Men's Hoops Set To Host Unbeaten Syracuse

Jan. 6, 2000

#7/#8 SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (10-0, 1-0)vs.UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (8-5, 1-0)
Saturday, January 8, 2000 — Noon (EST)
Miami Arena (15,388)
SportsChannel Florida, WQAM (560 AM), WACC (830 AM)

TODAY’S OPPONENT:
Syracuse enters today’s game with a perfect 10-0 record following a93-74 win over Rutgers in its BIG EAST opener Wednesday at the Carrier Dome.

The Orangemen are ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press and No. 8 inthe ESPN/USA Today College Basketball polls. Today’s contest marks the firstroad game of the season for the Orangemen.

The Orangemen have been led this season by the frontline of forwardsDamone Brown and Ryan Blackwell, and center Etan Thomas. The three rank1-2-3 on the team in scoring and rebounding, and are shooting a combined153-274 (.558) from the field. Thomas, one of the nation’s top shotblockers, is averaging 4.0 blocks per game.

THE SERIES:
Syracuse and Miami meet for the 16th time with Orangemen leading theall-time series 11-4. The Hurricanes have split the last six meetings withSyracuse and are 3-4 all-time against the Orangemen at Miami Arena.

Last season Miami faced Syracuse only once recording a 76-63 win atthe Carrier Dome. The win marked the Hurricanes’ first win at the CarrierDome.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Today’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Televisionand is being televised in Miami by SportsChannel Florida. Bob Picozzi ishandling the play-by-play duties with Bob Wenzel providing in-depthanalysis. The game will also be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network(WQAM – 560 AM). Marc Vandermeer will provide the play-by-play with JoeZagacki adding analysis. The game is being broadcast in Spanish on WACC (830AM). Jerry del Castillo (paly-by-play) and Pepe Campos (analysis) will callthe action.

Probable Hurricane Starters

Probable Orangemen Starters

UP NEXT:
Following today’s game the Hurricanes hit the road for threestraight games at Seton Hall (Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.), Georgetown (Jan. 15,Noon) and Villanova (Jan. 17, 7:00 p.m.). Following the three game roadswing the Hurricanes will return to Miami Arena on Saturday, January 22 fora 7:30 p.m. contest with BIG EAST rival Boston College.

PLAYING SPOILER: Miami’s win over No. 10 St. John’s last season marked the fifthconsecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent inthe Miami Arena.

Wins Over Ranked Teams at Miami Arena since 1994-95:

A WIN TODAY WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 9-5, 2-0 BIG EASTBe Miami’s fourth consecutive victory.Mark the sixth straight season the Hurricanes’ have defeated a rankedopponent at Miami Arena.Be Miami’s second straight win over Syracuse.Mark the third straight season Miami opened conference play 2-0.

LAST SEASON AGAINST SYRACUSE:
No. 16 Miami 76, No. 18 Syracuse 63
February 8, 1999
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY

Johnny Hemsley poured in a game-high 21 points to lead fourHurricanes in double figures while Vernon Jennings handed out 11 assists asthe 16th ranked University of Miami Hurricanes defeated 18th rankedSyracuse, 76-63, in the Carrier Dome.

Allen Griffin led Syracuse with 18 points while Jason Hart added 17for the Orangemen.

The victory was Miami’s first ever in the Carrier Dome and improvedthe Hurricanes’ BIG EAST road record to 6-1 on the season. The win alsoMiami’s eighth overall road win this season marking the most road victoriesfor a Hurricane squad since 1964-65.

Miami All-America candidate Tim James recorded 18 points and ninerebounds moving him into 11th place on the all-time BIG EAST reboundingchart (508).

The Hurricanes, who improved to 3-2 against ranked opponents, shot50 percent (25-50) from the floor for the ninth time this season anddominated the boards outrebounding the Orangemen, 33-23.

MIAMI HURRICANES

SYRACUSE

Officials: Tim Higgins, Curtis Shaw, Ed Corbett
Technical fouls: None.

Attendance: 18836

ON THE COACHES:
Leonard Hamilton, in his 10th season at Miami and 14th as acollegiate head coach, has brought the University of Miami men’s basketballprogram in to the national spotlight. The 1998-99 BIG EAST Conference Coachof the Year, Hamilton has guided the Hurricanes to four postseasonappearances in the last five seasons including back-to-back NCAA Tournamentappearances in 1998 and 1999.

