Miami Travels To Virginia Tuesday

Jan. 23, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (11-7, 3-2 ACC)

at

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (9-6, 3-2 ACC)

When: January 24, 2006 – 9:00 PM (ET)

Where: University Hall (8,392) – Charlottesville, Va.

TV: ESPNU (Live)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); VA (www.virginiasports.com)

Up Next: @ Florida State, Jan. 29 – 4:00 pm – WBFS-TV (UPN)

UM Tickets Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

THE MATCHUP:

The Virginia Cavaliers enters the game with a record of 9-6, 2-1 in the ACC, following a 72-68 win over 24th-ranked North Carolina on Thursday night.

Virginia, under the direction of new head coach Dave Leitao, have been led this season by the back court of sophomore point guard Sean Singletary and junior shooting guard J.R Reynolds.

Singletary leads the team and ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring at 18.0 points per game. The sophomore also ranks among the league leaders in assists (4.86) and steals (2.00).

Reynolds, who torched Miami for 32 points last season at the ACC Tournament, ranks second on the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) and assists (3.3 apg). Either Singletary or Reynolds has led the team in scoring in 11 of the Cavaliers first 15 games this season. The third Cavalier averaging in double-figures is sophomore forward Adrian Joseph (10.4 ppg).

Miami enters the game with a record of 11-7, 3-2 in the ACC, following a 65-61 home loss to 21st-ranked Boston College on Saturday night. Prior to the loss the Hurricanes had won four straight including impressive wins over #14/#12 Maryland (84-70) and at #20/#20 North Carolina (81-70).

Miami is led by its three guard line-up of junior Guillermo Diaz, senior Robert Hite and junior Anthony Harris. Diaz leads the team in scoring averaging 16.5 points per game. Hite is right behind him averaging 16.2 points per game. Harris (10.1 ppg) is third on the team in scoring.

One of the three guards has led the team, or tied for team-high honors in scoring, in 17 of the Hurricanes’ 18 games this 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 44.5 points per game, or 65.3 percent (489 of 748) of the team’s scoring.

The Hurricanes rank No. 1 in the ACC in scoring defense (61.3 ppg). Miami also ranks second in the league in field goal percentage defense (.389)

A WIN AGAINST VIRGINIA WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 12-7, 4-2 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s fifth win in its last six games.Mark Miami’s second straight win at University Hall.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Guillermo Diaz needs three points to move into 20th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 21st place with 1,188 points. Rusty Parker (1965-68) is currently 20th with 1,190 points.Robert Hite needs three steals to move into fifth on UM’s career steals list. Hite enters the game in sixth with 165 steals. Jake Morton (1988-93) is fifth with 167.Robert Hite needs six field goals to move into ninth on UM’s career list. Hite enters the game in 10th with 525 career field goals. Johnny Hemsley (1996-00) is ninth with 530.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Virginia meet for the fourth time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series 3-1. Miami and Virginia split two games last season with Hurricanes winning 91-80 at Virginia during the regular season, and Virginia winning a 66-65 decision in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami vs. Virginia game will be televised live on ESPNU. Dave Sims (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (analysis) will call 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 27-20 (.574), including a 11-7 mark this season.

Virginia head coach Dave Leitao is in his first season with the Cavaliers and sixth season overall. His record at Virginia in 9-6 (.600) while his overall record is 89-75 (.543).

MIAMI RECORDS SEASON’S THIRD SELL OUT:

The University of Miami men’s basketball game against defending National Champion North Carolina on February 12 is officially sold out.

The sellout is the third this season and the eighth since Frank Haith took over the head coaching duties prior to last season. Miami’s games versus Florida (Dec. 22) and Clemson (Jan. 18) were also sell outs. Miami’s average attendance after 10 home games this is up 26 percent over last season. Miami is averaging 3,795 over the first 10 games compared to 3,020 after 10 games last season. The Hurricanes average attendance in three ACC games this season is 6,277.

Miami recorded five sellouts in 2004-05 and saw its home attendance average increase by 69 percent overall, including a 95 percent increase in conference games over the 2003-04 season.

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 44.5 points per game, or 65.3 percent (489 of 748) of the team’s scoring.