Men's Basketball Begins Season On Friday

Nov. 16, 1999

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The 24th-ranked University of Miami men’sbasketball team opens the 1999-2000 season against Central Florida onFriday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Orlando, FL.

Miami, which has won six consecutive season openers, returns fourstarters from last season’s 23-7 squad including the senior trio of guardsJohnny Hemsley and Vernon Jennings, and center Mario Bland.

Hemsley, a preseason first team All-BIG EAST selection, is one of 30preseason candidates for the Naismith Award which is given annually to thenation’s top college basketball player. Hemsley averaged 17.8 points, 4.7rebounds and 2.3 assists last season and was named the 1998-99 BIG EAST MostImproved Player.

Jennings started 29 of 30 games at point guard last season and ledthe conference in assists averaging 5.6 per game. His 167 assists on theseason set a University of Miami single season record.

Bland returns as the Hurricanes top offensive threat in the post.Last season he averaged 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting125-212 (.590) from the field.

Central Florida returns eight letterwinners, including threestarters, from last season’s 19-10 team that finished second in the TransAmerica Athletic Conference. Last season the Golden Knights were animpressive 11-1 at home including nine straight home wins to close theseason.

Central Florida will be led this season by the senior backcourt ofD’Quarius Stewart and Cory Perry. Stewart, a 6-2 shooting guard, is theteam’s top returning scorer having averaged 13.9 points per game lastseason. Perry, a 5-11 point guard, led the team in assists (5.1 apg), steals(1.6 spg) and free throw percentage (.816).