Men's Basketball Prepares For Tulsa
March 22, 2000
Pregame Press Conference
Hemsley, Jennings, Bland & Hamilton
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HURRICANES
1999-2000 BIG EAST Regular Season Co-Champions
21-10, 13-3 BIG EAST – Sixth Seed
NCAA Championship – South Regional Semifinals
Friday, March 24, 2000 & Sunday March 26, 2000
Frank Erwin Center (16,000) – Austin, TX
CBS, Hurricane Radio Network
SWEET “16” SUCCESS:
With its 75-62 win over Ohio State on Sunday, the University of Miamiadvanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships for the first time inschool history. Miami is the only team in this season’s Sweet 16 that has notpreviously advanced to the regional semifinals.
Miami’s 75-71 win over Arkansas in the opening round marked the secondNCAA Tournament victory in UM history. Last season the Hurricanes’ defeatedLafayette 75-54 marking Miami’s first NCAA Tournament victory in schoolhistory. Miami, which has advanced to post-season play in five of the lastsix seasons, is 3-3 in NCAA Tournament play.
ON TULSA:
Tulsa enters its Sweet 16 matchup with the University of Miami with arecord of 31-4 following a second round victory over Cincinnati on Sunday.
Tulsa, which has won six of its last seven games, boasts six playersaveraging in double-figures. Leading the Golden Hurricanes are led in scoringby 6-6 junior forward David Shelton (13.3 ppg).
ON COACH HAMILTON:
Leonard Hamilton, in his 10th season at Miami and 14th as a collegiatehead coach, has brought the University of Miami men’s basketball program into the national spotlight. The 1998-99 BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year,Hamilton has guided the Hurricanes to five postseason appearances in the lastsix seasons including three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1998,1999 and 2000. This season Hamilton guided the Hurricanes to its secondconsecutive 20-win season and a share of the BIG EAST regular season title.The title is the first BIG EAST championship for Miami while its back-to-back20-win seasons are the first since the 1964-65 campaign.
Last season Hamilton led Miami to a 23-7 record and a No. 10 nationalranking by the Associated Press. The 20-win season marked the first for Miamisince the 1964-65 season while the AP ranking was the first since the 1959-60season. Prior to his arrival at UM, Hamilton spent four seasons at OklahomaState where he led the Cowboys to their first back-to-back postseason berthsin 36 years. Hamilton’s record at UM is 144-146 (.497) while his career markstands at 200-209 (.489).
Probable Hurricane Starters
Overall NCAA Tournament
No Name Pos Ht Wt Cl Pts Reb Ast Pts Reb Ast45 John Salmons F 6-7 200 So. 9.4 5.4 1.9 14.55.0 3.025 Elton Tyler F 6-9 215 Jr. 10.45.6 1.0 14.58.5 1.551 Mario Bland C 6-6 265 Sr. 12.56.9 1.3 10.58.5 4.030 Vernon Jennings G 6-4 203 Sr. 7.8 4.1 6.8 5.5 5.0 7.031 Johnny Hemsley G 6-5 195 Sr. 18.23.6 1.8 22.03.0 1.5
POSTSEASON RESULTS:
NCAA (3-3)
3-8-60 Western Kentucky 107, MIAMI 84 (MC)
3-13-98 UCLA 65, MIAMI 62 (GD)
3-12-99 MIAMI 75, Lafayette 54 (FC)
3-14-99 Purdue 73, MIAMI 63 (FC)
3-17-00 MIAMI 75, Arkansas 71 (GEC)
3-19-00 MIAMI 75, Ohio State 62 (GEC)
NIT (1-5)
3-16-61 St. Louis 58, MIAMI 56 (MSG)
3-16-63 MIAMI 71, St. Francis 70 (MSG)
3-19-63 Providence 106, MIAMI 96 (MSG)
3-12-64 St. Joseph’s (PA) 86, MIAMI 76 (MSG)
3-15-95 Penn State 62, MIAMI 56 (RH)
3-13-97 Michigan 76, MIAMI 63 (CA)
MC – Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY
MSG – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
RH – Rec Hall, University Park, PA
CA – Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MI
GD – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
FC – FleetCenter, Boston, MA
GEC – Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, TN
A SWEET 16 VICTORY WOULD:
