Men's Basketball To Take On UNC Charlotte Tuesday, Nov. 28

Nov. 27, 2000

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: UNC Charlotte enters Tuesday’s game with a record of 2-1 following a heartbreaking 79-78 loss at St. Bonaventure on Saturday. Charlotte led by as many as 11 points in the second half but couldn’t hold. St. Bonaventure senior Kevin Houston hit a driving layup with five seconds remaining to give the Bonnies the one-point win.

Charlotte, playing in its first home game this season, have been led by freshman forward Rodney White. White is averaging a team-high 20.0 points per game while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per contest. On November 20 he was honored as the Conference USA Player of the Week becoming the first freshman in conference history to win the award in the opening week of the season.

Charlotte, which is averaging 87.3 points per game, boast four players averaging in double figures including Demon Brown (17.3 ppg), Cam Stephens (13.3 ppg) and Jobey Thomas (11.3 ppg). Stephens is averaging a double-double with a team-high 10.0 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES: Miami and UNC Charlotte meet for the fourth time with the 49ers holding a 2-1 series lead. Charlotte has won the last two meetings including a 75-65 win last season at Miami Arena.

Miami is 0-1 on the road against Charlotte having dropped a 66-59 decision to the 49ers on November 23, 1998. The Hurricanes’ win over Charlotte was an 89-72 decision in the series’ first meeting on November 21, 1997 at the Miami Arena.

UP NEXT: Following tonight’s game the Hurricanes will take on seventh-ranked North Carolina on December 4 in Chapel Hill, NC. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.

A WIN TONIGHT WOULD:

• ***Improve Miami’s record to 4-0.
• ***Improve Perry Clark’s record at UM to 4-0 marking the best start by a UM coach in his first season.
• ***Mark Miami’s best start since a 9-0 start in 1997-98.
• ***Snap the Hurricanes’ two game losing streak to Charlotte and mark UM’s first win over the 49ers since Nov. 21, 1997.

LAST SEASON AGAINST UNC CHARLOTTE
December 7, 1999
Miami Arena, Miami, FL

Jobey Thomas scored 28 points, including four straight 3-pointers during a 12-0 second half run, to lift N.C. Charlotte to a 75-65 victory over Miami. The 49ers’ Diego Guevara, playing in his second game since returning from appendix surgery, scored 14 points, including 12 in the second half.

Thomas made 7 of 12 three-pointers and the 49ers made 12 of 28 overall, including 8 of 14 in the second half.

Starting center Mario Bland led the Hurricanes with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The double-double is the second consecutive for Bland who recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds in Miami’s previous game against Memphis. Johnny Hemsley added 12 points for Miami while sophomore John Salmons and freshman James Jones each scored 11.

Thomas’ four consecutive three-pointers turned N.C. Charlotte’s 34-29 deficit into a 41-34 lead early in the second half. A basket and free throw by Salmons, followed by a 3-pointer by Hemsley brought Miami back 46-43. Guevara and Thomas hit back-to-back 3-pointers, sandwiched between a basket by Miami’s Jones, to boost N.C. Charlotte’s lead back to 52-45.

ONLINE ALL THE TIME: Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website for up to the minute information on Hurricane Athletics at www.hurricanesports.com.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE: Tonight’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and is airing live in Miami on Fox Sports Net Florida. Jay Randolph is calling the play-by-play with Bob Wenzel adding analysis.The game can be heard on the radio on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM -560 AM). Marc Vandermeer is calling the play-by-play with Joe Zagacki adding analysis. The game is also being broadcast live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

O

N 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. Clark’s career record stands at 188-145 (.565) including a 3-0 record this season. UNC Charlotte head coach Bobby Lutz is in his third season as the helm of the 49ers’ program and 11th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Lutz’s record at UNC Charlotte is 42-28 (.600) while his overall record is 223-119 (.652).

IN THEIR FIRST SEASON: New Hurricane head coach Perry Clark is 2-0 to open his first season with Miami. With a win today he would tie the UM record for consecutive wins to open a season by a coach in his first season at Miami. Bill Foster (1985-86), Hart Morris (1938-39) and Art Webb (1926-27) all opened their inaugural season at Miami 3-0.

STELLAR DEBUT: Freshman forward Darius Rice made quite a debut in his first game in a Hurricanes’ uniform. Rice poured in a game-high 26 points to go with three rebounds, three steals and two blocks. The 26 points are the most by a freshman in a season-opener since the rebirth of the program in 1985 and also marks the fifth highest single game total by a freshman since the program’s rebirth. In addition, Rice was 5-9 from three-point range. The five three-pointers was one away from tying the UM freshman single-game record of six set by Steven Edwards versus Pittsburgh on Jan. 23, 1993.

IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER: Miami is 3-0 this season in the month of November. Since the rebirth of the program in 1985 the Hurricanes have posted a 30-8 (.789) record in games in the month of November. Since 1993, the University of Miami had been almost unbeatable in the month of November registering a 21-2 (.913) record.

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 58-31 (.652) record against non-conference opponents, including a 42-13 mark (.764) at the Miami Arena.

A NEW HOME COURT: The University of Miami will play on new floor at the Miami Arena this season. The floor was donated by Dr. Eddie Dauer and Sam Burstyn and is adorned in the Hurricanes’ colors of orange, green and white.

VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA: With its win over Florida Atlantic on November 18, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 288-141 (.671). Miami has won 23 consecutive 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.

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.

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 last season while going 8-0 in 1998-99.

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.

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.

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.