No.15 UConn Comes To Miami Saturday
Jan. 19, 2001
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#15/#15 CONNECTICUT (13-4, 2-2 BIG EAST) at
MIAMI HURRICANES (9-7, 1-4 BIG EAST)
Saturday, January 20, 2001 — 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Miami Arena (15,388)
Fox Sports Net Florida, WQAM (560 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM)
TODAY’S OPPONENT:
Connecticut enters today’s game with a record of 13-4, 2-2 in the BIG EAST, following a 60-56 non-conference road loss to Texas on January 15.
The Huskies, ranked 15th in the nation in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN College Basketball polls, has dropped two straight games.
Connecticut has been led in scoring this season by senior guard Albert Mouring who is averaging 16.1 points per contest. The Huskies have also received strong play from newcomers Caron Butler and John Selvie.
Butler, a freshman from Racine, Wisc., ranks second on the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (7.9 rpg). Selvie, a junior college transfer, is the team’s third leading scorer at 12.9 points per game.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Connecticut meet for the 17th time with the Huskies leading the all-time series, 11-5. Connecticut is 10-5 against Miami in BIG EAST play. The Hurricanes three of the last four meetings including two staight against Connecticut. Miami won the only meeting last season, a 63-57 win at Gampel Pavilion. The recent series has been a closely contested one with each of the last four match-ups being decided by six points or less.
ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website at www.hurricanesports.com.
LAST SEASON AGAINST CONNECTICUT
February 19, 2000 – Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
Junior Elton Tyler poured in a game-high 22 points as the University of Miami defeated 18th-ranked Connecticut 63-57 at Gampel Pavilion.
With the win the Hurricanes become the first team to defeat Connecticut in consecutive games at Gampel Pavilion. Miami, which has won 14 of its last 16 BIG EAST road games, knocked off Connecticut 72-70 last season at Gampel.
Johnny Hemsley scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half as Miami over came a 13 point first half deficit to record its win over a ranked opponent this season.
John Salmons added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for Miami. Khalid El-Amin led Connecticut with 16 points and 11 assists.
Connecticut looked as if they were going to put the
Hurricanes away early jumping out to a 17-4 lead following a basket and free throw by Souleymane Wane with 14:34 to play in the half. Miami battled back with its defense holding Connecticut scoreless over the next 6:15 to cut the lead to 17-12 at the 8:31 mark.
Trailing 28-23 at the break, the Hurricanes opened the second half with an 11-2 run to take a 34-30 advantage with 16:50 to play.
El-Amin cut the Hurricane’s lead to 53-52 following two free throws with 5:06 left, but Miami’s defense responded holding Connecticut to just two points over the next 4:56 to put the game away.
UP NEXT:
Following today’s game Miami travels to New York to face St. John’s on Monday, January 22 beginning at 7 p.m. The St. John’s will be shown around the nation on ESPN. Miami will then return home for a four game homestand against Providence (Jan. 28), Seton Hall (Feb. 2), Virginia Tech (Feb. 6) and St. John’s (Feb. 10).
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Tonight’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and is airing live in Miami on Fox Sports Net Florida. John Sanders is handling the play-by-play with Glenn Consor 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 also be heard on the University of Miami student radio network (WVUM – 90.5 FM). The game can be heard live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.
A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 10-7, 2-4 BIG EAST.
***Mark Miami’s third consecutive win over Connecticut.
***Improve Miami’s conference record at Miami since 1994 to 40-15 (.727).
***Be Miami’s first BIG EAST home win this season.
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 194-152 (.561) including a 9-7 record this season.
Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun is in his 15th season with the Huskies. Calhoun’s record at Connecticut is 342-134 (.718) while his overall record in 29 years is 592-271 (.686).
UM HONORS FOOTBALL TEAM:
The University of Miami will honor the football team in a post-game ceremony. The “State Championship” celebration will consist of appearances, speeches and autographs from Hurricane coaches and players. Miami’s 2000 season highlight video will also be shown. The video is currently on sale on the Athletic Department website – www.hurricanesports.com.
GAME PROMOTIONS:
***Prior to the game, beginning at 2 p.m., an interactive Fan Jam will be held consisting of a video arcade and several contests including slam dunk, three-point shooting and free throw shooting.
***The first 500 children (13 and under) will receive free Junior Cane tee-shirts.
***There will also be the Perry Ellis Halftime Challenge which is a UM trivia version of Who Wants to be a Millionnaire.
FRESHMEN STEPPING UP:
In Miami’s 78-64 win over Providence (1-16-01) the Hurricanes’ freshmen class of Darius Rice (19 points), Marcus Barnes (20 points) and Rodrigue Djahue (10 points) gave a glimps at what the future holds for Miami. The three combined for 49 of the Hurricanes’ 78 points (62.8 percent).
Rice and Barnes have really stepped up their games in BIG EAST play. Rice (18.4 ppg) and Barnes (13.4 ppg) are the Hurricanes top two scorers in conference play.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s win over No. 18 St. John’s in last season’s regular season finale marked the sixth consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.
MIAMI REACHES SWEET 16:
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.
UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS:
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.
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.
RECORD SETTING NIGHTS:
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.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM is 0-1 against ranked teams this season. Miami was 3-5 versus ranked teams last season . The Hurricanes are 12-16 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons. Miami is 21-81 (.206) all-time against ranked teams including an 18-67 (.212) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
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.
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.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 16-5 in BIG EAST road games. The 16-5 mark ranks second behind Syracuse for the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period. Miami, which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games in 1998-99, was 7-1 in conference road games last season. Miami is 1-3 this season on the road. The Hurricanes have won 17 of their last 22 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 122-63 (.659) overall record, including a 7-1 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 75-23 (.765) home record since 1994. UM is 39-15 (.722) in its last 54 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.
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.
