No. 6/7 MBB Travels to Diamond Head Classic
Dec. 23, 2017 | 1 a.m. ET/8 p.m. HT
Stan Sheriff Center | Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 6/7 Miami (9-0) at Hawai’i (7-2)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes | Tournament Bracket
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The No. 6/7 Miami men’s basketball team wraps up non-conference play over the Christmas holiday weekend, traveling to Honolulu to compete in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. The Hurricanes (9-0) open the tournament against the host school, Hawai’i, at approximately 1 a.m. ET on Saturday (8 p.m. HT Friday).
ESPNU has the television broadcast of the Canes’ opening game, while every UM game in the tournament airs on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. WQAM 560-AM has the local radio broadcasts for all three Miami games.
Miami faces either Davidson (4-4) or New Mexico State (9-2) Saturday. The first-round winners play at 10 p.m. ET, while the losing teams square off at 12:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. After a break on Sunday, the final day of competition is Christmas Day. Akron (6-2), Middle Tennessee (7-2), Princeton (5-6) and Southern California (6-4) comprise the other half of the bracket.
Off to its best start since the 2007-08 season, Miami is one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, joining Arizona State, TCU and Villanova. UM is ranked No. 6 in the latest Associated Press Poll and No. 7 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll this week. The Hurricanes’ AP ranking is their highest since a No. 5 standing on March 18, 2013.
The Canes are averaging 77.0 points per game. Miami has held its opponents to 56.3 points per game and 34.7 percent shooting, each of which ranks second-best nationally. UM also is limiting its foes to 25.4 percent shooting from 3-point range, which is third-lowest nationally.
Five Hurricanes are averaging in double figures, with eight scoring at least 5.0 per game. UM is shooting 49.3 percent as a team, including 38.6 percent from 3-point range. Dewan Huell leads Miami in scoring at 13.3 points per game and also is grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game. DJ Vasiljevic is averaging 11.8 points per game, while Bruce Brown Jr. is scoring 10.6 points per game and averaging a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest.
Winners of three straight games, Hawai’i (7-2) is averaging 73.3 points per game and surrendering 70.2 points per contest. Mike Thomas leads the team in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (6.8), while Gibson Johnson is averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 boards per game. Like Miami, the Rainbow Warriors boast a balanced scoring attack, with eight players averaging at least 5.4 points per game.
Miami and Hawaii have met four times previously, with the Canes holding a 3-1 series edge. The programs last met in the opener of the 2012 Diamond Head Classic, with Miami scoring a 73-58 victory.
After returning home from Hawaii, Miami jumps into its 18-game ACC schedule. The Hurricanes open conference play Saturday, Dec. 30, with a 4 p.m. game at Pitt. UM travels to Georgia Tech on Jan. 3 before returning home Jan. 7 to face off against No. 24 Florida State.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