***Give Miami a school record 24 victories this season.
***Earn the Hurricanes their first Regional Final berth.
***Mark Miami’s ninth win in its last 10 games.
***Improve Miami’s all-time NCAA Tournament record to 4-3.
***Mark the Hurricanes’ 81st win over the last four seasons marking the mostwins in school history over a four year period.
MR. MARCH:
Miami senior Johnny Hemsley has thrived in the NCAA Tournament. In fivecareer NCAA Tournament games Hemsley is averaging 20.2 points and 5.4rebounds per game while shooting 34-75 (.453) from the field, including 20-40(.500) from three-point range, and 13-17 (.765) from the line.
Hemsley in the NCAA Tournament
Team FG 3FG FT PTS REBUCLA (1998) 5-17 2-7 1-3 13 11Lafayette (1999) 10-15 9-13 3-3 31 3Purdue (1999) 5-13 0-2 3-4 13 7Arkansas (2000) 5-14 5-10 5-6 20 3Ohio State (2000) 9-16 4-9 2-2 24 3Totals 34-75 20-40 13-17 101 27 (.453) (.500) (.765)(20.2)(5.4)
A REUNION OF SORTS:
Friday’s Sweet 16 match-up marks the reunion of Miami head coach LeonardHamilton and Tulsa head coach Bill Self. Self was an assistant for fourseasons under Hamilton at Oklahoma State from 1986-1990.
HAMILTON RECORDS 200TH VICTORY:
With the Hurricanes’ win over Ohio State on Sunday head coach LeonardHamilton record his 200th career victory. Now in his 14th season Hamilton hasposted a 200-209 record.
UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS:
Miami’s win over Ohio State marked the Hurricanes’ 23rd win of the seasontying the school single season record for victories. Miami’s single seasonrecord for victories is 23 which was set during the 1959-60 season and latertied during 1962-63 and 1998-99 seasons.
STEPPING UP:
Over the last five games junior Elton Tyler has stepped up his playscoring in double-figures four times while scoring 20-points on twooccasions. In his last five games Tyler is averaging 15.6 points and 8.0rebounds while shooting 29-53 (.547) from the field and 20-24 (.833) from theline.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS:
Miami seniors Mario Bland, Johnny Hemsley and Vernon Jennings have beenan integral part of the Hurricanes’ ascent into the national spotlight.
Now in their fourth season the three have led Miami to a 80-40 (.667)record, four consecutive winning season, a share of the 1999-2000 BIG EASTregular season title and four straight postseason appearances includingthree consecutive NCAA Tournament bids. Miami’s NCAA Tournament bid in 1998marked the school’s first since 1960 while its BIG EAST regular season titlewas the first in school history.
Additionally, Miami’s 80 wins are the most in a four year period since UMwon 80 games from 1962-66 while its .667 winning percentage is the highestsince Miami posted a 72-33 (.686) record from 1963-67.
Over the last four seasons Miami’s three seniors led the Hurricanes to a48-22 (.686) BIG EAST record tying Connecticut for the best conference markover that period.
With the NCAA Tournament bid this season, the trio became the firstHurricanes to reach the post season in four consecutive seasons.
HURRICANES EARN SHARE OF BIG EAST TITLE:
With its 74-70 win over St. John’s on March 5 the University of Miamiearned a share of the 1999-2000 BIG EAST regular season title. The BIG EASTtitle is the first for Miami and the Hurricanes first conference title of anykind since the 1964-65 season. That season the Hurricanes went 10-0 to wintheir eighth straight Florida Intercollegiate Conference championship. Theleague, which consisted of Miami, Florida Southern, Jacksonville, Rollins,Stetson and Tampa, was disbanded the following year.
