Men's Basketball Prepares For Season Opener
Nov. 16, 2000
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TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Saturday, November 18, 2000 — 7:45 p.m. (EST)
FAU Gymnasiun (5,000)
WSBR (740 AM)
Florida Atlantic enters its 2000-01 season opener with a brand new squad. Eleven newcomers grace the Owls roster including seven freshmen. FAU’s lone returning letterwinner from last season is 6-8 forward Motiejus Reimeris. Reimeris played in all 30 games, making 17 starts, and averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Last season, the first under head coach Sidney Green, the Owls finished 2-28 including an 0-18 record in the Trans America Atheltic Conference. The Owls’ first win came against Nova Southeastern, 67-63, in the third game of the season. Their second victory was a 66-56 upset win over Stetson in the opening round of the TAAC Conference tournament.
THE SERIES: Miami and Florida Atlantic meet for the 14th time with the Hurricanes taking all 13 previous meetings. Last season Miami registered an 89-52 win at Miami Arena. Miami and Florida Atlantic last met in Boca Raton on November 13, 1998 with the Hurricanes taking a 97-73 decision. Miami is 4-0 versus the Owls in Boca Raton. Miami’s 13 game win streak against FAU is the six longest in UM history against one opponent.
A WIN TONIGHT WOULD:
Mark Perry Clark’s first win at Miami.Mark the eight straight season opening win for MiamiMark Miami’s 23rd consecutive win over teams from the state of Florida.Improve Miami’s all-time record against Florida Atlantic to 14-0.Give Miami its 22nd consecutive win over a TAAC opponent.
LAST TIME AGAINST FLORIDA ATLANTIC
December 27, 1999
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
John Salmons scored 17 points, leading a balanced attack as Miami defeated Florida Atlantic 89-52 at Miami Arena.
Six Hurricanes scored in double-digits, helping overcome the absence of leading scorer Johnny Hemsley, who missed his second straight game because of a suspension.
Leroy Hurd had 15 points for Miami and Mario Bland scored 14. Vernon Jennings added 11, and Elton Tyler and Dwayne Wimbley each had 10.
The Hurricanes jumped to a 46-22 halftime lead behind Salmons’ 12 points. Miami went on a 12-0 spurt in a two-minute span to build a 28-11 lead with 6:57 left.
Salmons scored eight of his points during that run, including a 4-point play in which sank a free throw after making a 3-pointer from the corner. He then stole the inbounds pass and converted it into a layup.
Marques Williams led Florida Atlantic with 12 points, followed by Ryan Hercek with 10.
UP NEXT: Following tonight’s game the Hurricanes will return to action on Tuesday, November 21 against Columbia at 7:30 p.m. at the Miami Arena. The game is the home opener for the Hurricanes.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE: Tonight’s game is not being televised.The game is being broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network (WSBR – 790 AM). John Sciambi is calling all of the action.
ON THE COACHES: Miami head coach Perry Clark was named the Hurricanes’ head basketball coach on on July 6, 2000. Clark comes to Coral Gables having spent 11 seasons at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. With the Green Wave, Clark compiled a 185-145 (.561) record, had six 20-win seasons, seven postseason appearances (3 NCAA, 4 NIT) and won the Metro Conference championship in 1992. He was the 1992 National Coach of the Year and a two-time Metro Conference Coach of the Year (1991, 1992). Last season Clark finished 20-11 and captured the Conference USA National Division crown. Additionally, Tulane received a bid to the NIT.
Florida Atlantic head coach Sidney Green is in his second season with the Owls and his sixth season as a collegiate head coach. Green’s career record in one season at FAU is 2-28 (.067) while his overall record stands at 51-88 (.367).
FOR OPENERS: Tonight’s contest marks the season opener for the Hurricanes. Miami has won its last seven season openers and is 13-2 (.867) is season openers since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami’s all-time record in season opening games is 38-12 (.760).
