Malcolm Grant is among eight letterwinners returning for UM.
The University of Miami men’s basketball squad’s 2010-2011 schedule includes 16 games against teams that played in postseason tournaments last year.
Eighteen of those will be televised, with at least nine of those games broadcast nationally, including home contests versus North Carolina (January 26, ESPN or ESPN2), Georgia Tech (February 3, ESPN or ESPN2), and Duke (February 13, FSN), as well as road games at Duke (January 2, FSN) and Virginia Tech (January 30, FSN).
Those are the highlights of the team’s recently released schedule.
The Hurricanes’ 16-game Atlantic Coast Conference slate features ten games versus 2010 NCAA Tournament participants, including a home-and-away series with defending national champion Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Clemson. In addition, the Hurricanes will face long-time foe Boston College twice.
Miami will also host league games versus 2010 NIT finalist and 2009 NCAA Tournament champion North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
“Not only have we put together a challenging schedule for our team,” said UM head coach Frank Haith, whose Hurricanes have averaged more than 20 wins during the last three seasons, “but we also put together an exciting lineup for our fans. As our program looks to get back into the NCAA Tournament, we have scheduled some tough non-conference games.
“Competing in a league that has produced five national champions over the last decade ensures we will have an exciting schedule,” Haith continued. “In addition to facing the last two national champions in Duke and North Carolina in ACC play, we head to Memphis—a very successful program over the last decade—and we are bringing in Ole Miss of the SEC and West Virginia, a Final Four team last year, to the BankUnited Center. We looked closely at the Miami Heat’s schedule and did our best to accommodate all of the basketball fans in South Florida.”
The Hurricanes finished 20-13 overall last season and closed the season strong, knocking off Wake Forest and Virginia Tech en route to the ACC semifinal match versus Duke.
Miami returns four starters from that tournament run, including ACC All-Rookie and ACC All-Tournament First Team selection Durand Scott, ACC All-Tournament Second Team pick Reggie Johnson, and the ACC leader in three-point field goal percentage last season Adrian Thomas.
“My staff and I believe we have a special group of kids this season who can accomplish some great things,” said Haith. “I look forward to getting this year started with the support of our great Hurricanes fans.”
Tickets are now available by calling the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or logging on to www.hurricanesports.com, where you can also find the complete schedule. Prices have been reduced in various sections, including the premium courtside seats. Please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office for details.