HEMSLEY, BLAND HONORED:
University of Miami senior guard Johnny Hemsley was named second-teamAll-BIG EAST and senior center Mario Bland was selected third-teamAll-Conference by a vote of the leagues coaches.
1999-00 ALL-BIG EAST
First Team
Khalid El-Amin, Connecticut
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame
Erick Barkley, St. John’s
Etan Thomas, Syracuse
Jason Hart, Syracuse
Second Team
JOHNNY HEMSLEY, MIAMI
Ricardo Greer, Pittsburgh
Lavor Postell, St. John’s
Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall
Malik Allen, Villanova
Third Team
MARIO BLAND, MIAMI
Bootsy Thornton, St. John’s
Marcus Goree, West Virginia
Ryan Blackwell, Syracuse
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Georgetown
ROAD WARRIORS:
Over the last two seasons Miami is 15-2 in BIG EAST road games. The 15-2mark is the best among BIG EAST schools over the last two seasons. Miami,which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games last season, was 7-1 in conference roadgames this season. Miami has won 16 of its last 18 BIG EAST road games datingback to the 1997-98 season.
Top BIG EAST Road Records Over Last Two Seasons:
1. MIAMI 15-2 (.882)
2. Connectictut 14-3 (.823)
3. Syracuse 13-4 (.765)
4. St. John’s 11-6 (.647)
PLAYING SPOILER:
Miami’s win over No. 18 St. John’s in this season’s regular season finalemarked the sixth consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated aranked opponent in the Miami Arena.
Wins Over Ranked Teams at Miami Arena since 1994-95:
Feb. 4, 1995 Georgetown (#13 AP, #13 USAT) 67-61
Jan. 3, 1996 Syracuse (#11 AP, #12 USAT) 75-66
Dec. 7, 1996 Syracuse (#19 AP, #17 USAT) 67-63
Nov. 21, 1997 NC Charlotte (#17 AP, #17 USAT) 89-72
Jan. 6, 1998 Connecticut (#8 AP, #8 USAT) 76-67
Feb. 28, 1998 West Virginia (#19 AP/#19 USAT) 70-66
Jan. 6, 1999 St. John’s (#10 AP/#9 USAT) 84-79
Mar. 5, 2000 St. John’s (#18 AP/#21 USAT) 74-70
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
Miami is 3-4 versus ranked teams this season. Miami was 4-3 againstranked teams last season including a 3-1 mark against ranked teams on theroad. The Hurricanes are 12-13 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and havedefeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons.
Miami Victories Over Ranked Teams:
Jan. 30, 1961 Louisville (#7 AP) 71-69
Dec. 21, 1962 Duke (#2 UPI) 71-69
Feb. 2, 1965 Miami, OH (#20 UPI) 100-85
Jan. 12, 1989 Kansas (#12 AP) 87-86
Jan. 14, 1992 St. John’s (#17 AP) 45-42
Jan. 2, 1993 Georgetown (#10 AP) 80-69
Feb. 20, 1993 St. John’s (#25 AP) 82-77
Feb. 4, 1995 Georgetown (#13 AP, #13 USAT) 67-61
Jan. 3, 1996 Syracuse (#11 AP, #12 USAT) 75-66
Dec. 7, 1996 Syracuse (#19 AP, #17 USAT) 67-63
Jan. 11, 1997 @ Villanova (#8 AP, #7 USAT) 61-59
Nov. 21, 1997 NC Charlotte (#17 AP, #17 USAT) 89-72
Jan. 6, 1998 Connecticut (#8 AP, #8 USAT) 76-67
Feb. 28, 1998 West Virginia (#19 AP/#19 USAT) 70-66
Jan. 6, 1999 St. John’s (#10 AP/#9 USAT) 84-79
Feb. 3, 1999 @ St. John’s (#9 AP/#10 USAT) 73-70
Feb. 8, 1999 @ Syracuse (#18 AP/#17 USAT) 76-63
Feb. 20, 1999 @ Connecticut (#2 AP, #2 USAT) 73-71
Feb. 19, 2000 @ Connecticut (#18 AP, #18 USAT) 63-57
Mar. 5, 2000 St. John’s (#18 AP, #21 USAT) 74-70
Mar. 19, 2000 vs Ohio State (#8 AP, #8 USAT) 75-62
MAKING ROAD HISTORY:
With its 63-57 win over Connecticut on February 19 of this season theUniversity of Miami became the first school to win consecutive games againstthe Huskies at Gampel Pavilion. Miami defeated Connecticut 73-71 in itsprevious trip to Storrs on February 20, 1999.
