Miami Faces Nebraska This Saturday At Orange Bowl Classic

Dec. 28, 2006

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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA (8-3)

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (7-6)

Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

When: December 30, 2006 – 4:00 p.m. (ET)

Where: BankAtlanticCenter (20,737) – Sunrise, Fla.

TV: FSN Florida

Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); NEB (www.huskers.com)

Up Next: at Massachusetts, Jan. 2 – 7:00 p.m. – CSTV (Live)

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THE MATCHUP:

            The University of Miami takes on the University of Nebraska in the 13th edition of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.

            Nebraska (8-3) is coming off a third-place finish at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Cornhuskers defeated Wyoming (73-55), lost to Hawaii (81-72) and knocked off Houston (70-57) at the event.

            Nebraska, which has used four different starting lineups in the last five games, has been led this season by junior center Aleks Maric who leads the team in scoring (18.7 ppg), rebounding (7.9 rpg) and field goal percentage (.664).

            Maric is the only frontcourt player starting for the Cornhuskers who employ at four guard line-up led by 6-4 freshman Ryan Anderson’s 14.3 points per contest.

            Miami (7-6) enters the game looking to get back-on-track after consecutive losses to Binghamton (79-74) and Louisville (82-59).

            Miami has been led by sophomore guard Jack McClinton who has scored 20-or-more points in seven games this season and ranks third in the ACC in scoring (18.7 ppg). He currently leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.494) and three-point field goals per game (3.08). He has scored in double-figures in 12 of 13 games this season.

            McClinton’s roommate, Brian Asbury has stepped up his game this season and ranks second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg). Asbury and McClinton are the lone UM players averaging in double-figures.

            With senior center Anthony King out with a sprained wrist, Asbury is the leading rebounder on the squad (6.0 rpg) and also leads the team in steals (1.38 spg).

            Sophomore point guard Denis Clemente has started the last three games and is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game during that stretch. In addition he has connected on 7-13 (.538) three-point field goals during that period.

THE SERIES:

            Miami and Nebraska meet for the fourth time with the Cornhuskers leading the all-time series, 2-1. Miami and Nebraska last faced off at the 2000 Orange Bowl Classic, also at the BankAtlanticCenter. Nebraska won the game, 72-64. Miami lone win in the series was a 70-60 win in Miami on November 11, 1951.

SERIES HISTORY

11-30-51         MIAMI 70, Nebraska 60         Miami, Fla.

12-18-71         Nebraska 85, MIAMI 58         Lincoln, Neb.

12-16-00         Nebraska 72, MIAMI 64         Sunrise, Fla.

MIAMI IN THE ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC:

            The Hurricanes are making their 13th appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Miami is 4-8 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic including a 58-43 loss to Louisville in last season’s Classic.

OBC Results:

1994          UNLV 56, MIAMI 55

1995          Tennessee 57, MIAMI 55

1996          MIAMI 61, DePaul 45

1997          Georgia Tech 69, MIAMI 61

1998          MIAMI 72, OhioState 64

1999          North Carolina 78, MIAMI 68

2000          Nebraska 72, MIAMI 64

2001          MIAMI 58, Indiana 53

2002          Florida 94, MIAMI 93 (2OT)

2003          MIAMI 77, Temple 66

2004          Xavier 83, MIAMI 70 (OT)

2005          Louisville 58, MIAMI 43

TV/RADIO:

            The Miami-Nebraska game will be televised live on FSN Florida. Frank Forte (play-by-play) and John Crotty (analysis) will call the action.

            The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WQAM (560 AM). Josh Darrow will call the action.

ON THE COACHES:

            Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his third season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 41-35 (.539) including a 7-6 mark this season.

            Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler is in his first season with the Cornhuskers and his eighth season overall. His record at Nebraska is 8-3 (.727) while his overall record is 175-61 (.742).

FOR STARTERS:

            Against Stetson head coach Frank Haith started sophomore Denis Clemente (Miami Calusa Prep), sophomore Brian Asbury (South Miami) and freshman Dwayne Collins (Miami Senior) marking the first time since the program’s rebirth in 1985 that three players from Dade County high schools have been in the same starting line-up.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:

            Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled a 116-58 (.667) record against non-conference opponents, including a 83-19 (.814) mark at home. The Hurricanes are 29-5 (.853) against non-conference opponents at the BankUnitedCenter.

PLAYING ABOVE THE RIM:

            Miami has recorded 41 dunks this season (3.2 per game). Last season the Hurricanes recorded 62 dunks (1.8 per game). In 2003-04 the Hurricanes recorded 90 dunks (3.0 per game) marking the most since 1988-89 (111).

Dunks Since Beginning Conference Play In 1991-92:

Season                   Team Total             Individual Leader

2006-07                 41                          Dwayne Collins – 20

2005-06                 62                          Robert Hite – 24

2004-05                 74                          Guillermo Diaz, Robert Hite – 21

2003-04                 90                          Robert Hite – 29

2002-03                 50                          Darius Rice – 17

2001-02                 45                          Darius Rice – 25

2000-01                 53                          Darius Rice – 18

1999-00                 41                          Elton Tyler – 13

1998-99                 56                          Tim James – 38

1997-98                 49                          Tim James – 38

1996-97                 70                          Tim James – 36

1995-96                 70                          Tim James – 22

1994-95                 60                          Constantin Popa – 19

1993-94                 70                          Jamal Johnson – 28

1992-93                 46                          Constantin Popa – 23

1991-92                 38                          Constantin Popa – 14

A MORE BALANCED ATTACK:

            Miami may only have two players averaging in double-figures but a closer look shows that the Hurricanes’ offense has been more balanced than last season. In 10 of Miami’s 13 games this season the Hurricanes have had at least three players in double-figures. Miami is 7-3 this season with multiple players scoring in double-figures.

            Six times this season Miami has at least four players in double figures including two games with five. Miami is 6-0 in games with four or more players scoring in double-figures. In 34 games last season the Hurricanes had a total of six games with four scoring in double-figures including one with five.

HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 100:

            The Hurricanes have not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark in 476 consecutive 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. The last team to score 100 points against the Hurricanes in a non-overtime game was at Providence on February 21, 1990, a 101-67 Friar victory. 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 259 games.

MCCLINTON FOR 20, AGAIN:

            Miami’s Jack McClinton has recorded seven 20-point games this season ranking No. 1 among ACC players. Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) is second with six.