Hurricanes Face UConn Saturday
Feb. 22, 2001
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MIAMI HURRICANES (14-10, 6-7 BIG EAST) at
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (17-9, 6-7 BIG EAST)
Saturday, February 24, 2001 — 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Gampel Pavilion (6,500)
TV – ABC, Radio – WAXY (790 AM), Web – hurricanesports.com
SATURDAY’S OPPONENT:
Connecticut enters Saturday’s game with a record of 17-9, 6-7 in the BIG EAST, following a 65-60 road loss to Syracuse on February 19. Senior Albert Mouring led the Huskies with 17 points while freshman Caron Butler recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.Connecticut has been up-and-down this season. The Huskies opened the season winning 13 of its first 15 games and were ranked as high as 10th in the nation. Connecticut then hit a bump in the road in the month of January dropping five straight. Since the five game skid, Connecticut has won four of its last six games. Mouring (16.0 ppg) and Butler (15.4 ppg) currently rank first and second on the team in scoring, while Butler leads the team in rebounding (7.7 rpg). Junior college transfer Johnnie Selvie is the third Husky to average in double-figures this season (11.4 ppg).
THE SERIES:
Miami and Connecticut meet for the 18th time with the Huskies leading the all-time series 11-6. The Hurricanes have won three straight against and four of the last five against Connecticut including a 77-74 decision at Miami Arena earlier this season. Miami has won two straight against the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a 34-13 (.723) conference mark since the 1998-99 season. The Hurricanes’ record ties them with St. John’s for best conference record over the last three seasons.
LAST TIME AGAINST CONNECTICUT
January 20, 2001
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Miami freshman Marcus Barnes came off the bench to record a career-high in scoring for the second consecutive game with 24 points as the University of Miami defeated 15th-ranked Connecticut, 77-74, at Miami Arena.
The win is Miami’s third straight over the Huskies and marks the seventh consecutive season in which the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent at Miami Arena.
Caron Butler led the Huskies with 25 points.
Others scoring in double-figures for Miami were John Salmons (16 points), James Jones (12 points), and Dwayne Wimbley (10 points).
Connecticut shot 56.6 percent from the field (30-53) but could overcome early turnovers and clutch three-point shooting by Miami.
The Hurricanes forced 19 Husky turnovers and converted them in 25 points (20 in the first half). The Hurricanes, behind a career-high six three-point baskets from Barnes, matched a season-high with nine baskets from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT:
Following Saturday’s game the Hurricanes return to Miami to end the regular season with two straight home games against West Virginia (Feb. 28, 7 p.m.) and Villanova (Mar. 3, Noon). The Villanova game will mark the final home game for seniors Dwayne Wimbley and Orlando Gonzalez.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Tonight’s game is being broadcast on ABC. Brad Nessler is handling the play-by-play with Brad Daugherty adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WAXY – 790 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.
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 199-155 (.562) including a 14-10 record this season. Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun is in his 15th season with the Huskies and 29th year overall. Calhoun’s record with Connecticut is 346-139 (.713), including a 17-9 record this season, while his overall record stands at 596-276 (.683).
ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 18-6 in BIG EAST road games. The 18-6 mark is the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period. Miami, which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games in 1998-99, was 7-1 in conference road games last season. Miami is 3-4 this season on the road. The Hurricanes have won 19 of their last 25 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM has won its last three games against ranked teams and is 3-2 against ranked opponents this season. The Hurricanes are 15-16 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last seven seasons. Miami is 24-81 (.229) all-time against ranked teams including a 21-67 (.239) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
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. With a win against Connecticut tonight the Hurricanes’ would clinch their seventh consecutive winning season.
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 (10.8 ppg). In the Hurricanes’ last 10 games Barnes has scored in double-figures five times including three 20-point games.
Overall Non-conf. BIG EAST Marcus Barnes 7.5 3.6 10.8
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 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.
SALMONS IS MR. VERSATILITY:
Junior John Salmons (6-7, 200) is arguably the most versatile player on the Hurricanes’ roster if not the BIG EAST Conference. Salmons has played every position at Miami except center and ranks second on the team in scoring (15.4 ppg), and leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg), assists (3.9 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Salmons currently ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in free throw percentage (.756), rebounding, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio (1.42).
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.
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.
