Men's Basketball Looks For Three In A Row

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
(11-7, 4-2)
at
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
(12-7, 3-2)

Tuesday, January 25, 2000 — 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Joyce Center (11,418)
SportsChannel Florida, WQAM (560 AM)

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:

Notre Dame enters tonight’s game with a record of 12-7, 3-2 in the BIG EAST, following an 81-66 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish are 10-1 at home this season and have been led by sophomore forward Troy Murphy. Murphy, the 1998-99 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, ranks second in the nation in scoring (24.4 ppg) and sixth in the nation in rebounding (10.5 rpg).

Murphy has led Notre Dame in scoring in all but two games this season and has been the Fighting Irish’s leading rebounder in 17 games. Murphy has recorded 12 double-doubles this season.

ON THE COACHES:

Leonard Hamilton, in his 10th season at Miami and 14th as a collegiate head coach, has brought the University of Miami men’s basketball program in to the national spotlight. The 1998-99 BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year, Hamilton has guided the Hurricanes to four postseason appearances in the last five seasons including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999.

Last season Hamilton led Miami to a 23-7 record and a No. 10 national ranking by the Associated Press. The 20-win season marked the first for Miami since the 1964-65 season while the AP ranking was the first since the 1959-60 season. Prior to his arrival at UM, Hamilton spent four seasons at Oklahoma State where he led the Cowboys to their first back-to-back postseason berths in 36 years. Hamilton’s record at UM is 132-143 (.480) while his career mark stands at 188-206 (.477).

Notre Dame head coach Matt Doherty is in his first season with the Fighting Irish. Doherty’s record is 12-7 (.632).

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:

Tonight’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and being shown in Miami on SportsChannel Florida. Bob Picozzi is providing play-by-play with Bob Wenzel adding analysis.

The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM-560 AM). Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play) and Joe Zagacki (analysis) will call the action.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Notre Dame meet for the 11th time with the Fighting Irish leading the all-time series 6-4. Notre Dame and Miami met just once last season with the Fighting Irish defeating the Hurricanes 71-68 at Miami Arena. Miami is 4-2 against Notre Dame since the Fighting Irish began BIG EAST play in 1996. Miami is 2-3 against the Notre Dame at the Joyce Center including a 65-59 win on February 22, 1998.

Probable Hurricane Starters

Probable Fighting Irish Starters

UP NEXT:

Following tonight’s game the Hurricanes return home for home games at Miami Arena. The Hurricanes take on Kentucky at 1:00 p.m. on January 29 followed by Pittsburgh on February 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Miami Arena.

BLAND REACHES 1,000:

Senior center Mario Bland scored a career-high 24 points in Miami’s win over Boston College (1-22-00) and became the 23rd player in UM history to record 1,000 career points. Bland currently has 1,011 points for his career. Bland is the second the Hurricane to surpass the 1,000 point plateau this season. Johnny Hemsley scored his 1,000th career point against Bethune-Cookman earlier this season.

A WIN TONIGHT WOULD:

• Improve Miami’s record to 12-7, 5-2 in the BIG EAST.
• Be Miami’s third straight win.
• Be Miami’s seventh win in its last nine games.
• Be Miami’s second straight win against Notre Dame at the Joyce Center.

LAST TIME AGAINST NOTRE DAME:
Notre Dame 71, Miami 68
January 9, 1999
Miami Arena, Miami, FL

Senior Antoni Wyche poured in a game-high 18 points to lead four Fighting Irish in double figures to lead the University of Notre Dame to a 71-68 win over Miami in the Miami Arena. Tim James led Miami with 17 points while Johnny Hemsley added 15 for the Hurricanes.

Notre Dame shot 55.8 percent (24-43) from the floor to snap the Hurricanes’ 39 game streak of holding opponents to under 50 percent shooting. The last team to shoot over 50 percent from the field against Miami was Michigan (3-13-97) in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament.

