Men's Basketball Travels to Pittsburgh Wednesday
Dec. 31, 2000
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PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. MIAMI HURRICANES (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Wednesday, January 3, 2001 — 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Fitzgerald Field House (6,798)
Fox Sports Net, WAXY (790 AM)
WEDNESDAY’S OPPONENT:
Pittsburgh enters Wednesday’s game with a record of 8-3 following a 62-46 win over New Orleans on December 30. The win marked the Panthers’ second straight.
The Panthers were led by senior forward Ricardo Greer who posted his second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Greer, a preseason first-team All-BIG EAST selection, leads the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game. He ranks second on the squad in rebounding at 7.8 rebounds per game. Center Isaac Hawkins, who is averaging 11.2 points per game, is the team’s leading rebounder at 8.7 rebounds per contest.
Miami and Pittsburgh have one common opponent this season. Pittsburgh defeated Nebraska 52-51 on December 2 while UM dropped a 72-64 decision to the Cornhuskers on December 16.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Pittsburgh meet for the 29th time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series 15-13. The two have met 16 times in BIG EAST regular-season play with Pittsburgh holding a 9-7 advantage. Miami and Pittsburgh also met during the 1992 BIG EAST Tournament with Hurricanes coming away with an 83-71 win.
The Hurricanes have won seven of the last nine meetings including three straight. Miami is 5-8 all-time on the road at Pittsburgh including a 2-6 mark in BIG EAST play.
LAST TIME AGAINST PITTSBURGH
February 29, 2000
Fitzgerald Field House, Pittsburgh, PA
Johnny Hemsley poured in 21 points while Mario Bland recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Miami to a 74-66 win over Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA.
Jarrett Lockhart led Pittsburgh with 24 points. Ricardo Greer added 21 and 10 rebounds for the Panthers. Miami freshman James Jones scored a career-high 16 points for the Hurricanes.
The win for Miami was its 10th in its last 11 BIG EAST games and its 16th win in its last 18 conference road games.
The Hurricanes, who have won four straight, swept Pittsburgh for the first time in school history.
Trailing 49-47 with 11:07 to play, Bland scored six points in a 10-2 run as the Hurricanes regained control. Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 62-58 with 3:57 left, but Bland made two free throws, then scored on a lay-up off Vernon Jenning’s 10th assist of the night, to push the lead back to eight.
With the 10 assists, Jennings broke his own UM single season assist record with 170. Last season Jennings set the record with 167 assists.
UP NEXT:
Following tonight’s game Miami then returns home for its BIG EAST home opener against Boston College on January 7 at 2 p.m. at the Miami Arena.
A WIN WEDNESDAY WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 9-3.
***Be Miami’s fifth straight win.
***Mark Miami’s fourth straight BIG EAST opening victory.
***Mark Miami’s fourth straight win over Pittsburgh.
***Be Miami’s 17th win in its last 19 BIG EAST road games.
ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website for up to the minute information on Hurricane Athletics at www.hurricanesports.com.
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 duties with Bob Wenzel adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WAXY – 790 AM). Marc Vandermeer is calling the play-by-play with Joe Zagacki providing analysis. The game can be heard 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 193-148 (.566) including a 8-3 record this season.
Pittsburgh head coach Ben Howland is in his second season with the Panthers and seventh season overall. Howland’s record at Pittsburgh is 21-18 (.538) while his overall record stands at 100-77 (.565).
FOR OPENERS:
Tonight’s game marks the BIG EAST opener for both schools. Miami has won its last three BIG EAST openers including a 66-58 win over West Virginia last season. Miami is 5-4 all-time in BIG EAST Conference openers.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Over the last two seasons Miami is 15-2 in BIG EAST road games. The 15-2 mark is the best among BIG EAST schools over the last two seasons. Miami, which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games in 1998-99, was 7-1 in conference road games last season. Miami has won 16 of its last 18 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.
IN THEIR FIRST SEASON:
New Hurricane head coach Perry Clark opened his first season at Miami with a 3-0 record. The three straight wins to open the season tied the UM record for consecutive wins to open a season by a coach in his first season at Miami. Bill Foster (1985-86), Hart Morris (1938-39) and Art Webb (1926-27) all opened their inaugural season at Miami 3-0.
RECORD SETTING NIGHT:
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. Rice also connected on six three-point baskets against UCF tying a UM freshman record.
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.
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 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.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM is 0-1 against ranked teams this season. Miami was 3-5 versus ranked teams last season . The Hurricanes are 12-15 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons. Miami is 21-80 (.208) all-time against ranked teams including an 18-66 (.214) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
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.
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:
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.
WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last two seasons. Last season the Hurricanes defeated St. John’s in the regular-season finale while in 1998-99 the Hurricanes’ lost a heartbreaking overtime game against No. 1 ranked. UM has amassed a 6-2 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (4-2 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 22-19 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-3 in double-overtime games and a 18-16 mark in single-overtime contests). Miami is 6-2 in overtime games since 1995.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 121-62 (.661) overall record, including a 6-0 mark this season. UM has posted a 74-22 (.771) home record since 1994. UM is 39-14 (.736) in its last 53 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.
BIG OFF THE BENCH:
This season the Hurricanes’ have received strong play from its bench. The UM bench has accounted for 34.9 percent (271 of 778 points) of the Hurricanes’ scoring and 27.8 percent (113 of 406 rebounds) of its rebounding this season. Miami’s bench is averaging 24.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Miami is 7-1 this season when it’s bench scores 20 or more points.
In comparison, last season the Miami bench accounted for only 19.3 percent (453 of 2346 points) of UM’s scoring and 24.3 percent (312 of 1282 rebounds) of its rebounding. Last season Miami’s bench averaged 13.3 points and 9.2 rebounds.
POINTS, POINTS, POINTS:
Last season Miami scored 2,346 points in 34 games (69 ppg). The overall point total was the most by a Hurricane team since the 1988-89 season. That season the Hurricanes scored 2,809 points in 31 games for an average of 90.6 points per game.
The point total also marked the second straight season in which the Hurricanes had posted 2,000 more points. The last time UM had recorded 2,000 or more points in consecutive seasons was in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
DEAD-EYE FROM THE LINE:
Miami led the BIG EAST and ranked 13th in the nation shooting 74.8 percent from free throw line last season. Miami’s five starters combined to shoot 441-572 (.771) from the line. This season’s starters have been just as proficient from the line connecting on 90-118 (.762) free throw attempts. As a team the Hurricanes are shooting 71.4 percent from the line to lead the BIG EAST.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
Prior to last season’s regular season finale against St. John’s, the Hurricanes had hit at least one three-point field goal in 249 consecutive games. Overall, the `Canes have hit at least one trey in 418 of its 420 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986. The only other game in which Miami failed to hit a three-point field goal was against Howard University on Dec. 6, 1991 when the `Canes were 0-15 behind the three-point arc.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Against Lehigh on December 27, the Hurricanes shot 30-58 (.517) fromt he field marking the first time this season that UM shot over 50 percent from the field.
Last season the Hurricanes shot 50 percent or better from the floor seven times. Since the 1998-99 season, the Hurricanes have shot over 50 percent from the floor 20 times.
Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 19-1 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Miami has won its last five games when shooting 50 percent or better.
BIG EAST SPLITS INTO TWO DIVISIONS:
With the addition of Virginia Tech, the BIG EAST Conference will begin divisional play. The league will be split into two seven-team divisions with each team playing divisional opponents both home and away. All teams will also play four interdivisional games (two home, two away).
Divisional finish will also affect the BIG EAST Championship. The top six teams in each division will advance to the AT&T BIG EAST Championship at Madison Square Garden on March 7-10.
The top two finishers in each division will earn first round byes. The first-round games will be cross-divisional matchups. The West Division No. 4 seed will play the East Division No. 5 seed. The West No. 4 will play the East No. 5. The East No. 3 will meet the West No. 6. The East No. 4 will play the West No. 5 while the West No. 3 will play the East No. 6.
HURRICANES PICKED FOURTH IN DIVISION:
The University of Miami was picked to finish fourth in the East Divison by a vote of the leagues coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
SELECT COMPANY:
The Hurricanes are one of just three BIG EAST schools to post a winning overall record each of the past six seasons. Joining the Hurricanes are Syracuse and Connecticut.
MAKING ROAD HISTORY:
With its 63-57 win over Connecticut last season the University of Miami became the first school to win consecutive games against the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion. Miami defeated Connecticut 73-71 in its previous trip to Storrs on February 20, 1999.
AMONG THE ELITE:
Since the start of the 1996-97 season UM has compiled a 48-22 (.686) record in BIG EAST regular season games tying Connecticut for the best conference mark over that period.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 28-6 (.824) conference mark over the last two seasons. Miami, which was 15-3 in league play last season, went 13-3 this year.
A SWEEPING SUCCESS:
With their win over Pittsburgh on February 29 the Hurricanes recorded their third season sweep this season. Miami also swept Notre Dame and West Virginia. Miami has registered 13 BIG EAST regular season two-game sweeps since joining the league in the 1991-92 season. Miami has now recorded at least one series sweep in each of the last six seasons.