Last season Hamilton led Miami to a 23-7 record and a No. 10national ranking by the Associated Press. The 20-win season marked the firstfor Miami since the 1964-65 season while the AP ranking was the first sincethe 1959-60 season. Prior to his arrival at UM, Hamilton spent four seasonsat Oklahoma State where he led the Cowboys to their first back-to-backpostseason berths in 36 years. Hamilton’s record at UM is 129-141 (.478)while his career mark stands at 185-204 (.476).

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim is in his 24th season as acollegiate head coach having spent all 24 seasons with the Orangemen. Hiscareer record stands at 559-193 (.743).

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
This year marks the 11th season that Miami has called the MiamiArena home. The ‘Canes have compiled a 112-59 (.655) overall record at theArena, including a 6-1 mark this season. UM has posted a 63-17 (.788) homerecord since 1994. UM is 34-12 (.739) in its last 46 BIG EAST home gamesdating back to the 1994-95 season.

Miami Arena Record Last Four Plus Seasons:

Top 5 BIG EAST Home Winning Percentages (1994-1999.)

Overall:

Conference Games Only:

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
Miami was 4-3 against ranked teams last season including a 3-1 markagainst ranked teams on the road. The Hurricanes have 11 wins over rankedopponents over the last five seasons. In their last eight contests againstranked teams at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have posted a 5-3 record.

Miami Victories Over Ranked Teams:

WINNING WAYS:
Miami’s 23-7 record last season marked its fifth consecutive winningseason. The last time Miami recorded at least five straight winning seasonswas the 1968-69 campaign when the ‘Canes registered their 10th straightwinning season.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since becoming the 10th member of The BIG EAST Conference beginningwith the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 54-29 (.651) recordagainst non-conference opponents, including a 40-12 mark (.769) at the MiamiArena.

SUCCESS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:
Entering the 1999-2000 season the Hurricanes are the only team inthe state of Florida to register a winning record in each of the last fiveseasons. The Hurricanes’ 87-57 (.604) mark since the 1994-95 season is thetop winning percentage and most victories among the state’s 11 Division Iprograms.

GETTING IT DONE AT BOTH ENDS:
Miami ranked 21st in the nation in field goal percentage and 13th inthe nation in field goal percentage defense. Miami joins Duke, Maryland,College of Charleston, Kentucky, Utah, and North Carolina as the onlyschools to rank nationally in both categories. Additionally, the Hurricanesled the BIG EAST in both categories.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS:
Seniors Mario Bland, Johnny Hemsley and Vernon Jennings have been anintegral part of the Hurricanes’ accent into the national spotlight. Duringtheir first three seasons at Miami the three have led the Hurricanes to a57-30 (.655) record, three consecutive winning season, and three straightpostseason appearances including NCAA Tournament bids in 1998 and 1999.Miami’s NCAA Tournament bid in 1998 marked the school’s first since 1960.

Additionally, Miami’s 57 wins are the most in a three year periodsince UM won 57 games from 1963-66 while its .655 winning percentage is thehighest since Miami posted a 52-26 (.667) record from 1964-67.

Should Miami earn a post season bid in 1999-2000, the trio wouldbecome the first Hurricanes to reach the post season in four consecutiveseasons.

HEMSLEY A NAISMITH CANDIDATE:
Johnny Hemsley has been selected as one of 30 preseason candidatesfor the 1999-2000 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. Thecandidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised ofleading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts.

MAKING ROAD HISTORY:
With its 73-71 win over Connecticut last season at Gampel Pavilion,Miami became the first school in BIG EAST history to defeat Connecticut,Syracuse, St. John’s and Georgetown on the road in the same season.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Last season Miami registered a 12-4 record (2-1 at neutral sites)when away from home last season. Miami was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games and10-3 on the road during the regular season. The 10 road wins were the mostsince 1959-60. Miami is 1-1 on the road this season.

MIAMI BACK IN THE DANCE, AGAIN:
Miami’s selection to the 1999 NCAA Championship marked theHurricanes second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Miami’sNCAA tournament berth in 1998 the Hurricanes had received only one bid tothe “Big Dance” and that was in 1960. Last season the Hurricanes were seededNo. 2 in the East Region marking the highest NCAA seed in school history.The Hurricanes’ 75-54 win over Lafayette in the opening round marked Miami’sfirst NCAA Tournament victory in school history. Miami has advanced topost-season play in four of the last five seasons.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
Against Hartford, Mario Bland recorded his third consecutivedouble-double and the tenth double-double of his career. Last season MarioBland ranked second on the team with five double-doubles. Bland recordedfour of those double-doubles in the final eight games of the season. MiamiHeat first round draft choice Tim James led Miami with 10 double-doubles.

