MBB ACC Home Opener Sunday at 8 p.m.
Miami vs. RV/RV Maryland
Jan. 13, 2013 | 8 p.m.
BankUnited Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ESPNU | Watch ESPN
Radio: WQAM 560 | 90.5 WVUM | Sirius 93 | XM 190
Webcast: WQAM.com Radio | WVUM.org
Twitter: @CanesHoops
Facebook: /MiamiBasketball
Series: Miami leads the series 12-8
Last Meeting: Feb. 21, 2012. Miami lost, 75-70 in College Park
Miami 11-3 (2-0 ACC)
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The Game
With a 2-0 record in the league, Miami faces Maryland in the Canes’ ACC home opener on Sunday at 8 p.m.
The SeriesMiami is 12-8 all-time against Maryland, with the series dating back to the 1948-49 season. The Canes are 9-4 against the Terrapins at home, 2-0 at neutral sites and 1-4 on the road. The last matchup was on Feb. 21, 2012 and was a 75-70 Maryland victory.
The BroadcastsCatch the game on ESPNU and Watch ESPN with Carter Blackburn (pxp), Jay Williams (analyst) and Allison Williams (reporter) making the call. The game will also be carried live by 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play) and Josh Darrow (analyst), Miami’s student station 90.5 WVUM, Compass national radio, Sirius 93 and XM 101.
The CoachHead coach Jim Larrañaga is in his 29th season as a head coach and second at Miami. He has a 501-350 overall record and is 31-16 in his second season at Miami.
The WeatherProjected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 78/68. College Park – 66/55.
The Rankings – RPI/SOSAs of Jan. 11, 2013 Warren Nolan: 7 / 2 Sagarin: 13 Realtime: 7 / 3 KenPom: 18
The NotesJulian Gamble has averaged 9.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.2 rebounds in 27.7 minutes in the past six games after starting the first eight games with 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks in 13.0 minutes.
Miami’s non-conference strength of schedule is No. 2 and RPI is No. 6 (Warren Nolan). According to Collegiate Basketball News RPI, the Canes’ non-conference schedule strength was third-worst (345 of 347) in 2009-10, 142 in 2010-11 and 117 last season.
Comeback Wins and Second Half ScoringMiami has been tied or trailing at halftime in four of its 11 wins this season. In those four games, Miami has outscored its opponents 177-123 in the second stanza. Through 14 games, UM has outscored its opponents 546-432 in the second half. Against Stetson, the teams were tied at 34 at the break and the Canes were down by four vs. Michigan State, six vs. La Salle and two at North Carolina. At UNC, the Canes posted a 17-9 run to end the game and secure the 68-59 victory at the Smith Center. Miami outscored La Salle and Georgia Tech 51-22 in the first 12 minutes of the second half. At Georgia Tech, Miami went on a 24-11 run after the half, and the Canes outscored La Salle 27-11 in the first 12 minutes after the break. Miami put together a 7-0 run midway through the second half against Stetson to put the game out of reach for the Hatters.
Team Effort from the CanesThrough 14 games, six players have led (or tied) for team highs in scoring, six in rebounds, two in assists, five in steals and six in blocks. See page 4 of the notes for a complete listing.
Canes Defend Home CourtThe Hurricanes are 6-0 at the BankUnited Center in 2012-13 and are 113-47 overall in the BUC. The Hurricanes have notched double-digit home wins at the BankUnited in five-straight seasons and eight times in nine full seasons calling the arena home.
Home Court AdvantageMiami has shot better than 45 percent from the field in its six home games, shooting a season-high 59.0 percent vs. Jacksonville. Miami was consistent vs. Detroit hitting 14-27 shots (51.9 %) in both the first and second halves. The Canes have shot better than 60 percent in two home second halves, with 63.6 percent vs. SU and 62.5 percent vs. JU.
Miami vs. the ACC in the Coach L EraMiami has defeated nine of their 11 ACC opponents in the Coach Larranaga era, including four on their home court – Georgia Tech, Boston College, Duke and North Carolina. In his first season at UM, Coach Larranaga and the Canes defeated eight of their 11 ACC opponents at least once. Miami beat Boston College in both meetings, and downed five teams in their sole matchup – Clemson, Duke, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. UM split games with Maryland and Florida State, but lost to North Carolina (twice), NC State (twice) and Virginia. So far in year two, Miami is 2-0 in the ACC with road wins at Georgia Tech and UNC.
Gamble Steps Up in Absence of JohnsonJulian Gamble has moved into the starting lineup in the absence of Reggie Johnson and is taking full advantage of the opportunity. Gamble has more than doubled his point production and increased his rebounds from less than two per game to 7.7 each night.
Against North Carolina …Miami was the first team to beat UNC at home this year after the Tar Heels opened 7-0 at home.UM picked up its third all-time win over UNC, halted Carolina’s 10-game winning streak in the series and improved to 2-9 at the Dean Dome. The Canes allowed the Tar Heels only 59 points and 33 rebounds. The Heels entered the game averaging 81.4 ppg and 44.1 rpg.
Kadji and Gamble Fill Up the Stat Sheet at UNCIn Miami’s win over North Carolina, Kenny Kadji and Julian Gamble combined for 32 points from 14-21 shooting, 15 rebounds and seven blocks. Kadji scored 18 points – including two 3-pointers – while adding nine rebounds, four blocks and three assists in 37 minutes. Gamble was 7-of-10 from the field for 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, notched three blocked shots and a steal in 33 minutes.
Kadji Double-Doubles Kenny Kadji has recorded four double-doubles this season, and has flirted with the mark on three other occasions. His double-doubles were against Stetson (12p, 12r), Detroit (14, 11), La Salle (14, 11) and Georgia Tech (11, 14). He came close in three road games, against FGCU (13, 8), UCF (10, 8) and North Carolina (18, 9).
Miami Opens ACC with 3-of-4 on the RoadThe Hurricanes are one of two league schools (also FSU) to start ACC play with three-of-four games on the road. Miami opened with wins at Georgia Tech, then at North Carolina, now will host Maryland, before hitting the road for Boston College. Of the other 10 ACC schools, seven are split 2-2 home and away, while the other three (Clemson, Duke and Maryland) only hit the road once in their first four outings. For the third-straight season, UM opened the ACC schedule with back-to-back games on the road. In 2011, Miami lost at Duke and Clemson, then in 2012 the Canes lost at both Virginia and UNC to start league play. This season Miami is already 1-0 with a win at Georgia Tech on Jan. 5.
Homecoming for Rion BrownIn games played in his home state of Georgia, Rion Brown has averaged 8.9 ppg, shooting 45.3 percent (24-53) from the field and 42.4 percent (14-33) from distance, a vast improvement from his career numbers of 5.9 ppg, 39.4 FG percent and 34.6 3FG percent. Of the 14 career games he has scored in double digits, three have been in the state of Georgia. Brown has faced Georgia Tech in regular season play three times, and four teams in the ACC tournament: Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia and North Carolina.
RPI and Strength of ScheduleAccording to WarrenNolan.com as of Jan. 11, Miami’s RPI is 7 and strength of schedule is 2. RealtimeRPI.com has UM with an RPI of 7 and SOS of 3. Since joining the ACC, Miami’s best non-conference SOS was 112 and RPI was 39, both in in 2007-08.
