FAU (4-10) @ MIAMI (10-3)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2009 - BankUnited Center
Coral Gables , FL - 7:00 p.m. ET


The series

It is first meeting between the two local schools since 2004. Miami has dominated the series 17-1. 12 of the 18 meetings have been played at Miami . FAU's win came in overtime, 74-73 at the FAU Arena on December 3, 2002. The `Canes have won the past two, both at Miami , 84-68 November 29, 2004 and 76-51 December 27, 2003.

FAU Back on "The Road" to Tough Competition

The Owls (4-10) are in the midst of a six-game stretch where they are playing five tournament teams from a year ago [UAB (NIT), Kentucky (NCAA), South Alabama (NCAA), Miami (NCAA) and Western Kentucky (NCAA)] along with preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt, Middle Tennessee State. Despite 25 points from senior guard Paul Graham III and 21 from classmate Carlos Monroe, FAU lost its fifth straight and slipped to 0-3 in Sun Belt play after dropping a 74-69 decision at home to league rival South Alabama Thursday. Due to injury and eligibility just eight scholarship players were available vs. South Alabama , limiting the Owls and first-year head coach Mike Jarvis to a seven-man rotation. 46 of FAU's 69 points came from Graham and Monroe on Thursday. Graham is scoring a team-best 17.6 points per game. He is one of the top scorers in the Sun Belt and is looking like a strong candidate for first team all-league honors. Monroe is coming on strong after missing the first nine games of the year. Freshman starter G Shavar Richardson averages double figures in scoring (10.3 ppg). FAU is 0-8 on the road this season and 5-25 in the program's last 30 road contests dating back to January of 2007.


Miami at a Glance

Fifth-year head coach Frank Haith has the Hurricanes (10-3) recognized as one of the nation's best teams, spending the first five weeks of the season ranked in the Top 25. Monday's game with FAU is Miami 's sixth at home in its last seven. A 19-point home loss to an unbeaten Clemson team on December 21 has `Canes sitting at 0-1 in league play. Following Monday's game with FAU, Miami will play exclusively within the ACC beginning at Boston College (Jan. 10) and then at home vs. Maryland (Jan. 14). Miami starts five upperclassmen, including senior G Jack McClinton (17.1 ppg) a First Team All-ACC performer last season. Miami native, junior F Dwayne Collins (7.8 rpg) is one of the ACC's top rebounders and shoots a team-best 62% from the field. The `Canes entered the week ranking No. 14 nationally in 3-point FG defense (.276), No. 35 in FG defense (.381), No. 47 in rebounding margin +6.6 and No. 55 in blocks (4.8 p/g).


Game Coverage

FSN will Televise the contest.  Ken LaVicka will call the game for radio listeners on WFTL - 640 AM with additional audio links available via FAUSPORTS.com. Live scoring via GAMETRACKER will also be provided on FAUSPORTS.com.



Owl's Nest Prediction

The Owl's just can't catch a break from the dreadful schedule thus far.  Not sure how all of this happened, but Jarvis recently said "trust me, it will never happen again."  We hope so.  UM is a solid Team, and will make some noise in the ACC this year.  Big, strong, and athletic, FAU doesn't have the size to keep this one close in the paint, so they will need to shoot "lights out", as they last did at Rupp Arena (of all places).  If they can do that, expect a game in the high single digits.  If not, this one could mirror the UAB contest.

UM -19


Latest Line

UM -22




Source:  FAU Media Relations