Hurricanes Prepare To Take On Villanova
Feb. 3, 2002
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#15/#16 MIAMI HURRICANES (19-3, 6-3)
vs.
VILLANOVA WILDCATS (12-7, 4-5)
February 5, 2002 – 7:30 p.m. (ET)
The Pavilion (6,500) – Villanova, PA
TV: Fox Sports Net Florida, Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
ON THE WILDCATS:
Villanova enters the Miami game with a record of 12-7, 4-5in the BIG EAST East Division, following a 71-59 loss atPittsburgh on Saturday.
The Wildcats have been led this season by junior guard GaryBuchanon who leads the team in scoring (19.2 ppg) and hasconnected on 63-127 (.496) three-point attempts this season.Buchanon is also automatic from the free throw line where heshoots 92.3 percent (72-78).
Also averaging in double-figures in scoring are juniorforward Ricky Wright (14.5 ppg) and senior center Brooks Sales(10.2 ppg). Sales also averaged a team-high 8.9 rebounds pergame.
Villanova’s top assist man in sophomore guard DerrickSnowden (3.9 apg). Snowden, who is averaging 9.5 points pergame on the season, has picked up his scoring in BIG EASTgames where he is averaging 10.8 points per contest.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Villanova meet for the 19th time with theWildcats leading the all-time series 10-8. The Hurricanes havewon five straight, and seven of the last eight games in the series,including a 76-58 win this season at Miami Arena on January 24.Miami has won the last two times it has travelled to thePavilion, including an 80-62 win last season. Miami is 3-6 all-timeagainst Villanova on the road.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Villanova game is being produced by ESPN RegionalTelevision and is being broadcast live in Miami on Fox SportsNet Florida in Miami. Dave Sims will handle the play-by-playduties with Ron Perry adding analysis.
The game is also being broadcast on the Hurricane RadioNetwork (WQAM-560 AM). Marc Vandermeer, entering histhird season as the “Voice of the Hurricanes,” will handle theplay-by-play duties while Joe Zagacki will provide in-depthanalysis.
A WIN AGAINST VILLANOVA WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 20-3, 7-3 in the BIG EAST.
***Mark the eighth 20-win season in school-history.
***Mark Miami’s third 20-win season in the last four seasons.
***Mark Miami’s best start since the 1959-60 season (20-3).
***Be the sixth straight win for Miami over Villanova.
***Mark Miami’s third straight win at The Pavilion.
***Improve Miami’s BIG EAST road record to 21-9 (.700) sincethe 1998-99 season.
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST VILLANOVA:
January 24, 2002
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Darius Rice recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead theUniversity of Miami to a 76-58 win over Villanova at MiamiArena.
The win is the Hurricanes’ fourth straight and improvestheir home record to 11-0 on the season. Miami has now won 13straight home games dating back to last season.Rice, the first Hurricane to have consecutive 30-point gamessince Eric Brown in 1989, was 10-of-15 from the field and hadfour 3-pointers.
Villanova shot just 34 percent, including 4-fof-23 from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 26 times.
John Salmons had 15 points and five assists for Miami,while Marcus Barnes added 14 points and four steals. GaryBuchanan led Villanova with 15 points. Derrick Snowden had 12points, while Sales had 10 points and 12 rebounds beforefouling out in the final minute.VILLANOVA (10-6, 3-4)
UP NEXT:
Following the Villanova game the Hurricanes travel toBoston College to face the Eagles on February 10 at 2:30 p.m.The game will be carried live on ABC.
ON THE COACHES:
University of Miami head coach Perry Clark is in his secondseason with the Hurricanes and 13th season overall as a collegiatehead coach. Clark is 35-16 (.686) at Miami, including an 19-3 startthis season, while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 220-161 (.577). Last season Clark led the Hurricanes to a berth in theNational Invitation Tournament marking the eighth time in 12seasons he has guided his team to post season play.
Villanova head coach Jay Wright is in his first season withthe Wildcats and eighth season overall. His career record is 134-92 (.594) including a 12-7 record this season at Villanova. Priorto taking over at Villanova, Wright spent seven seasons atHofstra where he recorded a 122-85 record, two NCAAtournament berths and one NIT appearance.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a league best 42-17(.712) conference mark since the 1998-99 season.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 20-9 in BIG EAST roadgames. The 20-9 mark is the best record among BIG EASTschools over that period. The Hurricanes have won 21 of theirlast 30 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98season.
