Deacons Never Wake Up as Miami Rolls

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Miami Hurricanes are viewing the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament as their start to a new season. So far, so good.

No. 12 Miami, playing without its leading scorer and rebounder, upset No. 5 Wake Forest 83-62 in opening-round play Thursday here at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Hurricanes, opened the season 15-1 but won just three of their last 14 games, wore down the Deamon Deacs with their spirit, athleticism and nerve. They led by as many as 25 points (75-52) late in the second half, quieting a large Wake Forest contingent that made the short 30-minute drive from Winston-Salem.

UM turned in an impressive performance despite missing senior forward Dwayne Collins, who is out with a leg injury that forced him to miss the regular season finale against Florida State last Saturday.

Collins, who averaged 12 points and 7.8 rebounds, rested the leg all week and had hoped to be ready for the tourney opener but remained on the sidelines dressed in street clothes. It's uncertain if Collins will play in the Hurricanes' quarterfinal Friday afternoon against No. 4 Virginia Tech.

Freshman center Reggie Johnson was, well, perfect against his hometown team. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native paced UM with a team-high 22 points, going 8-for-8 from the floor and six-for-six from the free-throw line. Johnson credited with Collins' guidance for his success.

"He is in my ear all of the time, constantly giving me positive energy to go out there and help my team win," Johnson said.

The Hurricanes also won in large part because they shot 51.7 percent from the floor (30-for-58), 57.1 percent in the second half. They now have advanced past the ACC tourney's first round in four of the last five seasons.

The Demon Deacons (19-10) and the Hurricanes (19-12) split the season series, with each winning their home meeting.

Wake Forest, which had been considered an NCAA tournament lock in the middle of February, now may face an uncertain future.

The Deacs snapped a four-game losing streak with a needed victory over Clemson in last Saturday's regular season finale, and all seemed good. However, they quickly reverted back to their mistake-prone ways against an UM team that finished last in the conference standings and won just two road games the entire season.

While no ACC team has won four consecutive games over four days to win the ACC title, UM says it has hope.

Two years ago, Georgia was 2-11 going into the SEC tournament, and went on to win four games, the conference title and a spot in the NCAA tournament.

GAME BALL GOES TO: UM's Julian Gamble.

Gamble, a 6-foot-9 sophomore forward from nearby Durham, N.C., made his eighth career start. He was strictly blue-collar, but exactly what the Hurricanes needed as they out-worked and out-rebounded the Deacs (39-34).

Gamble had 13 boards (nine defensive), eight points, three blocks and one assist. Gamble is third on the team with 25 blocks.

HEART GOES OUT TO: Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio, whose 0-4 in ACC tournament games. The Deacs have lost five of six and nerves expect to be frazzled on Selection Sunday.

KEY ELEMENT: The patient Hurriances shot nearly 52 percent against one of the league's toughest defenses.

"We couldn't keep the ball in front of us," Gaudio explained.

"When you do as poor a job as we did guarding the basketball one-on-one, what's happening is you stall throughout the entire game. We're were getting beat off the dribble."

WHERE TO FROM HERE: The Deacs have to somehow find their mojo. They certainly have the talent, led by All-ACC selections Al-Farouq Aminu and Ishmael Smith.

Aminu leads the ACC in rebounding and is the only league player averaging a double-double (15.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg). He had 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks against UM, but it never came easy. Aminu also had four turnovers and played just 25 minutes.

"I wish I had the answer for that," Gaudio said.

"I am telling you, I just tried to play the guys I thought were going to give us the best chance to win. And I just didn't think he was playing well."

Smith, meanwhile, added a team-high 14 points.

"First of all, I think coach (Gaudio) hit it right on the head - you've got to set the tone," Smith said. "And that's what Miami did."

WHO'S GOT NEXT: The Hurricanes split their season series against the Hokies, each winning at home. UM certainly needs to remain on the plus side to strengthen its resume, though it should be a lock for the NIT.


SOUNDBITE: "We were very patient against Wake Forest. I thought we shared the ball well." - UM coach Frank Haith.