Hurricanes Travel To Blacksburg for Saturday Match-up With Hokies

Feb. 18, 2005

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (15-8, 6-6)
at
VIRGINIA TECH (13-10, 6-6)
When: February 19, 2005 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Cassell Coliseum (10,052) – Blacksburg, Va.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 180)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); VT (www.hokiesports.com)
Up Next: at Florida State, February 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 305-284-CANE in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES

ON VIRGINIA TECH:

Virginia Tech hosts the Hurricanes on Saturday following a stunning 67-65 win over eighth-ranked Duke at Cassell Colesium. The win snapped Virginia Tech’s three-game losing streak and improved the Hokies record to 13-10, 6-6 in the ACC.

Virginia Tech has been led this season by sophomore guard Zabian Dowdell and senior forward Carlos Dixon. Dowdell leads the team in scoring averaging 15.1 points per game while Dixon is averaging 14.0 points per contest.

Dowdell and Dixon have been one of the ACC’s most lethal outside shooting tandems. Dowdell has connected on 51-119 (.429) from behind the arc while Dixon has hit 42-103 (.408) from long range.

Sophomore center Coleman Collins (11.7 ppg) ranks third on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg).

Sophomore point guard Jamon Gordon (10.7 ppg) has emerged as the team’s best all-around player. In addition to ranking fourth on the team in scoring, he currently leads the Hokies in assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.4 spg), and is the team’s second leading rebounder (4.9 rpg).

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 15-8 this season with the Hurricanes.

Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg is in his second season with the Hokies and 15th season overall. His record at Virginia Tech is 28-24 (.538) while his overall mark is 241-194 (.554).

A WIN VERSUS VIRGINIA TECH WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 16-8 overall and 7-6 in the ACC.Give Miami a split of the season series with Virginia Tech.Mark Miami’s fourth straight win over Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum.Improve Miami road record this season to 5-3.Equal Miami’s road win total from the last two season’s combined.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami-Virginia Tech 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 analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Virginia Tech meet for the second time this season and for the ninth time overall. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 6-2. Virginia Tech won the first meeting this season 73-63 in Coral Gables snapping the Miami’s six game win streak over the Hokies. Miami has won the last three games at Cassell Coliseum.

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:

This season Miami sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz has played his best when facing the best. Miami has faced eight ranked teams this season and in those games Diaz is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. He is shooting 69-138 (.500) from the field against ranked teams this season including 25-57 (.439) from three-point range. Diaz has scored 20-or-more points in seven of the eight games versus ranked opponents.

PLAYING LIKE A FIRST-TEAMER:

Guillermo Diaz has put together a season worthy of first team All-ACC consideration. As of February 17th, Diaz is the only player in the ACC to rank among the league leaders (conference games only) in scoring (2nd), rebounding (24th), field goal percentage (6th), free throw percentage (14th), three-point field goal percentage (9th) and steals (2nd).

ROCKING THE CONVO:

The University of Miami has already recorded four sellouts in ACC play this season and announced on Monday, Feb. 7 that the Georgia Tech game on Feb. 26 at the Convocation Center is also a sellout. Through the first seven ACC home games this season the Hurricanes are averaging 6,290 fans per game marking an 86% increase in attendance over last season. Last season Miami’s average attendance through seven BIG EAST home games was 3,374.

TALKING RPI:

As of February 14 the Hurricanes were No. 49 in the RPI rankings according to Collegiate Basketball News. The ACC is currently the nation’s top-rated conference and has seven teams ranked among the top-50 in the RPI.