Miami - Boston College Game Notes

Feb. 15, 2006

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (14-10, 6-5 ACC)
vs.
#13/#15 BOSTON COLLEGE (20-5, 7-4 ACC)

When: February 16, 2006 – 7:00 PM (ET)
Where: Conte Forum (8,606) – Chestnut Hill, MA
TV: FSN Florida
Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); BC (www.bceagles.com)
Up Next: @ #2/#2 Duke – Feb. 19 – 5:30 p.m. (Fox Sports Net)
Hurricane Ticket Information: Call 1-800-GO-CANES

Probable Miami Starters

Probable Boston College Starters

THE MATCHUP:
Boston College enters the game with a record of 20-5, 7-4 in the ACC, following a 59-47 home win against Stony Brook on Tuesday. The Eagles are ranked 13th by the Associated Press and 15th in ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.

The Eagles are led by one the nation’s top forward combinations in senior Craig Smith and junior Jared Dudley. Smith, a preseason first-team All-ACC selection, leads the team in scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg), while Dudley ranks second in both categories (16.7 ppg/7.0 rpg). Boston College has also received strong play from junior guard Sean Marshall who is averaging 12.2 points per game.

Miami (14-10, 6-5 ACC) is coming off back-to-back home losses to NC State and North Carolina, and is playing the third of four consecutive games against ranked teams.

Miami is led by its three guard line-up of senior Robert Hite, junior Guillermo Diaz and junior Anthony Harris. Diaz leads the team in scoring at 17.0 points per game. Hite (16.8 ppg) ranks second scoring while Harris (11.2 ppg) is third.

One of the three guards has led the team in scoring in 23 of the Hurricanes’ 24 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 46.5 points per game, or 67.2 percent (792 of 1178) of the team’s scoring.

Over the last five games, Hite is averaging 20.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, and is shooting 20-45 (.444) from three-point range. Diaz is averaging 20.0 points and has a 3.17 assist-to-turnover ratio (19 ast/6 TO) during the stretch, while sophomore forward Raymond Hicks has given Miami a spark off the bench averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while connecting on 14-23 (.609) from the field. Miami continues to be one of the league’s top defensive teams ranking No. 1 in the ACC in scoring defense (62.5 ppg).

A WIN AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 15-10, 7-5 in the ACC.
Mark Miami’s first win over the Eagles since January 22, 2000.
Mark Miami’s third win this season over a ranked opponent.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Robert Hite will be making his 100th career start against Boston College.Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz both need five three-point field goals to move into a tie for ninth on UM’s all-time single-season list.Guillermo Diaz needs 22 points to move into 13th place on UM’s career scoring list.Robert Hite needs 32 points to move into sixth on UM’s career scoring list.

ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 30-23 (.566), including a 14-10 mark this season. Boston College head coach Al Skinner is in his ninth season with the Eagles and 18th season overall. His record at Boston College in 167-105 (.614) while his overall record is 305-231 (.569).

THE SERIES:
Miami and Boston College, former BIG EAST rivals, meet for the second time this season and the 26th time overall. The Eagles lead the all-time series 17-8.

TV/RADIO:
The Miami vs. Boston College game will be televised in on FSN Florida. Mike Hogewood (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.

PLAYING HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST:
Over the last two seasons Miami guard Guillermo Diaz has played some of his best games against ranked teams. Miami has faced 17 ranked teams over the last two seasons and in those games he has averaged 20.7 points per game. He has shot 123-274 (.447) from the field against ranked teams including 46-111 (.414) from three-point range. Diaz scored 20-or-more points in 11 of the 17 games versus ranked opponents.

REACHING THE CENTURY MARK:
Miami senior Robert Hite will be making his 100th career start against Boston College to become the fifth player in school history to reach the century mark.

UM Career Starts List:

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 46.5 points per game, or 67.2 percent (792 of 1178) of the team’s scoring.

Combined Scoring (Diaz, Harris, Hite)