Game Day: Miami vs. Georgia Tech - Jan. 28

The Game
No. 23 Miami hosts Georgia Tech on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 9 p.m. in the BankUnited Center.

The Series
Miami is 11-7 in the all-time series against Georgia Tech, which dates back to the 1952-53 season. The Canes are 5-3 at home against the Yellow Jackets and 6-4 on the road. Miami won the last matchup with Georgia Tech, defeating the Yellow Jackets, 56-42, on Jan. 18, 2014 at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Coach L is 4-1 against Georgia Tech while at Miami and 4-2 overall against the Yellow Jackets.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on the RSN with Tim Brando and Eddie Fogler making the call. Affiliates for the game are: FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports South, SUN Sports, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus, New England Sports Network, FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports Indiana Plus, FOX Sports North, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports West, FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports Wisconsin, FOX Sports Detroit Plus, ROOT Sports Pittsburgh, SportsTime Ohio, ROOT Sports Rocky Mtn., ROOT Sports Northwest, MSG Plus. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes, and WVUM 90.5, Miami’s student station.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 550-375 overall record in his 31st season as a head coach. He is 80-41 in his fourth season at the University of Miami, with a 35-23 mark in ACC play.

The Polls (as of Jan. 26)
AP: Miami -23; Georgia Tech- NR
USA TODAY: Miami – 23; Georgia Tech – NR
KenPom.com: Miami – 44; Georgia Tech – 112
NCAA RPI: Miami – 38; Georgia Tech- 103

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 69/54; Atlanta, Ga. – 51/32.

The Quote
“Well they were terrific. I thought [Angel] Rodriguez was sensational. He not only scored, but he controlled the game. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen in Cameron from an opposing player. Their whole team played well, but he really set the tone in how well he played. He was great—not good—he was great. “
– Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, following Miami’s 90-74 win on Jan. 13

Coach L Notches Career Win No. 550
In his first victory against Syracuse, Coach Jim Larrañaga won his 550th career game. Larrañaga’s 100th win came in 1991 against Kent State while at Bowling Green. While at George Mason, win No. 200 came in 1997 vs. Northeastern, No. 300 in 2003 against East Carolina and No. 400 in 2008 vs. William & Mary. In 2012, the Canes defeated Georgia Tech for Coach L’s 500th.

This Season Miami has …
• Defeated Duke and Syracuse on the road in the same season, the second time this has ever happened, and the first time since UNC did during the 1983-84 season
• Defeated three ranked teams: at No. 8/7 Florida, vs. No. 24/25 Illinois and at No. 4 Duke
• Defeated a pair of Top 7 teams in the same season, both on the road: No. 6/7 Florida and No. 4 Duke
• Won two true road games against ranked opponents for the first time since 1998-99: No. 6/7 Florida and No. 4 Duke
• Defeated Coach K (1,000 wins), Coach Boeheim (962), & Coach Donovan (496)
• Ended Duke’s 41-game home winning streak, the longest active streak in Division I
• Snapped Duke’s 19-game ACC home game winning streak
• Snapped Florida’s streak of 33 consecutive home wins, which was the longest streak in school history
• Scored 90 points against Duke, the most points scored by an unranked opponent in a regulation win in Cameron Indoor Stadium since NC State’s 96 points on Feb. 23, 1983.
• Dealt Duke the most lopsided loss (16 points) an unranked visitor has handed to a ranked Blue Devil team in the ACC era
• Defeated Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, in front of the largest collegiate crowd of the season to date: 30,677

Jekiri Ranked Nationally in Numerous Categories
Junior Tonye Jekiri averages 7.5 defensive rebounds per game, which is the sixth-best average in the country. Jekiri is also No. 14 in rebounds per game, No. 16 in total rebounds, No. 92 in double-doubles, No. 93 in offensive rebounds and No. 95 in blocked shots per game and No. 97 in total blocks.

