Spartans Set For The Battle Of The U's
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2009
Game Notes | Live Audio | Gametracker
Miami, Fla. - USC Upstate has traveled South to kick-off the holiday season as the Spartans are set for a 1:00 p.m. showdown at Miami Saturday afternoon. The game will be just the third time Upstate has taken on a team from the ACC, having taken losses at Wake Forest in 2007 and Boston College last year. The Spartans stand 0-4 on the year after Tuesday night's 76-70 loss to UNC Greensboro in Upstate's home opener. Miami is 6-0 after defeating Florida Gulf Coast, also a member of the A-Sun, 77-58 Wednesday night in the BankUnited Center. The game is the third for Upstate against schools from BCS conferences. The Spartans have already played at Nebraska (Big 12) and Indiana (Big Ten) earlier this season.
Fans not in attendance in the game can listen to the action live on the Internet by visiting the official Upstate Athletics Web site at www.upstatespartans.com. Live statistical updates are also available using Gametracker on the Upstate Athletics Web site.
Looking Back At UNC Greensboro
Upstate trailed by three with just under nine minutes to play in the game against UNC Greensboro Tuesday night. However, UNCG broke open a back-and-forth game by increasing its lead to 11 points before holding on for a 76-70 victory in Upstate's home opener. The game, a battle of Spartan mascots, was tense for 32 minutes until UNCG found a way to get some breathing room. Upstate led by as many as seven in the first half with seven ties and three lead changes before UNCG took a 42-39 lead at halftime. UNCG opened a seven-point lead in the second half before Upstate battled back within three on a jumper by Chalmers Rogers with 8:38 to play. Leading by seven, UNCG took control of the game on Brandon Evans' four-point play, nailing a three-pointer and the free throw after being fouled in the act of shooting. Upstate battled back to get within five twice with over a minute to play, but UNCG held off the Spartans for its first win of the season. Nick Schneiders led the Upstate attack, finishing with his third career double-double. He finished with a career-high 23 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Carter Cook had a solid all-around game with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Scouting Miami
Miami enters Saturday afternoon's game with a perfect 6-0 record following last year's 19-13 overall record and a second round appearance in the NIT. The Hurricanes have recorded home wins against North Carolina Central, Nova Southeastern and Florida Gulf Coast, while winning three games at the Charleston Classic over Tulane, UNC Wilmington and South Carolina.
Miami is a strong offensive team, averaging 82.3 points per game. The Hurricanes shoot the ball well, hitting 50.4 percent of their shots from the field. They are also solid behind the three-point arc while hitting 40.8 percent of their shots from long range. Five Hurricanes shoot above 50 percent from the field for the year, led by DeQuan Jones who is 19-of-27 for 70.4 percent.
Miami has dished out 100 assists on the year, averaging 16.7 per game. The Hurricanes average 19.2 turnovers, 4.0 blocked shots and 9.0 steals per game on the year.
While Miami is strong offensively, the Hurricanes are also solid on defense. Opponents score just 58.8 points per game and shoot under 40 percent from the floor and 30 percent from the three-point arc. Opponents have also turned the ball over 109 times while dishing out just 62 assists.
James Dews leads Miami in scoring at 14.2 points per game. The 6-4 guard out of Cincinnati, Ohio, shoots 58.6 percent from the floor and has connected on 13-of-25 from behind the arc. Dwayne Collins, a 6-8 forward out of Miami, scores at a 12.8 ppg clip and is the team's leading rebounder at 9.3 rebounds per outing. Malcolm Grant, a 6-1 guard out of Brooklyn, N.Y., averages 12.0 points per contest. Durand Scott tops the club with 32 assists on the year and averages 7.7 points.
Frank Haith is in his sixth season at the helm of the Miami program. Miami is the first head coaching position of his career, coming to the Hurricanes after serving as the associate head coach at Texas in 2003-04 and as assistant coach from 2001-03. He served as an assistant coach on the college level for 15 years, having spent time on the sideline at Elon, Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, Texas A&M, Penn State and Texas.
Schneiders Records Double-Double & Career High
Upstate's 7-3 center Nick Schneiders turned in quite a performance Tuesday night in Upstate's home opener against UNC Greensboro. He finished the game with a career-high 23 points and tallied his third career double-double with 12 rebounds, one off of his career high. He has had a double-double in each of his last two seasons, tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds against Campbell on Jan. 24 last year, while recording his first double-double with 13 points and 10 boards against Mercer late in the 2007-08 season. All three of his double-doubles have come at home in the Hodge Center.
Schneiders Closes In On Blocked Shots Record
Barring something unforeseen, Upstate center Nick Schneiders should break the Upstate all-time blocked shots record prior to the start of exams in early December. He currently has 130 blocked shots, six shy of the all-time mark of 136 held by Kevin Harrington. He averaged over two blocked shots per game last season and has blocked 13 shots in the first four games of this season. If he maintains his 3.3 blocked shots per game average, he should break the record at home against Stetson on Nov. 30 in the Spartans' A-Sun opener.
Posey Quiet, Yet Solid
While Upstate center Nick Schneiders receives the brunt of attention by opponents and fans alike and the emergence of Mezie Uzochukwu as an offensive force has also garnered attention, Pat Posey has quietly gone about his business of turning in solid performances through the first four games of the season. The senior forward ranks fifth on the team in scoring at 6.3 ppg, is third with 5.8 rebounds per outing, and is second in assists (eight) and steals (six). The all-around performance has been key as Upstate looks to replace the productivity of Bobby Davis from last season. Posey had nine points, seven rebounds and two assists against UNC Greensboro Tuesday night and has not grabbed less than five boards on the year.
Looking For More On The Perimeter
For the second straight game, Upstate has not gotten a solid scoring contribution from more than one player on the perimeter. Against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, Carter Cook finished with 12 points. However, no other Spartan guard scored more than five points, leaving Upstate searching for more from its guard play. In addition, the Spartans' three-point field goal percentage has fallen to 28.8 percent for the year, finishing the UNCG game just 4-of-17. For Upstate to have success as it moves forward this season, the guards must step up their play offensively and knock down shots from the perimeter.
Schneiders Leads The Way
No doubt about it, Nick Schneiders is the main shot blocking threat for Upstate. He leads Upstate, and the A-Sun, with 13 blocks on the year, averaging 3.3 per game. Chalmers Rogers ranks second on the team with three blocked shots, swatting two at Winthrop, while Caleb Palkert and Mezie Uzochukwu each have one on the year.
Uzochukwu Stepping Up His Play, Leadership
Junior forward Mezie Uzochukwu, a business finance major, has asserted himself as a solid second offensive option for Upstate and has asserted himself as a leader on the team. He has reached double figures in two games this season, finishing with a season-high 14 points at Indiana on Nov. 16 and tallying 13 at Winthrop on Nov. 21. He currently ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
