall. The three South Florida signees mark the most in one UM recruiting class since the rebirth of the program in 1985-86. All are ranked among the top-100 players in the nation.

MIAMI JOINS THE ACC:
On July 1, 2004 the University of Miami officially became a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami had been a member of the BIG EAST Conference since the 1991-92 season. Miami holds a 40-54 (.425) record against teams currently in the ACC.

MIAMI BACKCOURT IS EN FUEGO:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and Anthony Harris were hot from the field in the Hurricanes two exhibition games. The three combined to shoot 35-64 (.547) from the field, including 18-32 (.563) from three-point range, and 6-7 (.857) from the line. The trio averaged a combined 47.0 points per game which equates to nearly half (49.4%) of UM’s team total during the two exhibition games.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES:
Miami guard Rob Hite was one of the most improved players in the BIG EAST last season. He was one of the Hurricanes’ most consistent offensive threats scoring in double-figures in 25 of 30 games. Hite’s numbers were significantly improved in almost every category last season.

HAITH NAMED RECRUITER OF THE YEAR:
Frank Haith was been named the Rivals.com 2004 National Basketball Recruiter of the Year. As an assistant at Texas last season Haith helped the Longhorns land the top recruiting class in the nation during the 2004 recruiting season. Texas signed three McDonald’s All-Americans including LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and Mike Williams, and kept two of the state’s top players close to home including Dion Dowdell and Conner Atchley. Haith has recruited a total of six McDonald’s All-American’s including Rodney Rodgers (Wake Forest, 1990), Jerald Brown (Texas A&M, 1995) and Brad Buckman (Texas, 2002) and has coached six players that are in the NBA including T.J. Ford (Milwaukee Bucks), Joshua Howard (Dallas Mavericks), Chris Owens (Memphis Grizzlies), Darius Songaila (Sacramento Kings), Calvin Booth (Seattle Sonics) and Rodney Rogers (New Jersey Nets).

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 91-43 (.679) record against non-conference opponents, including a 64-14 (.821) mark at home. Miami was 10-4 against non-conference opponents in 2003-04.

VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
Miami is 296-145 (.671) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 31 of its last 35 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season.

A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY:
Rob Hite ranked 16th in the BIG EAST in scoring last season at 15.2 ppg but a closer look shows that he was one of the more efficient scorers in the league averaging 1.32 points per shot attempt (455 points/344 field goal attempts). His 1.32 average ranked ninth among the conference’s top 20 scorers.

HIGH FLYERS:
Miami’s returning guards have an average vertical jump of 38.4 inches. Leading the way is sophomore Guillermo Diaz who has a vertical leap of 41 inches.

PLAYING ABOVE THE RIM:
The Hurricanes recorded 90 dunks (3.00 per game) last season. Miami’s 90 dunks were the most since UM had 111 dunks during the 1988-89 season. Rob Hite led the Hurricanes in dunks last season with 29.