MBB in Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic
Miami at Hawai’i – Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic
Dec. 22, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. HST / Dec. 23 | 12:30 a.m. ET
Stan Sheriff Center | Honolulu, Hawai’i
ESPNU | WQAM Radio
Twitter: @CanesHoops | @CanesCoachL
Facebook: /MiamiHurricanes | /MiamiBasketball
Series: Miami leads 2-1
Last meeting: Jan. 31, 1969 – Miami won, 84-82 in Coral Gables.
Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Bracket
Miami 7-1 (0-0 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes | Record Book | Interactive Guide
The Game
Miami, on a six-game winning streak, hits the road for three games in the Hawai’ian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu Dec. 22-25. The Canes face the host, Hawai’i, on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. HST (Dec. 23 at 12:30 a.m. ET) to open the tournament.
Scott ACC Player of the WeekHurricanes guard Durand Scott has been named the ACC Player of the Week (Dec. 17) following his double-double against Charlotte last week. With 16 points and 12 rebounds, Scott led Miami to a 77-46 win Friday night over previously undefeated Charlotte in the Hurricanes’ lone game of the week. The Bronx, N.Y., senior was 5-of-8 from the floor (.625), including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, handed out four assists, swiped four steals and blocked one shot as Miami upped its record to 6-1 with its fifth straight win.
The SeriesMiami is 2-1 against Hawai’i all-time, with the series dating back to the 1967-68 campaign. The Canes are 1-1 against the Warriors on the road and 1-0 at home. The last matchup occurred on Jan. 31, 1969 and saw an 84-82 Hurricanes victory in Coral Gables.
The BroadcastsCatch the game on ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Miles Simon making the call. The game will also be carried live by 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki.
The CoachHead coach Jim Larrañaga is in his 29th season as a head coach and second at Miami. He has a 497-348 overall record and is 27-14 in his second season at Miami.
The WeatherProjected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 75/55. Honolulu – 78/70.
Canes Win Six Straight GamesMiami has won six straight games after beginning the season 1-1. UM’s last winning streak of more than five games was in 2009-10, when UM started the season 15-1 with an 8-0 record to start, then seven straight wins from Dec. 12, 2009 – Jan. 9 2010.
UM’s Offensive OutputUM has outscored its past two opponents by 53 total points, 31 vs. Charlotte and 22 at UCF. Overall, Miami has averaged 12.6 points per game more than its opponents while shooting almost 10 percent better from the field (47.7 to 37.9) and eight percent from distance (37.9 to 29.5). The Canes shot 48.3 percent (28-58) from the field at UCF, the sixth straight game UM has shot better than 47 percent. All five starters are averaging double-digit points this season. When three or more Canes score in double digits, Miami is 7-0. In five games this year, four or more Hurricanes have scored in double digits.
Larkin Improves in Year TwoSophomore Shane Larkin has drastically improved his scoring in his second year with the Canes, averaging 14.8 ppg through eight games. A season ago, he was only posting 8.3 points per night through eight games.
Scott is Mr. ConsistentIn five games this season, Durand Scott has scored at least 15 points each outing. He has hit a pair of threes and racked up four assists in each of the last two games (vs. Charlotte and at UCF). Scott posted his first double-double of the season (third of his career) with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Charlotte.
Canes in the PollsMiami is receiving votes in national polls for the fifth week this season. Miami was listed on both the AP and USA TODAY preseason polls for the first time since the 2008-09 season, when Miami was ranked 17 and 16, respectively. In 2005-06 Miami was receiving votes in both preseason polls, with 16 from the AP and six in the USA TODAY listing.
Miami at the Free Throw LineAfter hitting only 50-of-80 (62.5%) at the line in the first three games, Miami has knocked down 76-101 (75.2%) of its free throws in the past five outings. In those five games, Trey McKinney Jones is 10-of-12 and Reggie Johnson is 23-of-28.
Johnson Nearing 1,000 PointsReggie Johnson has totaled 953 career points in four seasons for the Canes. With nearly 50 more points, he will be the 34th Cane to top the 1,000 point plateau, joining teammate Durand Scott on the list. Johnson is averaging 11.0 points and 10.0 rebounds this season. He has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four of the six games he has played, with 13 at UMass and UCF, 11 vs. MSU, 10 at FGCU along with nine vs. Detroit.
Block Party vs. CharlotteMiami blocked 12 of Charlotte’s shots on Dec. 14, including nine in the first half, marking the fourth-straight game with at least five blocks. Seven Canes swatted a shot, led by three from Kenny Kadji and two apiece from Raphael Akpejiori, Tonye Jekiri and Julian Gamble. Miami’s previous team season high was eight blocked shots at UMass, followed by five vs. Michigan State and Detroit.