WINNING WAYS:
With its 63-57 win over Connecticut on February 19, the University ofMiami clinched its six consecutive winning season. The last time Miamirecorded at least six straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign whenthe ‘Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.
FEBRUARY HEAT WAVE:
Over the last two seasons Miami has been nearly unbeatable in the monthof February registering a 15-1 (.938) record. Miami went 7-1 in the month ofFebruary this season while going 8-0 last season.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since becoming the 10th member of The BIG EAST Conference beginning withthe 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 56-30 (.651) recordagainst non-conference opponents, including a 40-13 mark (.755) at the MiamiArena.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
Against Pittsburgh, Mario Bland recorded his team leading fourthdouble-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The double-doublewas the seventh of the season for Miami.
1999-00 Hurricane Double-Doubles:
11/30/99 Elton Tyler vs Bethune-Cookman (27 pts, 10 reb)
12/4/99 Mario Bland vs Memphis (22 pts, 12 reb)
12/7/99 Mario Bland vs UNC Charlotte (13 pts, 12 reb)
12/11/99 Mario Bland vs Hartford (14 pts, 12 reb)
1/17/00 John Salmons vs Villanova (19 pts, 10 reb)
2/16/00 John Salmons vs Providence (11 pts, 11 reb)
2/29/00 Mario Bland vs Pittsburgh (20 pts, 10 reb)
WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami’s game this season versus St. John’s marked the Hurricanes’ firstovertime contest since last seasons game against Connecticut on Jan. 20. UMhas amassed a 6-2 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtimecontests (4-2 at home). Miami’s game against St. John’s on Feb. 20, 1996 isUM’s only double-overtime game in a BIG EAST contest. The ‘Canes, who havenever had more than three overtime games in any season (3-0 in 1986-87 and0-3 in 1990-91), own a 22-19 overall record in overtime contests during theirhistory (4-3 in double-overtime games and a 18-16 mark in single-overtimecontests). UM has never played a triple-overtime game. Miami is 6-5 inovertime games under head coach Leonard Hamilton. Below is a list of UM’sovertime games under Hamilton:
12-19-90 (2OT) SMU 93, MIAMI 88 (@SMU)
12-27-90 (2OT) Miami (OH) 101, MIAMI 99 (N)
3-4-92 Seton Hall 90, MIAMI 82 (@UM)
2-25-95 MIAMI 77, Boston College 72 (@BC)
2-28-95 MIAMI 76, Pittsburgh 68 (@UP)
12-23-95 Clemson 66, MIAMI 52 (@ UM)
2-20-96 (2OT) MIAMI 96, St. John’s 91 (@UM)
1-18-97 MIAMI 68, Georgetown 65 (@UM)
3-5-97 MIAMI 76, St. John’s 68 (@ MSG)
1-20-99 Connecticut 70, MIAMI 68 (@UM)
3-5-00 MIAMI 74, St. John’s 70 (@UM)
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
This year marked the 11th season that Miami has called the Miami Arenahome. The ‘Canes have compiled a 115-62 (.650) overall record at the Arena,including a 10-4 mark this season. UM has posted a 68-21 (.764) home recordsince 1994. UM is 39-14 (.736) in its last 53 BIG EAST home games dating backto the 1994-95 season.
