Hurricanes Face Appalachian State This Thursday
Dec. 27, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY (5-4)
at
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (7-2)
When: December 30, 2004 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM), XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 181)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); ASU (www.GOASU.com)
Tickets: $10/$20/$25 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES
ON APPALACHIAN STATE:
Appalachian State enters its match-up with Miami with a record of 5-4 following a 68-51 loss at Vanderbilt on December 22. Prior to the Vanderbilt game the Mountaineers ranked among the nation’s leaders in several statistical categories including 50th in scoring (77.5 ppg), 37th in field goal percentage (.487), 27th in three-point field goal percentage (.383), fifth in assists (19.5 apg) and fifth in steals (12.3 spg).Appalachian State has been led by senior guard Noah Brown who is averaging a team-high 14.6 points per game while shooting 40.3 percent (25-62) from three-point range. Also averaging in double-figures is senior forward D.J. McFarland at 13.9 points per contest. McFarland has hit 6-13 (.462) three-point attempts and is the team’s top free throw shooter (.871). The Mountaineers have also received strong play from sophomore guard D.J. Thompson who averages 9.1 points, a team-high 4.8 assists and ranks 23rd in the nation in steals (2.9 spg).Appalachian State’s four losses this season have come on the road against Virginia (77-60), South Carolina (91-57), Wofford (75-66) and Vanderbilt (68-51).
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 7-2 this season with the Hurricanes. Appalachian State head coach Mike Sutton is in his fifth season with the Mountaineers and eighth season overall. His record at ASU is 54-73 (.425) while his overall record is 98-114 (.462).
LAST GAME – MIAMI 69, TENNESSEE TECH 57
December 23, 2004
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
Robert Hite scored 19 points to lead the University of Miami to a 69-57 win over Tennessee Tech at the Convocation Center.Miami started out sluggish trailing 22-17 before closing the first half on a 12-5 run. Hite scored 10 of Miami’s 29 points and added four of his game-high five steals in the first half.Tennessee Tech pulled to within 40-38 on a three-pointer by Anthony Fisher at 13:27 of the second half, but Miami went on a 13-4 run to take a 53-42 lead with 7:17 remaining. The run was led by eight points from Anthony Harris, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half.The Golden Eagles never got closer than five points the rest of the way. Willie Jenkins scored a game-high 25 points for Tennessee Tech.Four of Miami’s five starters finished in double figures in scoring for Miami, which overcame 39.3 percent shooting by outrebounding Tennessee Tech 45-34 in rebounds.
A WIN VERSUS APPALACHIAN STATE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 8-2 this season.
Mark Miami’s seventh consecutive victory.
Mark the most consecutive wins by first-year coach at the University of Miami.
Improve Miami’s record to 6-0 in the month of December.
TV/RADIO: The Miami-Appalachian State 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 analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host. The game will also be broadcast on WVUM (90.5 FM), the University of Miami student radio network.
THE SERIES:
This is the first meeting between Miami and Appalachian St.
ACC SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for all eight of the University of Miami’s home ACC contests are on sale now at the Hurricane Ticket Office. To purchase tickets call (305) 284-CANE in Dade County, or 1-800-GO-CANES or go online at www.hurricanesports.com. Atlantic Coast Conference tickets start at just $15.
MCDONALD’S HURRICANE MEAL DEALS:
The Miami Hurricanes have teamed up with McDonald’s to offer a special McDonald’s Hurricane Meal Deal For only $44, each McDonald’s Meal Deal includes four (4) game tickets and four (4) Big Mac extra value meals. McDonald’s Meal Deals are available for UM games against Florida State (Jan. 15), Clemson (Jan. 26), Virginia Tech (Feb. 2) and Wake Forest (Feb. 15). For more information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANE in Dade County, or 1-800-GO-CANES.
STREAKING:
Head coach Frank Haith and the Hurricanes are currently riding a six-game win streak marking tying the longest by a first year coach at the University of Miami.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 98-45 (.685) record against non-conference opponents, including a 69-15 (.821) mark at home. Miami is 7-2 against non-conference opponents this season.
WIN STREAK TIDBITS (6-0):
Team – 77.7 ppg; 168-355 (.473) FG; 50-130 (.385) 3FG
Team – .381 Opp FG%; 17.7 margin of victory; 8.3 3FG/G
Hite – 21.8 ppg; 48-91 (.527) FG; 24-46 (.522) 3FG
Diaz – 17.3 ppg; 40-81 (.494) FG
Harris – 15.2 ppg; 5.2 apg
King – 16-24 (.667) FG; 9.0 rpg; 3.8 bpg
UM GOES FOR UNDEFEATED DECEMBER:
The University of Miami is 5-0 this December heading into its game versus Appalachian State. A win over the Mountaineers would mark the third time in school history the Hurricanes have gone undefeated in the month of December and the ninth time overall UM has gone undefeated during a month (minimum of five games).
Undefeated Months
February 1947 – 9-0
February 1958 – 6-0
December 1962 – 7-0
February 1965 – 8-0
November 1997 – 5-0
February 1999 – 8-0
November 2001 – 6-0
December 2001 – 7-0
PLAYING ABOVE THE RIM:
The Hurricanes recorded 90 dunks (3.0 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. This season the Hurricanes have recorded 30 dunks (3.3 per game).
MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:>br> Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite (20.0 ppg), Guillermo Diaz (14.8 ppg) and Anthony Harris (14.1 ppg) have been difficult for Hurricane opponents to contend with this season. The trio have combined to average 48.9 points per game, or 67.4 percent (440 of 653) of the teams scoring this season.
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES:
The University of Miami trio of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and Anthony Harris has combined to score 440 of UM’s 653 total points this season. The three have accounted for 67.4 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 64.1 percent (437 of 682) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season.
CLUTCH UNDER PRESSURE:
Miami’s guards have been nearly perfect from the line in pressure situations hitting 26 of 27 free throws in the final four minutes of games this season. In the final two minutes of games UM’s guards are a perfect 14 for 14.
HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 100:
The University of Miami has always prided itself on playing tough defense. Over the last 14+ seasons the Hurricanes have not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark, a streak of 411 games. The last team to reach the 100-point plateau was Miami (OH) on December 27, 1990 in a 101-99 double-overtime victory over UM at the Eastern Airlines Palm Beach Classic. The last team to score 100 points against the Hurricanes in a non-overtime game was Providence on February 21, 1990, a 101-67 Friar victory at the Providence Civic Center. Miami has not allowed a team to score 100 points at home since Kansas defeated Miami 100-73 on January 10, 1990, a current streak of 227 games.
