Miami Takes on Boston College in Final Home Game
March 4, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami men’s basketball team plays in their final regular-season home game of the 2007-08 season at the BankUnitedCenter on Wednesday versus BostonCollege at 7 p.m. It marks the final regular-season home game for Miami’s five seniors — Anthony King, Raymond Hicks, Fabio Nass, Jonathan Stratton and Landon Glover.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game 29: Miami (20-8, 7-7 ACC) vs. BostonCollege (13-14, 4-10 ACC)
Date: Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 | Time: 7 p.m. | Site: BankUnitedCenter
TV: ESPNU | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | BostonCollege (www.bceagles.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.) 7.8 1.8 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 17.0 2.4 2.7
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.7 2.8 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.6 6.5 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.3 7.4 1.5^
Probable BostonCollege Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
04 Tyrese Rice (G, 6-1, 190, Jr.) 21.4 3.3 4.8
15 Rakim Sanders (G, 6-5, 225, Fr.) 11.1 4.4 1.9
11 Corey Raji (F, 6-5, 210, Fr.) 7.9 4.2 1.1
32 John Oates (F, 6-10, 255, Sr.) 4.2 3.1 1.0
44 Tyrelle Blair (C, 6-11, 242, Sr.) 5.8 5.0 3.5^
^ blocks per game
Wednesday’s Senior Night will actually be the second for King, who was recognized at the end of last season, not knowing if the NCAA would grant him a fifth year.
The Hurricanes are a program-best 13-2 in the BankUnitedCenter this season, and have surpassed last season’s home win total by five games. It marks the most wins by the Hurricanes at their current home arena, and the most home wins since the rebirth of the program in 1985-86.
Four Hurricanes average double-figure scoring in home games this season, led by Jack McClinton‘s 15.5 points per game. He is actually the only Hurricane that averages more points away from home, with 18.8 points per game in Miami’s nine road games this season. Dwayne Collins adds 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game at home; James Dews averages 10.9 points at home; Brian Asbury adds 10.3 points at home; and Lance Hurdle hovers right below the 10-point average with 9.8 points per home game.
THE BIG 2-0
With Saturday’s 95-93 win over Virginia, the Hurricanes improved to 20-8 — the most wins by a Frank Haith-coached UM squad and the 10th time a UM men’s basketball team has reached the 20-win plateau. The last 20-win season was in 2001-02, when the Hurricanes finished 24-8.
THE FINAL STRETCH
After a disappointing 2-6 start to ACC play, the Hurricanes have gone 5-1 over the second half of the ACC season. With Saturday’s win over Virginia, Miami reached seven ACC wins for the third time in four years as league members. If the Hurricanes defeat BostonCollege, they would reach eight ACC wins for the first time.
BATTLING THE BEST
The 20-8 Miami squad enters Saturday’s game ranked 26th in the latest Collegiate Basketball News RPI with the nation’s 21st toughest schedule, while playing in the nation’s top-ranked conference.
The Hurricanes have gone 4-3 versus top-50 ranked teams in the RPI and 8-6 versus top-100 ranked teams in the RPI, with wins over Duke (4), Clemson (19) MississippiState (37), VCU (43), Virginia Tech (57), Maryland (64) and Georgia Tech (78).
Of the 14 total ACC games Miami has already played, six of those opponents were ranked among the ACC’s top-three teams entering the game.
WHAT CAN U DO IN FIVE MINUTES
With the Hurricanes trailing by one point in the second half versus Virginia, Jack McClinton went on a tear — scoring 22 points (including five three-pointers) in 4:37 — to give Miami the 13-point lead with 10:37 remaining in the game.
THE SERIES
Wednesday marks the 31st meeting between Miami and BostonCollege, with the Eagles holding the 22-8 all-time series lead. BostonCollege ranks among the top 10 most-frequently faced opponents in Miami history, as the two were previously conference members of the Big East before joining the ACC. The Eagles have won 13 straight over the Hurricanes, including a 76-66 loss in Chestnut Hill on Jan. 15.
LAST MEETING
Tyrelle Blair had 11 points and 12 rebounds to go with his five blocked blocks, and Rakim Sanders scored 20 points to lead BC to its 13th consecutive victory over the Hurricanes. Tyrese Rice had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Eagles (12-4, 3-0 ACC).
Jack McClinton scored 20 points for Miami, while James Dews added 15 points for the Hurricanes (14-2, 1-1), who would have tied the best start in school history with a win.
Boston College scored 14 of the first 16 points and led 50-27 with 11:26 to play before McClinton hit a 3-pointer to start a 23-10 run that pulled Miami back into the game. He had 13 points in all over the five-minute span, including three 3-pointers.
The Hurricanes were down 68-58 with 3:13 left, and despite full-court pressure and fouling they couldn’t get any closer than nine points. BC hit 14 of 18 free throws down the stretch.
The Eagles made it 20-4 before the Hurricanes strung some offense together, cutting the deficit to 20-10 on two 3-pointers by Dews. BC took a 17-point lead on John Oates’ 3-pointer with just under 2 minutes left and led 36-22 at halftime.
A LOOK AT BOSTONCOLLEGE
After winning three-straight ACC games to open conference play, BostonCollege has gone 1-10 since facing Miami on Jan. 15, including a 0-6 mark on the road. The Eagles ride a four-game skid into Coral Gables, with their last ACC win an 82-65 home victory over NC State on Feb. 14.
Boston College looks to rebound after Saturday’s 90-80 home loss to North Carolina, in which junior guard Tyrese Rice knocked down a career-high 46 points en route to ACC Player of the Week honors. The 80 points by the Eagles marked the most points scored against the Tar Heels by an ACC opponent. Rice is the ACC’s second-leading scorer with 21.4 points per game — including 23.4 points per game in ACC play, and adds 4.8 assists an outing. Rakim Sanders and Shamari Spears also add double-figure scoring for BC, with 11.1 and 10.1 points, respectively. Tyrelle Blair, a 6-11 senior center, leads the league with 3.56 blocks per game.