1999-00 Hurricane Double-Doubles:

WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami’s game last season against Connecticut on Jan. 20 marked theHurricanes first overtime contest since a 76-68 victory over St. John’s inthe opening round of the 1997 BIG EAST Tournament. UM has amassed a 5-2record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (3-2 athome). Miami’s game against St. John’s on Feb. 20, 1996 is its onlydouble-overtime game in a BIG EAST contest since joining the league in the1991-92 season. The ‘Canes, who have never had more than three overtimegames in any season (3-0 in 1986-87 and 0-3 in 1990-91), own a 21-19 overallrecord in overtime contests during their history (4-3 in double-overtimegames and a 17-16 mark in single-overtime contests). UM has never played atriple-overtime game. Miami is 5-5 in overtime games under head coachLeonard Hamilton. Below is a list of UM’s overtime games under Hamilton:

UM TICKETS ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for all University of Miami men’s basketballhome games at the Miami Arena are on sale at the Hecht Athletic CenterTicket Office on the UM campus, the Miami Arena, and through TicketMaster.

Sidecourt reserved seats are $13 and endcourt reserved seats are $10for each of Miami’s six non-conference games, not including Kentucky. Alltickets for the Kentucky game on Jan. 29 are $20 and include admission tothe Miami women’s contest against Connecticut immediately following themen’s game. Single game tickets for UM’s eight BIG EAST contests are $18 forsidecourt reserved and $15 for endcourt reserved. For the fourth straightseason a youth (17 and under) endcourt reserved ticket can be purchased for$7.

The Hurricane Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information callthe UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANES in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES.

ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the Hurricanes’ website at www.hurricanesports.com for allthe latest information on University of Miami athletics.

1999-00 MISCELLANEOUS STATS

Double Figure Scoring Games

20-Point Scoring Games

Double Figure Rebound Games

Double Figure Assist Games

Double-Doubles

Dunks

HURRICANES END 1998-99 SEASON RANKED:
The University of Miami ended the season ranked 10th in the finalAssociated Press College Basketball Top-25 poll and 12th in the seasonending ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top-25 poll.

Prior to last season’s debut at No. 25 in the Jan. 18 AssociatedPress poll Miami had not been ranked in the Associated Press poll since theend of the 1959-60 season when the Hurricanes were ranked No. 10 in thecountry. Miami reached a season-high of No. 9 in the nation in the March 1Associated Press poll. Miami’s highest ranking came on Mar. 1, 1960 when theHurricanes were ranked No. 8 by the Associated Press.

MIAMI IN THE PRESEASON POLLS:
The University of Miami men’s basketball team debuted at No. 25 inthe preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll and No. 24 inthe preseason ESPN/USA Today college basketball poll. The preseasonrankings are the first since the 1964-65 season when Miami opened theseason ranked 16th in the nation by United Press International. Prior tothis season Miami had never been ranked in the preseason by the AssociatedPress.

MIAMI IN THE 1999-00 POLLS:
For the first time this season Miami did not receive any votes ineither the Associated Press or ESPN/USA Today College Basketball polls.

UM in the 1999-00 polls:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
(1/3/00)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Temple 219, Tulane 69, Wake Forest 56, StJohns 52, No Carolina St 50, Mississippi 38, Gonzaga 26, Oregon 25, Xavier21, Ball St 17, Wisconsin 14, Michigan 12, San Francisco 10, Iowa St 6,Villanova 6, Dayton 3, Kent 3, Louisville 3, SMU 3, Hawaii 2, Marshall 2,Vanderbilt 2.

ESPN/USA TODAY
(1/3/00)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Wake Forest 73, LSU 55, No Carolina St 25, Marshall18, Wisconsin 18, Dayton 15, Tulane 14, St Johns 12, San Francisco 10,Hawaii 9, California 7, Mississippi 7, Oregon 7, Purdue 6, Ball St 6, Kent6, Colorado St 5, Louisville 5, Xavier 5, Gonzaga 4, Minnesota 4, Missouri4, Creighton 3, St Bonaventure 2, SE Missouri St 2, So Mississippi 1.

MOVING UP THE SCORING LIST:
With his three-point basket at 18:16 of the first-half againstBethune-Cookman, Johnny Hemsley became the 22nd player in Miami history toscore 1,000 career points. Against West Virginia, Hemsley scored 23 pointsto improve his career total to 1,164. Hemsley needs 27 points to move pastRusty Parker (1965-68) into 14th place on UM’s career list.

UM Career Scoring List:

JENNINGS MOVES UP LADDER:
Vernon Jennings recorded eight assists against West Virginia toimprove his career assist total to 372. Jennings currently ranks fourth onUM’s career assist list and needs 12 to reach Thomas Hocker in third place.