Making the Extra Pass
The Canes have dished 14+ assists in seven of the last eight games and 13 total times this season. At Syracuse, Miami hit 23 buckets from 17 assists, led by Angel Rodriguez’ eight handouts. The Hurricanes knocked down 19 shots against NC State and tallied 15 assists in the game. Rodriguez led the way with six helpers, followed by three from Sheldon McClellan.

Jekiri’s Double-Doubles Adding Up
Junior Tonye Jekiri has posted four double-doubles in his last eight games, including three in ACC play. Jekiri has posted 10+ rebounds 11 times, and in six-straight games. This season he has 10+ points in six outings.
The native of Nigeria has nearly doubled his output in points and rebounds each season as a Hurricane. The 7-footer is averaging 8.1 points and 10.3 rebounds this season, up from 4.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg his sophomore year and 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds his rookie campaign. Through 19 games, he has already surpassed his 22 assists from last year, posting 29 in 2014-15, and blocks with 31, up from his sophomore total of 29.

Rodriguez Shines in the Second Half
Senior guard Angel Rodriguez knows how to finish a game. In nine games, he has scored double-digit points in the second stanza, including 22 at Florida, 17 against Virginia, 15 at Duke and 14 vs. Boston College. Only twice (10 vs. Howard, 11 vs. Providence) he has scored double-digits in the first stanza.

Hitting from Long Distance
UM has hit at least nine shots from long range in the past four games and 11 times this season, topping out with 14 at Charlotte. In ACC play, Angel Rodriguez has knocked down 11 from three, closely trailed by Omar Sherman’s 10 and nine from Davon Reed.

Rodriguez at His Best Against the Best
In Miami’s three games against Top 10 teams – No. 3 Virginia, No. 4 Duke and No. 8/7 Florida – Angel Rodriguez has put on a show, averaging 24.3 points and 5.0 assists.
Against Florida, he scored 22 of his 24 points in the final nine minutes, draining five second-half three-pointers to help Miami earn the win.
The junior scored 17 points in the second half against the Cavaliers, knocking down three clutch free throws with 0.9 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. In the two overtimes combined, he scored six points, including 4-4 at the line, and dished out three assists, accounting for 13 of Miami’s 17 overtime points.
At Duke, Rodriguez scored eight-straight points – including two from long distance – to give Miami a decisive lead. He tallied 15 points and four steals in the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Canes Faced Three Top 15 Teams in Four Games
Over a 19-day span, Miami faced three teams ranked in the Top 15 and one receiving votes. The Canes started with No. 3 Virginia, a double-overtime loss on Jan. 3. After defeating unranked Boston College, UM downed No. 4 Duke (Jan. 13) by 16 points in Cameron Indoor Stadium, then lost to No. 12 Notre Dame (Jan. 17), after leading for 29 minutes of the game. Miami then defeated RV NC State (Jan. 22). In late February, the Canes will face another tough stretch against ranked teams when Miami plays at No. 10/9 Louisville (Feb. 21), then comes home to face in-state rival Florida State (Feb. 25) and No. 13/14 North Carolina (Feb. 28).

Bench Points Key For The Hurricanes
The Canes have recorded 18+ points off the bench in 13 of 19 games this season, led by 34 against South Alabama, 33 at Duke and 32 at Notre Dame. In five of its last six games, UM has tallied 28 (CofC), 29 (UVa), 7 (BC), 33 (Duke) and 32 (ND).

Jekiri Leads ACC in Rebounding
Junior Tonye Jekiri is atop the conference in rebounds per game at 10.3 and in ACC games only with 12.5. In all games, he is fifth in blocked shots, and tied for seventh in ACC games only.
In ACC games, Angel Rodriguez is No. 8 in scoring with 16.0 ppg, third in assists, fifth in steals and third in assist to turnover ratio. Sheldon McClellan is No. 16 in scoring with 13.5 ppg, No. 22 in rebounds with 5.7 rpg and third in free throw percentage.