March 4, 2014 | 8 p.m.
Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson, S.C.
TV: ACC Network – My 33 in Miami (all affiliates)
Watch the game on these affiliates in Florida: Jacksonville: WAWS-D2; Miami-Fort Lauderdale: MY 33; Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne: My 65; Panama City: This Panama City (13.2); West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce: My 15.
Radio: 560 WQAM
Web: WQAM.com | Watch ESPN
Miami 15-14 (6-10)
Game Notes | Stats | Record Book | Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results
The Game
Miami travels to South Carolina to face Clemson on March 4, in the Canes’ third of three-straight games on the road.
The Series
Miami is 9-11 in the all-time series against Clemson, which dates back to the 1955-56 season. The Canes are 5-3 against the Tigers at home, 2-3 at neutral sites and 2-5 on the road. Miami has won three straight matchups against Clemson, last defeating the Tigers, 62-49, on March 9, 2013 in Coral Gables.
The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ACC Network with Bob Rathbun and Mike Gminski making the call.
Watch the game on these affiliates in Florida: Jacksonville: WAWS-D2; Miami-Fort Lauderdale: MY 33; Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne: My 65; Panama City: This Panama City (13.2); West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce: My 15.
All affiliates are listed here: http://theacc.co/MBB030414b
Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes.
The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 534-368 overall record in his 30th season as a head coach. He is 64-34 in his third season at the University of Miami.
The Polls (as of March 3)
KenPom.com: Miami – 70, Clemson – 50 NCAA RPI: Miami – 108, Clemson – 71. SOS: Miami – 53
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 83/65. Clemson, S.C. – 54/32.
Up Next
The Canes wrap up the 2014 regular season on Saturday, March 8 against Wake Forest. Miami will honor its six seniors – Garrius Adams, Raphael Akpejiori, Rion Brown, Justin Heller, Donnavan Kirk and Erik Swoope, as well as two senior managers prior to the game.
Miami vs. Clemson (9-11)
Since the rebirth of Miami basketball in 1985: 9-8
Since joining the ACC in 2004-05: 8-6
Since the arrival of Jim Larrañaga in 2011-12: 3-0
On this Date – March 4
Overall: 2-5
Since the rebirth of Miami basketball in 1985: 2-4
Since the arrival of Larrañaga in 2011-12: 0-0
Mixing up the Starting Lineup
Miami has had six starting lineups this season, and every scholarship player has started at least six games. For a complete listing, check page five of the notes.
Miami Hits the Road for Wins
Miami is 6-10 in the ACC this season, with four of its wins coming on the road: at North Carolina, at Georgia Tech, at Florida State and at NC State. Only seven ACC schools have at least four road wins this year, all of which are ranked higher in the ACC and have won at least seven league games.
Offensive Ups and Downs
After scoring 40 points and shooting 26.1 percent at Virginia on Feb. 26, Miami notched 85 points, hitting 58.7 percent, at NC State in the very next game.
Miami has scored 40-49 points four times in ACC play, 50-59 five times, 60-69 a trio of times and 70+ in four games. The Canes have shot as high as 58.7 percent (at NC State), but also as low as 25.9 percent (at Virginia Tech).
Senior Starting Five
Coach Larrañaga has started the oldest, most experienced and strongest lineup four of the last five games: The seniors. Garrius Adams, who mans the PG position, is flanked by wings Rion Brown and Erik Swoope. Donnavan Kirk and Raphael Akpejiori start in the paint. At NC State, though, Tonye Jekiri started in place of Kirk.
Three Minutes or Less
In 10 of Miami’s losses, the Canes have been within three points of their opponent with three minutes or less remaining in regulation.
Stifling D by the Hurricanes
In 11 conference games, Miami has held opponents considerably below their offensive season scoring averages. Those 11 teams entered the game with the Canes averaging a combined 73.6 ppg, but have been held to an average of 56.1 ppg.
