Miami Welcomes Wake Forest Tuesday

Jan. 30, 2006

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WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY (12-8, 1-6 ACC)

at

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (12-8, 4-3 ACC)

When: January 31, 2006 – 9:00 PM (ET)

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

TV: FSN Florida (Live)

Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WVUM (90.5 FM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); WF (www.wakeforestsports.com)

Tickets: $20/$30 – Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Up Next: @ Georgia Tech, Feb. 4 – 1:30 pm – WFBS-TV (UPN)

THE MATCHUP:

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons visit Coral Gables with a record of 12-8, 1-6 in the ACC, following a 76-70 home loss against Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Wake Forest has been led this season by the inside-outside combination of senior guard Justin Gray and senior center Eric Williams.

Gray, who did not play against Virginia Tech due to stomach flu, has put together an impressive final campaign ranking second in the league in scoring (19.6 ppg), eighth in assists (4.00 apg), third in three-point field goal percentage (.393) and second in three-point field goals made (3.00).

Williams on the other hand has once again been a force in the middle averaging 16.0 points per game, and ranks second in the ACC in rebounding (8.7 rpg) while leading the conference in field goal percentage (.653). Due in large part to Williams’ efforts, the Demon Deacons lead the league in rebound margin (+8.8).

Miami enters the game with a record of 12-8, 4-3 in the ACC, following an 84-78 overtime road win at Florida State on Saturday. Miami has been one of the league’s top defensive teams ranking No. 1 in the ACC in scoring defense (62.6 ppg) and third in the league FG percentage defense (.403).

Miami is led by its three guard line-up of junior Guillermo Diaz, senior Robert Hite and junior Anthony Harris. Hite and Diaz are tied for the team lead in scoring averaging at 16.6 points per game, while Harris is third on the team in scoring averaging 10.5 points per contest.

Against Florida State the trio (Hite-31, Diaz-24, Harris-13) combined for a season-high 68 points. One of the three guards has led the team, or tied for team-high honors in scoring, in 19 of the Hurricanes’ 20 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 45.4 points per game, or 66.8 percent (590 of 883) of the team’s scoring.

A WIN AGAINST WAKE FOREST WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 13-8, 5-3 in the ACC.Mark Miami’s first win over Wake Forest.Improve Miami’s home record to 9-2 this season.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite needs seven points to move into eighth place on UM’s career scoring. Hite enters the game in ninth place with 1,491 points. Johnny Hemsley (1996-00) is currently eighth with 1,497 points. With nine points Hite will become the eighth player in school-history to reach 1,500 career points.Guillermo Diaz needs 10 points to move into 17th place on UM’s career scoring list. Diaz enters the game in 18th place with 1,222 points. Mike McCoy (1960-63) is currently 17th with 1,231 points.Robert Hite needs one steal to move into sole possession fifth on UM’s career steals list. Hite is currently tied with Jake Morton (1988-93) with 167.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 28-21 (.571), including a 12-8 mark this season.

Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser is in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons and 13th season overall. His record at Wake in 106-43 (.711) while his overall record is 271-121 (.691).

THE SERIES:

Miami and Wake Forest meet for the fifth time. Wake Forest has won all four previous meetings including both games last season.

TV/RADIO:

The Wake Forest vs. Miami game will be televised live on FSN Florida. Mike Goldberg (play-by-play) and Bobby Cremins (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.

The game can also be heard on WVUM (90.5 FM), the University of Miami student radio network.

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 450 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 246 games.

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 45.4 points per game, or 66.8 percent (590 of 883) of the team’s scoring.