Hurricanes Back on the Court at Virginia Tech
Jan. 29, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
ACC National Game of the Week
CORAL GABLES, FLA… The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns to the road to take on long-time conference opponent Virginia Tech on Sun., Jan. 30, at Cassell Coliseum. The 5:30 p.m. game will kick of an ACC Sunday Night Hoops doubleheader and be carried nationally on Fox Sports, including on FS-Florida in South Florida.
Game 21: Miami (12-8, 1-5) vs. Virginia Tech (13-6, 3-3)Date: Sun., Jan. 30, 2011 | Time: 5:30 p.m. | Site: Cassell ColiseumTV: FSN (FS-Florida) | Radio: 560 WQAM (WQAM.com),ACC IMG College Network (XM 190, Sirius 216)Web Video: NoneWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) |Virginia Tech (www.HokieSports.com)
Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 13.9 4.3 3.203 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.8 1.8 3.825 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 196, So.) 7.0 3.2 1.945 Julian Gamble (F/C, 6-9, 258, Jr.) 3.3 3.1 0.8^42 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 12.2 10.0 1.4^
Projected Virginia Tech StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast23 Malcolm Delaney (G, 6-3, 190, Sr.) 18.3 3.2 4.500 Jeff Allen (F, 6-7, 230, Sr.) 12.2 9.4 2.011 Erick Green (G, 6-4, 185, So.) 10.5 2.2 2.314 Victor Davila (F, 6-8, 245, Jr.) 7.7 5.1 1.1^01 Terrell Bell (G/F, 6-7, 205, Sr.) 6.3 5.9 2.0
^ blocks per game | * steals per game
The `Canes edge the Hokies, 10-9, in the all-time series and have won two straight over Virginia Tech — including the 70-65 win during the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Greensboro, N.C., on March 12, 2010. In that meeting, Durand Scott scored 11 of his 17 points in the final six minutes and DeQuan Jones added 14 points, while Virginia Tech’s leader Malcolm Delaney was held to seven points and 0-of-8 three-point shooting. The win sent the Hurricanes into their first-ever ACC Tournament semifinals, while the Hokies went on to the NIT.
Miami has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. With 20-point performances in two of his last three outings, Grant is contributing a team-high 15.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game, while converting 90.4 percent from the line (2nd in the ACC, 11th in the nation), 41.7 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from long range (4th in the ACC, 16 in the nation). Scott adds 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three and 87.6 percent from the line (3rd in the ACC). Big man Reggie Johnson comes off back-to-back double-doubles, adding 12.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for UM. He is shooting 56.4 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the charity stripe. He and Maryland’s Jordan Williams are the only ACC players averaging a double-double.
The Hokies also have three active players averaging double-figure scoring, led by preseason All-ACC pick Malcolm Delaney. The league’s third-leading scorer and ACC leader in minutes played (37.9 per game) averages 18.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds an outing, with 6.1 free throw attempts per game — tying for second most among ACC players. Jeff Allen adds 12.2 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game, while sophomore Erick Green has emerged for Virginia Tech with 10.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals an outing. The Hokies return to the hardwood following a 72-57 loss at Georgia Tech on Tuesday, but have won three of their last four games. The hard luck’ Canes ride a three-game skid into Blacksburg, falling by a combined seven points over that span.
Both teams will play three ACC games over the next seven days.
RECCURING NIGHTMAREThe Hurricanes have dropped three straight ACC games by a combined seven points — two points to Florida State (Jan. 19), two points at NC State (Jan. 23) and three points to North Carolina (Jan. 26). In each game, the opponent managed to hit a difficult basket within the final seven seconds of the first half, and then were able to stop Miami from scoring on its final possession of the game.
NO CHARITY HEREMoving up from seventh place one season ago, Miami is third in the conference in free throw percentage over all games (.741) and fourth versus ACC opponents (.750). Despite averaging a league-leading 26.3 free throw attempts per game versus non-conference opponents, UM is averaging just 15.3 free throw attempts per game in conference play — the second fewest among the ACC’s teams and 11 fewer attempts from the line per game. In Miami’s five ACC losses, none were by more than 11 points. North Carolina, Duke and Maryland lead the league in free throw attempts in ACC play, while Georgia Tech has the fewest trips to the charity stripe.
