Hurricane Men's Hoops Welcomes Nebraska To Orange Bowl Classic
Dec. 15, 2000
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NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (3-3) vs. MIAMI HURRICANES (4-2)
Saturday, December 16, 2000 — 1:00 p.m. (EST)
National Car Rental Center (20,184)
Sunshine Network, WQAM (560 AM)
TODAY’S OPPONENT:
Nebraska enters today’s game with a record of 3-3 following an 84-55 win over Alaska-Fairbanks on December 9 at the Husker Team Classic.
The Cornhuskers have defeated Eastern Illinois (85-71) and Winthrop (64-44) this season while falling at Oral Roberts (87-83), at Pittsburgh (52-51) and Missouri-Kansas City (82-71). Nebraska is looking for its first road win this season. The Cornhuskers are 0-2 this season on the road.
Nebraska has been led this season by senior guard Cookie Belcher. Belcher is averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game while also leading the team in assists (29) and steals (15).
The Cornhuskers boast four double-figure scorers. Also averaging double-figures are center Kimani Ffriend (17.8 ppg), forward Steffon Bradford (14.2 ppg) and guard Cary Cochran (10.8 ppg). Bradford is averaging a double-double this season registering 10.7 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Nebraska meet for the third time with the all-time series tied 1-1. The Hurricanes and the Cornhuskers last met on December 18, 1971 with Nebraska taking an 85-58 decision in Lincoln. Miami won the first meeting, 70-60, on November 30, 1951 in Miami.
UP NEXT:
Following today’s game the Hurricanes will play the first of four consecutive games at the Miami Arena on December 18 against Eastern Illinois with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Miami will continue its homestand against Memphis (Dec. 21), Lehigh (Dec. 27) and Tennessee-Martin (Dec. 29).
UM opens its BIG EAST Conference schedule atPittsburgh on January 3. Miami’s BIG EAST home opener will take place January 7 at 2 p.m. at the Miami Arena against Boston College.
A WIN TODAY WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 5-2.Mark UM’s second consecutive win.Improve UM’s record against Nebraska to 2-1.Mark Miami’s record to 2-1 at the National Car Rental Center.
LAST OUTING AGAINST CENTRAL FLORIDA
December 9, 2000
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Freshman Forward Darius Rice set a Miami freshman record with 35 points to lead the Hurricanes to an 83-72 win over the University of Central Florida at the Miami Arena in Miami, FL.
Rice finished the contest 11-19 from the field, including 6 of 9 from three-point range, and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. His six three-point field goals tied the UM single-game freshman record.
John Salmons recorded his fourth career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds for Miami. Mario Lovett and Paul Reed each tallied 14 points to lead the Golden Knights.
Miami outrebounded Central Florida 41-31 including an 18-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Hurricanes shot 17-32 (.531) from the field in the first half in openning a 40-34 lead at the break.
UCF, which trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half, battled back and cut the lead to three (60-57) following a three-point basket by Jason Thornton with 7:35 remaining. But that would be as close as the Golden Knights would get as Rice hit back-to-back three-pointers to halt the UCF run.
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:
Today’s game is being televised on Sunshine. Larry Vettel, Bill Koss and Dave LaMont are calling the action. The game can be heard 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 Hurricane Athletics – www.hurricanesports.com.
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. Clark’s career record stands at 189-147 (.563) including a 4-2 record this season.
Nebraska head coach Barry Collier is in his first season with the Cornhuskers and 12th season overall. Collier’s career record stands at 199-135 (.596) including a 3-3 record this season.
IN THE ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC:
Today’s game marks the Hurricanes’ seventh appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Miami is 2-4 in the Classic including a 78-68 loss to eventual Final Four participant North Carolina last season.
RECORD SETTING NIGHT:
Freshman forward Darius Rice recorded 35 points in the Hurricanes’ win over Central Florida (12-9-00) setting a Miami freshman single-game scoring record. Rice broke the old mark of 30 set by Tito Horford on February 25, 1987. Rice also connected on six three-point baskets against UCF tying a UM freshman record.
In his debut against Florida Atlantic on November 18, Rice poured in a game-high 26 points marking the most by a freshman in a season-opener.
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 59-33 (.641) record against non-conference opponents, including a 43-13 mark (.768) at the Miami Arena.
IN THEIR FIRST SEASON:
New Hurricane head coach Perry Clark opened his first season at Miami with a 3-0 record. The three straight wins to open the season tied 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.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM is 0-1 against ranked teams this season. Miami was 3-5 versus ranked teams last season . The Hurricanes are 12-15 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons. Miami is 21-80 (.208) all-time against ranked teams including an 18-66 (.214) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
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.
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.
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 Central Florida on December 9, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 289-141 (.672). Miami has won 24 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 118-62 (.656) overall record, including a 3-0 mark this season. UM has posted a 71-21 (.772) home record since 1994. UM is 39-14 (.736) in its last 53 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 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.
MIAMI IN THE 2000-01 POLLS:
The University of Miami did not recieve votes in this week’s Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today College Basketball polls.
MIAMI ENDS 1999-00 SEASON NATIONALLY RANKED:
Miami ended the 1999-2000 season ranked 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and 23rd in the final Associated Press poll marking the second consecutive season the Hurricanes have ended the season nationally ranked. In 1998-99 Miami finished 10th in the final AP poll and 12th in the season ending USA Today/ESPN poll.