The game also marked Miami’s first home loss of the season and its first loss this year when leading at the half.

Down 66-59 with 2:28 to play, the Hurricanes scored six consecutive points, capped by a Vernon Jennings steal and layup, to close the gap to just one with 1:09 left. But the Fighting Irish hit 5 of 6 free throws to extend the lead to 71-65 with 8.4 seconds to play.

NOTRE DAME

MIAMI HURRICANES

Officials: Ted Valentine, Joe Mingle, Will Bush
Technical fouls: None
Attendance: 4022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

Miami senior point guard Vernon Jennings celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday.

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:

This year marks the 11th season that Miami has called the Miami Arena home. The ‘Canes have compiled a 112-60 (.651) overall record at the Arena, including a 6-2 mark this season. UM has posted a 63-18 (.778) home record since 1994. UM is 34-13 (.723) in its last 47 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.

Miami Home Record Last Four Plus Seasons:

Top 5 BIG EAST Home Winning Percentages (1994-Pres.):(Games through January 22)

Overall:

Conference Games Only:

ROAD WARRIORS:

Last season Miami registered a 10-3 road record. The 10 road wins were the most since 1959-60. Miami is 3-2 on the road this season including a 2-1 road record in BIG EAST play. Miami was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games last season.

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.

WINNING WAYS:

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

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:

Miami was 4-3 against ranked teams last season including a 3-1 mark against ranked teams on the road. The Hurricanes have 11 wins over ranked opponents over the last five seasons. In their last eight contests against ranked teams at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have posted a 5-3 record.

Miami Victories Over Ranked Teams:

PLAYING SPOILER:

Miami’s win over No. 10 St. John’s last season marked the fifth consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.

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

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 54-29 (.651) record against non-conference opponents, including a 40-12 mark (.769) at the Miami Arena.

HEMSLEY A NAISMITH CANDIDATE:

Johnny Hemsley has been selected as one of 30 preseason candidates for the 1999-2000 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts.

SUCCESS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:

Entering the 1999-2000 season the Hurricanes are the only team in the state of Florida to register a winning record in each of the last five seasons. The Hurricanes’ 87-57 (.604) mark since the 1994-95 season is the top winning percentage and most victories among the state’s 11 Division I programs.

GETTING IT DONE AT BOTH ENDS:

Miami ranked 21st in the nation in field goal percentage and 13th in the nation in field goal percentage defense. Miami joins Duke, Maryland, College of Charleston, Kentucky, Utah, and North Carolina as the only schools to rank nationally in both categories. Additionally, the Hurricanes led the BIG EAST in both categories.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS:

Seniors Mario Bland, Johnny Hemsley and Vernon Jennings have been an integral part of the Hurricanes’ accent into the national spotlight. During their first three seasons at Miami the three have led the Hurricanes to a 57-30 (.655) record, three consecutive winning season, and three straight postseason 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 period since UM won 57 games from 1963-66 while its .655 winning percentage is the highest since Miami posted a 52-26 (.667) record from 1964-67.

Should Miami earn a post season bid in 1999-2000, the trio would become the first Hurricanes to reach the post season in four consecutive seasons.

MIAMI BACK IN THE DANCE, AGAIN:

Miami’s selection to the 1999 NCAA Championship marked the Hurricanes second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Miami’s NCAA tournament berth in 1998 the Hurricanes had received only one bid to the “Big Dance” and that was in 1960. Last season the Hurricanes were seeded No. 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’s first NCAA Tournament victory in school history. Miami has advanced to post-season play in four of the last five seasons.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES:

Against Villanova, John Salmons recorded his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The double-double was the fifth of the season for Miami. Mario Bland leads the Hurricanes with three double-doubles this season.