JENNINGS WINS BIG EAST ASSIST TITLE:
Miami point guard Vernon Jennings won the 1998-99 BIG EAST assisttitle with an average of 6.06 per game in league play. Jennings handed out109 assists in 18 games setting a Miami BIG EAST single season record.Jennings is the second Hurricane in as many seasons to lead the league in astatistical category. Mario Bland led the league in field goal percentagelast season.

JENNINGS SETS ASSIST RECORD:
Vernon Jennings recorded a team-high eight assists against St.John’s (3-5-99) last season and in doing so set a Miami single season assistrecord. Jennings ended the season with 167 assists surpassing the old markof 154 set by Michael Gardner in 1992-93.

BOMBS AWAY:
Senior Johnny Hemsley connected on 70 three-point baskets lastseason to improve his career total to 100. Hemsley is 20-70 (.286) fromthree-point range this season. Hemsley currently ranks fifth on Miami’sall-time career list.

HURRICANES HIT 100:
Miami defeated Bethune-Cookman 102-75 marking the second 100-pointscoring game for Miami in as many seasons. Last season Miami defeatedVillanova 103-82 marking the most points scored by a Hurricane team in a BIGEAST game.

OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Miami shot a season-high 57.1 percent (36-63) against FloridaAtlantic marking the fourth time this season the Hurricanes have shot 50percent or better from the floor. Miami shot 54.1 percent (33-61) from thefloor against Bethune-Cookman (11-30-99), 51.4 percent (37-72) againstHartford (12-11-99) and 51.6 percent (32-62) against Illinois State(12-22-99).

Last season the Hurricanes shot over 50 percent from the floor on 12occasions. Miami shot 50 percent or better from the floor only five times in1997-98. Against Villanova (2-16-99) the Hurricanes shot a season high 60.6percent from the field. The percentage was the highest for the Hurricanessince connecting on 40-61 (.655) in a 107-98 win over Savannah State onMarch 2, 1989.

Miami 50 Percent Shooting Performances (since 1998)

EASY AS 1, 2, 3: The Hurricanes have hit at least one three-point field goal in eachof the past 234 games, extending the school-record. Overall, the ‘Canes havehit at least one trey in 388 of its 389 games since the NCAA adopted thethree-point shot in 1986. The only game Miami has failed to hit athree-point field goal was against Howard University on Dec. 6, 1991 whenthe ‘Canes were 0-15 behind the three-point arc.

LOCKING UP:
In Miami’s win over West Virginia, the Hurricanes held theMountaineers without a point over a 5:28 stretch of the first half markingthe fifth time this season that Hurricanes have held an opponent scorelessfor five or more minutes.

Last season Miami made a habit of holding opponents scoreless forlong stretches. Eight times last season the Hurricanes held an opponentscoreless for over five or more minutes.

1998-99

1999-00

MAN OF STEAL:
Senior guard Vernon Jennings set a career-high with seven stealsagainst West Virginia (1-5-00). The seven steals ranks as the second highestsingle game total in UM history and were the most since Jerome Scottrecorded nine steals against Florida International on March 4, 1991.Jennings currently has 147 career steals to rank fifth on UM’s career list.

MIAMI RANKS FOR THIRD STAIGHT SEASON:
Last season the Hurricanes ranked nationally in field goalpercentage defense for the third consecutive season. The University of Miamiended the season ranked 13th in the nation in field goal percentage defense(.384). In 1997-98 the University of Miami led the nation holding teams to37.9 percent shooting from the floor. In 1996-97 Miami held opponents to 38percent shooting from the field to rank sixth nationally.

POSTING GREAT NUMBERS:
The Hurricanes did a great job last season of controlling opponentscenters. Of the 30 games the Hurricanes played last season only fiveopponent centers managed to score in double figures while only one grabbed10 or more rebounds. Miami limited opponent’s centers to an average of 6.4points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

In the first 13 games this season the Hurricanes have held theopposition’s starting centers to a combined total of 66 points and 34rebounds, an average of 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Miami hasallowed only two starting center this season to score in double-figures.

1998-99

1999-00

HEMSLEY ON PRESEASON FIRST TEAM:
University of Miami senior Johnny Hemsley was named to the preseasonAll-BIG EAST first team by a vote of the league’s coaches at the BIG EASTConference Men’s Basketball Media Day at the Grand Hyatt in New York.

