Men's Basketball Faces Howard Thursday

Nov. 29, 2001

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Season Recaps in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Howard University enters Thursday’s contest with a record of 2-2 following a 99-65 win over Cal State Northridge on Monday night. Junior guard Ron Williamson led the Bison with 20 points.

On the season Williamson ranks second on the team with a 12.8 points per game average. The Bison have been led in scoring this season by junior forward Kyle Williams (19.8 ppg). Either Williams or Williamson have been the leading scorer in all four games this season.

Howard’s first win this season came against Mercer, a 76-68 overtime victory, in its season opener. Both of the Bison’s losses this season have come on the road against Virginia, 115-66, and St. Francis (NY), 85-72.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Howard meet for the second time. The lone meeting between the two schools took place on December 6, 1991 with the Bison winning 64-55 at Miami Arena.

UP NEXT:
Following tonight’s game Miami concludes its four-game homestand against Florida International on Monday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be the first between the two inner-city schools since December 1, 1992.

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 21-13 (.618) in his second season at Miami while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 206-158 (.566). 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.

A WIN TONIGHT WOULD:

Mark Miami’s first 6-0 start since the 1997-98 season (9-0).Mark the 700th victory in UM basketball history.Mark the Hurricanes’ 10th straight non-conference win at Miami Arena.

MONDAY AGAINST FAU
Junior forward James Jones recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds to lead the University of Miami (5-0) to a 74-48 win over Florida Atlantic (1-2) at Miami Arena.

Miami, which improves to 15-0 all-time against the Owls, received 14 points from sophomore Darius Rice and a career-high 13 points from junior guard Michael Simmons. Marcus Barnes added 10 points for the Hurricanes.

Robert Williams led Florida Atlantic with 10 points.

Miami has won 25 straight games against Florida schools.

Miami fell behind 7-0 to start the game but grabbed the lead for good, 17-16, on a fast-break dunk by John Salmons. Salmons posted nine points, 12 rebounds, three assists and four steals.

The Hurricanes closed the first half with a 12-2 run and led 38-25 at the break. Rice led Miami during the run, connecting on two 3-point baskets, and scoring eight points in the stretch.

Miami’s defense held the Owls to just 20-71 (.282) shooting from the field including 2-27 (.074) from three-point range. UM, which entered the game averaging 25.3 points per game off turnovers, scored 26 points off 22 FAU turnovers.

UM FOOD DRIVE:
The Daily Bread Food Bank will be sponsoring a food drive at the Miami-Florida International game on December 3 at Miami Arena. A special discounted ticket of $7 will be offered to those who bring three non-perishable items to the Miami Arena on the day of the game. For more information, call 1-800-GO-CANES.

699 AND COUNTING:
With a win tonight the Hurricanes will record the program’s 700th victory. Miami’s all-time record currently stands at 699-528 (.570). Miami is in its 52nd season of men’s basketball.

MIAMI WINS PARADISE JAM TOURNAMENT:
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.

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 66-35 (.653) record against non-conference opponents, including a 46-13 mark (.780) at the Miami Arena.

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.

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.

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 13 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 132-65 (.670) overall record, including a 2-0 mark this season. UM has posted a 71-19 (.789) home record since 1995. UM is 38-14 (.731) in its last 52 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1995-96 season.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 18-7 in BIG EAST road games. The 18-7 mark is the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period. The Hurricanes have won 19 of their last 26 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 was 3-2 against ranked opponents last 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.

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.

VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
With its win over Florida Atlantic on November 26, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 290-141 (.673). Miami has won 25 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.

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’s bench is averaging 16.6 points per game this season. Miami is 9-1 over the last two seasons when it’s bench scored 25 or more points.

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.

Miami is already on its way to establishing a new record this season. The Hurricanes have connected on 43-112 three-point attempts and are averaging 8.6 three-point field goals per game. Last season Miami averaged 7.1 three-pointers per game.

LOOKING FOR 1,000:
Miami seniors John Salmons and Elton Tyler are nearing the 1,000-point plateau for their careers. Salmons (938 points) needs 62 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 440 of its 442 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.