Men's Basketball Set To Face FAU Monday Night
Nov. 25, 2001
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TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Florida Atlantic enters tonight’s contest with a record of 1-1 following a 107-73 win over St. Mary’s on November 20. The Owls were led by senior forward Daryl Dingle who poured in 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Dingle leads the team in scoring this season averaging 16.0 ppg. Florida Atlantic is averaging 86 points per game this season and boasts five players averaging in double-figures in scoring.
Joining Dingle are senior forward Raheim Brown (13.5 ppg), sophomore guard Jeff Cowans (13.0 ppg), junior guard Andre Garner (12.0 ppg) and sophomore guard Earnest Crumbley (11.0 ppg).
THE SERIES:
Miami and Florida Atlantic meet for the 15th time with the Hurricanes taking all 14 previous meetings. Last season Miami registered an 76-59 win at FAU Gymnasium. Miami is 8-0 versus the Owls at Miami Arena. Miami’s 14 game win streak against FAU is the six longest in UM history against one opponent.
UP NEXT:
Following tonight’s game Miami continues its four-game homestand against Howard University on Thursday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. Miami finishes out its homestand against Florida International on Monday, December 3 (7:30 p.m.).
A WIN TONIGHT WOULD:
Mark Miami’s first 5-0 start since the 1997-98 season (9-0).Mark the Hurricanes’ 15th consecutive win over FAU.Mark UM’s 25th straight win over teams from the state of Florida.
LAST SEASON AGAINST FAU
Darius Rice poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the University of Miami to a 76-59 season-opening win over Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, FL.
Clay Fuller scored 16 points to lead Florida Atlantic.
Rice, who connected on 8-13 from the field, including 5-9 from three-point range, recorded the most points by freshman in a season-opener since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
Miami, which improves to 14-0 all-time against FAU, has won eight consecutive season openers and 23 consecutive games against teams from the state of Florida.
Rodrigue Djahue, playing in his first collegiate game, recorded 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for Miami. John Salmons added 12 points while James Jones posted six points and seven blocks.
The Hurricanes, who led 34-32 at halftime, found themselves down 41-36 with 16:37 to play following a layup by Fuller. Miami then went on a 13-0 run, holding the Owls scoreless for 5:48, to take the lead for good.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Tonight’s game is not being televised. The game is being broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM-560 AM). Marc Vandermeer, entering his third season as the “Voice of the Hurricanes,” will handle the play-by-play duties while Joe Zagacki will provide in-depth analysis.
ON COACH PERRY CLARK:
University of Miami head coach Perry Clark is in his second season with the Hurricanes and 13th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Clark is 20-13 (.606) in his second season at Miami while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 205-158 (.565). Last season Clark led the Hurricanes to a berth in the National Invitation Tournament marking the eighth time in 12 seasons he has guided his team to post season play.
AGAINST THE ATLANTIC SUN:
Miami is 87-40 (.685) all-time against teams currently in the Atlantic Sun Conference (formerly the TAAC). Miami has won 23 consecutive games against Atlantic Sun/TAAC teams and has not lost to an Atlantic Sun opponent since a 72-64 season opening loss to Florida International on December 1, 1992.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
With its win over Central Florida last season, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 289-141 (.672). Miami has won its last 24 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.
STREAKING:
Miami’s current 14 game winning streak over Florida Atlantic ranks as the fifth longest over one opponent in UM history.
MIAMI TAKES FIRST TITLE SINCE 1988:
Miami’s victory over Clemson in the championship game of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam marked UM’s first tournament title since the 1988 season when the Hurricanes took home the title at the Eastern Airlines Palm Beach Classic. That season UM defeated Penn, 102-69, in the opening round, then knocked off Wichita State, 81-59, in the championships game.
JACK OF ALL TRADES:
Senior John Salmons (6-7, 200) is arguably the most versatile player in the BIG EAST. Salmons has played every position at Miami except center and was the only BIG EAST player last season to rank among the conference leaders in scoring (17th – 14.0 ppg), rebounding (17th – 6.3 rpg), assists (9th – 4.38 apg), steals (9th – 1.94 spg), free throw percentage (9th – .824) and assist-to-turnover ratio (11th – 1.43 ratio).
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 36-14 (.720) conference mark since the 1998-99 season.
WINNING WAYS:
Last season Miami posted its seventh consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least seven straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the ‘Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.
RICE FOR NAISMITH:
University of Miami sophomore Darius Rice (Jackson, MS) has been selected as one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2001-02 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award.
Rice averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season while posting 20 double-figure scoring games including a UM freshman record 35 points against Central Florida. Rice recorded a team-high 62 three-point baskets in 2000-01 and registered 31 steals and 14 blocks.
Rice is one of three BIG EAST athletes recognized as a preseason candidate for the Naismith Award. Joining Rice on the list are Troy Bell (Boston College) and Caron Butler (Connecticut).
The Naismith Awards program, now in its 34th year, honors the outstanding college basketball player in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student athletes in basketball.
SALMONS NAMED PARADISE JAM MVP:
Miami senior guard John Salmons was named MVP of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam after leading Miami to three victories and the tournament title. Salmons averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.7 steals during the three-game tournament, including an 18 point, 10 rebound performance in the title game.
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 65-35 (.650) record against non-conference opponents, including a 45-13 mark (.776) at the Miami Arena.
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:
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.
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.
BIG OFF THE BENCH:
Last season the Hurricanes’ received strong play from its bench. The UM bench accounted for 30.1 percent (613 of 2039 points) of the Hurricanes’ scoring. Miami’s bench averaged 21.6 points per game. Miami was 8-1 last season when it’s bench scored 25 or more points. Miami’s bench is averaging 14.3 points per game this season.
UM SETS THREE-POINT RECORD:
The Hurricanes made 206 three-point baskets last season surpassing the old record of 186 set in 1992-93. The Hurricanes also established a new single-season school-record for three-point attemps with 595. The old mark of 521 was also set in 1992-93.
LOOKING FOR 1,000:
Miami seniors John Salmons and Elton Tyler are nearing the 1,000-point plateau for their careers. Salmons (929 points) needs 71 points while Tyler (602 points) needs 398 points this season. Miami has had 23 players score 1,000 or more points including Rick Barry who holds the Miami career scoring record with 2,298 points.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
Prior to the 1999-00 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 439 of its 441 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 (0-15).
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Twice last season the Hurricanes shot 50 percent or better from the field. Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 20-1 when shooting over 50 percent from the field. Miami has won its last six games when shooting 50 percent or better.
