Miami Heads to Alabama for NIT Quarterfinals

March 22, 2011

Complete Release in PDF Format

TUSCALOOSA, ALA… The second-seeded University of Miami men’s basketball team travels to Tuscaloosa to take on top-seeded Alabama on Wed., March 23, in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. ESPN2 will broadcast the 9 p.m. (EST) game.

Game 36: #2 Miami (21-14) vs. #1 Alabama (23-11)Date: Wed., March 23, 2011 | Time: 9 p.m. | Site: Coleman ColiseumTV: ESPN2 | Radio: WQAM.com | Webstream: www.ESPN3.comWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) | Alabama (www.RollTide.com)

Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 13.5 4.3 3.103 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.0 1.8 3.315 Rion Brown (G, 6-5, 188, Fr.) 4.4 1.9 0.630 Adrian Thomas (F, 6-7, 226, Gr.) 9.4 3.8 0.842 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 11.9 9.7 1.3^

Projected Alabama StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast05 Tony Mitchell (F, 6-6, 210, So.) 15.5 6.9 1.7*01 JaMychal Green (F, 6-8 228, Jr.) 15.5 7.8 2.2^12 Trevor Releford (G, 6-1, 180, Fr.) 10.7 3.4 3.424 Charvez Davis (G, 6-3, 186, Sr.) 8.6 2.1 1.444 Chris Hines (F, 6-8, 227, Sr.) 5.5 6.1 1.4^

^ blocks per game | * steals per game

The Hurricanes cruised past seventh-seeded Florida Atlantic and used a 55-point second half to knock off third-seeded Missouri State — in the program-record 35th game of the season — to advance to the NIT’s Final Eight.

Wednesday’s winner will advance to the NIT semifinals in Madison Square Garden on March 29 and take on the winner of the contest between Colorado (23-13) and Kent State (25-11). That winner will be determined on Tuesday.

In 2011, the Hurricanes are now 5-1 versus teams in the NIT field — defeating No. 1 seed Boston College twice (72-71 at home, 73-64 at BC), defeating No. 8 seed McNeese State in Coral Gables (79-59), beating Florida Atlantic (85-62) in the NIT opener, defeating Missouri State (81-72) in the NIT’s second round and falling at No. 1 seed Virginia Tech (72-68).

Head coach Frank Haith has more postseason wins than any other coach in Miami program history at 6-4 over his tenure (5-3 NIT, 1-1 NCAA). Former Miami coach Leonard Hamilton ranks second, going 3-5 in the postseason over his 10 years at the helm.

VERSUS THE SEC

Under head coach Frank Haith, the Hurricanes are 3-2 on the road versus SEC teams and have won three of their last four games versus conference members.

12/4/04		at Florida		W, 72-653/15/05		at South Carolina (NIT)	L, 69-6712/22/05	Florida			L, 77-6712/11/06	Mississippi State	L, 70-5212/13/07	at Mississippi State	W, 64-5812/6/08		at Kentucky		W, 73-673/20/09		at Florida		L, 74-6011/30/10	Ole Miss		W, 86-73

Miami is 1-0 versus SEC teams this season, cruising past Ole Miss, 86-73, at home on Nov. 30 after taking the 57-27 halftime lead. Alabama leads the all-time series 1-0 with the 85-72 win over Miami on Dec. 13, 1968. The Hurricanes are 1-0 versus Anthony Grant-coached teams, defeating VCU, 69-63, in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic semifinals on Nov. 18, 2007.

TRIPLE THREAT

Behind the long-distance firepower of the ACC’s top-two most prolific three-point shooters in Adrian Thomas and Malcolm Grant, the Hurricanes have knocked down a school-record 281 three-pointers this season, besting the previous high of 251 set in 2008-09. The duo — both ranking among Miami’s top four in single-season three-pointers — accounts for 185 (66 percent) of those treys.

The Hurricanes have attempted a program-high 735 three-point field goals this season, surpassing the previous high of 684 set in 2001-02. Converting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc as a team, the 2011 Hurricanes’ conversion rate is second-best in UM history, just behind a program-best 38.5 percent in 2007-08.

A Hurricane has led the ACC in three-point field goal percentage in three of the last four seasons — Malcolm Grant in 2011 (.428), Adrian Thomas in 2010 (.421) and Jack McClinton in 2009 (.453, with an ACC-high 3.2 threes per game) and 2007 (.440, with an ACC-high 2.9 threes per game).

THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE

Miami has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. Scoring in double figures in 25 of his last 28 games and bringing an ACC-long 22-game three-point streak into the postseason, Grant — an All-ACC Third Team pick — is contributing a team-high 15.0 points (9th in ACC) and 3.3 assists per game, while converting an ACC-best 85.3 percent from the line and an ACC-best 42.8 percent from long range (17th in nation), with 2.6 three-pointers per game (2nd in ACC). Scott adds 13.5 points (13th in the ACC), 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 83.5 percent from the line (3rd in ACC) — including a UM-record tying 10-of-10 performance from the charity stripe in the NIT opener versus FAU.

All-ACC Honorable Mention pick Reggie Johnson, who posted his 13th double-double of the season in the NIT opener — including a career-high 20 rebounds, is averaging 11.9 points, 9.7 rebounds (3rd in ACC, 27th in nation) and 1.3 blocks per game.

RECORD WATCH

Reggie Johnson’s 113 personal fouls are second-most in a Miami single season and just two shy of the school-record 115 by Hammie Ward in 1991-92… Durand Scott’s 1,156 minutes on the court are second-most in a Miami single season and 40 minutes off Guillermo Diaz’ school record (1,196, 2005-06)… Malcolm Grant’s 42.8 percent three-point shooting in 2011 ranks second in school history, while Reggie Johnson’s 58.7 percent field goal shooting is fourth-best in a single season at UM.

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