Men's Basketball Returns to the Road at Virginia Tech
Feb. 8, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami men’s basketball team returns to the road for the third time in four games, heading to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech for a Saturday matinee. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game 23: Miami (15-7, 2-6 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (14-9, 5-4 ACC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 9, 2008 | Time: 2 p.m. | Site: Cassell Coliseum
TV: None | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: ACC Select (www.accselect.com)
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Virginia Tech (www.hokiesports.com)
Tickets: Sold Out
Probable Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.7 1.8 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 15.8 2.4 2.9
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 11.0 2.8 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.0 6.4 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.7 7.7 1.5^
Probable Virginia Tech Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
00 Jeff Allen (G, 6-3, 205, Sr.) 12.6 7.6 2.2^ 27.6
13 Deron Washington (G, 6-1, 200, Jr.) 12.9 6.6 2.3
23 Malcolm Delaney (G, 6-3, 211, Sr.) 8.3 2.7 3.2
34 Cheick Diakite (F, 6-9, 225, So.) 2.4 3.2 1.5*
40 A.D. Vassallo (F, 6-8, 2370, So.) 15.9 5.0 1.6
^ blocks per game * steals per game
FREQUENT FLIER MILES
The Hurricanes return to the road for the third time in four games, and will remain on the road for their next game as well. Miami has not fared well on the home courts of its ACC opponents, going 0-4 so far this season — including heartbreaking losses at NC State and WakeForest by a combined four points. In non-conference play, the Hurricanes found success regardless of location — going 5-1 away from the BankUnitedCenter.
THREE-POINT THREAT
After 30 consecutive games (second best in Miami history) in which he had hit at least one three-pointer in a game (and as many as six), Jack McClinton has been held without a trey just twice this season — and just three times in 51 games as a Hurricane. The ACC’s current leader in both three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals made, McClinton is vying to become the first player in ACC history to repeat as the league’s leader in three-point field goal percentage in back-to-back seasons.
In his first season in the ACC in 2006-07, he finished the season as the league’s leader in both three-point field goal percentage (.440) and three-point field goals made (2.93 per game), while also ranking first in free throw percentage (.895).
WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY
Jack McClinton is averaging 17.3 pts over the last 14 games, including 16.1 points per game in ACC play to rank 10th in the league… He has yet to miss a free throw in conference play this season, converting all 24 attempts rank first in ACC-only stats with a 100 percent free-throw percentage; Jimmy Graham is averaging 8.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over his last two games; Lance Hurdle is averaging 11.6 points and 3.2 assists over his last five games, including a career-high 20 points versus North Carolina; Brian Asbury is averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds over the last four games, including converting 10 of 13 free throws.
THE SERIES
Saturday marks the 13th meeting between the Hurricanes and Hokies, who rivalry extends back to 2001 when both programs competed in the BIG EAST. Miami leads the all-time series, 7-5, despite dropping both games to Virginia Tech last season.
A LOOK AT VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech has compiled a 9-1 record at Cassell Coliseum this season, with its lone home loss to Duke, and has won three of its last four ACC games. They return to competition following Tuesday’s 73-63 road loss at NC State, in which four Hokies finished in double-figure scoring — led by A.D. Vassallo’s 16 points — and converted 47.4 percent from the field. In the loss, Virginia Tech got to the line just 10 times and saw a pair of players foul out, while the Wolfpack (who shot 53.8 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line) had 30 opportunities from the charity stripe. For the season, Vassallo leads three Hokies in double figures with a team-high 15.9 points per game, including 2.4 three-pointers per game at a 40 percent clip. Deron Washington adds 12.9 points an outing, while Jeff Allen contributes 12.6 points, a team-high 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game (third in the ACC).
