No. 22 Miami Continues Homestand vs. North Florida
Dec. 19, 2007
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The undefeated and 22nd-ranked University of Miami men’s basketball team takes on in-state opponent North Florida on Thurs., Dec. 20, at the BankUnited Center at 7:30 p.m.
Game 11: Miami (10-0) vs. North Florida (1-8)
Date: Thurs., Dec. 20, 2007 | Time: 7:30 p.m. | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: None | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: www.ACCselect.com
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | North Florida (www.unfospreys.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Probable Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 14.3 2.6 2.823 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 11.4 2.6 1.432 Brian Asbury (F, 6-7, 223, Jr.) 10.1 5.7 2.342 Raymond Hicks (F, 6-7, 238, Sr.) 4.2 3.8 0.650 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 9.6 8.6 1.6
Probable UNF StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast13 Chris Timberlake (G, 5-11, 180, Sr.) 6.7 1.7 3.125 Germaine Sparkes (G, 6-6, 200, So.) 3.8 4.6 2.420 Tom Hammonds (G/F, 6-5, 220, Jr.) 6.6 4.8 0.631 DeVon Jones (F, 6-6, 195, Fr.) 5.4 4.0 0.321 James Grimball (C, 6-8, 215, Sr.) 13.3 3.7 1.2
The 10-0 Hurricanes continue their best start under fourth-year head coach Frank Haith and are among just 13 teams — out of 328 NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs — that remain undefeated.
Miami is led by Jack McClinton with 14.3 points per game – including an ACC-high 3.13 three-pointers per game at a league-best .568 clip. McClinton (4-6) combined with James Dews (4-5) and Brian Asbury (2-2) to shoot 76.9 percent from long range in Monday’s win over Stetson, while the team converted 50 percent (11-22) of its three-point field goals. Dews adds 11.4 points per game, converting 52 percent from long range, while Asbury posts 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds an outing, while ranking fourth in the ACC with a 86.7 free throw percentage (26-30).
The Hurricanes continue to lead the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.448), scoring defense (57.9 ppg), field goal percent defense (.359) and defensive rebounds (29.20 pg), while ranking among the ACC’s top half in 12 statistical categories.
The Series
Thursday marks the first meeting between Miami and North Florida. The Hurricanes have won 44 of their last 52 games versus Florida schools, and are 14-4 (.778) against in-state opponents under Coach Haith – including a 3-0 mark this season.
A Look at North Florida
North Florida continues its swing through South Florida on Thursday, playing its second game in three days. The Ospreys ride a six-game skid into Coral Gables, and return to the hardwood following Tuesday’s 70-64 loss at Florida Atlantic. North Florida trailed, 66-64, with 39 seconds to go, but turned the ball over and FAU sealed the game with free throws. The Ospreys are 0-1 versus ACC opponents this season, falling to Maryland, 79-50, in their season opener in College Park. Tom Hammonds, one of just two Ospreys to start all nine games this season, leads North Florida with 13.3 points per game — including a 23-point performance at FAU, while James Grimball adds 8.2 points and a team-high 4.9 rebounds per game.
