Hurricanes Host Tigers Wednesday

Jan. 16, 2006

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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (13-4, 2-2 ACC)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (10-6, 2-1 ACC)

When: January 18, 2006 – 7:30 PM (ET)

Where: BankUnited Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.

TV: None

Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WWFE (670 AM) in Spanish

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); CU (www.clemsontigers.com)

Tickets: $15, $25, $30 – Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Up Next: #15/#14 Boston College, Jan. 21 – 8:00 pm at BankUnited Center

THE MATCHUP:

The Clemson Tigers come the Coral Gables with a record of 13-4, 2-2 in the ACC, following an 87-77 home loss to No. 1 ranked Duke on Saturday.

Clemson won its first 11 games of the season which included an impressive 82-63 win over South Carolina on Dec. 3. The Tigers however have lost four of their last six games including their last two road games.

The Tigers have been led by junior guard Vernon Hamilton who is averaging a team-high 13.6 points per game. Hamilton scored a team-high 31 points against Duke.

Although senior forward Shawn Robinson is the only other Tiger averaging in double-figures (11.1 ppg), Clemson has two other players averaging over nine points per game including sophomore Cliff Hammonds (9.9 ppg) and senior Akin Akingbala (9.5 ppg). Akingbala leads the team in rebounding at 7.1 rebounds per game and is shooting a team-best 62.1 percent from the field.

Miami enters the game with a record of 10-6, 2-1 in the ACC, following back-to-back wins over ranked teams. The Hurricanes defeated 20th-ranked North Carolina, 81-70, in Chapel Hill on Saturday. Prior to the North Carolina game the Hurricanes recorded an 84-70 win over #14/#12 Maryland on January 7. The Hurricanes’ three guard line-up of senior Robert Hite, junior Anthony Harris and junior Guillermo Diaz have combined for 65 points in each of Miami’s last two games.

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 46.1 points per game, or 66.4 percent (415 of 625) of the team’s scoring.

Hite was nearly unstoppable in last season’s two games against the Tigers averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 17-28 (.607) from the field, 5-10 (.500) from three-point range, and 6-7 (.857) from the line.

A WIN AGAINST CLEMSON WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 11-6, 3-1 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s fourth consecutive win.Improve Miami’s home record to 8-1 this season.Mark Miami’s fourth consecutive win over Clemson.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Guillermo Diaz needs 33 points to move into 20th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 21st place with 1,158 points. Rusty Parker (1965-68) is currently 20th with 1,190 points.Guillermo Diaz needs two three-point field goals to into sixth on UM’s career list. Diaz is currently seventh with 135 career three-point field goals. Jake Morton (1988-93) is currently sixth with 136 three-point field goals.Robert Hite needs four steals to move into fifth on UM’s career steals list. Hite enters the game in sixth with 164 steals. Jake Morton (1988-93) is fifth with 167.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Clemson meet for the ninth time with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 3-5. Miami has won the last three meeting including both games last season.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. North Carolina game is not being televised.

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.

The game can also be broadcast in Spanish on WWFE (670 AM). Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Joe Martinez (analysis) will call the game.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 26-19 (.577), including a 10-6 mark this season.

Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell is in his third season with the Tigers and 18th season overall. His record at Clemson in 39-38 (.506) while his overall record is 295-229 (.563).

MIAMI IN THE 2005-06 POLLS:

On January 16th, Miami received three votes in the Associated Press poll and four votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll marking its first votes in either poll since November 28th. 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).

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

Miami is 3-0 since Janaury 1 marking its best start to open a New Year since January 1960 when Miami won its first five games to start the New Year.

HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS:

Miami ended the 2004-05 season as the second-ranked offensive rebounding team in the ACC averaging 14.93 offensive rebounds per game. Maryland ranked first averaging 14.97 offensive rebounds per game.

The Hurricanes took advantage of their second chance opportunities converting their 433 offensive rebounds into 434 total points, or one point per offensive rebound. Miami averaged 15.0 points per game off offensive rebounds or 21 percent of the team’s scoring. Miami is averaging 14.10 offensive rebounds per game this season. The Hurricanes have 225 offensive rebounds which they have converted into 227 points (14.2 ppg).

A TALE OF TWO HALVES:

Miami’s Guillermo Diaz has stepped up his play in the second half of games this season. Diaz is averaging 9.4 points and is shooting 50.0 percent from the field, including 48.8 percent from three-point range, in the second half of games this season. His scoring average in the second half of games is over two points higher than the first half while his shooting percentages are over 100 points higher.

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 46.1 points per game, or 66.4 percent (415 of 625) of the team’s scoring.