Men's Basketball Hosts Clemson in Sunday's ACC Opener
Dec. 19, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA… – Miami and Clemson kick off 2008-09 ACC competition with the league opener on Sun., Dec. 21, at the BankUnited Center at 7:45 p.m. in a game to be broadcast as part of FSN’s ACC Sunday Night Hoops (shown on Sun Sports in South Florida). The Hurricanes ride a three-game win streak into competition, while No. 25/25 Clemson brings an untarnished 11-0 mark into Coral Gables.
Game 10: Miami (7-2) vs. No. 25/25 Clemson (11-0)
Date: Sun., Dec. 21, 2008 | Time: 7:45 p.m. (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: FSN (Sun Sports in South Florida) | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Clemson (www.clemsontigers.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 183, Sr.) 9.3 1.4 2.6
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 16.7 2.4 2.6
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 209, Jr.) 8.9 2.8 1.2
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 236, R-Jr.) 7.0 6.0 0.9^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) 11.1 8.2 1.3
Projected Clemson Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
35 Trevor Booker (F/C, 6-7, 240, Jr.) 15.1 9.0 2.6^
01 K.C. Rivers (G/F, 6-5, 215, Sr.) 13.5 6.5 1.5
22 Terrence Oglesby (G, 6-2, 190, So.) 12.5 1.5 1.5
12 Raymond Sykes (C/F, 6-9, 220, Sr.) 9.3 5.4 1.3^
02 Demontez Stitt (G, 6-2, 175, So.) 9.2 2.5 3.7
^ blocks per game
THE SERIES
Sunday marks the 14th meeting between Miami and Clemson, with the Tigers holding the 7-6 edge in the all-time series. The teams split their meetings in 2007-08, with the home team winning each time… The Hurricanes have won six of their last eight meetings with the Tigers — beginning with a 67-65 win on Nov. 20, 2001, in the U.S. Virgin Islands to claim the Paradise Jam title — and are 3-0 at home versus Clemson since then… Miami is 5-2 versus Clemson since joining the ACC.
Dwayne Collins recorded two of his four double-doubles in 2007-08 versus Clemson — with 18 points and 12 rebounds in UM’s home win on Jan. 27 and then with 11 points and 10 boards at Clemson on Feb. 27…
Jack McClinton averages 18.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in three meetings with the Tigers, while Collins averages 13.7 points and team-best 9.3 points in three games versus Clemson.
OPEN UP
The Hurricanes are 4-0 in ACC home openers, including a 3-0 record in ACC home openers versus ranked teams… Despite the early conference opener, Dec. 21 is not the earliest the Hurricanes have played an ACC game. Miami opened 2006-07 league play with a 90-82 win over then-No. 20 Georgia Tech on Dec. 3, 2006.
UPROOTING THE RANKED
Fifth-year head coach Frank Haith has led the Hurricanes to 11 wins over ranked opponents, including a 75-72 win over No. 25 Clemson last season… Under Coach Haith, the Hurricanes have defeated seven ranked opponents at home. Miami went 2-1 versus ranked opponents at the BankUnited Center in 2007-08, knocking off No. 25 Clemson and No. 5 Duke, while falling to No. 5 North Carolina… The Hurricanes have defeated at least one ranked team in 12 of the last 13 seasons, including four in 2006-07 which tied a program best.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Hurricanes close out a three-game homestand at the BankUnited Center on Sunday versus Clemson, however after a trip to the Big Apple to take on St. John’s in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 27, Miami returns home for three-straight non-conference games… Miami is 4-1 at home this season and 48-20 (.706) at home under fifth-year head coach Frank Haith… Three Hurricanes are averaging double-figure scoring at home, led by Jack McClinton‘s 15.6 points and 3.4 assists per game at the “BUC”, while seven Miami players are putting up 7.4 points or more on their homecourt. Dwayne Collins averages 11.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per home game, while Lance Hurdle adds 10.0 points and 2.5 assists an outing.
THESE HURRICANES GOT HOPS
Hurricanes fans always enjoy a high-flying slam dunk, however several of Miami’s guards have also shown great leaping ability. Senior Lance Hurdle, a 6-2 guard, has the best “hops” of any Hurricane with a 45-inch vertical jump, followed by 6-8 forward Jimmy Graham‘s 40-inch vertical. High-flying freshman DeQuan Jones, a 6-6 guard/forward, and 6-1 senior Jack McClinton both own 38-inch verticals, while 6-8 Dwayne Collins can get 36.5 inches off the ground.
CENTURY CLUB
In his fourth season with the `Canes, Jimmy Graham will make his 100th career appearance for Miami in Sunday’s game versus Clemson. The senior has played in 32-straight games for the Hurricanes and in 99 of 109 games over his career.
Brian Asbury made his 100th appearance as a Hurricane in the 70-60 win over Southern Miss on Nov. 21. The fourth-year senior has played in all but two games over his career (both as a freshman), including 32-straight starts between the 2006-07 and the 2007-08 seasons. If he plays in every game over the course of the 2008-09 regular season, he will break the school record of 126 appearances (set by Anthony King last season) on Senior Day versus NC State (Mar. 7). Asbury has played in 107 games to date.
