Hurricanes Look To Improve To 11-0 Against Charlotte
Dec. 20, 2001
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ON THE 49ERS:
The Charlotte 49ers enter its matchup with Miami with a record of 5-4 following an 86-58 win over UTEP on December 18th. Senior guard Jobey Thomas hit 6-10 three-pointer baskets en route to a game-high 24 points.
For the season Thomas is averaging a team-high 17.4 points per game. He has connected on a team-best 37-of-84 (.440) three-point attempts this season.
Also averaging in double-figures for the 49ers this season are sophomore guard Demon Brown (11.7 ppg) and junior forward Curtis Nash (10.2 ppg). Brown also leads the team in assists (4.7 apg) and steals (12).
Miami and Charlotte have played one common opponent this season, Indiana. Miami defeated the Indiana, 58-53, at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic while Charlotte dropped a 65-61 decision at home to the Hoosiers on November 18th.
THE SERIES:
Miami and UNC Charlotte meet for the fifth concecutive season with the 49ers holding a 3-1 all-time series lead. Charlotte has won the last three meetings including a 95-63 win last season in Charlotte.
Miami is 1-1 against Charlotte at Miami Arena. The Hurricanes’ win over Charlotte was an 89-72 decision in the series’ first meeting on November 21, 1997 at the Miami Arena.
UP NEXT:
Following the Charlotte game the Hurricanes travel to New Orleans to face LSU in the Sugar Bowl Basketball Classic at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on December 27th. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net. Following the Sugar Bowl Classic the Hurricanes return to Miami Arena to conclude their non-conference schedule against St. Francis (PA) on December 30 beginning at noon.
A WIN AGAINST CHARLOTTE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 11-0 on the season.Mark Miami’s first 11-game win streak since the 1959-60 season.Snap Miami’s three-game losing streak against the 49ers.Mark Miami’s 13th straight non-conference win at Miami Arena.
LAST YEAR AGAINST CHARLOTTE:
Charlotte connected on a school-record 16 three-point baskets and went on to defeat the University of Miami 95-63 in Charlotte, NC.
Freshman forward Rodney White scored 20 points in 27 minutes to lead five Charlotte players in double-figures. White, who connected on 8-11 from the floor also tied for team-high honors with six rebounds.
John Salmons led the Hurricanes with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds. James Jones added 12 points and four rebounds for Miami.
Charlotte outrebounded the Hurricanes 45-29 on the evening and held UM to 33.8 percent shooting from the field. The 49ers were on fire connecting on 35-60 (.583) from the field including 16-32 (.500) from three-point range.
TICKET INFORMATION:
For UM Ticket information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.
ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website for up to the minute information on Hurricane Athletics at www.hurricanesports.com.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Charlotte 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 THE COACHES:
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 26-13 (.667) at Miami, including a 10-0 start this season, while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 211-158 (.572). 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.
Bobby Lutz is in his fourth season as head coach of the Charlotte 49ers posting a 67-42 (.615) record. Lutz took over as head coach in 1998 after serving three seasons as an assistant. Prior to joining the Charlotte program Lutz nine seasons at Pfeiffer College. His 13-year record as a collegiate head coach stands at 248-133 (.651).
FREE ADMISSION FOR JUNIOR CANES:
All Junior Canes Club members will receive free admission to the Hurricanes’ final two non-conference home games against Charlotte on December 22 (7:30 p.m.) and St. Francis (PA) on December 30 (noon). Proper identification is required.
The Junior Canes Club is open to children 12 and under. Anyone wishing to sign up their children for the Junior Canes Club can due so at the Miami Arena Box Office the day of the game. Club membership is free.
NINE AND COUNTING:
Miami’s 10-0 start marks the best in school-history. The Hurricanes’ 10 straight wins ranks as the fifth longest win streak in school-history.
STREAKING:
The University of Miami has an unusual winning streak going. Including baseball, football and basketball the Hurricanes have recorded 38 consecutive victories.
The UM baseball team won its final 17 games in winning the 2001 NCAA National Championship. The UM football team followed with a perfect 11-0 record this season and will compete in the Rose Bowl for the national title. The UM basketball team is 10-0 this season matching the best start in school history. The last time UM lost a game was on May 4, 2001 when the UM baseball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Jacksonville.
