Game Day: Miami vs. South Alabama - Nov. 28

Nov. 28, 2014  |  7 p.m. 
BankUnited Center | Coral Gables, Fla.

TV: ESPN3 
Radio: 560 WQAM  |  WVUM 90.5
Web: ESPN3

17/20 Miami (6-0) vs. South Alabama (1-2)

The Game
No. 17/20 Miami returns to the BankUnited Center to face South Alabama on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m., following an 11-day road trip that saw the Canes go 5-0, defeating No. 7 Florida and winning four games in the Charleston Classic.

The Series
This is the first meeting between the two schools.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Kevin Corke and Drew Nicholas making the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes, as well as WVUM 90.5 radio, Miami’s student station.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 542-370 overall record in his 31st season as a head coach. He is 72-36 in his third season at the University of Miami.

The Polls (as of Nov. 26)
AP: Miami 17 USA TODAY: Miami – 20 KenPom.com: Miami – 18, South Alabama – 290

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 73/62. Mobile, Ala. – 45/59.

Up Next
Miami hosts five-straight home games, and eight of the next nine games, in the BankUnited Center, beginning with the ACC-Big Ten matchup against Illinois on Dec. 2 at 9 p.m.

Big Game Canes
Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez have each posted exceptional games for the Canes, as McClellan notched 31 points and 11 rebounds at Charlotte after Rodriguez posted 24 points, with three assists and three steals against No. 7 Florida. Manu Lecomte has notched 15+ points three times, adding to Miami’s offensive firepower.
At Charlotte, McClellan (21), Lecomte (13) and Rodriguez (5) scored all 39 of Miami’s second-half points. Through six games, these three players have scored 15+ points 11 times.

What a Difference a Year Makes
Miami’s only two returners – Manu Lecomte and Tonye Jekiri – have drastically improved their stats from a season ago. The chart below shows 1) 2013-14 stats through six games 2) 2013-14 overall stats and 3) 2014-15 overall stats.

McClellan Notches a Double-Double at Charlotte
At Charlotte, junior guard Sheldon McClellan recorded his first-career double-double with 31 points and 11 rebounds. Through his first five games at the U, McClellan had scored 19 twice, and his rebound high was eight.
In the two games against Charlotte, McClellan averaged 25.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 62.5 percent (20-32) from the field, 55.6 percent (5-9) from distance and 1.000 percent (5-5) at the line.

Canes Comebacks
In two Canes victories, Miami trailed in the game, but made a comeback to win. At No. 7 Florida, UM trailed by 15 with 17:05 left in the second half, and at Charlotte, Miami was down by nine with 7:36 left in the first stanza. At Charlotte, UM used 14 3-pointers, one away from the school record set in 2013, to earn the victory.

Miami Ranked in Both Polls
Fresh off its championship run through the Charleston Classic that successfully concluded Sunday, Miami made its season debut in the top 20 of both major college basketball polls Monday. Miami checked in at No. 17 in the Associated Press top 25, and earned a No. 20 ranking in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
The Hurricanes have opened the regular season 5-0 for the first time since 2009, including a road win over No. 7 Florida and three dominant victories in Charleston.
The Hurricanes were last ranked in the final polls of the 2012-13 season, holding the No. 5 spot in the AP poll and No. 10 in USA Today Coaches Poll. The last time Miami was ranked in the month of November was in 2008-09 when the Canes opened the year No. 17/16, then were No. 22/21 in polls released on Nov. 24, 2008.

Rodriguez on Oscar Robertson & Bob Cousy Award Watch Lists
Junior PG Angel Rodriguez is one of 36 players listed on the watch list for the 2015 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award and was one of 24 players named to the early-season watch list for the 2014-15 Oscar Robertson Trophy for national player of the year, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced Nov. 24.

Canes Shooting 10 Percent Better in Second Half
Through six games, the Canes have outscored their opponents 247-173 in the second half. Miami has averaged seven more points per game and is shooting more than 10 percent better from the field, from three and at the free throw line in the second half of the game than the first stanza. Junior Angel Rodriguez’ stats are significantly better in the second half, as well.

Sharing the Ball
Through six games, the Hurricanes have averaged 15.3 assists per game on 27.8 made field goals per outing. Miami’s high was 19 assists against Akron. Angel Rodriguez leads the way with 5.3 per outing.

UM Shooting Nearly 50 Percent
Miami is shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 46.0 percent from three while holding opponents to 39.3 percent and 31.8 percent, respectively.
The Canes have shot better than 50 percent from the field in their last three games, and have made no less than 43.9 percent of their shots in any game. UM has also hit 50.0 percent or better from distance in three games.
Miami has hit 57 shots from long range, with six players knocking down a three, led by 17 from Angel Rodriguez and 16 from Manu Lecomte.

Learn More about Your Hurricanes
Renewed Hoops  |  Homecoming: The Angel Rodriguez Story

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