Miami’s game against Florida Atlantic marks the fourth consecutive season the Hurricanes have played their season opener on the road. Last season Miami opened the season at Central Florida defeating the Golden Knights by a score of 81-54. The Hurricanes opened at Florida Atlantic in 1998 while in 1997 the Hurricanes traveled to Southern Illinois.
Prior to 1997 Miami had not opened away from home since 1987 when the Hurricanes faced Michigan at the Great Alaska Shootout in Ankorage, AK.
AGAINST THE TAAC: Florida Atlantic marks the first of two games this season for Miami against Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents. The hurricanes will face Central Florida on December 9. Miami is 87-42 (.674) all-time against teams currently in the TAAC. Miami has won 21 consecutive games against TAAC teams and has not lost to a TAAC opponent since a 72-64 season opening loss to Florida International on December 1, 1992.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA: With its win over Bethune-Cookman, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 287-141 (.671). Miami has won its last 22 games against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has not lost to a Florida school since a 72-64 season opening loss to Florida International on Dec. 1, 1992.
STREAKING: Miami’s current 13 game winning streak over Florida Atlantic ranks as the sixth longest over one opponent in UM history.
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 56-31 (.644) record against non-conference opponents, including a 40-13 mark (.755) at the Miami Arena.
MIAMI REACHES SWEET 16: With its 75-62 win over Ohio State in the second round of last season’s NCAA tournament, the University of Miami advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history.
Miami has advanced to post-season play in five of the last six seasons including three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
HURRICANES EARN SHARE OF BIG EAST TITLE: With its 74-70 win over St. John’s in last season’s regular season finale, the University of Miami earned a share of the 1999-2000 BIG EAST regular season title. The BIG EAST title was the first for Miami and the Hurricanes first conference title of any kind since the 1964-65 season. That season the Hurricanes went 10-0 to win their eighth straight Florida Intercollegiate Conference championship. The league, which consisted of Miami, Florida Southern, Jacksonville, Rollins, Stetson and Tampa, was disbanded the following year.
UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS: Miami won 23 games last season tying the school single season record for victories. Miami’s single season record of 23 victories was set during the 1959-60 season and later tied during 1962-63 and 1998-99 seasons.
ROAD WARRIORS: Over the last two seasons Miami is 15-2 in BIG EAST road games. The 15-2 mark is the best among BIG EAST schools over the last two seasons. Miami, which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games in 1998-99, was 7-1 in conference road games last season. Miami has won 16 of its last 18 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH: Miami’s win over No. 18 St. John’s in last season’s regular season finale marked the sixth consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.
WINNING WAYS: With its 63-57 win over Connecticut on February 19, the University of Miami clinched its six consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least six straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the `Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.
LATE SEASON HEAT WAVE: Over the last two seasons Miami has been nearly unbeatable in the month of February registering a 15-1 (.938) record. Miami went 7-1 in the month of February this season while going 8-0 last season.
SEEING 20-20: Miami’s 23 wins this season gave the Hurricanes’ their second consecutive 20-win season. The back-to-back 20-win seasons are the first for Miami in the 1963-64, 1964-65 season.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Miami was 3-5 versus ranked teams this season. The Hurricanes are 12-14 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons.
MAKING ROAD HISTORY: With its 63-57 win over Connecticut last season the University of Miami became the first school to win consecutive games against the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion. Miami defeated Connecticut 73-71 in its previous trip to Storrs on February 20, 1999.
WORKING OVERTIME: Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last two seasons. Last season the Hurricanes defeated St. John’s in the regular-season finale while in 1998-99 the Hurricanes’ lost a heartbreaking overtime game against No. 1 ranked. UM has amassed a 6-2 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (4-2 at home). 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 22-19 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-3 in double-overtime games and a 18-16 mark in single-overtime contests). Miami is 6-2 in overtime games since 1995.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA: In 11 seasons the Hurricanes have compiled a 115-62 (.650) overall record, including a 10-4 mark last season. UM has posted a 68-21 (.764) home record since 1994. UM is 39-14 (.736) in its last 53 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.
