Hurricanes Travel To Face Creighton In Second Round Of NIT

March 17, 2006

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (17-15, 7-9 ACC)

at

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY (20-9, 12-6 MVC)

National Invitation Tournament – Second Round

When: March 20, 2006 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Where: Qwest Center OMAHA (15,500) – Omaha, Neb.

TV: None

Radio: WKAT (1360 AM)

Video Webcast: www.gocreighton.tv

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

Tickets: Contact the Creighton ticket office at (402) 280-JAYS

THE MATCHUP:

Creighton enters its second round game of the NIT with a record of 20-9 following a 71-60 home win over Akron last Thursday. The Bluejays, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, are the No. 2 seed in the region.

The Bluejays, who finished second in the MVC with a 12-6 conference mark, are led by the inside-outside combination of senior guard Johnny Mathies and junior center Anthony Tolliver.

Tolliver, the MVC Most Improved Player, leads the team in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg), blocks (45), field goal percentage (.522) and three-point field goal percentage (.444).

Mathias, a second-team All-MVC selection, ranks second on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg), and leads the team in steals (57), three-point field goals (52) minutes played (949) and free throw percentage (77.0). Earlier this season he became the 30th player at Creighton to reach 1,000 career points.

Miami enters the second round of the NIT with a record of 17-15 following a 62-59 first round win over Oklahoma State last Wednesday at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

The Hurricanes have been led by the duo of junior Guillermo Diaz and senior Robert Hite. Diaz, a second-team All-ACC selection, is averaging a team-high 17.3 points per game, and ranks second on the team in assists (2.8 apg). His 1.35 assist to turnover ration is tops on the team.

Hite, a third-team All-ACC selection, ranks second on the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game, and leads the team in steals (50). He is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, second-best on the team, and leads the team in three-point field goals (79) and three-point field goal percentage (.414). Hite’s 79 treys this season ties the UM single-season record.

In Miami’s three post season games, Hite is averaging 8.7 rebounds per game which is tied for the best on the team. Also playing well during the post season has been sophomore forward Raymond Hicks who is averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 12-19 (.632) from the field.

A WIN AGAINST CREIGHTON WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 18-15 on the season.
***Mark Miami’s first NIT road win.
***Advance the Hurricanes to the NIT quarterfinals.
***Mark just the second time in school-history the Hurricanes have won two post season games (2000 NCAA).

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:
***Robert Hite needs one three-point field goals to set the UM single-season record.
***Robert Hite needs one steal to move into sole possession of fourth on UM’s all-time list.
***Robert Hite needs 18 points to reach 1,700 for his career.
***With a start against Creighton, Hite will move into a tie for 2nd on UM’s career list with 108.
***Guillermo Diaz needs two three-point field goals to move into fourth on UM’s all-time career list.

ON THE COACHES:

Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his second season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 33-28 (.541), including a 17-15 mark this season. With the Hurricanes’ NIT bid this season, Haith becomes just the second coach in school-history to lead Miami to the post season in his first two seasons.

Creighton head coach Dana Altman is in his 12th season with the Bluejays and 17th season overall. His record at Creighton is 238-129 (.649) while his overall mark is 321-196 (.621).

THE SERIES:

Miami and Creighton meet for the fifth time with all-time series tied at 2-2. The Hurricanes and Bluejays last met on January 23, 1971, a 104-84 Creighton win in Omaha.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami-Creighton game will not be televised. The game will be available on the internet via video webcast. To sign up for the video webcast, fans can register by going to www.gocreighton.tv. Cost for the game for all fans is $6.95.

The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WKAT (1360 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call the action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host.

STEPPING UP IN THE POST SEASON:

Miami forward Raymond Hicks has really stepped up his game this post season. At the end of the regular season Hicks was averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, and was shooting 47.8 percent from the field. In Miami’s three post season games (2 ACC, 1 NIT) Hicks is averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds, and is shooting 63.2 percent from the field.

OMAHA IS TITLE TOWN FOR UM:

Miami is familiar with Omaha having made 21 trips to the city over the last 32 years…in baseball that is. The UM baseball team has made 21 appearances in the College World Series, held annually at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium, compiling a 45-34 record, and winning four National Championships.

MIAMI IN THE POST SEASON:

Miami’s seclection to the 2006 NIT marks the Hurricanes’ second consecutive post season appearance and its 13th post season appearance overall (5 NCAA, 8 NIT). Miami has reached the post-season its nine of the last 12 seasons and is 5-12 all-time in post season competition. Miami’s victory over OSU was UM’s first post season win since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2000.

UM IN THE NIT:

Miami’s win over Oklahoma State marked the Hurricanes’ first NIT win since 1963. Miami is now 2-7 all-time in the NIT. The Hurricanes’ game against Oklahoma State marked the first time that Miami hosted a post season game.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:

Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 109-52 (.677) record against non-conference opponents, including a 78-17 (.821) mark at home. The Hurricanes are 24-3 (.889) against non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center.

HITE, DIAZ MOVE UP SINGLE-SEASON LIST:

Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz are also working their way up the single-season three-point field goal list. Hite is currently tied for first on UM’s all-time list with 79 treys this season while Diaz’s 73 is fifth.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE:

Miami guards Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz make up one of the top three-point field goal shooting tandems in UM history. Here are UM’s career three-point field goal lists and where they rank.

MAN OF STEAL:

Guard Robert Hite has 187 career steals placing him fourth on UM’s all-time list.

A THIEF IN THE PAINT:

Gary Hamilton has recorded 103 steals during his UM career marking the sixth highest total by a Hurricane forward or center in school history.

MR. WINDEX:

Robert Hite is not only one the ACC’s best shooters but he also one of the leagues top rebounding guards. Hite ranks second in the league among players under 6-5 (as of March 16).