SUCCESS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:
Entering the 2000-01 season the Hurricanes are the only team in the state of Florida to register a winning record in each of the last six seasons. The Hurricanes’ 110-68 (.618) mark since the 1994-95 season is the top winning percentage and most victories among the state’s 11 Division I programs.
HURRICANE TICKETS ON SALE:
Miami season ticket packages are currently on sale for as low as $99. Miami will play 15 games at Miami Arena this season including eight BIG EAST Conference battles. Single game tickets are also available. For more information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at (305) 284-CANES in Dade or (800) GO-CANES. The Ticket Office is open from 9a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.
BIG OFF THE BENCH:
This season the Hurricanes’ have received strong play from its bench. The UM bench has accounted for 35.1 percent (149 of 424 points) of the Hurricanes’ scoring and 29.3 percent (68 of 232 rebounds) of its rebounding this season. Miami’s bench is averaging 24.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
In comparison, last season the Miami bench accounted for only 19.3 percent (453 of 2346 points) of UM’s scoring and 24.3 percent (312 of 1282 rebounds) of its rebounding. Last season Miami’s bench averaged 13.3 points and 9.2 rebounds.
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 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. This season’s starters have been just as proficient from the line connecting on 42-51 (.823) free throw attempts. As a team the Hurricanes are shooting 75.2 percent from the line to rank second in the BIG EAST.
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 414 of its 416 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.
GETTING DEFENSIVE:
This season Miami’s defense has been adept a forcing its opponents into turnovers. The Hurricanes have forced 119 turnovers (23.8 per game) over the first five games including 64 steals (12.8 per game). The Hurricanes are averaging 25.4 points per game off turnovers.
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.
MAN OF STEAL:
In his third season, Miami forward John Salmons has recorded 86 steals and needs only 27 more 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.
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.
LOCKING UP:
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.
In Miami’s season opener against Florida Atlantic the Hurricanes held the Owls without a point for a span of 5:48 during the second-half. Against Columbia, UM held the Lions without a point for the opening 10:28 of the second half while going on a 17-0 run.
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.
HURRICANES PICKED FOURTH IN DIVISION:
The Univesity of Miami was picked to finish fourth in the East Divison by a vote of the leagues coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
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.
SEVEN WITH 20 WINS
The BIG EAST had seven teams with 20 or more victories last season, the only conference in the country that can boast that feat. Seven teams won 19 or more games, putting the BIG EAST as the only league in that category. Every BIG EAST team last season reached the double-digit win mark.
BIG EAST REGULARS IN REGIONALS
BIG EAST teams have been regulars in regional semifinal action in recent years. The conference has had three teams in the Sweet 16 in the same season three times in the last five years. Multiple teams have made regional semifinal appearances in the same season in six of the last seven years. The BIG EAST has sent five different teams to regional semifinals in the last two years and eight different teams since 1996. A total of 12 league teams have been to the regional semifinals in those five years.
TOPS IN TEAMS
The BIG EAST tied for the national lead among conferences for teams playing in the regional semifinals. The Big Ten and SEC also had three squads. The BIG EAST has posted a 13-8 postseason record (NCAA & NIT) so far this season.
BIG EAST WINNING WAYS
BIG EAST teams have posted a 163-96 record in NCAA play. The .629 winning percentage is second-best in the nation behind the Atlantic Coast Conference (.672).
SPREADING THE SUCCESS
Ten different BIG EAST teams have made NCAA appearances since 1996-97. All 14 league squads have made the postseason (NCAA or NIT) over the last five years.
103 POSTSEASON TEAMS IN THE LAST 11 SEASONS
Since 1990, The BIG EAST has received 55 NCAA bids. Only the Big Ten (64) can boast more bids. The BIG EAST has a 80-53 record during that span. Only the ACC, Big Ten and SEC have more wins. Forty-eight BIG EAST teams have participated in the NIT. A total of 35 conference squads have played in the postseason over the last four years. That’s 8.75 per season.
100 NCAA BIDS IN 21 SEASONS
One hundred NCAA bids have been earned by BIG EAST teams during the league’s 21-year history. That’s an average of 4.76 per season.
FREQUENT DANCERS
Four BIG EAST teams are ranked in the Top 10 nationally in NCAA appearances. St. John’s and Syracuse have made 26 each, ranking seventh. Notre Dame and Villanova have gone dancing 24 times, tied for 10th. Six BIG EAST teams have made 20 or more all-time NCAA appearances.
WINNING WAYS:
BIG EAST teams recorded 130 non-conference wins last season, the most in league history. Only the Southeastern Conference (132) had more non-league wins in 1999-00. The league finished 130-55 (.703) marking the eighth straight year and 20th time in 21 seasons that the conference had won over 70 percent of its non-league games.
THREE BIG EAST TEAMS MAKE SWEET 16
Three BIG EAST teams – Miami, Seton Hall and Syracuse – advanced to regional semifinal play in the NCAA Championship. The Hurricanes made their first regional semifinal appearance. Seton Hall played in its first Sweet 16 since 1992, while the Orangemen qualified for the ninth regional semifinal since the formation of the BIG EAST in 1979-80.
