MBB at Clemson - Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU

No. 3/4 Miami at Clemson
Feb. 17, 2013  |  6 p.m.
Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson, S.C.

TV:  ESPNU | Watch ESPN
Radio: 560 WQAM
Webcast:  WQAM.com

Twitter: @CanesHoops
Facebook: /MiamiBasketball

Series: Miami trails, 11-7
Last Meeting: Jan. 18, 2012. Miami won, 76-73, in Coral Gables. 

Miami 20-3 (11-0 ACC)
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The Game With a 11-0 record in the ACC, No. 3/4 University of Miami travels to South Carolina to face Clemson on Feb. 17 at the Littlejohn Coliseum at 6 p.m. 
The SeriesMiami is 7-11 against Clemson all-time, with the series dating back to the 1955-56 season. The Hurricanes are 4-3 against the Tigers at home, 2-3 at neutral sites and 1-5 on the road. Miami won the last match-up against Clemson 76-73, held on Jan. 18, 2012 at the Bank United Center.
The BroadcastsCatch the game on ESPNU with Carter Blackburn, Jay Williams and Allison Williams making the call. 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 510-350 overall record and is 40-16 in his second season at Miami. 
The WeatherProjected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables -63/51. Clemson, S.C. – 47/29. 
The Rankings – RPI/SOSAs of Feb. 14, 2013 Warren Nolan:  2 / 1 Sagarin: 11 / 6 Realtime: 2 / 1 KenPom: 9
The Notes On Jan. 28, the Canes jumped 11 spots in the AP Poll & entered the USA TODAY poll for the first time since December 2008. Miami is now No. 3/4 in the nation, tying the school’s highest ranks in history.  According to research by The AP, Miami is the sixth school to ascend from unranked to the top five in four weeks or less since the AP Top 25 begin in 1989-90. Connecticut was the last school to make the leap, doing so in 2010-11. Miami is the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 20+ points in the same season since Maryland in ‘74-75 season.  Miami is the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 25+ points since the start of ACC play in 1953.  Miami’s non-conference strength of schedule is No. 1 and RPI is No. 2 (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. 
Six Players Shooting Better than 48 Percent Six Hurricanes are shooting better than 48 percent both overall  and in ACC play this season. From distance, Kenny Kadji is hitting 47.4 percent (18-38) in ACC play while Shane Larkin hits 43.4 percent (23-53) from long range.  ACC OverallTonye Jekiri 57.1 (8-14) – 50.0 (9-18)Julian Gamble 56.9 (37-65) – 56.0 (65-116)Kenny Kadji 54.6 (59-108) – 48.9 (111-227)Shane Larkin 50.0 (55-110) – 48.5 (111-237)Rion Brown 48.4 (30-62) Durand Scott 46.0 (52-113) – 48.4 (103-213)Erik Swoope – 64.3 (9-14)
Miami Among Tops in Nation in Road Wins Miami has won nine road games, tied for the second-most road wins in the country this season, as of Feb. 15. Bucknell and Stony Brook lead the way with 10 wins while Miami is tied with six other squads with nine. UM is the only team from a major conference on this list.10 road wins: Bucknell, Stony Brook. 9 road wins: Miami, Northeastern, Lehigh, Albany, College of Charleston, Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin.  Miami leads major conference programs with nine road wins. The next highest is seven, by LaSalle and VCU. 9 road wins: Miami.7 road wins: La Salle, VCU. 6 road wins: Arizona, Florida, UMass, Wyoming. Miami leads all ACC teams with nine overall road wins, the second-highest is four by Florida State. ACC Teams on the RoadMiami (Fla.): 9-1 Florida State: 4-4 Duke: 3-2 Virginia: 3-4 Clemson: 3-6 North Carolina: 3-6Maryland: 2-4 Virginia Tech: 2-5Boston College: 2-5North Carolina State: 2-5Georgia Tech: 1-5Wake Forest: 1-8
Meteoric Rise in National Polls According to research by The AP, Miami is the sixth school to ascend from unranked to the top five in four weeks or less since the AP Top 25 begin in 1989-90. Connecticut was the last school to make the leap, doing so in 2010-11. Syracuse (2009-10), Georgia Tech (2003-04), Arizona (1995-96) and Kansas (1989-90) have also gone from unranked to the top five in four weeks or less.
Only Undefeated Power Six Remaining Miami is the only team in the nation of the power six conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, Pac 12 and SEC) still undefeated in league play. 
Coach L in the Top 10 Miami coach Jim Larranaga is the 10th coach in the last 10 years to lead two top-10 programs, according to research by the AP.  Currently Miami is No. 3/4 and following the 2006 season, George Mason was listed as the No. 8 team in the nation in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll on March 28.  The other nine coaches are: John Calipari – Memphis, Kentucky; Mark Gottfried – Alabama, North Carolina State; Tubby Smith – Kentucky, Minnesota; Kelvin Sampson – Oklahoma, Indiana; Bob Huggins – Cincinnati, West Virginia; John Beilein – West Virginia, Michigan; Mark Turgeon – Wichita State, Texas A&M; Tom Crean – Marquette, Indiana; Sean Miller – Xavier, Arizona.