Miami Home Record Last Five Plus Seasons:
Overall BIG EAST1994-95 11-4 6-31995-96 12-4 7-21996-97 12-3 6-31997-98 11-3 7-21998-99 11-2 7-21999-00 11-5 6-2Total 68-21(.764) 39-14 (.736)
Top 5 BIG EAST Home Winning Percentages (1994-2000):
Overall:
1. Connecticut 85-13 (.867)
2. Villanova 74-14 (.841)
3. Georgetown 74-19 (.796)
4. Syracuse 77-23 (.770)
5. MIAMI 68-21 (.764)
Conference Games Only:
1. Connecticut 41-12 (.774)
1. Villanova 41-12 (.774)
3. MIAMI 39-14 (.736)
4. Georgetown 35-18 (.660)
5. Syracuse 34-19 (.642)
ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the Hurricanes’ website at www.hurricanesports.com for all thelatest information on University of Miami athletics.
JENNINGS RANKS NO. 1:
Vernon Jennings recorded six assists against Ohio State in the secondround of the NCAA South Regional to increase his career school recordedassist total to 513. Jennings is the only player in school history to record500 career assists.
1. VERNON JENNINGS (1996-present) 513
2. Kevin Norris (1994-98) 493
JENNINGS SETS ASSIST RECORD, AGAIN:
Vernon Jennings has handed out 211 assists this season breaking his ownUM single season assist record. Last season Jennings set a UM record with 167assists.
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. Later this season senior center Mario Bland scoreda career-high 24 points against Boston College (1-22-00) to became the 23rdplayer in UM history to record 1,000 career points.
Hemsley ranks seventh on UM’s career scoring list while Bland is in 14thplace.
UM Career Scoring List:
1.Rick Barry (1962-65) 2,2982.Eric Brown (1985-89) 2,2703.Don Curnutt (1967-70) 2,0064.Tim James (1995-99) 1,7135.Dennis Burns (1985-89) 1,5946.Dick Hickox (1958-61) 1,5297.JOHNNY HEMSLEY (1996-Present) 1,4848.Steven Edwards (1992-96) 1,3939.Ron Godfrey (1958-61) 1,38410.Mike Wittman (1964-67) 1,31911.Joe Wylie (1988-91) 1,29712.Willie Allen (1968-71) 1,29313.Mike McCoy (1960-63) 1,23114.MARIO BLAND (1996-Present) 1,19515.Gene Stage (1955-58) 1,192
BOMBS AWAY:
Senior Johnny Hemsley has recorded 61 three-point baskets this season toimprove his career total to 161. Hemsley currently ranks third on Miami’sall-time career list.
1. Steven Edwards (1992-96) 265
2. Kevin Presto (1985-89) 170
3. JOHNNY HEMSLEY (1996-present) 161
DEAD-EYE FROM THE LINE:
Miami is shooting 74.9 percent from free throw line this season. Miami’sfive starters have combined to shoot 427-554 (.771) from the line.
Player FT Pct.Johnny Hemsley 88-104 .846John Salmons 72-90 .800Elton Tyler 80-103 .777Mario Bland 110-151 .728Vernon Jennings 77-106 .726Total 427-554 .771
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Miami shot 51.0 percent from the field against Ohio State (3-19-00)marking the seventh time this season the Hurricanes have shot 50 percent orbetter from the floor. Last season the Hurricanes shot over 50 percent fromthe floor on 12 occasions. Miami shot 50 percent or better from the flooronly five times in 1997-98.