1999-00 Hurricane Double-Doubles:

WORKING OVERTIME:

Miami’s game last season against Connecticut on Jan. 20 marked the Hurricanes first overtime contest since a 76-68 victory over St. John’s in the opening round of the 1997 BIG EAST Tournament. UM has amassed a 5-2 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (3-2 at home). Miami’s game against St. John’s on Feb. 20, 1996 is its only double-overtime game in a BIG EAST contest since joining the league in the 1991-92 season. 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 21-19 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-3 in double-overtime games and a 17-16 mark in single-overtime contests). UM has never played a triple-overtime game. Miami is 5-5 in overtime games under head coach Leonard Hamilton. Below is a list of UM’s overtime games under Hamilton:

ONLINE ALL THE TIME:

Check out the Hurricanes’ website at www.hurricanesports.com for all the latest information on University of Miami athletics.

UM TICKETS ON SALE:

Single-game tickets for all University of Miami men’s basketball home games at the Miami Arena are on sale at the Hecht Athletic Center Ticket Office on the UM campus, the Miami Arena, and through TicketMaster.

Sidecourt reserved seats are $13 and endcourt reserved seats are $10 for each of Miami’s six non-conference games, not including Kentucky. All tickets for the Kentucky game on Jan. 29 are $20 and include admission to the Miami women’s contest against Connecticut immediately following the men’s game. Single game tickets for UM’s eight BIG EAST contests are $18 for sidecourt reserved and $15 for endcourt reserved. For the fourth straight season 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. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information call the UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANES in Dade or 1-800-GO-CANES.

1999-00 MISCELLANEOUS STATS

Double Figure Scoring Games

20-Point Scoring Games

Double Figure Rebound Games

Double Figure Assist Games

Double-Doubles

Dunks

MOVING UP THE SCORING LIST:

With his three-point basket at 18:16 of the first-half against Bethune-Cookman, Johnny Hemsley became the 22nd player in Miami history to score 1,000 career points. Against Boston College, Hemsley scored 12 points to improve his career total to 1,251. Hemsley ranks 12th on UM’s career scoring list and needs 43 points to move past Willie Allen (1968-71) into 11th place on UM’s career list.

UM Career Scoring List:

JENNINGS MOVES UP LADDER:

Vernon Jennings recorded three assists against Boston College to improve his career assist total to 398. Jennings currently ranks third on UM’s career assist list and needs 14 assists to reach Kevin Presto in second place.

JENNINGS WINS BIG EAST ASSIST TITLE:

Miami point guard Vernon Jennings won the 1998-99 BIG EAST assist title with an average of 6.06 per game in league play. Jennings handed out 109 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 a statistical category. Mario Bland led the league in field goal percentage last 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 assist record. Jennings ended the season with 167 assists surpassing the old mark of 154 set by Michael Gardner in 1992-93.

BOMBS AWAY:

Senior Johnny Hemsley connected on 70 three-point baskets last season to improve his career total to 100. Hemsley has recorded 29 three-point baskets this season to improve his career total to 129. Hemsley currently ranks fifth on Miami’s all-time career list.

DEAD-EYE FROM THE LINE:

Miami currently leads the BIG EAST and ranks 17th in the nation in free throw percentage (.741). Miami’s five starters have combined to shoot 239-309 (.773) from the line while the starting backcourt of Johnny Hemsley and Vernon Jennings are shooting 91-115 (.791) from the charity stripe.

HURRICANES HIT 100:

Miami defeated Bethune-Cookman 102-75 marking the second 100-point scoring game for Miami in as many seasons. Last season Miami defeated Villanova 103-82 marking the most points scored by a Hurricane team in a BIG EAST game.

OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:

Miami shot a season-high 57.1 percent (36-63) against Florida Atlantic marking the fourth time this season the Hurricanes have shot 50 percent or better from the floor. Miami shot 54.1 percent (33-61) from the floor against Bethune-Cookman (11-30-99), 51.4 percent (37-72) against Hartford (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 12 occasions. Miami shot 50 percent or better from the floor only five times in 1997-98.

