Hurricanes Host North Carolina on Wednesday
Jan. 25, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CORAL GABLES, FLA… The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home to the BankUnited Center to play host to North Carolina in ACC action on Wed., Jan. 26, in a game to be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Game 20: Miami (12-7, 1-4) vs. North Carolina (13-5, 3-1)Date: Wed., Jan. 26, 2011 | Time: 7:30 p.m. | Site: BankUnited CenterTV: ESPN2 | Radio: 560 WQAM (WQAM.com), 90.5 FM (WVUM.org),1450 ESPN Deportes (en español) | Web Video: NoneWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) |North Carolina (www.TarHeelBlue.com)
Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 13.7 4.3 3.103 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.7 1.8 3.725 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 196, So.) 6.7 3.2 1.932 Erik Swoope (F, 6-6, 230, Fr.) 2.5 1.4 0.7*42 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 12.3 9.8 1.4^
Projected North Carolina StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast44 Tyler Zeller (F, 7-0, 250, Jr.) 14.1 7.4 1.3^40 Harrison Barnes (F, 6-8, 210, Fr.) 11.8 5.3 1.531 John Henson (F, 6-10, 210, So.) 10.6 8.2 2.8^01 Dexter Strickland (G, 6-3, 180, So.) 8.4 2.8 1.605 Kendall Marshall (G, 6-3, 186, Fr.) 4.0 1.4 4.6
^ blocks per game | * steals per game
The Hurricanes are 8-1 at the BankUnited Center this season, including the 72-71 win over Boston College on Jan. 15. Miami returns to the hardwood following back-to-back two-point losses in conference play — one week ago to Florida State (55-53) and on Sunday at NC State (72-70).
Miami has three three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. After back-to-back 20-point performances, Grant is contributing a team-high 15.7 points, 3.7 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game, while converting 90.1 percent from the line (2nd in the ACC, 11th in the nation), 44.0 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from long range (4th in the ACC, 16 in the nation). Scott adds 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 44.0 pecent from the field and 87.4 percent from the line. Big man Reggie Johnson comes off his ninth double-double and second 20-point game of the season, adding 12.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for UM. He is shooting 57.6 percent from the field and 72.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Veteran Adrian Thomas, who is averaging 8.3 points per game for the season with 2.2 three-pointers per game at a 38.2 percent clip (both among the ACC’s top 10), is putting up 10.0 points per game at home. He is averaging 2.8 threes over Miami’s nine home games, shooting 47.2 percent from downtown. True freshman Rion Brown has hit 50 percent of his threes at home (11-22).
THE SERIES After a week off from competition, North Carolina arrives in Coral Gables having won six of its last seven games — including the 75-65 victory over Clemson at home on Jan. 18. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 14-2 over Miami, including winning the lone game between the programs last season 69-62 in Chapel Hill for the program’s 2,000th win. The Hurricanes have not played 2,000 games to date.
The Tar Heels have three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by 7-foot junior Tyler Zeller with 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Preseason All-American Harrison Barnes adds 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds as a true freshman, while John Henson contributes 10.6 points, 8.2 boards and a team-high 2.8 blocks an outing. Three of Carolina’s projected starting five is 6-8 or taller.
The Hurricanes defeated North Carolina in the BankUnited Center’s first ever game 64-61 in overtime on Jan. 4, 2003.
HURRICANE GAMEDAYHurricane Gameday with Frank Haith makes its season debut on CSS (Comcast Sports South) on Wed., Jan. 26, at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Joe Zagacki, the voice of the Hurricanes, and Josh Darrow, each show will break down the latest with the team and give fans insight into the players both on and off the court.
QUICK HITS Junior Malcolm Grant ranks among the ACC’s top five in three different statistical categories — free throw percentage (2), three-point field goals made (2) and three-point field goal percentage (4). In addition, he is sixth in both assists and minutes played and seventh in scoring. He is among just six of the ACC’s premiere players to rank among the league’s top 10 in at least six statistical categories, joining Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delaney, Boston College’s Reggie Jackson, Florida State’s Chris Singleton and Duke’s Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith.
Miami is one of just two ACC schools — along with Boston College — with three players ranked among the conference’s top 20 leading scorers with Malcolm Grant (15.7ppg, 7th), Durand Scott (13.7 ppg, 12th) and Reggie Johnson (12.2 ppg, 18th).
Beginning with Wednesday’s game versus North Carolina, the Hurricanes will host three of its next four at the BankUnited Center. UM has played three of its first five conference games on the road.
Malcolm Grant tied a school-record shooting five-for-five from long range versus the Wolfpack en route to a game-high 23 points. Four other Hurricanes have hit all five three-point attempts in a game — Robert Hite (vs. Virginia Tech, 2004), Trevor Burton (vs. Georgetown, 1993), Samarr Logan (vs. Davidson, 1990) and Levertis Williams (vs. FIU, 1988). Grant has hit a three in 16 of 19 games this season, with three-plus treys 10 times, including in six of the last eight games.
Finishing with 20 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and a career-high five blocks, sophomore big man Reggie Johnson notched his ninth double-double of the season. He moves into a three-way tie with Tim James (1998-99) and Joe Wylie (1988-89) for seventh place in UM history with as many double-doubles in a single-season.
CHAT WITH FELLOW `CANES Log onto HurricaneSports.com during Miami athletic events to chat with Miami insiders and other fans about the game and your favorite student-athletes. To join the chat, click on the Cover It Live program found online with each game’s preview, beginning 30 minutes before tip-off.
SECURE YOUR SEATS NOW Individual game tickets for Miami’s ACC games are now on sale to the general public. The Hurricanes will host a regular slate of eight ACC games, welcoming the last two national champions to the BankUnited Center in top-ranked Duke on Sun., Feb. 13, and 2009 champs North Carolina on Wed., Jan. 26. Prices for most ACC games begin as low as $15. For additional information or to order season tickets, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office online at www.hurricanesports.com or by phone at 1-800-GO-CANES.
