Men's Basketball Prepares For Boston College

Jan. 5, 2001

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TODAY’S OPPONENT: Boston College enters today’s game with a record of 10-0, 1-0 in the BIG EAST following an 85-68 upset win over 10th-ranked Connecticut on January 3 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. The win snapped the Eagles’ 23-game losing streak against the Huskies. Boston College is off to its best start since the 1984-85 season.

Sophomore guard Troy Bell, the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year last season, recorded 27 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Huskies. Senior forward Xavier Singletary added 23 points and five rebounds.

Bell (21.4 ppg) and Singletary (14.9 ppg) are the top two scorers for the Eagles high powered offense which is averaging 84.0 points per game. The Eagles rank 13th in the nation in scoring margin defeating opponents by an average of 21.6 points per game.

THE SERIES: Miami and Boston College meet for the 18th time with the Eagles leading the all-time series 9-8. Miami has won the last four meetings including a 62-54 decision last season.

The Hurricanes are 4-4 against the Eagles in Miami including a 3-4 record at the Miami Arena. Miami defeated Boston College last season at the American Airlines Arena.

The UM-BC rivalry has been a closely contested one with six of the last eight meetings being decided by eight points or less.

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.

LAST TIME AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE
January 22, 2000
American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

Mario Bland scored a career-high 24 points and had nine rebounds Saturday to lead Miami to a 62-54 win over Boston College.

Leading by three at halftime, the Hurricanes started the second half on a 9-0 run, extending its lead to 39-27. The Eagles (9-8, 1-4) cut the deficit to 46-44 with 8:54 to play after Kenny Walls’ slam dunk, but it wasn’t enough.

That’s when Bland, who became the 23rd player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points, took over. The senior scored four of the next six points for Miami, upping the lead to 52-47.

Boston College never got any closer to the Hurricanes. Johnny Hemsley scored 12 points and Vernon Jennings added 11 for Miami.

Miami held the Eagles to just 33 percent in the first half and it only got worse. Boston College shot 7-for-26 (27 percent) in the second half and 30 percent for the game.

Troy Bell, the second-leading scorer in the Big East, led the Eagles with 20 points on just 4-for-15 shooting.

Because of a broken water line at Miami Arena, the game was moved to the nearby American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat.

UP NEXT: Following today’s game Miami hits the road for a three-game road trip against Virginia Tech (Jan. 10, 7:00 p.m.), Boston College (Jan. 13, Noon) and Providence (Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m.). The Hurricanes’ games versus Virginia Tech and Providence will be broadcast live in Miami on Fox Sports Net, while the Boston College game has been selected as the BIG EAST Game of the Week and will be shown on WPLG-TV (Ch. 10).

TV/RADIO COVERAGE: Today’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and is airing live in Miami on Fox Sports Net Florida. Bob Piccozi is handling the play-by-play duties with Doris Burke adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM – 560 AM). Marc Vandermeer is calling the play-by-play with Joe Zagacki providing analysis. The game is also being broadcast in Spanish on the Spanish Broadcasting Network (WACC-830 AM). The game can be heard live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 9-4, 1-1 BIG EAST.Mark Boston College’s first loss this season.Mark Miami’s fourth straight BIG EAST home opening victory.Mark Miami’s fifth straight win over Boston College.

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 193-149 (.564) including a 8-4 record this season.

Boston College head coach Al Skinner is in his fourth season with the Eagles and 13th season overall. Skinner’s record at Boston College is 42-56 (.429), including a 10-0 record this season, while his overall record stands at 180-182 (.497).

FOR OPENERS: Today’s game marks the BIG EAST home opener for the Hurricanes. Miami has won its last three BIG EAST home openers including a 66-58 win over West Virginia last season.

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA: In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 122-62 (.663) overall record, including a 7-0 mark this season. Miami’s one home loss this season was at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, FL. UM has posted a 75-22 (.773) home record since 1994. UM is 39-14 (.736) in its last 53 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.

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.

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.

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 63-34 (.649) record against non-conference opponents, including a 45-13 mark (.776) 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.

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.

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.