Miami Prepares For ACC Opener At NC State

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Dec. 15, 2005

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (6-3) at #21/#19 NORTH CAROLINA STATE (7-1)

When: December 18, 2005 – 5:30 PM (ET)

Where: RBC Center (19,722) – Raleigh, N.C.

TV: Sun Sports (Live)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); NCST (www.gopack.com)

Up Next: vs. Florida, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m. – BankUnited Center (Sold Out)

Ticket Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Probable Miami Starters

Probable NC State Starters

ON NORTH CAROLINA STATE:

The North Carolina State Wolfpack enters Sunday’s game with a 7-1 and are ranked 21st by the Associated Press and 19th by ESPN/USA Today. The Wolfpack defeated North Carolina-Asheville, 86-56, on Wednesday to improve to 6-0 this season at the RBC Center…The Wolfpack’s balanced offensive attack has been led this season by senior forward Ilian Evtimov who is averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game. Sophomore center Cedric Simmons ranks second on the team in scoring (12.3 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg). Also averaging in double-figures for NC State are sophomore forward Gavin Grant (10.5 ppg) and junior guard Engin Atsur (10.3 ppg)…NC State leads the ACC in field goal percentage defense (.343) and has seven players averaging at least 20 minutes per game.

THE SERIES:

Miami and NC State meet for just the third time with the all-time series tied at 1-1. Miami won the lone meeting last season, 67-66, in Coral Gables marking UM’s first ACC victory. NC State defeated Miami 46-35 in the only other meeting during the 1939-40 season.

SERIES HISTORY:

1939-40 – NCST 46, UM 35 – Raleigh, N.C.

1-9-05 – UM 67, NCST 66 – Coral Gables, Fla.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. NC State game will televised live on Sun Sports. Tim Brando (play-by-play), Mike Gminski (analysis) and Julie Donaldson (sideline) will call all the action.

The game can be heard 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 AGAINST NC STATE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 7-3, 1-0 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s third straight win.Mark Miami’s second consecutive win over NC State.Mark Miami’s first win at NC State.Mark Miami’s first road win this season.Give Miami a win over a ranked team in 11 of the last 12 seasons.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 22-16 (.579), including a 6-3 mark this season.

NC State head coach Herb Sendek is in his 10th season at NC State and 13th season overall. His record with the Wolfpack is 176-123 (.589) while his career record is 239-149 (.616).

FLORIDA GAME SOLD OUT:

The Miami men’s basketball game against Florida on December 22nd is officially sold out. The sellout is the first this season and the sixth since Frank Haith took over the head coaching duties prior to last season.

The University of Miami recorded five sellouts in ACC play last 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 marked a 95% increase over the 2003-04 season. The Hurricanes’ average attendance in eight BIG EAST games the previous year was 3,270. UM’s overall attendance average was 4,303 last season marking a 69% increase over the 2003-04 season.

UM IN THE NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS:

Team Rankings (12/12/05)

Scoring Defense: 30th – 59.0

Scoring Margin: 46th – 12.2

FG Percentage: 38th – 48.6

FG Percentage Defense: 35th – 38.2

Rebound Margin: 15th – 9.2

GETTING IT DONE DOWN LOW:

Last season the Hurricanes struggled to score inside. Miami’s post players of only accounted for 20.3 points per game, or 28.5 percent of the teams scoring a year ago, and shot a combined 48.7 percent from the field.

This season the Hurricanes have made a concerted effort to establish the low post and Miami’s post players have been up to the task. Miami’s post players are averaging 24.3 points per game which accounts for 34.2 percent of the team’s offense, and are shooting a combined 56.8 percent from the field.

MAN OF STEAL:

Guard Robert Hite recorded three steals against Wofford increasing his career total to 158 which is sixth on UM’s all-time list.

UM Career Steals Leaders

1. Kevin Norris (1994-98) – 208

2. Vernon Jennings (1996-00) – 199

3. John Salmons (1998-02) – 192

4. Jerome Scott (1988-92) – 187

5. Jake Morton (1988-93) – 167

6. Robert Hite (2002-05) – 158

7. Kevin Presto (1985-89) – 154

8. Mike Simmons (1998-03) – 141

9. Steven Edwards (1992-96) – 138

NOT IN MY HOUSE:

Forward Anthony King recorded one block against Wofford increasing his career total to 110 placing him seventh on UM’s career list.

UM Career Blocked Shot Leaders

1. Constantin Popa (1991-95) – 263

2. Tim James (1995-99) – 224

3. James Jones (1999-03) – 192

4. Tito Horford (1986-88) – 125

5. Dennis Burns (1985-89) – 123

6. Elton Tyler (1997-00, 01-02) – 114

7. Anthony King (2003-06) – 110

HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 100:

The University of Miami has always prided itself on playing tough defense. Over the last 16 seasons the Hurricanes have not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark, a streak of 439 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 240 games.