Miami Hits the Road for Two Straight
Jan. 28, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Coming off Sunday’s 75-72 win over Clemson, the University of Miami men’s basketball team makes a quick turnaround and opens a two-game road trip with Wake Forest on Tues., Jan. 29.
Game 20: Miami (15-4, 2-3 ACC) vs. Wake Forest (12-6, 2-3 ACC)
Date: Tues., Jan. 29, 2008 | Time: 7 p.m. | Site: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
TV: RSN/FSN | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Wake Forest (www.wakeforestsports.com)
Tickets: 1-888-758-DEAC
Probable Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.6 1.8 2.133 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.1 2.7 3.123 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 11.2 2.7 1.921 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.5 6.6 1.1^50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 8.3 7.8 1.6^
Probable Wake Forest StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast00 Jeff Teague (G, 6-2, 175, Fr.) 10.8 2.6 2.410 Ishmael Smith (G, 6-0, 165, So.) 8.7 3.9 4.613 Chas McFarland (C, 7-0, 225, So.) 7.1 5.5 1.3^23 James Johnson (F, 6-8, 235, Fr.) 15.1 8.3 1.4^44 David Weaver (F/C, 6-10, 240, R-So.) 1.9 2.4 0.5^
^ blocks per game
The Hurricanes snapped a three-game skid in ACC play with a 75-72 comeback win over Clemson at home on Sunday. Jack McClinton ralled the Hurricanes with three-straight threes over a 1:21 span in the final 2:28. Miami went on to convert 9-of-10 free throws in the final 49 seconds — including 4-of-4 production from Lance Hurdle and 5-of-6 free-throw shooting from Brian Asbury to seal the win. It marked Miami’s first victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Hurricanes’ last win over a ranked squad came on March 8, 2007, when Miami beat Maryland, 67-62, in the ACC Tournament.
In his fourth start of the season, Dwayne Collins tied a season-high with 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his third double-double on the season, while Anthony King finished just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 boards. Jimmy Graham also had a strong inside presence, tying his career high with five blocks versus the Tigers.
McClinton continues to lead the ACC with a .453 three-point field goal percentage, hitting a league-high 2.82 three-pointers per game and converting an ACC-high 91.1 percent (fifth in the NCAA) from the line. Additionally, he ranks sixth in scoring with 16.1 points per game.
The Series
Tuesday marks the seventh meeting between Miami and Wake Forest, with the Demon Deacons leading the all-time series, 6-1. The Hurricanes dropped a pair of games to Wake Forest last year by a combined five points, with their lone win a 78-69 decision in Coral Gables on Jan. 31, 2006. Head Miami coach Frank Haith previously served as an assistant coach at Wake Forest from 1997-2001, helping guide the Demon Deacons to four-straight postseason appearances.
A Look at Wake Forest
A young Wake Forest squad returns to the hardwood following a one-week layoff and looks to rebound from its 80-75 overtime loss at Clemson. The Demon Deacons scored 50 points in the paint versus the Tigers, including 19 points from Ishmael Smith, and 14 points apeice from James Johnson and L.D. Williams, yet struggled from the charity stripe — converting just 7-of-15 free throw attempts (.467). Wake Forest has dropped all three ACC road games, but has won both conference games at home (defeating Virginia Tech, 77-75, and Florida State, 74-57) and is a perfect 11-0 at Joel Coliseum so far this season. The Demon Deacons are led by three players with double-figure scoring — Johnson (15.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Jeff Teague (10.8 ppg, 2.44 spg) and Williams (10.1 ppg), and ranks among the top ACC programs in both steals and turnover margin. However Williams is out for three weeks with a fractured right hand sustained versus Clemson and starting center, the seven-foot Chas McFarland, is day-to-day with a right knee sprain suffered in the same game.
