Mario Bland Named Big East Men's Basketball Player Of The Week

March 6, 2000

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami senior center Mario Bland was named BIGEAST Player of the Week for the week ending March 5, 2000. Bland averaged19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as the Hurricanes recorded a 2-0 weekdefeating Pittsburgh and St. John’s.

Bland tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds as Miami defeatedPittsburgh, 74-66, February 29 in Pittsburgh. He followed that game with a19 point, seven rebound performance as Miami knocked off 18th-ranked St.John’s on March 5 at Miami Arena to earn a share of the 1999-2000 BIG EASTregular season title.

Against St. John’s Bland hit a jumper from the top of the key with10 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Inovertime Bland gave the Hurricanes a 71-69 lead when he connected on ajumper from the foul line with 39 seconds remaining.

The award is the first of Bland’s career, and the first awarded to aHurricane this season.