UM attempted a season-low five free throws at NC State, going 4-of-5 — including a 2-for-2 effort in the second half. It is the fewest attempts for a Miami squad since going 2-for-2 from the line versus North Carolina on Feb. 15, 2009, in a 69-65 loss.
OFFENSIVE BALANCEThe Hurricanes are among just two ACC schools — joining Boston College — to have two players ranked among the league’s top-10 scoring leaders and three ranked among the top 20, with Malcolm Grant (15.8 ppg, 7th), Durand Scott (13.9 ppg, 10th) and Reggie Johnson (12.2 ppg, 20th) among the league’s leaders.
At least five `Canes have scored in double figures during the same game four times this season — as recently as Wednesday versus North Carolina, while Miami had six players in double figures in the win over McNeese State (Nov. 24).
TURN OF FATE En route to Miami’s last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007-08, the Hurricanes went 6-2 over their last eight ACC games — beginning with a 74-71 road win at Virginia Tech on Feb. 9, 2008.
SUITS & SNEAKERSHead coach Frank Haith and his staff is participating in this weekend’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers event. It is a national event designed to raise awareness about Coaches vs. Cancer and the importance of cancer prevention and the early detection. By wearing sneakers with their suits while coaching Sunday’s game versus Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes staff is reminding college basketball audiences about the many ways people can reduce their risk of cancer, like eating right, exercising, making healthy lifestyle choices and following the American Cancer Society’s recommended cancer screening deadlines.
FILLING THE STAT SHEETJunior Malcolm Grant stayed in Coral Gables over the summer, working on his game and dropping some weight. The hard work is showing as the 6-1 Brooklyn native is among just five of the ACC’s premiere players ranked among the league’s top five in at least five statistical categories — free throw percentage (.904, 2nd), three-point field goals made (2.7, 2nd), three-point field goal percentage (.439, 4th), assists (3.8, 5th) and minutes played (32.5, 5th). In addition, he is among the nation’s leaders in free throw percentage (12th) and three-point field goal percentage (18th). Grant leads all ACC players in career 3-point field goals made per game (2.2).
QUICK HITSFollowing Sunday’s game at Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes will host three of its next four at the BankUnited Center.
Durand Scott has netted double figures in 10 of the last 11 games and in 24 of his last 29 games to rank second on the team and 10th in the ACC with 13.9 points per game.
In just his second season as a `Cane, Malcolm Grant’s 115 career three-pointers is ninth among active ACC players, while his 42.4 percent career three-point field goal percentage ranks second in UM’s record book. He has hit a trey in seven-straight games, tying for the fifth-longest active streak in the ACC.
Averaging 2.3 three-pointers per game — fifth in the ACC, Adrian Thomas is on pace to climb into UM’s top five in career threes by the end of the regular season. With 157 entering Sunday’s game at Virginia Tech, he is ninth in the record books, but is on track to hit 182, which would put him in fifth place. He is just seven treys out of eighth place.
Miami’s projected starting lineup is comprised of three sophomores and two juniors.
HE’S LEGENDARYFormer Miami forward Eric Brown has been named to the 2011 ACC Basketball Tournament Legends Class. Brown remains the Hurricanes’ second-leading career scorer and helped resurrect the Miami program after a 14-year hiatus.
A 6-6 forward, Brown (1986-89) scored 2,270 points in a four-year career trailing only former All-America and all-NBA star Rick Barry. Brown opted to assist former UM head coach Bill Foster in restarting the Miami basketball program in 1985, helping the Hurricanes post a 65-56 record including a 19-12 mark in his final season.
During his career at Miami, he scored 30 points on nine occasions and topped the 20-point mark no fewer than 54 times. He still is the career leader at UM in field goal percentage, having made .535 of his shots from the floor and still ranks second in career free throws made. His 24.7 scoring average as a senior in 1989 is still the fifth-highest by a Hurricane player.
Originally a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brown currently lives in Homestead. Fla.
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 NOWIndividual 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.
