Florida State/Miami Game Notes

Jan. 26, 2006

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (11-8, 3-3 ACC)
at
FLORIDA STATE (12-4, 3-3 ACC)

When: January 29, 2006 – 4:00 PM (ET)
Where: Leon County Civic Center (12,100) – Tallahassee, Fla.
TV: WBFS-TV (UPN)
Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); FSU (www.seminoles.com)
Up Next: Wake Forest, Jan. 31 – 9:00 pm – BankUnited Center
UM Tickets Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

THE MATCHUP:
The Florida State-Miami match-up will pit one the ACC’s top offensive teams against one of the league’s best defensive teams. The Florida State Seminoles enter the game with a record of 12-4, 3-3 in the ACC, following an impressive 75-68 win at Wake Forest on Tuesday. FSU has one of the league’s most high powered offenses ranking third in the ACC in scoring (80.4 ppg), second in scoring margin (+13.8), second in field goal percentage (.503) and third in three-point field goal percentage (.389). Miami which enters the game with a record of 11-8, 3-3 in the ACC, following a 71-51 loss at Virginia on Tuesday,. has been one of the league’s top defensive teams ranking second in the conference in both scoring defense (61.8 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.396). Florida State has been led this season by junior forward AlThornton who leads the team in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rbg), while shooting 56 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range, and 73.7 percent from the line. In six league games this season Thorton is averaging 20.7 points per game. 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 at 16.2 points per game. Hite is right behind him averaging 15.8 points per game, while Harris is third on the team in scoring averaging 10.3 points per contest. One of the three guards has led the team, or tied for team-high honors in scoring, in 18 of the Hurricanes’ 19 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 42.7 points per game, or 64.1 percent (512 of 799) of the team’s scoring. Miami, which won both games against the Seminoles last season, is 8-1 against teams from the state of Florida under head coach Frank Haith. FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton coached at Miami for 10 seasons (1990-2000).

A WIN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 12-8, 4-3 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s third straight win over FSU.Mark Miami’s second straight win at the Leon County Civic Center.Mark the first time Miami has won consecutive games at Florida State.Improve Miami’s record against Florida schools under Frank Haith to 9-1.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Guillermo Diaz needs two points to move into 18th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 19th place with 1,198 points. Mario Bland (1996-00) is currently 18th with 1,199 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 three field goals to move into ninth on UM’s career list. Hite enters the game in 10th with 528 career field goals. Johnny Hemsley (1996-00) is ninth with 530.

ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 27-21 (.563), including a 11-8 mark this season. Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton is in his fourth season with the Seminoles and 18th season overall. His record at FSU in 57-52 (.523) while his overall record is 257-262 (.495).

THE SERIES:
Miami and FSU meet for the 55th time with the Seminoles leading the all-time series, 28-26. The Hurricanes won both games last season including a 65-49 win in Tallahassee. UM and FSU have faced 10 times since the Hurricanes brought basketball back in 1985 with each team winning five times.

TV/RADIO:
The Miami vs. FSU game will be televised live on WFBS-TV (UPN). Steve Martin (play-by-play) and Cliff Ellis (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.

HURRICANES VS FLORIDA SCHOOLS:
Miami is 303-146 (.675) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 38 of its last 43 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season. Miami is 8-1 against in-state opponents over the last two seasons.

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 9.5 points and is shooting 47.5 percent from the field, including 45.8 percent from three-point range, in the second half of games. His scoring average in the second half of games is over two points higher than the first half while his shooting percentages are over 150 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 42.7 points per game, or 64.1 percent (512 of 799) of the team’s scoring.