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Miami faces struggling North Florida

Dec 20, 2007 - 2:09 PM North Florida (1-8) at No. 22 Miami Fl (10-0) 7:30 pm EST

CORAL GABLES, Florida (Ticker) - No. 22 Miami looks to continue its surprising start to the season when it hosts North Florida on Thursday.

The Hurricanes, who are off to their best start since winning the first 14 games of the 2001-02 campaign, were picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the preseason media poll.

However, Miami has rolled so far this season with five double digit wins, including an 89-53 victory over Stetson on Monday.

Reigning ACC Player of the Week Jack McClinton leads the Hurricanes, who were last ranked in March 2002, scoring 14.3 points per game.

Going 11-0 is a strong possibility for Miami, as the Ospreys, have lost six straight.

North Florida is coming off a 70-64 loss to Florida Atlantic on Tuesday. Tony Hammonds, the only player who averages in double figures for North Florida, scored 20 points against Florida Atlantic.

The Hurricanes' win total this season has already eclipsed the Ospreys' from the previous two seasons combined. North Florida went 3-25 last season and 6-22 the campaign before.