The UM radio announcing team of Marc Vandermeer and Joe Zagacki have broadcast 36 straight UM wins dating back to last baseball season.
UNDEFEATED CANES:
As of Dec 19th, Miami was one of just eight undefeated Division I teams remaining including Duke (11-0), Virginia (6-0), Marquette (10-0), Boston College (9-0), Oklahoma State (11-0), Mississippi State (10-0) and Butler (11-0). Boston College, Mississippi State and Virgina all have games scheduled for December 20th
TALKING RPI:
As of December 17 the Hurricanes were No. 12 in the RPI rankings according to CollegeRPI.com. Miami’s ranking is the highest among BIG EAST schools.
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 71-35 (.670) record against non-conference opponents, including a 48-13 mark (.787) at the Miami Arena.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
With its win over Florida A&M on December 18, Miami improved its record against teams from the state of Florida to 292-141 (.674). Miami has won 27 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.
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.
BIG EAST PICK-AND-ROLL PACKAGES AVAILABLE:
The University of Miami will offer a BIG EAST Pick n Roll mini-plan package for the upcoming 2001-02 men’s basketball season. The package is only $80 and includes tickets to any five BIG EAST Conference games of the customer’s choice.
BIG EAST Pick n Roll mini-plan seats will be located in the lower-bowl sidecourt sections of the Miami Arena.
The UM Ticket Office, located at the Hecht Athletic Center on the UM campus, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information or to purchase tickets contact UM Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.
MIAMI IN THE 2001-02 POLLS:
The Miami Hurricanes were the top vote getter in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 College Basketball polls. Miami was last ranked at the end of the 1999-00 season. UM finished 23rd in the Associated Press poll and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll.
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.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 36-14 (.720) conference mark since the 1998-99 season.
SCORING AND REBOUNDING:
Miami’s win over Florida A&M marked the first of the season where the Hurricanes’ leading scorer did not lead the team in rebounding as well. In the first nine games this season a Hurricane player that has either led or tied for the team lead in scoring has also led or tied for the team lead in rebounding.
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.
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.
FAMILIAR STARTERS:
Miami sophomore Darius Rice, junior James Jones and senior John Salmons have started each of the last 39 games together. Salmons currently has the second longest streak in UM history having started 85 straight games. Kevin Norris (1994-98) holds the UM record for consecutive starts with 108.
LATE SEASON HEAT WAVE:
Over the last three seasons Miami has played well in the month of February registering a 20-3 (.870) record.
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.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM has won its last four games against ranked teams including a 1-0 record this season. The Hurricanes are 16-16 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last eight seasons. Miami is 25-81 (.236) all-time against ranked teams including a 22-67 (.247) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
SALMONS IN RARE COMPANY:
With his 10 assist performance against Florida A&M on December 18, senior guard John Salmons became just the second player in UM history to record single-game totals of at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists during his career. The only other Hurricane to due so was guard Jerome Scott who played for UM from 1988-92.
BOMBS AWAY:
Against Florida A&M (12-18-01) the Hurricanes connected on 13 three-point baskets tying for the second highest single-game total in school-history.
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 78-212 three-point attempts and are averaging 7.8 three-point field goals per game. Last season Miami averaged 7.1 three-pointers per game.
BENCH SCORING:
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 last season. Miami’s bench is averaging 15.8 points per game this season. Miami is 10-1 over the last two seasons when it’s bench scores 25 or more points.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
Miami failed to hit a three-point basket against Indiana (0-13) marking just the third time in school-history that UM failed to connect on at least one three-pointer. Miami has hit at least one trey in 443 of 446 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986.
The only other games in which UM failed to hit a three-pointer were versus St. John’s on March 5, 2000 (0-13) and against Howard University on December 6, 1991 (0-15). Miami defeated St. John’s 74-70 in overtime to win a share of the 1999-00 BIG EAST regular-season title. The Hurricanes lost to Howard 64-55.
Miami is 2-1 all-time when failing to hit a three-pointer.
LOOKING FOR 1,000:
Miami seniors John Salmons and Elton Tyler are nearing the 1,000-point plateau for their careers. Salmons (986 points) needs 14 points while Tyler (671 points) needs 329 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.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Miami shot a season-high 56.1 percent against Florida A&M (12-18-01). Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 21-1 when shooting over 50 percent from the field. Miami has won its last seven games when shooting 50 percent or better.
