Miami Targets North Carolina This Saturday
Jan. 21, 2005
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (12-4, 3-2)
at
#6/#6 NORTH CAROLINA (15-2, 4-1)
When: January 22, 2005 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Dean Smith Center (21,800) – Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV: WBFS (UPN)
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 180)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); UNC (www.TarHeelBlue.com)
Up Next: vs. Clemson – Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center
Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES
ON NORTH CAROLINA:
North Carolina enters its match-up with Miami with a record of 15-2, 4-1 in the ACC, following a 77-58 win at Clemson on Wednesday.
The Tar Heels, ranked sixth in the nation in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, boast the ACC’s most potent offense. North Carolina leads the conference in scoring offense (92.0), scoring margin (+22.4), field goal percentage (.512), three-point field goal percentage (.426) and free throw percentage (728).
Five Tar Heels are averaging in double-figures in scoring this season including guard Rashad McCants (17.0), forward Jawad Williams (16.2), center Sean May (15.0), guard Raymond Felton (11.0) and forward Marvin Williams (10.7).
North Carolina has been guided this season by Felton has emerged as one of the conference’s top point guards. The junior is averaging a league-best 7.25 assists per game and ranks third in three-point field goal percentage (.453), eighth steals (1.94 spg) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.81).
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 12-4 this season with the Hurricanes.
North Carolina coach Roy Williams is in his second season with the Tar Heels and 16th season overall. Williams’ record at North Carolina in 34-13 (.723) while his overall mark is 452-114 (.799). Prior to taking over at North Carolina, Williams coached 15 seasons at Kansas leading the Jayhawks to a 418-101 (.805) record including four Final Four appearances.
TV/RADIO:
The Miami-North Carolina game will be broadcast live in Miami on WBFS (UPN 33). Steve Martin will handle the play-by-play duties with Dan Bonner 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.
THE SERIES:
Miami and North Carolina meet for the ninth time with the Tar Heels leading the all-time series, 7-1. Miami and North Carolina met last season with the Tar Heels winning 89-64 at Dean Smith Center.
A WIN VERSUS NORTH CAROLINA WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s second straight conference road win.Mark the Hurricanes’ 12th win in the last 14 games.Mark Miami’s third win over a ranked opponent this season.Mark the highest ranked opponent Miami has defeated since defeating 2nd-ranked Connecticut, 73-71, on Feb. 20, 1999.Equal UM’s BIG EAST conference win total (4) from last season.
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).
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.
MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Robert Hite (18.2 ppg), Guillermo Diaz (18.1 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.6 ppg) have been difficult for Hurricane opponents to contend with this season. The trio have combined to average 48.9 points per game, or 66.0 percent (781 of 1183) 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 781 of UM’s 1183 total points this season. The three have accounted for 66.0 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 65.8 percent (752 of 1143) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season.
In addition UM’s guards are the second highest scoring scoring trio in the ACC averaging 48.4 points per game. Duke (53.7 ppg) ranks first.
HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS:
Miami is the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in the ACC averaging 15.7 offensive rebounds per game. The Hurricanes have taken advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 251 offensive rebounds this season into 274 total points, or 1.09 points per offensive rebound. Miami is averaging 17.1 points per game off offensive rebounds or 23.1 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 (4th) and Gary Hamilton (5th).
HARRIS IS ONE NATION’S MOST IMPROVED:
Anthony Harris is one of the nation’s most improved players. He is averaging 12.4 points per game this season which is 10.96 points better then his 1.44 average last season. His points per game increase ranks as the seventh highest in the nation according to STATS, Inc.
TAKING ADVANTAGE:
This season the Hurricanes have been able to take advantage of opponent turnovers. Miami is averaging 1.04 points per turnover forced (227 points/219 opponent turnovers).
