MBB Takes 3-0 ACC Record to Boston College
RV/RV Miami at Boston College
Jan. 16, 2013 | 7 p.m.
Conte Forum | Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: FOX Sports South | ESPN3
FOX Sports Carolinas, SUN Sports, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, New England Sports Network, FOX Sports Tennessee, FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports North, FOX Sports San Diego, FOX Sports Wisconsin, FS Prime Ticket, ESPN3, FOX Sports South, FS Detroit.
Radio: WQAM 560
Webcast: WQAM.com Radio
Twitter: @CanesHoops
Facebook: /MiamiBasketball
Series: Miami trails in the series 24-15.
Last Meeting: March 3, 2012. Miami won, 77-56 in Coral Gables.
Miami 12-3 (3-0 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes | Record Book | Interactive Guide
Attending a Game at the BankUnited Center
Visit Miami | Miami Weather | Buy Tickets | Directions | Parking Info
The Game
With a 3-0 record in the ACC, the University of Miami will face off against Boston College on Jan. 16 at Conte Forum in the Canes’ third road game in league play.
The SeriesMiami is 15-24 all-time against Boston College, with the series dating back to the 1962-63 campaign. The Canes are 8-11 against the Eagles at home, 0-2 at neutral sites and 7-11 on the road. Miami has won the last four matchups (two at home and two away), with the Canes winning the last meeting, 77-56, on March 3, 2012.
The BroadcastsCatch the game on FOX Sports South and ESPN3 with Rich Waltz (pxp) and Mike Gminski (analyst) making the call. Affiliates for the game: FOX Sports Carolinas, SUN Sports, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, New England Sports Network, FOX Sports Tennessee, FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports North, FOX Sports San Diego, FOX Sports Wisconsin, FS Prime Ticket, ESPN3, FOX Sports South, FS Detroit. The game will also be carried live by 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play) and Josh Darrow.
The CoachHead coach Jim Larrañaga is in his 29th season as a head coach and second at Miami. He has a 502-350 overall record and is 32-16 in his second season at Miami.
The WeatherProjected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 83/67. Chestnut Hill, Mass. – 31/39.
The Rankings – RPI/SOSAs of Jan. 14, 2013 Warren Nolan: 5 / 2 Sagarin: 14 Realtime: 5 / 2 KenPom: 19
The Notes Julian Gamble has averaged 9.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 28.3 minutes in the past seven 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. 5 (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.
Canes in the PollsMiami has received votes in national polls six weeks this season, as of Jan. 15. Miami was listed on both the AP and USA TODAY preseason polls for the first time since the 2008-09 season, when UM 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 Starts ACC Play With three winsMiami has opened the 2012-13 ACC schedule with a trio of wins for the first time since joining the league in 2004-05 and for the first time since the 1997-98 season, when UM was in the BIG EAST Conference. That year, Miami defeated Rutgers, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and Connecticut to start the year 5-0. UM has started league play with a win three seasons, but has started 0-2 the previous two years. Under Coach L, the team started 0-2 last season, but finished 9-7, good enough for a fourth-place tie in the league.
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, hosted Maryland, now hits 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.
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 7.9 each night in the past seven games without Reggie Johnson. A year ago, he didn’t know if he’d be granted a sixth year of eligibility with the Canes. In his senior campaign, the native of Durham is posting career numbers, topping his junior year stats.
Team Effort from the CanesThrough 14 games, six players have led (or tied) for team highs in scoring, six in rebounds, three in assists, five in steals and six in blocks. See page 4 of the notes for a complete listing.
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 3-0 in the ACC with road wins at Georgia Tech and UNC.
RPI and Strength of ScheduleAccording to WarrenNolan.com as of Jan. 15, Miami’s RPI is 5 and strength of schedule is 2. RealtimeRPI.com has UM with an RPI of 5 and SOS of 2. Since joining the ACC, Miami’s best non-conference SOS was 112 and RPI was 39, both in in 2007-08.
Number of Games Potentially Missed by the CanesBased on a 32-game schedule, this year Miami will be undermanned in potentially 108 games due to injuries and transfers. Durand Scott missed three games due to an NCAA withholding penalty and Reggie Johnson is expected to miss 13 games while Garrius Adams could miss the entire season (32 games) due to injuries. Two transfers, Bishop Daniels and Melvin Johnson, will miss 28 and 32 games, respectively. Last season, Miami players missed 108 games due to injury or NCAA suspensions. The list of players missing time included starting center Reggie Johnson (nine games to injury, one to suspension), forward DeQuan Jones (10 to suspension), starting guard Durand Scott (three to suspension), starting guard Malcolm Grant (two to a death in the family), guard Garrius Adams (14 to injury and knee surgery), and guard Rion Brown (two to illness). Even guard Shane Larkin missed the opener until the NCAA approved his eligibility. Veteran forward Julian Gamble (knee) and freshman guard Bishop Daniels (foot) sat out the entire year.
Larrañaga Earns 500th WinHead coach Jim Larrañaga is in his 29th season as a head coach, posted his 500th win at Georgia Tech on Jan. 5 in Atlanta. Entering the 2012-13 season, Coach L was tied for 20th on the list of winningest active Division-I head coaches. Currently 17 active D-I coaches have 500 wins.