PLEASANT MEMORIES FOR SALMONS
Senior John Salmons, a Philadelphia native, has fondmemories of The Pavilion. Salmons has played in the buildingthree time and left with a win every time. As a senior atPlymouth-Whitemarsh High School in 1998, Salmons led histeam to the District I Championship at the Pavilion with a 73-58 win over Hapboro-Horsham. In 2000, Salmons recorded 19points and 10 rebounds as UM defeated Villanova, 67-66, at thePavilion. Last season Salmons has 11 points and six assists tohelp Miami to an 80-62 road win.
BALANCED ATTACK:
The University of Miami is arguably one of the mostbalanced team in the nation offensively. All five UM starters areaveraging in double-figures in scoring. Darius Rice leads UM inscoring at 14.8 points per game followed by John Salmons (14.0ppg), James Jones (13.3 ppg), Marcus Barnes (11.3 ppg) andElton Tyler (11.0 ppg). Miami joins Arizona as the only teamsranked among the AP or ESPN/USA Today polls that have allfive starters averaging in double-figures.
RICE NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Miami sophomore forward Darius Rice was been namedBIG EAST Co-Player of the Week following a stellar perfor-manceagainst Villanova on January 24. Rice shares the honorwith Providence guard John Linehan.
Rice recorded his first double-double of the season with 30points and 10 rebounds in a 76-58 win over the Wildcats lastThursday. He was 10-15 from the field, including 4-6 from three-pointrange, and 6-9 from the line.
Rice, who scored 32 in a win over Providence on January 19,is the first player since Eric Brown in 1989 to record back-to-backgames of 30 or more points. Rice currently leads the team inscoring at 15.2 points per game.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 13 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes havecompiled a 142-66 (.683) overall record, including a 11-1 markthis season, UM defeated Indiana earlier this season at theAmerican Airlines Arena. UM has posted a 81-20 (.802) record atMiami Arena since 1995. UM is 42-15 (.737) in its last 57 BIGEAST home games dating back to the 1995-96 season.
COMEBACK KIDS:
In Miami’s 102-96 overtime win against Providence onJanuary 19, the Hurricanes came back from a 13-point secondhalf deficit tying the UM record for the largest second-halfcomeback in a BIG EAST game. Miami also came from 13points down in the second half to defeat Georgetown onJanuary 18, 1997. The game also marked the second straight inwhich Miami overcame a double-figure second-half deficit towin. Miami was down 11 in the second-half to Pittsburgh beforerallying for a 76-69 double-overtime win. Overall the Hurricaneshave rallied seven times from second-half deficits to win games.
SALMONS THE ONE AND ONLY:
With his 15 points and 10 assists against Charlotte onDecember 22, John Salmons became the first Hurricane torecord 1000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 stealsduring his career. Salmons currenlty has 1176 points, 629rebounds, 357 assists and 178 steals.
UM TIES WIN STREAK RECORD:
Miami’s 14-0 start set a school-record for consecutive winsto open a season, and tied the school-record for the mostconsecutive victories which was originally set in 1947.
WHO WILL TAKE CHARGE TONIGHT?:
This season the Hurricanes have had several players put the team ontheir shoulders and lead them to victory. In 15 games this season theHurricane player that has either led or tied for the team lead in scoring hasalso led or tied for the team lead in rebounding.UM Games in which leading scorer was also leading rebounder:
MIAMI GOES PERFECT OUT OF CONFERENCE:
With its 71-48 win over St. Francis (PA) on December 30, theUniversity of Miami completed its non-conference schedule with a perfect13-0 record marking the first time in school-history the Hurricanes havegone undefeated in non-conference play.
FAMILIAR STARTERS:
Miami sophomore Darius Rice, junior James Jones and senior JohnSalmons have started each of the last 51 games together. Salmons currentlyhas the second longest streak in UM history having started 97 straightgames. Kevin Norris (1994-98) holds the UM record for consecutive startswith 108.
