Hurricanes To Battle Auburn Tigers In NIT First Round

March 12, 2001

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MIAMI HURRICANES (16-12, 8-8 BIG EAST)
vs. AUBURN TIGERS (17-13, 7-9 SEC)
National Invitation Tournament

Opening Round – March 14, 2001 – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum (10,500) – Auburn, AL
Radio: WAXY (790 AM), Internet: HurricaneSports.com

FIRST ROUND OPPONENT:
Auburn enters its opening round game with a record of 17-13, 7-9 in the SEC, following a 73-66 loss to Tennessee in the opening round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville, TN. Sophomore guard Adam Harrington led the way for the Tigers with 25 points and eight rebounds.

Harrington has been Auburn’s top scoring threat this season averaging a team best 16.3 points per game. Harrington has been the Tigers leading scorer in the season’s final four games. Auburn boasts three players averaging in double-figures. Joining Harrington are sophomore forward Marquis Daniels (15.8 ppg) and senior guard Scott Pohlman (12.6 ppg).

The Tigers have struggled late in the season going 5-5 in the last 10 games including three losses in its last four decisions. Auburn has been strong on its home floor recording an 11-5 record this season including a 5-3 mark in SEC play. Auburn has won its last three games at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Auburn meet for just the second time. Miami won the only other previous meeting, 87-73, at the Volunteer Invitational on December 21, 1966.

MIAMI IN THE POST-SEASON:
The Hurricanes are competing in the post-season for the fifth straight season and for the sixth time in the last seven years. Miami is making its sixth appearance in the NIT and its first since 1997. Miami is 1-5 in NIT play with its lone win coming against St. Francis (NY), 71-70, on March 16, 1963. Overall, UM is 4-9 in post-season play.

LAST OUTING AGAINST PITTSBURGH
AT&T BIG EAST Championship
March 7, 2001
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Ricardo Greer recorded 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead Pittsburgh to a 78-69 victory over Miami in the opening round of the AT&T BIG EAST Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.

Forward Donatas Zavackas and guard Brandin Knight each added 16 points for Pittsburgh. Center Dwayne Wimbley led Miami with a career-high 20 points while forward James Jones added 18 and guard Marcus Barnes 12 for the Hurricanes.

Pittsburgh opened a 37-26 lead at the half. The Panthers took advantage of Miami’s 12 first half turnovers converting them into 14 points. The Hurricanes’ two leading scorers, John Salmons and Darius Rice, combined to play just 13 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

Pittsburgh opened a 12 point lead early in the second half when Knight hit a three-pointer to make the score 44-32 with 16:38 to play. Miami however would battle back using a 20-10 run to cut the lead to 54-52 following a free throw by Jones at the 8:37 mark. Pittsburgh answered with a 20-9 run of its own to put the game away.

A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:

Improve Miami’s overall record to 17-12.Mark the Hurricanes’ first NIT win since March 16, 1963.Improve Miami’s all-time record against Auburn to 2-0.Mark the third consecutive year in which Miami has won its opening game in post-season play.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Miami’s opening round game is not being televised. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WAXY – 790 AM). Marc Vandermeer and Joe Zagacki are calling the action. The game can also be heard over the internet at the official website for Hurricane athletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

ON PERRY CLARK:
Miami head coach Perry Clark was named the Hurricanes’ head basketball coach on on July 6, 2000. Prior to taking the UM job Clark spent 11 seasons at Tulane where 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.

With Miami’s win over West Virginia on February 28, Clark registered his 200th career victory. Clark’s career record stands at 201-157 (.561) including a 16-12 record this season. Miami’s NIT bid marks the eighth post-season appearance in 12 seasons for Perry Clark. Clarks’ post-season record is 8-7 including a 5-4 record in the NIT.

DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 36-14 (.720) conference mark since the 1998-99 season.

MIAMI VS. THE SEC:
Miami enters its game with Auburn with a record of 31-55 (.360) against SEC competition including a 5-12 record since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami is 5-35 on the road against SEC teams. Miami’s last road win against an SEC team was an 86-77 win over Florida on January 10, 1963. Miami is 1-0 against SEC teams in post-season play defeating Arkansas, 75-71, in the opening round of last season’s NCAA Championship.

Miami is 33-56 (.371) against teams currently in SEC. In addition, UM went 2-1 vs. Tulane and 1-0 against Georgia Tech while they were members of the SEC.

MIAMI VS. POST-SEASON TEAMS:
The University of Miami went 9-8 versus teams competing in post-season play this season. Miami went 3-5 against teams competing in the NCAA Tournament (1-0 vs. Syracuse, 1-0 vs. Eastern Illinois, 1-1 vs. Providence, 0-2 vs. Boston College, 0-1 vs. Charlotte, 0-1 vs. North Carolina) and is 6-3 versus teams in this season’s NIT (2-0 vs. Villanova, 1-0 vs. Memphis, 1-0 vs. Seton Hall, 1-0 vs. West Virginia, 1-1 vs. Connecticut, 0-2 vs. Pittsburgh).

JACK OF ALL TRADES:
Junior John Salmons (6-7, 200) is arguably the most versatile player in the BIG EAST Conference. Salmons has played every position at Miami except center and was the only BIG EAST player to rank among the BIG EAST leaders (conference games only) in scoring (17th – 14.0 ppg), rebounding (17th – 6.3 rpg), assists (9th – 4.38 apg), steals (9th – 1.94 spg), free throw percentage (9th – .824) and assist-to-turnover ratio (11th – 1.43 ratio).

ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 18-7 in BIG EAST road games. The 18-7 mark is 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 went 3-5 this season on the road. The Hurricanes have won 19 of their last 26 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.

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.

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.

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.

HURRICANES TIE WINS RECORD:
Over the last four seasons the Hurricanes have registered a 80-40 (.667) overall record. The 80 wins ties the school-record for wins over a four-year period matching the 1959-63 teams (80-28) and later equalled by the 1996-00 teams (80-41).

WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last three seasons. UM has amassed a 6-4 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (4-3 at home). The ‘Canes, who have never had more than three overtime games in any season (3-0 in 1986-87 and 0-3 in 1990-91), own a 22-21 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-4 in double-overtime games and a 18-17 mark in single-overtime contests). Miami is 6-4 in overtime games since 1995. Below is a list of UM’s overtime games since 1990:

BARNES STEPPING UP:
Miami freshman Marcus Barnes stepped up his game in BIG EAST play. Barnes, who averaged 3.6 points per game in 11 non-conference games, ranked fourth on the team in scoring in conference and conference tournament games (9.9 ppg). In the Hurricanes’ last 17 games Barnes has scored in double-figures eight times including three 20-point games.

LATE SEASON HEAT WAVE:
Over the last three seasons Miami has played well in the month of February registering a 20-3 (.870) record. Miami went 7-1 in the month of February last season while going 8-0 in 1998-99. The Hurricanes went 5-2 in the month of February this season.

WINNING WAYS:
With its 73-68 win over West Virginia on February 28, the University of Miami clinched its seventh consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least seven straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the `Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 127-65 (.661) overall record, including a 12-3 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 69-19 (.784) home record since 1994. UM is 38-14 (.731) in its last 52 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1995-96 season.

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.