MBB Opens ACC Tourney with Virginia Tech
ACC Tournament
March 12, 2014 | 3:30 p.m.
Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.
TV: ESPN 2 | ACC Network (All affiliates)
Watch the game in Florida on these affiliates: Jacksonville: WAWS-D2; Panama City: This Panama City (13.2); Tallahassee-Thomasville: FOX 49; West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce: My 15
Radio: 560 WQAM | XM/Sirius 85
Web: WQAM.com | Watch ESPN
ACC Tournament website: www.theacc.com/ACCTourney
No. 10-seed Miami 16-15 (7-11)
Game Notes | Stats | Record Book | Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results
The Game
The No. 10-seeded University of Miami will face No. 15-seed Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2014 ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. The matchup will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, and the sixth game since the arrival of Coach L at UM.
The Series
Miami is 13-12 in the all-time series against Virginia Tech, which dates back to the 2000-01 season. The Canes are 7-4 against the Hokies at home, 1-2 on neutral courts and 5-6 on the road. UM is 7-11 vs. VT in ACC play and since the arrival of Coach L in 2010-11, Miami is 3-2 against Virginia Tech.
The ACC Tournament
Miami won the 2013 ACC Tournament, defeating Boston College (69-58), then NC State (81-71) and North Carolina (87-77) in the championship game. The Hurricanes are 10-8 in ACC Tournament play and have advanced past the first round of competition in seven of nine seasons, including four-straight.
The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN2 with Sean McDonough and Jay Bilas making the call, and on the ACC Network with Tim Brant and Mike Gminski. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki and Josh Darrow.
The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 535-369 overall record in his 30th season as a head coach. He is 65-35 in his third season at the University of Miami.
The Polls (as of March 8)
KenPom.com: Miami – 64, Virginia Tech 189 NCAA RPI: Miami – 112, Virginia Tech – 227 SOS: Miami – 58
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 84/67. Blacksburg, Va. – 58/23.
Mixing up the Starting Lineup
Miami has used eight starting lineups this season, and every scholarship player (not including Justin Heller) has started at least seven games. For a complete listing, check page six of the notes.
Larrañaga in ACC Play
Since his arrival in 2011, Jim Larrañaga has recorded two of the top three win totals in ACC play in Miami history with 15-3 in 2013 and 9-7 in 2012. Miami’s other ACC high was eight wins in 2007-08.This year’s 7-11 mark ties with three other seasons of seven wins.
Canes Turn it Around in Second Half of ACC Slate
After opening the ACC schedule 0-6 at home, the Canes won their last three league contests at the BankUnited Center.
In Miami’s first nine ACC games:
Miami posted a 2-7 record, 0-5 at home, 2-2 on the road.
Erik Swoope and Raphael Akpejiori started zero games.
Miami shot 39.5 percent FG, 32.9 percent 3FG and 61.1 FT.
The Canes averaged 55.6 PPG.
In Miami’s last nine ACC games:
Miami posted a 5-4 record, 3-1 at home, 2-3 on the road.
Erik Swoope starts eight games, Raphael Akpejiori seven.
Miami shot 42.9% FG, 31.8 % 3FG, 68.1 % FT.
The Canes averaged 62.8 PPG.
Brown Most Improved
Senior Rion Brown is one of the most improved players in the league this season, transforming from the seventh man for the Canes a season ago, to being a leader on this year’s team and drawing the most defensive attention from each opponent.
Lecomte’s Freshman Scoring Best Since Scott
Rookie Manu Lecomte finished the regular season averaging 7.9 points per game, the highest total by a freshman since Durand Scott averaged 10.3 in 2009-10.
Guard Strong
Miami’s offensive output in ACC games comes primarily from the guard position, as four guards have combined for 39.4 points per game while five forwards total 21.0 points per outing.
Guards: Rion Brown (16.1), Garrius Adams (10.3), Manu Lecomte (8.2), Davon Reed (4.8).
Forwards: Donnavan Kirk (5.8), Erik Swoope (6.1), James Kelly (4.2), Tonye Jekiri (4.1) and Raphael Akpejiori (0.8).
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.
Adams and Swoope Continue to Improve
Seniors Garrius Adams and Erik Swoope continue to improve their production in their final season for the Canes. Adams steadily raises his averages and Swoope has tripled his points and doubled his rebounds and minutes per game since getting his first start of the season at Florida State on Feb. 10.
Record-Watching Rion Brown
Rion Brown is currently No. 8 on Miami’s all-time list of 3-point shots made in a career. His 171 trail No. 7 Guillermo Diaz (174) and No. 6 Adrian Thomas (204). Jack McClinton holds the record with 286 made from distance. Brown has played 134 career games, which is the most in UM history, surpassing Durand Scott, who 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.
Lecomte Compared to Larkin
Freshman Manu Lecomte’s conference stats are comparable to Shane Larkin’s during his rookie year at the U.
Coaching Coordinators for Miami
Miami’s 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.