LATE SEASON HEAT WAVE:
Over the last three seasons Miami has played well in the month ofFebruary registering a 21-3 (.875) record.
TALKING RPI:
As of February 1 the Hurricanes were No. 17 in the RPIrankings according to CollegeRPI.com. Miami’s ranking is thehighest among BIG EAST schools.The BIG EAST Conference currently has 10 teams rankedamong the top-75 in the RPI tying it with the SEC for the mostof any conference in the nation. The Big Twelve and Big 10 arenext with seven each, followed by the Pac-10 and ConferenceUSA with six appeace. The ACC and Atlantic 10 currently havefive teams each.
WORKING OVERTIME:
The Hurricanes’ back-to-back overtime wins againstPittsburgh and Providence marked the first time since the 1994-95 season that UM has played consecutive overtime games.Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the lastfour seasons. UM has amassed a 8-5 record (including tourna-mentgames) in BIG EAST overtime contests (5-3 at home).The ‘Canes, who have never had more than three overtimegames in any season (3-0 in 1986-87 and 0-3 in 1990-91), own a24-21 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-4 in double-overtime games and a 19-17 mark in single-overtimecontests). Miami is 8-4 in overtime games since 1995.Below is a list of UM’s overtime games since 1990:
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning withthe 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 74-35 (.679)record against non-conference opponents, including a 50-13mark (.794) at the Miami Arena.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM has won its last six games against ranked teamsincluding a 3-0 record this season. The Hurricanes are 18-16versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated atleast one ranked team in each of the last eight seasons. Miami is27-81 (.250) all-time against ranked teams including a 24-67(.264) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
MIAMI WINS PARADISE JAM TOURNAMENT:
Miami’s victory over Clemson in the championship game ofthe Virgin Islands Paradise Jam marked UM’s first tournamenttitle since the 1988 season when the Hurricanes took home thetitle at the Eastern Airlines Palm Beach Classic. That season UMdefeated Penn, 102-69, in the opening round, then knocked offWichita State, 81-59, in the championships game.
SALMONS NAMED PARADISE JAM MVP:
Miami senior guard John Salmons was named MVP of theVirgin Islands Paradise Jam after leading Miami to threevictories and the tournament title. Salmons averaged 17.7points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.7 steals during the three-gametournament, including an 18 point, 10 rebound perfor-mancein the title game.
WINNING WAYS:
With its win over Pittsburgh (1-15-02) the Hurricanesensured its eighth consecutive winning season. The last timeMiami recorded at least eight straight winning seasons was the1968-69 campaign when the ‘Canes registered their 10th straightwinning season.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
With its win over Florida A&M on December 18, Miamiimproved its record against teams from the state of Florida to292-141 (.674). Miami has won 27 consecutive games againstteams from the state of Florida. Miami has not lost to a Floridaschool since a 72-64 season opening loss to Florida Interna-tionalon Dec. 1, 1992.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 68-66 win over No. 17 Connecticut on February 2marked the eighth consecutive season that the Hurricanesdefeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.
HURRICANES SIGN THREE:
Head coach Perry Clark signed three players during the earlysigning period. Joining UM next season will be 6-2, 185 poundguard Robert Hite (Cincinnati, OH/Winton Woods HS), 6-3,185 pound guard Eric Wilkins (Piscataway, NJ/Oak Hill [VA]Academy), and 6-6, 190 pound swingman Ismael N’Diaye(Abidjan, Ivory Coast/Berkshire [FL] School).
STREAKING:
Miami’s loss to Connecticut ended a very unusual winningstreak. Including baseball, football and basketball the Hurricaneshad recorded 43 consecutive victories.The UM baseball team won its final 17 games in winningthe 2001 NCAA National Championship. The UM footballteam followed with a perfect 12-0 record including a Rose Bowlvictory over Nebraska for the 2001 national title. The UMbasketball opened the season with 14 straight wins.
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 lastseason while posting 20 double-figure scoring games including aUM freshman record 35 points against Central Florida. Ricerecorded a team-high 62 three-point baskets in 2000-01 andregistered 31 steals and 14 blocks.
Rice is one of three BIG EAST athletes recognized as apreseason candidate for the Naismith Award. Joining Rice on thelist are Troy Bell (Boston College) and Caron Butler (Connecti-cut).The Naismith Awards program, now in its 34th year,honors the outstanding college basketball player in the UnitedStates.
