Rice Named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week

Feb. 19, 2001

Providence, RI – University of Miami freshman forward Darius Rice (Jackson, MS) was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week after leading the Hurricanes to a pair of conference road victories.

Rice is the second Hurricane this season to earn BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors. Teammate Marcus Barnes was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on January 22.

Rice averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as Miami recorded road victories over No. 10 Syracuse and Villanova.

Rice tied for team-high honors with 14 points, connecting on 6-10 from the field, as Miami defeated No. 10 Syracuse, 68-57, at the Carrier Dome. The win marked Miami’s second consecutive over the Orangemen at the Carrier Dome.

Rice followed the Syracuse game with a 28-point, five-rebound performance in the Hurricanes’ 80-62 road win over Villanova. Rice was 10-16 from the field, including 3-7 from three-point range, and 5-6 from the line. With the win Miami clinched a berth in BIG EAST Tournament, March 7-10, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Rice, the nephew of NFL superstar receiver Jerry Rice, leads the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and ranks third in rebounding (5.1 rpg). He has led the team in scoring 10 times this season and has recorded a team best six 20-point games. His 35 points earlier this season against Central Florida established a UM freshman single-game scoring record.