Miami 50 Percent Shooting Performances (since 1998)
Date Team FG Percentage Result11-13-98 @ Florida Atlantic 35-67 (.522) UM 97-7311-27-98 Northern Iowa 32-62 (.516) UM 78-6912-8-98 Boston College 28-54 (.519) UM 77-6412-18-98 @ Georgia State 29-56 (.518) UM 76-551-6-99 St. John's 30-52 (.577) UM 84-791-13-99 @ Rutgers 28-53 (.528) UM 74-621-24-99 @ Boston College 28-48 (.583) UM 75-672-6-99 Georgetown 27-54 (.500) UM 71-582-8-99 @ Syracuse 25-50 (.500) UM 76-632-13-99 @ Providence 25-49 (.510) UM 69-652-16-99 Villanova 40-66 (.606) UM 103-822-23-99 Pittsburgh 34-63 (.540) UM 85-5211-30-99 Bethune-Cookman 33-61 (.541) UM 102-7512-11-99 Hartford 37-72 (.514) UM 97-6112-22-99 vs. Illinois State 32-62 (.516) ISU 87-7812-27-99 Florida Atlantic 36-63 (.571) UM 89-522-29-00 @ Pittsburgh 33-63 (.524) UM 74-663-9-00 vs. Notre Dame 26-52 (.500) UM 61-583-19-00 vs. Ohio State 26-51 (.510) UM 75-62
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
Prior to the St. John’s game on March 5, the Hurricanes had hit at leastone three-point field goal in 249 consecutive games. Overall, the ‘Canes havehit at least one trey in 407 of its 409 games since the NCAA adopted thethree-point shot in 1986. The only other game in which Miami failed to hit athree-point field goal was against Howard University on Dec. 6, 1991 when the’Canes were 0-15 behind the three-point arc.
DEFENDING THE BIG EAST:
This season the Hurricanes led the BIG EAST in scoring defense (58.2ppg), field goal percentage defense (.377) and three-point field goalpercentage defense (.259). Miami has led the conference in field goalpercentage defense for two straight seasons while its 58.2 points per gameallowed established a new BIG EAST record. The Hurricanes broke the old markof 59.4 points per game set by Georgetown in 1981-82.
LOCKING UP:
Over the last three seasons Miami has been one of the nation’s leaders infield goal percentage defense. Miami is holding opponents to 39.2 percentshooting from the field this season and made a habit of holding teams withouta field goal for long stretches. This season the Hurricanes have held teamswithout a field goal for five minutes or more a total of 30 times whileholding teams scoreless for five or more minutes seven times.
Opponent Held Without FG UM Run@ Central Florida 6:19 (1st half) 13-1@ Central Florida 5:07 (2nd half) 12-0Bethune-Cookman 6:18 (1st half) 16-1UNC Charlotte 5:08 (1st half) 7-1Hartford 5:57 (1st half) 19-4Hartford 5:17 (2nd half) 12-7vs. Detroit 5:45 (2nd half) 7-1vs. Illinois State 5:48 (1st half) 6-0Florida Atlantic 6:11 (1st half) 4-0Florida Atlantic 7:10 (2nd half) 28-2West Virginia 7:30 (1st half) 13-1@ Villanova 5:52 (1st half) 11-1@ Villanova 5:58 (1st half) 12-3Boston College 8:44 (2nd half) 14-8@ Notre Dame 5:40 (1st half) 10-3@ Notre Dame 5:39 (2nd half) 14-4Kentucky 6:10 (2nd half) 12-2@ Rutgers 5:33 (1st half) 4-2@ Rutgers 7:18 (2nd half) 9-5Georgetown 7:25 (2nd half) 14-4Providence 5:04 (1st half) 8-2@ Connecticut 6:15 (1st half) 8-0@ Connecticut 5:22 (2nd half) 10-3@ West Virginia 5:13 (1st half) 13-0Notre Dame 6:14 (1st half) 6-1Notre Dame 5:53 (2nd half) 13-2@ Pittsburgh 5:19 (1st half) 9-3St. John's 7:43 (2nd half) 10-4Arkansas 7:58 (1st half) 17-6Ohio State 5:13 (1st half) 3-4Ohio State 8:55 (2nd half) 14-5
MIAMI RANKS FOR FOURTH STAIGHT SEASON:
Miami currently ranks 22nd in the nation in field goal percentage defensemarking the fourth straight season the Hurricanes have ranked nationally inthe category. Last season the Hurricanes ended the season ranked 13th in thenation in field goal percentage defense (.384). In 1997-98 the University ofMiami 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 ranksixth nationally. In addition, the Hurricanes rank 23rd in the nation inscoring defense.
