Ari Wasserman
Staff Writer
Game Information:
Opponent: No. 21 Miami (4-1)
Date: Monday Dec. 2, 2008
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
Site: BankUnited Center (Miami, Fla.)
Television: ESPN
TV Talent: Dave O'Brien, Steve Lavin and Allen Hopkins
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 and AM-1460 The Fan
Radio Talent: Paul Keels and Ron Stokes ![](http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/903/411753.jpg) | ![](http://vmedia.rivals.com/images/spacer1.gif) |
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Miami coach Frank Haith's Hurricane's will make third appearance in Big Ten/ACC Challenge. |
Ohio
State has started off its season by winning all three of its games, but
the opponents have certainly been on the weaker side. Meanwhile, Miami,
who is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll, has started off with
a 4-1 record, but its only loss has come at No. 2 Connecticut, losing
76-63.
The Buckeyes will surely be in for its biggest test of
the season when it hits the road for Miami to take on the Hurricanes in
the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hurricanes are participating in it for
the third time — their first as hosts of the event — and are still
looking for their first victory in the Challenge.
The
Hurricanes got off to an early start this season when the team
participated in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where
it eventually fell to the Huskies. Miami did come away with two wins
over Southern Mississippi and San Diego in the tournament.
Miami
is certainly poised to take on the Buckeyes, coming off a big win over
in-state rival Stetson in which the Hurricanes won 79-65. After being
held scoreless in the first half of the game, Miami star
Jack McClinton finished the game with 12 points and six assists.
"It's about team," Miami head coach
Frank Haith
told the Associated Press. "I think that our guys understand that we're
about growing as a team, and its good to see Jack have those kind of
numbers."
Despite having a slew of stars on the court, Miami
will certainly hope for a solid performance out of McClinton, who has
scored at least 10 points in 29 of his last 31 games. McClinton came up
big against UCONN, scoring a season-high 27 points, but it wasn't
enough to overcome the powerful Huskies and dropped in 30 points in
Miami's 61-59 loss to Northwestern in Miami's last Challenge appearance
in 2006.
Aside from McClinton,
James Dews has been
quite the fixture in Miami's lineup, as the guard has started
38-straight game. Dews netted a season-high 10 points with the help of
two three-pointers, posted four rebounds, and a team-high two steals in
Miami's win over Stetson.
Forward
Dwayne Collins is
fourth in the ACC in rebounds per game (10 per game) and has scored at
least 10 points in four of the Hurricanes' five games this season.
Game Notes: ![](http://vmedia.rivals.com/images/spacer1.gif) | ![](http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/903/607466.jpg) |
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The Hurricanes will hope for a big performance from guard Jack McClinton. |
—Ohio
State has only faced Miami in basketball three times, but the
Hurricanes lead the all-time series over the Buckeyes, 2-1. Miami has
won the last two games between the two schools by an average of 10.5
points. The Hurricanes knocked off Ohio State in the second round of
the 2000 NCAA Tournament, 75-62.
—Miami has made it a habit by
winning big in the games they prevail in, as all four of their
victories this season have come by double figures. All of Miami's
victories this season, the Hurricanes have won by an average of 23.8
points, the biggest win coming over Florida Southern with a 36-point
margin of victory. The score was 96-60.
—Last season, Miami
played extremely well at home in the BankUnited Center, posting a
record of 14-2, which was a school record for most wins in a season.
After Saturday's win over Stetson, Miami has now won six straight on
their home court and 16 of their last 18.
— The Hurricanes have won 28 of their last 30 home games against unranked non-conference opponents.
—This
is the sixth time in as many years the Buckeyes will compete in the Big
Ten/ACC Challenge, but Ohio State has not favored well in the event. As
a whole, the Buckeyes have posted a 1-5 record in the event.
—Ohio
State has two ranked teams scheduled for this week, including No. 22
Miami tonight and No. 8 Notre Dame on a neutral court Saturday in
Indianapolis. All-time, Ohio State is 123-208 against ranked opponents.
Ohio State's last win over a ranked opponent on the road came Feb. 22,
2006 when the Buckeyes knocked off then-No. 18 Michigan State in East
Lansing, 79-68.
Expected starting lineup for Miami (Fla.):G #1 Lance Hurdle (Sr.) 6'2"
G #33 Jack McClinton (Sr.) 6'1"
G #23 James Dews (Jr.) 6'4"
F #20 Cyrus McGowan (R-Jr.) 6'9"
F#21 Dwayne Collins (Jr.) 6'8"
Ari Wasserman is a staff writer for BuckeyeGrove.com. He can be reached at [email protected].