Hurricanes Square Off With South Carolina In NIT
March 14, 2005
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (16-12, 7-9 ACC)
at
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (15-13, 7-9 SEC)
National Invitation Tournament – First Round
When: Tuesday, March 15 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Colonial Center (18,000) – Columbia, S.C.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); SC (www.USCsports.com)
Tickets: Call the South Carolina ticket office at 1-866-472-8499
MIAMI REACHES POST SEASON:
The University of Miami’s has been selected to compete in the National Invitation Tournament and will face South Carolina in the first round. This marks the Hurricanes’ first post season appearance since the 2001-02 season (NCAA). Miami is making its 12th post season appearance overall (5 NCAA, 7 NIT) and its eighth in the last 11 seasons. Miami is 4-11 all-time in post season competition.
Head coach Frank Haith becomes just the second coach in Miami history, joining Perry Clark in 2001, to take the Hurricanes to the post season in his first season as head coach.
UM IN THE NIT:
Miami is making its seventh NIT appearance and its first since the 2000-01 season. Miami is 1-6 all-time in the NIT with the lone win coming against St. Francis (NY) in 1963. Miami last played in the NIT in 2001 dropping a 60-58 decision at Auburn.
ON SOUTH CAROLINA:
The South Carolina Gamecocks enter its first round NIT game against Miami with a record of 15-13, 7-9 in the SEC, following a 53-52 loss to Mississippi in the opening round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday.
The Gamecocks have been led this season by senior forward Carlos Powell. Powell averages team-highs in both scoring (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg). He is the only Gamecock avering in double-figures in scoring and has led the team in scoring 18 times this season, in rebounding 15 times, and has posted a team-high five double-doubles.
South Carolina has struggled at the end of the season dropping five of its last six games but is 13-3 at home this season including wins over Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
THE SERIES:
Miami and South Carolina meet for the eighth time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 5-2. UM and USC have not met on the hardwood since December 5, 1987 when the Gamecocks knocked off the Hurricanes, 76-63, in Miami.
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 16-12 this season with the Hurricanes and needs just one more win to tie the UM record for most wins by a first-year coach. He is just the second coach in school-history to lead Miami to the post season in his first year as head coach.
South Carolina head coach Dave Odom is in his fourth season with the Gamecocks and 19th season overall. His record at South Carolina is 72-55 (.567) while his overall record is 350-229 (.604).
TV/RADIO:
Miami’s first round NIT game against South Carolina 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.
A WIN VERSUS SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 17-12 on the season.
Mark Miami’s first NIT win since 1963.
Improve Miami’s post season record to 5-11.
Mark Miami’s second win against an SEC opponent this season.
Improve Miami’s record against USC to 6-2.
Tie Frank Haith with Ron Godfrey (1967-68) for most wins (17) by a first year coach at Miami.
Advance Miami to the second round against the winner of the Arizona State-UNLV game.
HAITH NAMED NAISMITH FINALIST:
University of Miami head coach Frank Haith has been named one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Award National Coach of the Year Award. In his first season as a collegiate head coach, Haith has guided the Hurricanes to a surprising 16-11 record, which includes three wins over ranked opponents. Miami, which was picked to finish last in the ACC in the preseason media poll, finished in a tied for sixth with a 7-9 conference record. The coach of the year will be recognized at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 8 in Atlanta.
Naismith Finalists
Rick Barnes, Texas
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Ray Giacoletti, Utah
Billy Gillispie, Texas A&M
Frank Haith, Miami (FL)
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
Lute Olson, Arizona
Rick Pitino, Louisville
Skip Prosser, Wake Forest
Lorenzo Romar, Washington
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma
Bill Self, Kansas
Al Skinner, Boston College
Tubby Smith, Kentucky
Eddie Sutton, Oklahoma State
John Thompson III, Georgetown
Bruce Weber, Illinois
Roy Williams, North Carolina
FIRST-YEAR SUCCESS:
Head coach Frank Haith has guided the Hurricanes to a 16-12 record heading into the ACC Tournament. The 16 wins ties him for the second most by a first-year coach at Miami. The school-record for victories by a coach in his first season at Miami is 17 set by Ron Godfrey during the 1967-68 season.
ROCKING THE CONVO:
The University of Miami recorded five sellouts in ACC play this season (NC State, Duke, Maryland, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech) and had an average attendance of 6,378 in eight league games. Miami average attendance in ACC games this season marked a 95% increase over last season. The Hurricanes’ average attendance in eight BIG EAST games last year was 3,270. UM’s overall attendance average was 4,303 this season which marked a 69% increase over last season.
PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:
This season Miami sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz has played his best when facing the best. Miami has faced nine ranked teams this season and in those games Diaz is averaging 22.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He is shooting 75-155 (.484) from the field against ranked teams this season including 26-63 (.413) from three-point range. Diaz has scored 20-or-more points in seven of the nine games versus ranked opponents.
ONE OF THE ACC ELITE:
This season Guillermo Diaz established himself as one of the ACC’s elite players. Diaz was the only player in the ACC to rank among the league leaders (conference games only) in scoring (2nd), field goal percentage (8th), free throw percentage (14th), three-point field goal percentage (10th) and steals (3rd). Here is how Diaz’s numbers in conference games matched-up with the some of the league’s top guards.
KEEPING UP WITH THE ANTHONY’S:
Miami sophomores Anthony Harris and Anthony King may be the most improved duo in the nation. Both have gone from sparingly used freshmen last season to starters this season. The two have improved their numbers in every statistical category.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE ANOTHER YEAR MAKES:
Miami guard Rob Hite was one of the most improved players in the BIG EAST last season. Hite’s numbers were significantly improved in almost every category from his freshman season and has continued to improve this season.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 100-45 (.689) record against non-conference opponents, including a 71-15 (.826) mark at home. Miami went 9-2 against non-conference opponents this season.
MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:
Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.5 ppg), Robert Hite (17.1 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.3 ppg) have combined to average 48.1 points per game, or 66.8 percent (1340 of 2004) of the teams scoring this season.
ACC’S TOP SCORING TRIOS:
The Miami trio of Robert Hite, Guillermo Diaz and Anthony Harris have accounted for 66.8 percent of the team’s scoring which is the second highest of any scoring trio in the ACC. Duke’s J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Shelden Williams rank first accounting for 67.1 percent (1605 of 2393) of the Blue Devils’ scoring this season. In addition UM’s guards are the second highest scoring trio in the ACC averaging 47.9 points per game. Duke (53.5 ppg) ranks first.
HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS:
Miami is the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in the ACC averaging 15.04 offensive rebounds per game. The Hurricanes have taken advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 421 offensive rebounds this season into 425 total points, or 1.01 points per offensive rebound. Miami is averaging 15.2 points per game off offensive rebounds or 21.2 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 (4th), William Frisby (5th) and Gary Hamilton (8th). No other ACC school has more than one player ranked among the top-10 in offensive rebounding.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
The Hurricanes have made a three-point basket in 102 consecutive games and have made at least one trey in 548 of 551 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986. Miami failed to hit a three-point basket against Indiana on December 15, 2001 (0-13), against St. John’s on March 5, 2000 (0-13) and against Howard University on December 6, 1991 (0-15). Miami is 2-1 all-time when failing to hit a three-pointer.
HITE REACHES 1,000:
Rob Hite recorded 17 points against Virginia Tech to become the 27th player in UM history to score 1,000 career points. Hite currently ranks 21st on UM’s career scoring list with 1,136 career points. Hite needs 20 points to tie Kevin Presto (1985-89) into 20th place. Miami’s all-time leading scorer is Rick Barry who recorded 2,298 points from 1962-65.
26 AND COUNTING:
Miami guard Guillermo Diaz has scored in double-figures in 26 consecutive games. The streak is currently the longest in the ACC. North Carolina’s Raymond Felton is second having scored in double-figures in 16 straight games. Diaz’ streak is ties for the third-longest since UM reinstated the program in 1985-86.
GETTING OFFENSIVE ON THE BOARDS:
Miami has recorded 421 offensive rebounds this season marking the second highest total since UM began tracking offensive rebounds in 1986. The total is the most since 1999-00 when UM recorded 489 offensive rebounds. Miami is averaging 15.03 offensive rebounds per game which is the highest single-season average in school-history.
THE DYNAMIC DUO:
Miami guards Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite may soon etch their names into the record books as one of the greatest scoring tandems in UM history. Diaz (517 points) and Hite (478 points) are close to becoming just the fifth duo in school-history, and the second since the rebirth of the program in 1985, to recorded 500 points apiece in the same season.
KING MOVES UP BLOCKED SHOT LIST:
Anthony King has already recorded 83 blocked shots this season which ranks second on UM’s all-time single-season list. King is just the third player in school-history to register 80 or more blocks in a season. King is two blocks from tying the school-record of 85 set by Constantin Popa in 1992-93.
MAN OF STEAL:
Guard Robert Hite has recorded 44 steals this season increasing his career total to 136 which currently ranks in a tie for 10th on UM’s all-time list.
