Miami Hoops Set To Start Season

Nov. 15, 2001

Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami men’s basketball team travels to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to participate in the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam being held, November 17-20, at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center (2,500).

Joining Miami in the six-team tournament will be Alabama-Birmingham, Clemson, Eastern Michigan, LaSalle and Morris Brown. The Hurricanes open with Eastern Michigan on November 18 at 7:45 p.m. (ET).

The tournament will be broken down into two divisions with Miami, UAB and Eastern Michigan comprising the St. Thomas Division, and Clemson, LaSalle and Morris Brown making up the St. John Division.

Each team will play the other two teams in its division. After the divisional round-robin competition is completed the No. 3 teams, No. 2 teams and No. 1 teams in each division will face off in the Championship round on Tuesday, November 20.

Miami enters the tournament following a perfect 2-0 preseason. The Hurricanes defeated Angola-Select, 78-64, and the LA City Stars, 107-72. Junior forward James Jones (Miami American) led the Hurricanes during the preseason averaging 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 13-17 (.765) from the field and 6-10 (.600) from three-point range.

Miami also received strong play from preseason All-BIG EAST selection John Salmons (Philadelphia, PA) who averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals. Sophomore forward Darius Rice (Jackson, MS), one of 30 preseason candidates for the Naismith College Basketball National Player of the Year Award, pitched in 11.0 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game.

Paradise Jam Tournament Schedule (All Times Eastern):Saturday, November 175:30	EMU vs. UAB7:45	Clemson vs. Morris Brown

Sunday, November 185:30 Morris Brown vs. LaSalle7:45 EMU vs. MIAMI

Monday, November 195:30 LaSalle vs. Clemson7:45 MIAMI vs. UAB

Tuesday, November 2011:30 Fifth-place game5:30 Third-place game8:00 Championship game