Hurricanes Travel To Virginia
Jan. 10, 2005
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (10-3, 1-1)
At
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (9-3, 0-2)
When: January 12, 2005 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: University Hall (8,392) – Charlottesville, Va.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); XM Satellite Radio (Channel 183)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); UVa (www.virginiasports.com)
Up Next: vs. Florida State – Jan. 15 at 12:00 p.m. at Convocation Center
UM Ticket Info: 305-284-CANE in Dade County or 1-800-GO-CANES
ON VIRGINIA:
The Virginia Cavaliers enter its matchup with the Hurricanes with a record of 9-3, 0-2 in the ACC, following a 92-69 loss at No. 9 Georgia Tech on January 8th. Virginia, which has been ranked as high as 19th in the in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Polls, are 7-1 at home this season which includes a 78-60 win over 10th-ranked Arizona on November 21st. The Cavalier’s lone home loss was to 5th-ranked Wake Forest (89-70) on January 2nd. Virginia has been without senior forward Devin Smith the last three games due to a sprained right ankle suffered against Loyola Marymont on December 23rd. Smith is averaging a team-high 17.4 points per game. The Cavaliers boast two other double-figure scorers including 6-9 senior center Elton Brown (14.8 ppg) and 6-2 sophomore guard J.R. Reynolds (12.4 ppg). Freshman point guard Sean Singletary has also been impressive this season garnering ACC Rookie of the Week honors three times. Singletary is averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 4.3 assists per game.
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 10-3 this season with the Hurricanes. Virginia head coach Pete Gillen is in his seventh season with the Cavaliers and 20th season overall. His record at Virginia is 113-81 (.582), including a 9-3 record this season, while his overall mark is 387-209 (.649). Gillen is 2-4 against Hurricanes having faced UM six times as the head coach at Providence from 1994-1998.
LAST GAME – MIAMI 67, NC STATE 66
January 9, 2005
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
Guillermo Diaz scored a game-high 26 points to lead the University of Miami to a 67-66 win over 24th-ranked North Carolina State at the Convocation Center giving the Hurricanes their first Atlantic Coast Conference win. A potential game-winning three-pointer by the Wolfpack’s Cameron Bennerman bounced off the side of the backboard with 1 second left. Diaz, who has scored 53 points in Miami’s first two league games, missed his first four shots and went scoreless over the first 11 minutes. But he finished 5-for-9 from 3-point range and made two free throws with 23 seconds left to put the Hurricanes ahead 67-63. Engin Atsur’s three-point basket made it 67-66, and Diaz missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to give the Wolfpack the last shot. After a timeout, Ilian Evtimov drove the lane and fed Bennerman, who badly misfired under pressure. Robert Hite scored 19 points for the Hurricanes. Evtimov scored a season-high 19 points, while Andrew Brackman added 16 and Atsur 15 for NC State. North Carolina State made 12 of 24 three-point tries but was outrebounded 40-27.
A WIN VERSUS VIRGINIA WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC this season.
Mark Miami’s first ACC road win.
Mark Miami’s second straight conference win.
Mark the Hurricanes’ 10th win in the last 11 games.
TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Virginia game will not be televised. 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 Brian London adding analysis.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Virginia meet for just the third time on the hardwood with the Hurricanes winning both previous matchups. The two schools last met on December 10, 1966 with Miami winning 80-78 in Charlotteville, Va.
ACC SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for 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.
DIAZ NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz was been named ACC Player of the Week on January 10th after averaging 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in two conference games. He connected on 18-of-35 (.514) from the floor, including 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range as the Hurricanes opened league play with a 1-1 record. Diaz led the Hurricanes to their first ACC win a 67-66 victory over 24th-ranked NC State Sunday, totaling a game-high 26 points, six rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. Earlier in the week he had a game-high 27 points to go with six rebounds and three steals in an 80-69 loss at ninth-ranked Georgia Tech.
MIAMI IN THE 2004-05 POLLS:
Miami received nine votes in this week’s Associated Press College Basketball poll placing them 38th in the nation. Miami’s highest ranking ever came on March 1, 1960 when the Hurricanes jumped to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll. Miami’s highest ranking since the rebirth of the program in 1985 is ninth by the Associated Press on March 1, 1999. The Hurricanes highest ranking ever in the Coaches poll also came on March 1, 1999 (10th).
MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite (19.4 ppg), Guillermo Diaz (16.8 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.2 ppg) have been difficult for Hurricane opponents to contend with this season. The trio have combined to average 48.5 points per game, or 66.7 percent (630 of 945) of the teams scoring this season.
HITE CLOSING IN ON 1,000:
Robert Hite is close to becoming the 27th player in UM history to reach 1,000-point plateau. Hite currently has at 910 career points. Miami’s all-time leading scorer is Rick Barry who recorded 2,298 points from 1962-65.