MAN OF STEAL:
Senior guard Vernon Jennings set a career-high with seven steals againstWest Virginia (1-5-00). The seven steals ranked as the second highest singlegame total in UM history and were the most since Jerome Scott recorded ninesteals against Florida International on March 4, 1991. Jennings currently has196 career steals to rank second on UM’s career list.
1. Kevin Norris (1994-98) 208
2. VERNON JENNINGS (1996-present) 196
MAN OF STEAL, PART TWO:
Vernon Jennings recorded three steals against Ohio State giving him 72steals on the season. The 72 steals ranks second on UM’s all-time singleseason list.
Top 5 UM Single Season Steals List
1. Jerome Scott (1991-92) 77
2. Vernon Jennings (1999-00) 72
3. Jerome Scott (1990-91) 70
4. Vernon Jennings (1998-99) 60
5. Steven Edwards (1992-93) 56
POSTING GREAT NUMBERS:
This season the Hurricanes have held the opposition’s starting centers toan average of 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Miami has allowed onlyseven starting centers this season to score in double-figures and only threeto grab 10 or more rebounds.
1999-00
11-19-99 Davin Granberry, Central Florida 2 311-23-99 Kevin Owens, Monmouth 5 211-30-99 Brent King, Bethune-Cookman 8 012-4-99 Earl Barron, Memphis 1 312-7-99 Wade Helliwell, UNC Charlotte 0 112-11-99 Rob Sawicki, Hartford 6 412-18-99 Brendan Haywood, North Carolina 8 212-20-99 Brett Smith, Louisiana-Lafayette 5 812-21-99 Marc Mazur, Detroit Mercy 0 012-22-99 Rich Beyers, Illinois State 3 412-27-99 Marques Williams, Florida Atlantic 12 312-29-99 Bill Romano, Quinnipiac 13 31-5-00 John Oliver, West Virginia 3 11-8-00 Etan Thomas, Syracuse 12 111-11-00 Samuel Dalembert, Seton Hall 5 71-15-00 R. Boumtje Boumtje, Georgetown 9 41-17-00 Malik Allen, Villanova 6 31-22-00 Brian Ross, Boston College 6 71-25-00 Ivan Kartelo, Notre Dame 0 11-29-00 Jamaal Magloire, Kentucky 11 72-1-00 Chris Seabrooks, Pittsburgh 11 62-5-00 Eugene Dabney, Rutgers 2 42-7-00 R. Boumtje Boumtje, Georgetown 15 132-16-00 Karim Shabazz, Providence 1 42-19-00 Jake Voskhul, Connecticut 7 52-22-00 Chris Moss, West Virginia 8 62-26-00 Harold Swanagan, Notre Dame 5 22-29-00 Chris Seabrooks, Pittsburgh 11 103-5-00 Anthony Glover, St. John's 8 53-9-00 Harold Swanagan, Notre Dame 8 43-10-00 Anthony Glover, St. John's 7 63-17-00 Alonzo Lane, Arkansas 5 23-19-00 Ken Johnson, Ohio State 9 1
JENNINGS REPEATS AS ASSIST CHAMPION:
Miami point guard Vernon Jennings handed out 111 assist (6.94 apg) in BIGEAST play this season marking the second straight season Jennings has ledconference in assists.
Jennings is just the fourth player in BIG EAST history and the firstsince Sherman Douglas (Syracuse) in 1988-89 to lead the conference in assistsin back-to-back seasons. Douglas led the BIG EAST in assists for threestraight seasons from 1986-89. The only others to lead the BIG EAST inassists for two straight seasons are Dwayne “Pearl” Washington (Syracuse)from 1983-85 and Stewart Granger (Villanova) from 1980-82.