POINTS, POINTS, POINTS: Last season Miami scored 2,346 points in 34 games (69 ppg). The overall point total was the most by a Hurricane team since the 1988-89 season. That season the Hurricanes scored 2,809 points in 31 games for an average of 90.6 points per game. The point total also marked the second straight season in which the Hurricanes had posted 2,000 or more points. The last time UM had recorded 2,000 or more points in consecutive seasons was in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
DEAD-EYE FROM THE LINE: Miami led the BIG EAST and ranked 13th in the nation shooting 74.8 percent from free throw line last season. Miami’s five starters combined to shoot 441-572 (.771) from the line. The Hurricanes’ returning players from last season shot a combines 226-311 (.727) from the line.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3: Prior to last season’s regular season finale against St. John’s, the Hurricanes had hit at least one three-point field goal in 249 consecutive games. Overall, the `Canes have hit at least one trey in 408 of its 410 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986. The only other game in which Miami 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.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING: Miami shot 51.0 percent from the field against Ohio State (3-19-00) marking the seventh time last season the Hurricanes shot 50 percent or better from the floor. In 1998-99 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.
DEFENDING THE BIG EAST: Last season the Hurricanes led the BIG EAST in scoring defense (58.2 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.377) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.259). Miami has led the league in field goal percentage defense for two straight seasons and its 58.2 ppg allowed this season established a new BIG EAST record. The Hurricanes broke the old mark of 59.4 points per game set by Georgetown in 1981-82.
LOCKING UP: Over the last four seasons Miami has been one of the nation’s leaders in field goal percentage defense. Last season Miami made a habit of holding teams without a field goal for long stretches. The Hurricanes held teams without a field goal for five minutes or more a total of 31 times while holding teams scoreless for five or more minutes seven times.
MIAMI RANKS FOR FOURTH STAIGHT SEASON: Miami ended the season ranked 20th in the nation in field goal percentage defense marking the fourth straight season the Hurricanes have ranked nationally in the category. In 1998-99 the Hurricanes 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. In addition, the Hurricanes rank 23rd in the nation in scoring defense.
MAN OF STEAL: In just two seasons Miami forward John Salmons has recorded 78 steals and needs only 35 this season to move into the Hurricanes’ top-10 for career steals. Last season Salmons recorded 50 steals which ranks as the seventh best single season total in UM history. Salmons is only the fifth player in UM history to record 50 or more steals in a season.
POSTING GREAT NUMBERS: Last season the Hurricanes held the opposition’s starting centers to an average of 6.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Miami allowed only eight starting centers this season to score in double-figures and only four to grab 10 or more rebounds.
BIG EAST SPLITS INTO TWO DIVISIONS: With the addition of Virginia Tech, the BIG EAST Conference will begin divisional play. The league will be split into two seven-team divisions with each team playing divisional opponents both home and away. All teams will also play four interdivisional games (two home, two away). Divisional finish will also affect the BIG EAST Championship. The top six teams in each division will advance to the AT&T BIG EAST Championship at Madison Square Garden on March 7-10. The top two finishers in each division will earn first round byes. The first-round games will be cross-divisional matchups. The West Division No. 4 seed will play the East Division No. 5 seed. The West No. 4 will play the East No. 5. The East No. 3 will meet the West No. 6. The East No. 4 will play the West No. 5 while the West No. 3 will play the East No. 6.
SELECT COMPANY: The Hurricanes are one of just three BIG EAST schools to post a winning overall record each of the past six seasons. Joining the Hurricanes are Syracuse and Connecticut.
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 best conference mark over that period.
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 league play last season, went 13-3 this year.
A SWEEPING SUCCESS: With their win over Pittsburgh on February 29 the Hurricanes recorded their third season sweep this season. Miami also swept Notre Dame and West Virginia. Miami has registered 13 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 six seasons.
