Men's Basketball Prepares For No. 22 Seton Hall

Jan. 30, 2001

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#22/#25 SETON HALL PIRATES (12-6, 3-4 BIG EAST)
at
MIAMI HURRICANES (10-9, 2-6 BIG EAST)

Thursday, February 1, 2001 — 7:00 p.m.

Miami Arena

ESPN2, WQAM (560 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: Seton Hall, ranked 22nd by the Associated Press and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today poll, enters its game with Miami with a record of 12-6, 3-4 in the BIG EAST, following an 81-75 loss at West Virginia on January 27.

The Pirates have been led this season by freshman sensation Eddie Griffin. Griffin is averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game and leads the nation in both rebounding (12.5 rpg) and blocks (5.1 bpg).

Seton Hall has also received strong play from junior Darius Lane. The 2000-01 preseason first-team All-BIG EAST selection ranks second on the team in scoring with an 18.8 points per game average and is shooting 40 percent (60-150) from three-point range.

THE SERIES: Miami and Seton Hall meet for the 20th time with the Pirates leading the all-time series 12-7. The Hurricanes have won two straight against Seton Hall including a 71-64 win last season at Continental Airlines Arena. Miami is 6-10 against Seton Hall in BIG EAST play although the Hurricanes have dominated the recent series taking six of the last eight meetings including four of the last five matchups.

ONLINE ALL THE TIME: Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website at www.hurricanesports.com.

LAST TIME AGAINST SETON HALL
January 11, 2000
Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

Johnny Hemsley poured in a game-high 23 points while Vernon Jennings and Mario Bland each added 14 points as the University of Miami defeated Seton Hall, 71-64, at Continental Airlines Arena. Shaheen Holloway and Darius Lane scored 16 apiece to lead Seton Hall. The win for Miami marked its third consecutive over Seton Hall and snapped the Pirates’ seven game winning streak. Seton Hall jumped out to a 17-7 lead and led 33-32 at the half. The Pirates shot 51.9 percent (14-27) in the first half while holding the Hurricanes to just 38.9 percent shooting (14-36). In the second half the Hurricanes stepped up their defense holding Seton Hall to just 10-of-30 (.333) shooting from the field. The game remained close throughout the second half as there were seven lead changes and five ties.But with the score tied 55-55 with 5:08 to play, Bland hit two free throws to put the Hurricanes ahead for good. Miami, which leads the BIG EAST in free throw percentage, hit 10-of-12 from the line in the final two minutes to keep the game out of reach.

UP NEXT: Following tonight’s game Miami continues its four game homestand against Virginia Tech starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the Miami Arena. The Hurricanes’ conclude its homestand against St. John’s on Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE: Tonight’s game is being televised nationally on ESPN2. Dan Shulman is handling the play-by-play with Len Elmore 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 University of Miami Student Radio Network (WVUM-90.5 FM) is also broadcasting game. The game can be accessed live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 11-9, 3-6 BIG EAST.Mark Miami’s third straight win over Seton Hall.Mark the Hurricanes’ fifth win in the last six games against the Pirates.Mark the second ranked opponent the Hurricanes have defeated at Miami Arena this season (77-74 over #15 Connecticut on Jan. 20).

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 195-154 (.559) including a 10-9 record this season.

Seton Hall head coach Tommy Amaker is in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach, all with the Pirates. Amaker’s career record is 64-46 (.582) including a 12-6 record this season.

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 (17.1 ppg) and Barnes (13.3 ppg) are the Hurricanes’ top two scorers in conference play.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

HURRICANE TICKETS ON SALE: For information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANES in Dade or (800) GO-CANES. The Ticket Office is open from 9a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.