Record Watching Rion Brown
Rion Brown is currently No. 9 on Miami’s all-time list of 3-point shots made in a career. His 168 trail No. 8 Kevin Presto (170) and No. 7 Guillermo Diaz (174). Jack McClinton holds the record with 286 made from distance.
Brown has played 132 career games, which is tied for the most in UM history. Durand Scott also played in 132 games.
Former Man-to-Man Team Gets In the Zone
After playing man-to-man defense 95 percent of the time in his first 40 years of coaching, Jim Larrañaga’s team is now playing a mixture of defenses including: 1-2-2, 2-3, 1-3-1, box-and-one, triangle-and-two, and man-to-man.
Stats Breakdowns
In Miami’s 15 wins:
Six players average 6.9 ppg or better.
Miami scores 69.2 ppg, shooting 47.6% FG.
The Canes average 34.9 rpg, 12.5 apg and 5.5 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 46.2% FG and grabs 6.9 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 9.7 ppg and Manu Lecomte 9.7 ppg.
In Miami’s 14 losses:
Two players average 6.3 ppg or more.
Miami scores 53.8 ppg, shooting 35.1% FG.
The Canes average 34.9 rpg, 8.3 apg and 4.4 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 38.8% FG and grabs 5.4 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 6.2 ppg and Manu Lecomte 6.1 ppg.
In ACC home games:
Miami shoots 38.3% FG and 36.0% 3FG.
UM makes 10.4 FT per game.
The Canes hold opponents to 38.8% 3FG.
In ACC road games:
Miami shoots 41.9% FG and 30.3% 3FG.
UM makes 15.5 FT per game.
The Canes hold opponents to 41.3% 3FG.
Canes Playing Out of Position
With only one true point guard in freshman Manu Lecomte, the Canes have taken on new roles throughout the season. Garrius Adams is best suited as a three guard, but is manning the point. Rion Brown, also a three, is playing the two-guard position and Erik Swoope is an undersized four man playing the three. In the paint, Raphael Akpejiori and Donnavan Kirk are both fours, but split time at the four and the five. Coming off the bench, Davon Reed, a three, handles the point, as well as the two and three spots.
Miami’s Top Nine, A Year Ago
A season ago, only four of Miami’s top nine guys were available to play, while another was out with injury. Four of Miami’s current top nine players were scattered across the world.
Garrius Adams – Sitting out while rehabbing a knee injury.
Raphael Akpejiori – 0.6 ppg, 4.5 mpg.
Rion Brown – Miami’s seventh man, averaged 6.3 ppg in 20.3 mpg in ACC.
Tonye Jekiri – At UM, averaging 1.7 ppg in 6.9 ACC minutes.
James Kelly – Owens Community College.
Donnavan Kirk – At DePaul, in the BIG EAST Conference.
Manu Lecomte – An amateur in a professional league in Belgium.
Davon Reed – Princeton Day School (N.J.)
Erik Swoope – 1.6 ppg in 6.0 mpg.
Canes To Take Summer Tour in Spain
Miami will embark on a nine-night, 10-day summer basketball tour of Spain from August 12-22. Beginning the trip in Madrid, Miami will engage in an educational excursion that will also include four games, sightseeing and community service opportunities. The team’s four games will be played against professional club teams in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.
Cardiac Canes
Miami leads all ACC schools having played 12 games decided by five points-or-less or in overtime. Miami has played five overtime games and seven others that were decided in the final minutes. Miami is 1-4 in overtime this season and 3-4 in close games that ended in regulation.
Coaching Coordinators for Miami
Miami’s assistant coaching staff is set up in a coordinator system, with Eric Konkol as the offensive coordinator, Michael Huger manning the defense and Chris Caputo handling the scout for every opponent.
Seasons of Change
Miami will face back-to-back seasons with roster turnover after losing six players from the 2012-13 ACC Championship season, then six more seniors (5 scholarship) after this 2013-14 campaign.