Downing Duke and UNC by 20+ This season the Hurricanes defeated Duke 90-63 and UNC 87-61. Miami is the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 20+ points in the same season since Maryland in ‘74-75 season and the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 25+ points since the start of ACC play in 1953.
40 Wins for Coach L, 20 in ACC In just two seasons with the Canes, Coach L has posted a 40-16 record, with half of those victories coming in ACC play. In his first year, he was 9-7 in the league and this year the Canes are 11-0. 
Canes in the Polls On Jan. 28, Miami made a historic climb in the national polls jumping 11 spots in the AP Poll and entering the USA TODAY poll for the first time since December 2008, posting a No. 14/15 ranking. According to the Associated Press, Miami’s climb in the AP Poll was tied for the second-largest since the poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989-90. Arizona holds the record for the biggest rise, jumping 15 spots in November 1995. Miami’s late-January rise is the second-latest behind UConn’s +12 jump in March of 2011 after winning the BIG EAST Tournament.  Miami is now No. 3/4, marking the school’s highest rank in both the AP and USA TODAY. Miami’s highest AP rank was No. 8, on March 1, 1960 and highest USA TODAY rank was No. 10 on March 1, 1999. 
Miami Leads the ACC With Perfect RecordThanks to the ACC for the following notes:• Miami is the first team to go 11-0 in ACC play since North Carolina started 11-0 in 2000-01 and finished the year 13-3. • Duke was 16-0 in 1998-99, the only perfect mark in ACC history.• The Canes have won four ACC games in which they trailed at the half.• Miami was the first ACC school not named Duke or North Carolina to start 11-0 in conference play since Virginia in 1981, when Coach L was an assistant with the Cavaliers. UVa. started that year 12-0. 
20-Win Season for Miami With a 20-3 record, Miami has posted its 14th 20-win season, and Coach Larranaga’s second-straight with the Hurricanes. UM’s best record was the 24-8 season in 2001-02 under Perry Clark, when the Canes were 10-6 in the BIG EAST and went to the NCAA Tournament. Last year the Canes were 20-13 overall, 9-7 in the ACC and played in the NIT. A complete list of 20-win seasons is on page 4 of the notes. 
Larkin A Bob Cousy Award Finalist  Shane Larkin has been named a Bob Cousy Award finalist, listing the sophomore as one of the top 12 point guards in the nation. Larkin joins ACC peer Lorenzo Brown (NC State) and 2012-13 opponent Keith Appling (Michigan State) on the list. 
Johnson Tops 1,000 Points With 14 points against Florida State on Feb. 13, Reggie Johnson became the 34th Cane to top the 1,000 point plateau, joining teammate Durand Scott on the list. Johnson notched 204 points in 32 games as a freshman, 430 in 36 games his sophomore season and 231 in just 23 games last year. 
Larkin Seeking 100 Assists Sophomore PG Shane Larkin has 99 assists in 23 games this season. A year ago, Larkin posted 81 assists in 32 seasons.  Teammate Durand Scott has posted a pair of 100-assist seasons, his freshman (113) and sophomore (112) campaigns, added to 93 last year. Scott has 60 assists in 20 games this year. 
Firsts in Miami Basketball History Miami basketball has encountered many “firsts” under Coach L. 2012-13• Ranked No. 3/4 – Miami’s program high.• Miami is the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 20+ points in the same season since Maryland in ‘74-75 season. • Miami is the first team to beat Duke and UNC by 25+ points since the start of ACC play in 1953.• Defeated a No. 1 team (Duke).• Ranked No. 8, tying the school’s highest AP rank, on Feb. 4. • Defeated all three teams in The Triangle in the same season: UNC, Duke and NC State.  • Defeated three teams in the Top 20 since joining the ACC. The last time was in 1999-00. • Won at NC State in Raleigh.• Defeated Duke twice within 12 months. • 11-0 start in conference play. • Ranked in top-15 since joining the ACC. • Topped school-best nine ACC victories, which was set last season. • Three capacity home crowds: vs. Duke, FSU and UNC. • Students camped out for a game (Duke) more than four hours before tipoff. Then did it again for game vs. Florida State. 
Miami During the Current 12-Game Winning Streak• UM is currently riding a 12-game winning streak. See the complete stat sheet on page 10 of the notes. • Miami’s last 12-game winning streak was in 2007-08, when the Canes started the season 12-0. UM went on to a 23-11 record and an appearance in the NCAA tournament. • The Canes have won six road games, all against ACC opponents. • Miami has outrebounded eight of 12 opponents, posting a +4.3 margin. UM posted +12 against FSU and Boston College, and + 8 against Duke. • UM has trailed at the half in five games, including being down by six points vs. La Salle and at NC State, three at VT and by two points at UNC and BC. • Miami has outshot its opponents 47.6 percent to 38.4 percent from the field. • UM has made 2.4 more 3-pointers (7.8-5.4) per game. • The Canes have posted 6.