Miami Travel To UMass
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Dec. 31, 2006
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vs.
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS (10-3)
When: January 2, 2007 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: MullinsCenter (9,493) – Amherst, Mass.
Webcast: www.UMassAthletics.com
Radio: WKAT (1360 AM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); UMA (www.umassathletics.com)
Up Next: WakeForest, Jan. 6 – 7:30 p.m. – BankUnitedCenter
Tickets: Contact the Hurricane Ticket Office – (305) 284-CANE
THE MATCHUP:
The University of Miami hits the road to take on the University of Massachusetts in its first visit to Amherst, Mass.
Massachusetts (10-3) is off to its best start since the 1995-96 Final Four team when the Minutemen opened 26-0.
UMass has been led this season by the senior trio of 6-9 center Rashaun Freeman, 6-6 guard James Life and 6-8 forward Stephane Lasme.
Freeman leads the team in scoring (16.8 ppg) and ranks No. 1 in the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage (.645). Life ranks second in the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) but has been the team’s leading scorer in each of the last two games. He ranks second in the A-10 in three-point field goals per game (2.77). Lasme ranks third in scoring (11.7 ppg), leads the team in rebounds (9.5 rpg) and ranks third in the NCAA in blocks (4.5 bpg).
Miami (7-7) enters the game looking to get back-on-track after three consecutive losses. The Hurricanes are coming of an 82-67 loss to Nebraska on Saturday in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Sunrise, Fla.
Miami went into the Nebraska game without its leading scorer Jack McClinton and its leading rebounder Anthony King. McClinton, who ranks third in the ACC in scoring (18.7 ppg), suffered a sprained knee two days before the game. He currently leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.494) and three-point field goals per game (3.08).
King, the team’s leading rebounder (9.3 rpg), has been out since spraining his right wrist against Georgia Tech on December 3.
McClinton’s roommate, Brian Asbury has stepped up his game this season and ranks second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg). Asbury and McClinton are the lone UM players averaging in double-figures.
Asbury led Miami against Nebraska tying a career-high with 19 points. With King out of the line-up, Asbury is the team’s leading rebounder (5.9 rpg) and also leads the team in steals (1.50 spg).
LAST TIME AGAINST UMASS:
MIAMI 80, MASSACHUSETTS 53
December 12, 2004
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
Guillermo Diaz scored a game-high 20 points and Anthony Harris keyed a decisive second-half run to lead Miami to an 80-53 win over Massachusetts at the ConvocationCenter.
The Hurricanes went into halftime up 37-22, and opened the second half with an 18-2 run, including seven points from Harris.
Miami took a 31-point lead on a three-pointer from Robert Hite that made it 55-24 with 13:42 remaining. Hite finished with 18 points connecting on 5-6 from behind the arc. Massachusetts never got closer than 22 points.
Art Bowers scored 16 points for Massachusetts in the loss. Anthony Anderson added 12 points and three steals for the Minutemen.
Miami’s starting guard trio of Diaz, Harris and Hite combined for 54 points, connecting on 13-of-20 three-pointers. The Hurricanes shot 49.2 percent from the field, including 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from 3-point range, and outrebounded the Minutemen 40-26.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Massachusetts meet for just the second time with Miami winning the previous meeting, 80-53, on December 12, 2004 in Coral Gables, Fla.
TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Massachusetts game is available on internet at www.UMassAthletics.com. There is no cost for the webcast.
The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WKAT (1360 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call all the action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host.
ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his third season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 41-36 (.532).
UMass head coach Travis Ford is in his second season with the Minutemen and his 10th season overall. His record at Massachusetts is 23-18 (.561) while his overall record is 151-129 (.539).
FOR STARTERS:
This season 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 116-59 (.663) record against non-conference opponents, including an 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 45 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).
Season Team Total Individual Leader
2006-07 45 Dwayne Collins – 22
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
1990-91 30 Joe Wylie – 18
1989-90 No Stats Available
1988-89 111 Dennis Burns – 51
1987-88 104 Dennis Burns – 44
1986-87 96 Tito Horford – 34
1985-86 60 Dennis Burns – 26
