Men's Basketball Takes on Florida State Wednesday
Feb. 5, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – After a pair of road games, the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home to the BankUnitedCenter to take on FloridaState in the only home game for the Hurricanes in the first half of February. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game 22: Miami (15-6, 2-5 ACC) vs. FloridaState (13-10, 2-6 ACC)
Date: Wed., Feb. 6, 2008 | Time: 7:30 p.m. | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: None | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: ACC Select (www.accselect.com)
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | FloridaState (www.seminoles.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Probable Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.5 1.8 2.3
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 15.7 2.5 3.1
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 11.1 2.6 1.9
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.2 6.4 1.1^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 8.1 7.8 1.5^
Probable FloridaState Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
10 Ralph Mims (G, 6-3, 205, Sr.) 10.8 4.3 1.6
23 Toney Douglas (G, 6-1, 200, Jr.) 14.2 2.6 3.2
25 Jason Rich (G, 6-3, 211, Sr.) 12.9 4.7 2.0
41 Uche Echefu (F, 6-9, 225, So.) 11.2 7.3 0.7
42 Ryan Reid (F, 6-8, 2370, So.) 5.2 4.6 0.9
^ blocks per game
HOME SWEET HOME
Miami is 10-1 in the BankUnitedCenter this season. After winning its first nine home games by an average of 22.2 points per game, UM dropped its first home game to North Carolina on Jan. 23. The Hurricanes bounced back with a 75-72 win over No. 25 Clemson to pick up their 10th home win of the season — already surpassing last season’s home win total by two games.
SUNSHINE STATE SERIES
Miami is 312-149 (.677) all-time versus opponents from the SunshineState. The Hurricanes are 4-0 versus Florida teams this season, defeating Florida Southern (104-61), Florida International (67-53), Stetson (89-53) and North Florida (85-63). The Hurricanes have won 45 of its last 53 games versus Florida schools, dating back to the 1992-93 season. Miami is 15-4 (.789) against in-state opponents under Coach Haith, including a 3-3 mark versus the Seminoles.
KING INVITED TO PORTSMOUTH
Fifth-year senior Anthony King has been invited to participate in the 56th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Va., from April 9-12. The P.I.T., the nation’s oldest amateur basketball tournament, is a showcase for outstanding basketball players in their senior year of college and is recognized by NBA and European scouts as the premier showcase for future professional players. Additionally, it is the only tournament for college seniors to participate in and be evaluated by the National Basketball Association prior to the NBA’s pre-draft camp in Orlando.
Participants that have gone on to play and/or coach in the NBA include former Hurricanes John Salmons (currently with the Sacramento Kings) and James Jones (currently with the Portland Trail Blazers), as well as Scottie Pippen, Ben Wallace and Derek Fisher.
WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY
Jack McClinton is averaging 17.4 pts over the last 13 games, including 16.1 points per game in ACC play to rank seventh in the league… He has yet to miss a free throw in conference play this season, converting all 18 attempts rank first in ACC-only stats with a 100 percent free-throw percentage; Dwayne Collins is averaging 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds over last three starts, converting 73.7 percent from the field; Lance Hurdle knocked down a career-high 20 points versus North Carolina and added 14 versus Clemson to average 10.0 points, 2.9 assists and 2.0 rebounds in seven starts — including 11.8 points and 2.8 assists over the last four games; Brian Asbury is averaging 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over the last three games, including converting 10 of 13 free throws.
THE SERIES
Wednesday marks the 59th meeting between Miami and FloridaState, with the Seminoles leading the all-time series, 31-27. FSU, who has won three straight over UM, is the fourth-most played opponent in Miami basketball history. Two of the last four games in the series have gone to overtime, including the last meeting on March 3, 2007, in Coral Gables (98-90, FSU).
A LOOK AT FLORIDASTATE
Like the Hurricanes, FloridaState is striving for ACC win number three of the season on Wednesday evening. The Seminoles ride a three-game skid into Coral Gables, including Sunday’s 84-73 overtime loss to North Carolina. Three `Noles finished in double figures in that game, led by Jason Rich in his second-straight 22-point scoring effort. Toney Douglas, who averages a team-high 14.2 points per game — and 15.9 points per game in ACC play, added 12 points in the effort, as did Isaiah Swann off the bench.
Five players average double-figure points for FSU — Douglas, Rich (12.9 ppg), Swann (12.0 ppg), Uche Echefu (11.2 ppg and a team-high 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 block per game) and Ralph Mims (10.8 ppg). Douglas, who has scored in double figures in 24 straight games, leads the ACC with 2.8 steals per game and also ranks ninth in free throw percentage (.821). As a team, FSU leads the ACC from the line, converting 78.9 percent of its free throws.
Florida State is guided by head coach Leonard Hamilton in his sixth season at the helm. Hamilton previously served as Miami’s head coach for 10 seasons from 1990-2000, guiding the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournaments and two NITs before leaving to accept the head coaching position with the Washington Wizards.