1999-00 PRESEASON AWARDS

All-BIG EAST First Team
Khalid El-Amin, Connecticut
Johnny Hemsley, Miami
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame
Erick Barkley, St. John’s
Etan Thomas, Syracuse

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Kevin Freeman, Connecticut
Isaac Hawkins, Pittsburgh
Bootsy Thornton, St. John’s
Jason Hart, Syracuse
Marcus Goree, West Virginia

Player of the Year: Khalid El-Amin, Connecticut

Rookie of the Year: Ajou Deng, Connecticut

HURRICANES TABBED FOURTH:
The men’s basketball team was selected to finish fourth in theconference behind Connecticut, Syracuse, and St. John’s. Miami, whichreturns four starters from last season’s squad, received one first placevote.

1999-00 BIG EAST Coaches’ Preseason Poll

HEMSLEY NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Johnny Hemsley was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week threetimes last season. Hemsley won the award for the first time last season onDec. 21 following his career-high 24 point performance in Miami’s 76-55 winat Georgia State. Hemsley was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for thesecond time on Jan. 4 following his career-high 35 point performance inMiami’s 64-63 win at Georgetown on Dec. 30. Hemsley’s third honor came onFeb. 22 when he was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week after averaging22.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in the Hurricanes to two victories. Hemsleyshared the honor with Providence forward Jamel Thomas.

SELECT COMPANY:
Entering the 1999-2000 season the Hurricanes are one of just threeBIG EAST schools to post a winning overall record each of the past fiveseasons. Joining the Hurricanes are Syracuse and Connecticut.

ON THE RISE:
Since the start of the 1994-95 season UM has compiled a 52-38 (.578)record in BIG EAST regular season games. Only Connecticut, Villanova, andSyracuse have more conference wins over that period.

Conference Records Since 1994-95 (games thru 1-5-00):

HURRICANES TAKE HOME HARDWARE:
Last season University of Miami head basketball coach LeonardHamilton was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year, senior forward Tim James(Miami Northwestern) was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year and juniorguard Johnny Hemsley (Baltimore, MD) was named the league’s Most ImprovedPlayer last season by a vote of the conference coaches.

1998-99 BIG EAST AWARDS

BIG EAST Co-Players of the Year
Richard Hamilton, Connecticut
Tim James, Miami

BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Etan Thomas, Syracuse

BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Johnny Hemsley, Miami

BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Leonard Hamilton, Miami

WINNING WAYS IN THE NCAA:
After a 10-4 mark last season, BIG EAST teams have compiled a 155-91record in the NCAA Tournament play. The .630 winning percentage is thesecond best in the nation amongst conferences. The ACC is first with a .670winning percentage.

LEAGUE SCHEDULE REDUCED TO 16 GAMES:
For the first since 1990-91, each BIG EAST team will play only 16regular season conference games. The league has played 18 conference gamessince 1991-92. The 16 game schedule offers schools more flexibility inscheduling. BIG EAST teams have a better opportunity to improve their RPI(ratings percentage index) rankings and the league’s representation in theNCAA Tournament. the reduction to a 16-game league schedule has eliminatedDecember play dates.

STARTING AGAIN:
Nearly every BIG EAST team returns a majority of its starters fromlast season. Three squads – Boston College, Georgetown and Syracuse – bringback all five starters from 1998-99.

BEATING THE BEST:
BIG EAST teams were 16-13 against opponents ranked in the AP polllast season giving the league the highest victory total and best record ofany conference in the nation.

A SWEEPING SUCCESS:
With their win over Rutgers in last season’s regular season finalethe Hurricanes completed their fourth series sweep of the season. Miami hasregistered 10 BIG EAST regular season two-game sweeps since joining theleague in the 1991-92 season. Miami has now recorded at least one seriessweep in each of the last five seasons. Below is a list of UM’s BIG EASTseries sweeps:

POWER SCHEDULE:
Miami’s schedule includes 11 schools that rank in the top-50all-time in terms of winning percentage in NCAA history. The BIG EASTConference alone has eight teams that rank in the top-50 all-time. Miamiwill play 14 of its 29 regular season games against schools that rank in thetop-50 all-time. Seven of those games will be played at Miami Arena. BIGEAST opponents in CAPS.

1999-00 BIG EAST STANDINGS
(games through Jan. 5)

THIS WEEK IN THE BIG EAST

Saturday, January 8
ST. JOHN’S at WEST VIRGINIA Noon
SETON HALL at GEORGETOWN Noon
SYRACUSE at MIAMI Noon
PROVIDENCE at BOSTON COLLEGE 12:30
CONNECTICUT at PITTSBURGH 8:00

Sunday, January 9
Villanova at Pennsylvania Noon

1999-00 MIAMI BIG EAST TEAM RANKINGS
(games through Jan. 5)

1999-00 INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
(games through Jan. 5)