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game, compared to 5.5 spg and 2.8 bpg by the opponents. • Miami has outscored its opponents 471-372 (8.25 ppg) in the second half. • Three players are averaging at least 10 points and four Canes have at least 6.3 rebounds per night. • Kenny Kadji leads the way with 14.3 points. Reggie Johnson has 7.3 rebounds in his seven of 12 outings during the streak. Miami Quick Hits• Miami is the first team to go 11-0 in ACC play since North Carolina started 11-0 in 2000-01 and finished the year 13-3. • The Canes have won four ACC games in which they trailed at the half.• Coach L is 20-7 overall in ACC play at Miami, including 11-2 at home and 9-5 on the road. He is 1-1 in the ACC Tournament and 1-1 in the NIT. His head coaching career also includes a 14 years at George Mason (1997-2011), an 11-year stint at Bowling Green (1987-97) and two seasons at American International (1977-79).• The Canes defense is holding opponents to less than 60 points per game (58.6) in ACC play. Overall, Miami has held 13 teams to less than 60 points this season, including eight of the last 12 opponents (UNC recorded 61, Duke scored 63 and VT notched 64). In Larrañaga’s two-year tenure, UM has held 25 teams to less than 60 points.• Miami has trailed in 15 of its 20 wins, including an 12-point deficit at Virginia Tech late in the first half. • Miami has outscored its opponents 698-570 in the paint, topping out at 50 at NC State. • Miami has made more 3-pointers than its opponent in 13 of 23 games this season. In 2011-12, UM tied or hit more from distance in 26 of 33 games. • Miami has shot better than 45 percent from the floor in 27 halves this season and overall in 16 games. • Only 15 opponents – four this season – have shot 45 percent or better from the floor against UM since Jim Larrañaga became the head coach. • Miami has held 25 opponents (9 ACC) to less than 60 points since Larrañaga arrived.• The Canes have held 34 opponents to less than 41 percent from the field under Coach L, including 16 of 23 this season. This season four opponents have not shot 31 percent, including No. 1 Duke. 
Larkin ACC and National Player of the Week Sophomore Shane Larkin has earned Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the USBWA and ACC Player of the Week honors after leading the Canes to a pair of conference road wins against Virginia Tech and No. 19 NC State. The sophomore averaged 19.0 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 steals, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 38.5 minutes per game for the No. 14/15 Miami Hurricanes. Larkin hit 60.9 percent (14-23) from the field and hit 7-15 (46.7%) from distance in his two outings. 
Lights Out Shooting at Florida State Miami shot 63.8 percent from the field against Florida State, hitting 73.9 percent (17-23) in the first half and 54.2 percent (13-24) in the second. UM has shot better than 50 percent in six games this season, including three times in conference play: at Florida State (63.8%), vs. Duke (56.9%) and vs. North Carolina (54.4%).
Scott Ties Career Starts Record With a start at Florida State, Durand Scott tied Miami’s mark for career games started with Darius Rice, who has 113. For a complete list of records Scott is chasing, go to page 6 of the notes.
Canes Dominant at Home With the Feb. 10 win over UNC, Miami improved to 11-0 at home this season. Each of the Hurricanes’ past four home wins have been by at least 22 points: Duke +27, FSU +24, BC +22, UNC +26.
Draining from Distance The Hurricanes made 15 three pointers and shot 57.7 percent from distance against UNC. Miami tied the school record for 3-point field goals made in a game, matching the 2010 outing vs. South Carolina State & a 1993 game against vs. Georgetown. Miami Defeats The North Carolina Triangle For the first time in history, Miami has defeated all three teams in The Triangle – North Carolina, Duke and North Carolina State – in the same season. In 2008, Miami downed both Duke and NC State, but couldn’t topple UNC. The Canes have defeated the three teams (4x) by a total of 63 points, this season. In Miami’s nine previous wins over teams in The Triangle, the Canes outscored those teams by a total of 58 points.
Miami at Florida State Recap  Starters for Miami: Shane Larkin, Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji and Julian Gamble … Shane Larkin scored 13 of his 22 points in the final 7 1-2 minutes … Reggie Johnson spurred a 25-5 run midway through the first half to help the Hurricanes wipe out an early 13-2 deficit on their way to a 38-30 halftime advantage. Johnson ended the night a perfect 5-of-5 from the field … Miami shot 74% from the field in the first half, and finished the game shooting 64% from the field, the highest shooting percentage for the Hurricanes this season. Their previous high for a half 58.6% and 56.9% in a single game, both came against Duke on Jan. 23, 2013 … For the first time this season, every Hurricane that played recorded a field goal … Shane Larkin (18), Durand Scott (13), Reggie Johnson (12) and Julian Gambe (10) all scored in double digits. The Canes are now 13-0 when four Canes score in double digits.