Hurricanes Travel To Philadelphia To Battle Villanova
Feb. 15, 2001
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Miami (13-10, 5-7 BIG EAST) at
Villanova (15-8, 6-5 BIG EAST)
Saturday, February 17, 2001
9:00 p.m. (EST)
The Pavilion (6,500)
TV – ESPN, Radio – WQAM (560 AM)
SATURDAY’S OPPONENT:
Villanova enters Saturday’s game with a record of 15-8, 6-5 in the BIG EAST, following a 59-56 road win over Georgetown on February 12. The win marked the Wildcats’ third straight. Junior center Michael Bradley led Villanova with 24 points and eight rebounds.
Bradley has been the Wildcats’ top gun all season averaging 22.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a BIG EAST best 199-285 (.698) from the filed.
Villanova has also been led by point guard Gary Buchanan. Buchanan ranks second on the team in scoring and leads the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (.976). This season Buchanan made 73 consecutive free throws to establish a new NCAA record.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Villanova meet for the 16th time with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 10-5. The Hurricanes have won four of the last five games in the series including a dramatic 67-66 win last season at the Pavilion. Miami is 2-6 all-time on the road against Villanova.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a 33-13 (.717) conference mark since the 1998-99 season. The Hurricanes’ record ties them with St. John’s for best conference record over that period.
LAST TIME AGAINST VILLANOVA
January 17, 2000 – The Pavilion, Villanova, PA –Johnny Hemsley’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave Miami an improbable 67-66 win over Villanova University in front of a sold out crown and an ESPN national televion audience.
Hemsley scored 21 points and John Salmons, a native of nearby Plymouth Meeting, Pa., had a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Hurricanes, who won for the second time in three games.
Trailing by 10, Miami made an 8-2 run to pull to within four, 64-60, with 2:28 left in the second half. The two teams exchanged free throws to make the game 66-62 with 1:46 left but Mario Bland sank a six-footer to cut the deficit to two with 1:10 to go.
Neither team could get their offense going in the first half, especially behind the three-point arc. They combined to go 2-for-18 from beyond the arc, including Miami’s 0-for-8. The Wildcats went on an 8-1 run to end the half with a 32-28 advantage.
UP NEXT:
Following tonight’s game the Hurricanes conclude their three-game road trip against Connecticut on February 24 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC). Miami then ends the season with home games against West Virginia (Feb. 28, 7 p.m.) and Villanova (Mar. 3, Noon). The Villanova game will mark the final home game for senior center Dwayne Wimbley.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Tonight’s game is being broadcast on ESPN. Dan Shulman is handling the play-by-play with Doris Burke adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM – 560 AM). Marc Vandermeer is calling the play-by-play with Joe Zagacki providing analysis. The game can be accessed live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.
ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Perry Clark was named the Hurricanes’ head basketball coach on on July 6, 2000. Clark comes to Coral Gables having spent 11 seasons at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. With the Green Wave, Clark compiled a 185-145 (.561) record, had six 20-win seasons, seven postseason appearances (3 NCAA, 4 NIT) and won the Metro Conference championship in 1992. He was the 1992 National Coach of the Year and a two-time Metro Conference Coach of the Year (1991, 1992). Last season Clark finished 20-11 and captured the Conference USA National Division crown.
Additionally, Tulane received a bid to the NIT. Clark’s career record stands at 198-155 (.561) including a 13-10 record this season.
Villanova head coach Steve Lappas is in his ninth season with the Wildcats and 13th year overall. Lappas’ record with Villanova is 171-105 (.620), including a 15-8 record this season, while his overall record stands at 227-167 (.576).
PLEASANT MEMORIES FOR SALMONS:
Miami junior guard John Salmons, a Philadelphia native, has fond memories of The Pavilion. Salmons has played in the building twice and left with victories on both occasions. As a senior at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School in 1998, Salmons led his team to the District I Championship at The Pavilion with a 73-58 win over Hapboro-Horsham. Last season Slamons recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds as UM defeated Villanova, 67-66, also at The Pavilion.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM has won its last three games against ranked teams and is 3-2 against ranked opponents this season. The Hurricanes are 15-16 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last seven seasons. Miami is 24-81 (.229) all-time against ranked teams including a 21-67 (.239) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since becoming the 10th member of The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 63-34 (.649) record against non-conference opponents, including a 45-13 mark (.776) at the Miami Arena.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 77-74 win over No. 15 Connecticut on January 20 marked the seventh consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena. Miami is 2-0 this season against ranked teams at Miami Arena having also defeated No. 22 Seton Hall, 72-66, on Feb. 1.
BARNES STEPPING UP:
Miami freshman Marcus Barnes has stepped up his game in BIG EAST play. Barnes, who averaged 3.6 points per game in 11 non-conference games, ranks fourth on the team in scoring in conference games (10.8 ppg). In the Hurricanes’ last nine games Barnes has scored in double-figures four times including three 20-point games.
RECORD SETTING NIGHTS FOR RICE:
Freshman forward Darius Rice recorded 35 points in the Hurricanes’ win over Central Florida (12-9-00) setting a Miami freshman single-game scoring record. Rice broke the old mark of 30 set by Tito Horford on February 25, 1987.
On January 10, 2001 vs. Virginia Tech, Rice hit seven three-point field goals establishing a new UM freshman record. Rice totalled 31 points vs. the Hokies becoming the first player in UM history to record two 30-point scoring games as a frosh.
In his debut against Florida Atlantic on November 18, Rice poured in a game-high 26 points marking the most by a freshman in a season-opener.Rice has now recorded three of the top eight freshman scoring totals in UM history.
WINNING WAYS:
With its 63-57 win over Connecticut on February 19, the University of Miami clinched its six consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least six straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the `Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.
A NEW HOME COURT:
The University of Miami will play on new floor at the Miami Arena this season. The floor was donated by Dr. Eddie Dauer and Sam Burstyn and is adorned in the Hurricanes’ colors of orange, green and white.
UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS IN 1999-00:
Miami won 23 games last season tying the school single season record for victories. Miami’s single season record of 23 victories was set during the 1959-60 season and later tied during 1962-63 and 1998-99 seasons.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 125-65 (.658) overall record, including a 10-3 mark this season. One of Miami’s home losses this season was at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, FL. UM has posted a 78-25 (.757) home record since 1994. UM is 42-17 (.712) in its last 59 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.
MIAMI REACHES SWEET 16 FOR FIRST TIME:
With its 75-62 win over Ohio State in the second round of last season’s NCAA tournament, the University of Miami advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. Miami has advanced to post-season play in five of the last six seasons including three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
MIAMI IN THE 2000-01 POLLS:
The University of Miami did not recieve votes in this week’s Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today College Basketball polls.
SUCCESS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:
Entering the 2000-01 season the Hurricanes are the only team in the state of Florida to register a winning record in each of the last six seasons. The Hurricanes’ 110-68 (.618) mark since the 1994-95 season is the top winning percentage and most victories among the state’s 11 Division I programs.