Jennings won the 1998-99 BIG EAST assist title with an average of 6.06per game in league play. Jennings handed out 109 assists setting a UM BIGEAST single-season record.
AMONG THE ELITE:
Since the start of the 1996-97 season UM has compiled a 48-22 (.686)record in BIG EAST regular season games tying Connecticut for the bestconference mark over that period.
Conference Records Since 1996-97:
Connecticut 48-22 .686 MIAMI 48-22 .686 St. John's 47-23 .671 Syracuse 44-26 .629 Villanova 38-32 .543 Seton Hall 33-37 .471 West Virginia 32-38 .457 Notre Dame 31-39 .443 Providence 30-40 .429 Georgetown 29-41 .414 Rutgers 26-44 .371 Pittsburgh 26-44 .371 Boston College 24-46 .342
HURRICANES TABBED FOURTH:
The men’s basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the conferencebehind Connecticut, Syracuse, and St. John’s. Miami did receive one firstplace vote.
1999-00 BIG EAST Coaches’ Preseason Poll
1. Connecticut (10) 1422. Syracuse (2) 1313. St. John's 1194. MIAMI (1) 1145. Georgetown 976. Villanova 827. Seton Hall 738. Rutgers 689. Notre Dame 6010. Providence 4511. West Virginia 3412. Pittsburgh 3013. Boston College 19
BLAND NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Miami center Mario Bland was named BIG EAST Player of the Week for theweek ending March 5, 2000 after averaging 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds pergame as the Hurricanes defeated Pittsburgh and St. John’s. Bland tallied 20points and 10 rebounds as Miami defeated Pittsburgh, 74-66, on the road. Hefollowed that game with a 19 point, seven rebound performance as Miamiknocked off 18th ranked St. John’s at Miami Arena. In that game Bland hitjumper from the top of the key with 10 seconds remaining in regulation whichsent the game into overtime. The award is the first of Blands career, and thefirst won by a Hurricane this season.
SELECT COMPANY:
Entering the 1999-2000 season the Hurricanes are one of just three BIGEAST schools to post a winning overall record each of the past five seasons.Joining the Hurricanes are Syracuse and Connecticut.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 28-6 (.824)conference mark over the last two seasons. Miami, which was 15-3 in leagueplay last season, went 13-3 this year.
Conference Record Last Two Seasons:
1998-99 1999-00 Total MIAMI 15-3 13-3 28-6 (.824) St. John's 14-4 12-4 26-8 (.787) Connecticut 16-2 10-6 26-8 (.787) Syracuse 10-8 13-3 23-11 (.676) Villanova 10-8 8-8 18-16 (.529) Seton Hall 8-10 10-6 18-16 (.529) Notre Dame 8-10 8-8 16-18 (.471) Rutgers 9-9 6-10 15-19 (.441) Providence 9-9 4-12 13-21 (.382) Georgetown 6-12 6-10 12-22 (.353) West Virginia4-14 6-10 10-24 (.294) Pittsburgh 5-13 5-11 10-24 (.294) Boston College3-15 3-13 6-28 (.176)
A SWEEPING SUCCESS:
With their win over Pittsburgh on February 29 the Hurricanes recordedtheir third season sweep this season. Miami also swept Notre Dame and WestVirginia. Miami has registered 13 BIG EAST regular season two-game sweepssince joining the league in the 1991-92 season. Miami has now recorded atleast one series sweep in each of the last six seasons. Below is a list ofUM’s BIG EAST series sweeps:
1994-95: Providence St. John's Boston College1995-96: Notre Dame1996-97: Georgetown1997-98: Notre Dame1998-99 Boston College St. John's Georgetown Rutgers1999-00: Notre Dame Pittsburgh West Virginia
