Miami Returns Home to Face Duke on Wednesday
Feb. 19, 2008
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – After picking up a pair of road wins, the University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home to the BankUnitedCenter for a re-match versus No. 4/5 Duke on Wed., Feb. 20, at 9 p.m. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game 25: Miami (17-7, 4-6 ACC) vs. No. 4/5 Duke (22-2, 10-1 ACC)
Date: Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 | Time: 9 p.m. | Site: BankUnitedCenter
TV: Raycom/Sun Sports | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: ACC Select
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Duke (www.goduke.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.) 7.6 1.9 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.2 2.3 2.8
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.8 2.8 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 8.8 6.3 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.5 7.8 1.4^
Probable Duke Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
03 Greg Paulus (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 10.8 2.1 3.5
12 Kyle Singler (F, 6-8, 220, Fr.) 14.4 6.1 1.4
15 Gerald Henderson (G, 6-4, 210, So.) 12.5 4.8 1.8
21 DeMarcus Nelson (G, 6-4, 200, Sr.) 15.5 5.9 3.2
42 Lance Thomas (F, 6-8, 220, So.) 4.4 3.2 0.3
^ blocks per game
After playing four of their last five on the road, the Hurricanes return home to the BankUnitedCenter for four of their final six ACC games. At 10-2 in the BankUnited Center this season, Miami needs just two home wins to set a new UM record for victories at the arena.
Did U Know
§ Jack McClinton ranks second among the ACC’s career leaders in free throw percentage (.896) and is third among the ACC’s career leaders in three-point field goal percentage (.438).
§ The ACC’s current leader in three-point field goal percentage (.434), Jack 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.
§ Anthony King, the ACC’s second active career-leading shot blocker (198) and rebounder (727), ranks 24th among the league’s career leaders in blocked shots.
§ With their win over Georgia Tech on Sunday, the Hurricanes picked up consecutive ACC road wins for just the second time in the fours years Miami has been a member of the ACC.
§ The Hurricanes have defeated at least one ranked team in 12 of the last 13 seasons, including a 75-72 win over No. 25 Clemson on Jan. 27.
§ Miami is facing its third ACC opponent coming off its first ACC loss, after Duke suffered its first conference defeat at WakeForest on Sunday. Previously, the Hurricanes faced Georgia Tech after they dropped their ACC opener — and went on to win 78-68, and then played host to an 18-1 (3-1 ACC) North Carolina squad following their first loss of the season, culminating in a 98-82 Miami loss.
The Series
Wednesday marks the 12th meeting between Miami and Duke, with the Blue Devils leading the all-time series, 10-1. The Hurricanes’ only win to date over Duke occurred in the first meeting between the teams — a 71-69 home win for Miami on Dec. 21, 1962.
Last Meeting
A strong second half carried then- third-ranked Duke to an 88-73 victory against Miami, with DeMarcus Nelson scoring 19 of his 21 points after halftime. Greg Paulus scored 16 points for Duke, who won their ninth straight by scoring on nine of their first 10 possessions of the second half. James Dews scored 15 for Miami who kept things tight for most of the first half. Jimmy Graham added 13 points, and Jack McClinton, Brian Asbury and Raymond Hicks each had 10 points for UM.
After the break, Nelson took over and scored 10 points during a three-minute stretch early in the half, and the Blue Devils pulled ahead 62-44 with 13 minutes remaining. Overly reliant on the 3-point shot against a physically imposing Miami front line, Duke failed to make a field goal from inside the arc until Kyle Singler hit a stickback with 3:45 left in the opening half.
A Look at Duke
Duke returns to the court after suffering its first ACC loss of the season, an 86-73 defeat at WakeForest on Sunday. Despite the loss, the Blue Devils remain atop the ACC standings at 22-2 overall and 10-1 in the league. On Sunday, Duke saw all five starters foul out in the final minutes, as the Blue Devils converted a season-low 52 percent (13-25) from the charity stripe and turned the ball over a season-high 22 times. Nolan Smith came off the bench to lead the Duke effort with a career-high 21, while DeMarcus Nelson added 18 points (3-5 3FGs) and seven rebounds. For the season, five Blue Devils average double-figure points, led by Nelson’s 15.5 points and .498 field goal percentage. Kyle Singler adds 14.4 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds an outing, while Greg Paulus hits 2.3 three-pointers per game at a .429 clip for 10.8 points per game.
