Hurricanes Ready For North Carolina

Jan. 11, 2006

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (9-6, 1-1 ACC)

at

#20/#20 NORTH CAROLINA (10-2, 2-0 ACC)

When: January 14, 2006 – 12:00 PM (ET)

Where: Dean Smith Center (21,750) – Chapel Hill, N.C.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); UNC (www.tarheelblue.com)

Up Next: vs. Clemson, January 18 – 7:30 p.m. at BankUnited Center

Tickets: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

THE MATCHUP:

The University of Miami travels to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels on January 14 at the Dean Smith Center. North Carolina enters the game with a record of 10-2, 2-0 in the ACC, following a 64-61 win at Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. The Tar Heels are ranked 20th in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN College Basketball polls.

North Carolina lost its top seven scorers from last season’s NCAA Championship team but reloaded with a freshman class ranked among the best in the nation.

The Tar Heels start three freshmen including center Tyler Hansbrough, and guards Marcus Ginyard and Bobby Frasor. The trio and freshman forward Danny Green are four of North Carolina’s top six scorers. In fact, a freshman has led the Tar Heels in scoring in 10 of its first 12 games. Hansbrough leads the team in scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg) and has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week four times this season. Hansbrough leads all ACC freshmen in scoring and rebounding.

Miami enters the game with a record of 9-6, 1-1 in the ACC, following an 84-70 win over #14/#12 Maryland last Saturday at the BankUnited Center. The win was Miami’s first in four tries against ranked teams this season.

The Hurricanes’ three guard line-up of senior Robert Hite (22 points), junior Anthony Harris (22 points) and junior Guillermo Diaz (21 points) combined for 65 points including 11 of 14 shooting from three-point range. Led by Anthony King’s nine rebounds the Hurricanes out rebounded the Terrapins, 37-30, allowed just seven offensive rebounds and outscored Maryland 17-2 on second chance opportunities.

Junior point guard Anthony Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return to the line-up against Birmingham-Southern on Dec. 3 Miami’s guard trio (Diaz, Harris, Hite) has averaged 43.8 points per game, or 64.3 percent (350 of 544) of the team’s scoring.

A WIN AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 10-6, 2-1 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s first win in Chapel Hill.Mark Miami’s second consecutive win over a ranked opponent.Mark the first time UM has won back-to-back games against ranked teams.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite needs one point to move into sole possession of ninth place on UM’s career scoring list. Hite is currently tied with Steven Edwards who scored 1,393 points from 1992-96.Guillermo Diaz needs 23 points to move into 21st place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 22nd place with 1,134 points. Kevin Presto (1985-89) is currently 21st with 1,156 points.Guillermo Diaz needs four three-point field goals to into seventh on UM’s career list. Diaz is currently eighth with 131 career three-point field goals. Kevin Norris (1994-98) is currently seventh with 134 three-point field goals.Anthony King needs two blocks to move into fourth-place on UM’s career list. He enters the game with 124 career blocks. Tito Horford (1986-88) is currently fourth with 125 blocks.

THE SERIES:

Miami and North Carolina meet for the 10th time with the Tar Heels leading the all-time series, 8-1. Miami and North Carolina met last season with the Tar Heels winning 87-67 at Dean Smith Center.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. North Carolina game will be televised live on ESPN2. Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Rick Majerus (analysis) 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.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 25-19 (.568), including a 9-6 mark this season.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams is in his third season with the Tar Heels and 18th season overall. His record at North Carolina in 62-17 (.785) while his overall record is 480-118 (.803).

WHAT A DIFFERENCE ANOTHER YEAR MAKES:

Miami guard Robert Hite has continued to improve his numbers each season. This season his scoring average is down but his numbers in almost every other statistical category have improved.

KEEPING UP WITH KING:

Miami junior Anthony King may have been the most improved player in the ACC last season. King went from a little used reserve in 2003-04 to starting every game last season. King improved his numbers in every statistical category last season, a trend which has continued this season.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:

Miami is 23-33 (.411) versus ranked opponents since 1996-97. Miami has defeated at least one ranked team in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Miami is 32-98 (.246) all-time against ranked teams including a 29-84 (.257) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

MIAMI’S LETHAL WEAPON III:

Miami’s three guard line-up of Guillermo Diaz (18.6 ppg), Robert Hite (17.3 ppg) and Anthony Harris (12.4 ppg) combined to average 48.2 points per game, or 67.5 percent (1398 of 2071) of the teams scoring last season.

Harris missed the first seven games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot. Since his return against Birmingham-Southern on Dec. 3 the trio has averaged 43.8 points per game, or 64.3 percent (350 of 544) of the team’s scoring.