Men's Basketball Prepares For No. 7 Syracuse

Feb. 12, 2001

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MIAMI HURRICANES (12-10, 4-7 BIG EAST)
at#9/#7 SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN (19-4, 7-3 BIG EAST)

Tuesday, February 13, 2001 — 7:30 p.m. (EST)

Carrier Dome (33,000)

TV – ESPN2, Radio – WQAM (560 AM)

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: Syracuse enters tonight’s game with a record of 19-4, 7-3 in the BIG EAST, following an emotional 63-62 win over Seton Hall on February 10 at the Carrier Dome.

Forwards Preston Shumpert (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Damone Brown (15 points and 16 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles in the victory.

Shumpert and Brown have led the surprising Orangemen who are ranked ninth by the Associated Press and seventh in the ESPN/USA Today poll.

Shumpert leads the team in scoring (20.4 ppg) and ranks second in rebounding (6.2 rpg), while Brown ranks second in scoring (16.9 ppg) and is the team’s leading rebounder (9.0 rpg).

The Orangemen enter tonight’s game with a 13-1 overall record in the Carrier Dome this season including a 5-0 mark in BIG EAST play. Syracuse’s lone home loss this season came on December 22 against Tennessee, 83-70.

THE SERIES: Miami and Syracuse meet for the 17th time with the Orangemen leading the all-time series 12-4. The visiting team has won the last three matchups between the two schools. Miami and Syracuse met once last season with the Orangemen winning, 67-55, at Miami Arena. Miami is 1-6 against Syracuse on the road with its lone win coming on its last trip to the Carrier Dome on February 8, 1999. That night UM knocked off Syracuse, 76-63.

LAST TIME AGAINST SYRACUSE
January 8, 2000
Miami Arena, Miami, FL

Damone Brown, Ryan Blackwell and Jason Hart each scored 14 points and Etan Thomas recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds as No. 7 Syracuse University defeated the University of Miami, 67-55, at Miami Arena.

Johnny Hemsley scored 14 for Miami. Mario Bland added 13 and John Salmons 12 in the loss.

Syracuse took a 36-21 lead at the half behind hot shooting and tough defense. The Orangemen shot a blistering 60.9 percent (24-51) in the first half while holding the Hurricanes just 8-of-34 (.235) shooting in the opening half.

Hart led the offensive attack in the first half scoring 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field including 2-of-3 from three-point range. Thomas led the defensive effort recording three steals and altering numerous Hurricane field goal attempts.

Miami opened the second-half with a 13-2 run, led by eight points from Hemsley, to pull within four points (38-34) with 13:35 left. Syracuse responded as Hart hit from the tip of the key to push the lead back to seven. Thomas then followed with a layup and Syracuse led 43-34 with 12:50 to play.

The Orangemen continued to increase the lead and found themselves up 57-41 following an alley-oop dunk by Brown with 5:29 left.

The Hurricanes battled back with a 14-3 run and cut the lead to five (60-55) with 1:37 to play when Elton Tyler hit a jumper from the right baseline. But that would be as close as the Hurricanes would get as Syracuse scored the game’s final seven points including 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch.

UP NEXT: Following tonight’s game the Hurricanes continue their three-game road trip against Villanova at 9 p.m. on February 17. tha game will televised on ESPN. The Hurricanes then conclude their BIG EAST road schedule versus Connecticut on February 24 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC).

TV/RADIO COVERAGE: Tonight’s game is being broadcast on ESPN2. Dan Shulman is handling the play-by-play with Bill Raftery 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 can be accessed live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 13-10, 5-7 BIG EAST.Mark Miami’s second consecutive win in the Carrier Dome.Mark the fourth consecutive game in the Syracuse-Miami series in which the visiting team has won.Mark Miami’s second BIG EAST road win this season.

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 197-155 (.560) including a 12-10 record this season.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim is in his 25th year of coaching, all at Syracuse, and has posted a 594-203 (.745) record.

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.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: UM is 2-2 against ranked teams this season. The Hurricanes are 14-16 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last seven seasons. Miami is 23-81 (.221) all-time against ranked teams including a 20-67 (.230) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

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.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH: Miami’s 77-74 win over No. 15 Connecticut on January 20 marked the seventh consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena. Miami is 2-0 this season against ranked teams at Miami Arena having also defeated No. 22 Seton Hall, 72-66, on Feb. 1.

BARNES STEPPING UP: Miami freshman Marcus Barnes has stepped up his game in BIG EAST play. Barnes, who averaged 3.6 points per game in 11 non-conference games, ranks fourth on the team in scoring in conference games (11.5 ppg). In the Hurricanes’ last eight games Barnes has scored in double-figures four times including three 20-point games.

RECORD SETTING NIGHTS FOR RICE: 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.

On January 10, 2001 vs. Virginia Tech, Rice hit seven three-point field goals establishing a new UM freshman record. Rice totalled 31 points vs. the Hokies becoming the first player in UM history to record two 30-point scoring games as a frosh.

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.Rice has now recorded three of the top eight freshman scoring totals in UM history.

WORKING OVERTIME: Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last three seasons. UM has amassed a 6-4 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (4-3 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 22-21 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-4 in double-overtime games and a 18-17 mark in single-overtime contests). Miami is 6-4 in overtime games since 1995. Below is a list of UM’s overtime games since 1990:

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.

UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS IN 1999-00: 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.

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA: In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 125-65 (.658) overall record, including a 10-3 mark this season. One of Miami’s home losses this season was at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, FL. UM has posted a 78-25 (.757) home record since 1994. UM is 42-17 (.712) in its last 59 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.

RICE AMONG TOP BIG EAST FRESHMEN Miami freshman Darius Rice has been extremely important to the Hurricanes’ success and is certainly one of the top freshmen in the BIG EAST this season. The 6-10 forward currently ranks fourth among BIG EAST freshmen in scoring and rebounding.

MIAMI REACHES SWEET 16 FOR FIRST TIME: 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.

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.

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.