GAME NOTES: Losers of three straight and six of their last seven games overall, the Miami-Florida Hurricanes find themselves at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg today as they challenge the Virginia Tech Hokies in ACC action. Miami began the 2007-08 campaign with 12 consecutive wins, but that was against some questionable competition and now the squad is getting knee-deep in ACC play. On Wednesday night, the 'Canes hosted Sunshine State rival Florida State and lost in a 62-55 decision to fall to 2-6 in conference. As for the Hokies, they had a three-game win streak snapped on Tuesday when they bowed to NC State on the road, 73-63. Like the Hurricanes, VaTech started off the regular season rather strong, but against ACC foes the group has won just five of nine outings. Miami leads the all-time series with the Hokies by a count of 7-5.

Miami's offense was stymied earlier this week as it shot just 30.9 percent from the field and turned the ball over 17 times versus Florida State at home. Jack McClinton again led the group with his 16 points, but he did so only after shooting a dismal 4-of-15 from the field. Lance Hurdle chipped in 11 points and handed out five assists, while Jimmy Graham made his presence felt off the bench with a team-best 12 rebounds in 21 minutes. McClinton leads the team in scoring after 22 games with his 15.8 ppg and has bumped up that number to 16.1 ppg versus the rest of the ACC. However, in those league contests McClinton has watched his shooting percentage slip to a mere 34.4 percent. James Dews, a 40.2 percent three-point shooter, is producing 11.0 ppg overall for a team hitting 75.4 ppg. The defense for the Hurricanes has managed to hold opponents to an average of 66.2 ppg on 39.7 percent shooting, but much of that is due to the squad's early dominance.

Virginia Tech failed to get to the free-throw line a single time in the first half the last time out, which is why the squad trailed by double digits at the break and was never able to put together a successful comeback bid. A.D. Vassallo was one of four players to score in double figures with his team-best 16 points, while Jeff Allen tacked on 15 and accounted for six of the team's 13 steals. Before fouling out, Deron Washington posted 12 points, with J.T. Thompson chipping in 10 points before he too was sent to the bench for good. Shooting 40 percent from three-point range, Vassallo has lifted his scoring output to a team-best 15.9 ppg, followed by Washington and Allen who are producing 12.9 and 12.6 ppg, respectively. The three top scorers are also the ones doing the most damage on the glass for the Hokies, combining for more than 18 rpg, a huge reason behind the team's rebounding advantage (+4.8 rpg) over the competition.

The combination of a strong home record for the Hokies and a poor road mark for Miami gives every indication that VaTech has the inside track in this meeting.