Miami 50 Percent Shooting Performances (since 1998)

EASY AS 1, 2, 3:

The Hurricanes have hit at least one three-point field goal in each of the past 239 games, extending the school-record. Overall, the ‘Canes have hit at least one trey in 393 of its 394 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986. The only game Miami has failed to hit a three-point field goal was against Howard University on Dec. 6, 1991 when the ‘Canes were 0-15 behind the three-point arc.

LOCKING UP:

In Miami’s win over West Virginia, the Hurricanes held the Mountaineers without a point over a 5:28 stretch of the first half marking the fifth time this season that Hurricanes have held an opponent scoreless for five or more minutes.

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

MAN OF STEAL:

Senior guard Vernon Jennings set a career-high with seven steals against West Virginia (1-5-00). The seven steals rank as the second highest single game total in UM history and were the most since Jerome Scott recorded nine steals against Florida International on March 4, 1991. Jennings currently has 155 career steals to rank fourth on UM’s career list.

MIAMI RANKS FOR THIRD STAIGHT SEASON:

Last season the Hurricanes ranked nationally in field goal percentage defense for the third consecutive season. The University of Miami ended 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 to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor. In 1996-97 Miami held opponents to 38 percent shooting from the field to rank sixth nationally.

POSTING GREAT NUMBERS:

This season the Hurricanes have held the opposition’s starting centers to a combined total of 104 points and 66 rebounds, an average of 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Miami has allowed only three starting centers this season to score in double-figures. Of the 30 games the Hurricanes played last season only five opponent centers managed to score in double figures while only one grabbed 10 or more rebounds. Miami limited opponent’s centers to an average of 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

HEMSLEY ON PRESEASON FIRST TEAM:

University of Miami senior Johnny Hemsley was named to the preseason All-BIG EAST first team by a vote of the league’s coaches at the BIG EAST Conference 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 the conference behind Connecticut, Syracuse, and St. John’s. Miami, which returns four starters from last season’s squad, received one first place vote.

1999-00 BIG EAST Coaches’ Preseason Poll

HEMSLEY NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Johnny Hemsley was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week three times last season. Hemsley won the award for the first time last season on Dec. 21 following his career-high 24 point performance in Miami’s 76-55 win at Georgia State. Hemsley was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the second time on Jan. 4 following his career-high 35 point performance in Miami’s 64-63 win at Georgetown on Dec. 30. Hemsley’s third honor came on Feb. 22 when he was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week after averaging 22.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in the Hurricanes to two victories. Hemsley shared the honor with Providence forward Jamel Thomas.

SELECT COMPANY:

Entering the 1999-2000 season the Hurricanes are one of just three BIG EAST schools to post a winning overall record each of the past five seasons. Joining the Hurricanes are Syracuse and Connecticut.

ON THE RISE:

Since the start of the 1994-95 season UM has compiled a 56-40 (.583) record in BIG EAST regular season games. Only Connecticut, Villanova, and Syracuse have a better conference record over that period.

Conference Records Since 1994-95 (games thru 1-22-00):

HURRICANES TAKE HOME HARDWARE:

Last season University of Miami head basketball coach Leonard Hamilton was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year, senior forward Tim James (Miami Northwestern) was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year and junior guard Johnny Hemsley (Baltimore, MD) was named the league’s Most Improved Player 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 155-91 record in the NCAA Tournament play. The .630 winning percentage is the second best in the nation amongst conferences. The ACC is first with a .670 winning percentage.

LEAGUE SCHEDULE REDUCED TO 16 GAMES:

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

STARTING AGAIN:

Nearly every BIG EAST team returns a majority of its starters from last season. Three squads – Boston College, Georgetown and Syracuse – bring back all five starters from 1998-99.

BEATING THE BEST:

BIG EAST teams were 16-13 against opponents ranked in the AP poll last season giving the league the highest victory total and best record of any conference in the nation.

A SWEEPING SUCCESS:

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

POWER SCHEDULE:

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