Hurricanes Face Villanova Saturday In Final Regular-Season Game
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VILLANOVA WILDCATS (17-10, 8-7 BIG EAST)
at
MIAMI HURRICANES (15-11, 7-8 BIG EAST)
Saturday, March 3, 2001 — Noon (EST)
Miami Arena (15,388)
TV: WPLG-Ch. 10
Radio: WAXY (790 AM)
Website: www.Hurricanesports.com
SATURDAY’S OPPONENT:
Villanova enters Saturday’s game with a record of 17-10, 8-7 in the BIG EAST, following a 74-55 win over Seton Hall on Wednesday. The win was the Wildcats’ second straight and fifth in their last seven games.
Villanova has been led this season by junior center Michael Bradley who is averaging 21.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 70.4 percent (233-331) from the field. Bradley currently leads the nation in field goal percentage and ranks 11th in the nation in both scoring and rebounding.
Villanova has also been led by sophomore point guard Gary Buchanan who ranks second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and leads the nation in free throw percentage (.946). This season Buchanan made 73 consecutive free throws to establish a new NCAA record.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Villanova meet for the 17th time with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 10-6. The Hurricanes have won five of the last six games in the series including an 80-62 win earlier this season at Villanova. Miami is 3-4 all-time at home against Villanova, although the Hurricanes have won the last two match-ups at the Miami Arena.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a 35-14 (.714) conference mark since the 1998-99 season. The Hurricanes’ record is the best in the BIG EAST over the last three seasons.
LAST TIME AGAINST VILLANOVA
February 17, 2001
The Pavilion, Villanova, PA
Darius Rice poured in a game-high 28 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds to lead the University of Miami to an 80-62 win over Villanova at the Pavilion in Villanova, PA.
Rice connected on 10-16 field goals including 3-7 from three-point range. James Jones added 17 for the Hurricanes while John Salmons and Marcus Barnes recorded 11 points apiece. Michael Bradley led Villanova with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
With the win the Hurricanes clinched a berth in the AT&T BIG EAST Championship, March 7-10, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
Miami jumped out to a 33-27 lead at the half behind 16 point from Rice. The Hurricanes pulled away in the second half shooting 65.2 percent (15-23) from the floor.
The Hurricanes made a season-high 13 three-point field goals and shot 52 percent (13-25) from the floor from long range. Villanova commited 23 turnovers on the night while UM recorded just 10.
UP NEXT:
Following Saturday’s game the Hurricanes travel to New York for the AT&T BIG EAST Championship, March 7-10, at Madison Square Garden.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Saturday’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and is being broadcast in Miami on WPLG-TV Channel 10 as part of the BIG EAST Game of the Week package. Dave Sims is handling the play-by-play with Mark Plansky 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 also be heard over the internet at the official website for Hurricane athletics – www.hurricanesports.com.
ON THE COACHES:
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 200-156 (.562) including a 15-11 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 173-109 (.613) while his overall record stands at 229-169 (.575).
SENIOR DAY:
Saturday’s game marks the final home game for seniors Dwayne Wimbley and Orlando Gonzalez. The two will be honored in a ceremony prior to tip-off.
Wimbley has started all 26 games this season at center and is averaging 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He has played in 115 games entering Saturday’s contest against Villanova. With a start Saturday he will move into fifth place on Miami’s all-time games played list with 116.
During his four seasons the Hurricanes have posted a 79-39 (.669) record, won the 1999-00 BIG EAST regular-season championship, received three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
Orlando Gonzalez is concluding his second season with Miami after transfering from St. Thomas University last season. Gonzalez has played in 11 career games including six contests this season.
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.
A NEW HOME FLOOR:
The University of Miami are playing on a 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 DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 126-65 (.658) overall record, including a 11-3 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 68-19 (.781) home record since 1994. UM is 37-14 (.725) in its last 51 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1995-96 season.
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 (10.1 ppg). In the Hurricanes’ last 15 games Barnes has scored in double-figures seven times including three 20-point games.
JOHN 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 is currently the only BIG EAST player to rank among the BIG EAST leaders (conference games only) in scoring (20th – 13.4 ppg), rebounding (17th – 6.1 rpg), assists (11th – 4.13 apg), steals (5th – 2.0 spg), free throw percentage (10th – .800) and assist-to-turnover ratio (13th – 1.38 ratio).
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.
HURRICANES LOOK TO TIE WINS RECORD:
Over the last four seasons the Hurricanes have registered a 79-39 (.669) overall record. With a win Saturday Miami tie the school-record for wins over a four-year period with 80 set from 1959-63 (80-28) and later equalled from 1996-00 (80-41).
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 is 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1994-95 is the best among the state’s 11 Division I programs.