MIAMI REACHES POST-SEASON, AGAIN:
The Hurricanes have advanced to the post-season in fivestraight seasons and six times in the last seven years. Miami hasgone to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasonsincluding a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2000.
ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Depart-mentwebsite for up to the minute information on HurricaneAthletics at www.hurricanesports.com.
SALMONS IN RARE COMPANY:
With his 10 assist performance against Florida A&M onDecember 18, senior guard John Salmons became just thesecond player in UM history to record single-game totals of atleast 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists during his career.The only other Hurricane to due so was guard Jerome Scottwho played for UM from 1988-92.
AND WITH THE ASSIST:
John Salmons recorded 10 assists against Charlotte onDecember 22 becoming the first player in UM history to record10 or more assists in back-to-back games. Salmons also recorded10 assists against Florida A&M on December 18.
BOMBS AWAY:
Against Florida A&M (12-18-01) and Virginia Tech (1-12-02) the Hurricanes connected on 13 three-point baskets tying forthe second highest single-game total in school-history.The Hurricanes established a school single-season recordwith 206 three-point baskets last season. The 206 three-pointersbroke the old mark of 186 set in 1992-93. The Hurricanes alsoestablished a new single-season school-record for three-pointattemps with 595. The old mark of 521 was also set in 1992-93.Miami is on its way to establishing a new single-seasonrecord this season. The Hurricanes have connected on 166-473three-point attempts and are averaging 7.6 three-point fieldgoals per game. Last season Miami averaged 7.1 three-pointersper game. Miami has connected on 10 or more three-point fieldgoals six times this season.
SALMONS JOINS 1000-POINT CLUB:
Miami senior John Salmons scored 15 points againstCharlotte on December 22 to become the 24th player in UMhistory to surpass 1000 career points. Rick Barry who holds theMiami career scoring record with 2,298 points. Salmons currentlyranks 17th on UM’s career scoring list with 1,176 points.
SALMONS MOVES UP ASSISTS LIST:
Point guard John Salmons is quickly moving up theHurricanes’ career assists list. His 357 career assists currentlyranks fifth all-time at Miami.
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 failedto connect on at least one three-pointer. Miami has hit at leastone trey in 454 of 457 games since the NCAA adopted thethree-point shot in 1986.
The only other games in which UM failed to hit a three-pointerwere versus St. John’s on March 5, 2000 (0-13) andagainst Howard University on December 6, 1991 (0-15). Miamiis 2-1 all-time when failing to hit a three-pointer.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:
Miami shot a season-high 59.3 percent against Providence(1-19-02). Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 22-1when shooting over 50 percent from the field. Miami has wonits last eight games when shooting 50 percent or better.
GETTING DEFENSIVE:
Last season Miami’s defense was adept a forcing itsopponents into turnovers. The Hurricanes forced 553 turnovers(19.1 per game) last season including 257 steals (8.9 per game).The Hurricanes averaged 19.9 points per game off turnovers.This season the Hurricanes have forced 394 turnovers (17.9 pergame) including 205 steals (9.3 per game). UM is averaging 19.1points per game off turnovers.
WATCH YOUR WALLETS:
The University of Miami has recorded 205 steals thisseason, an average of 9.3 steals per game. The Hurricanes are onpace to record 288 steals this season which would establish aschool single-season record. The record for steals in a season is287 set in 1988-89 (31 games). Miami’s 9.32 steals per gameaverage would also set a school-record surpassing the old recordof 9.26 set in 1988-89.
MAN OF STEAL:
John Salmons ranks fourth on UM’s all-time career listwith 178 steals. Salmons’ 57 steals last season ranks as the fifthbest single season total in UM history. Salmons is only the thirdplayer in UM history to record 50 or more steals in back-to-backseasons. Salmons, who has 42 steals this season, is tryingbecoming the first Hurricane in school-history to register threeseasons of 50 or more steals.MIAMI TIES STEALS RECORD:Miami recorded 18 steals against Lafayette College onNovember 24 which tied the school-record for steals in a game.The record was originally set on March 4, 1991 in the Hurricanes’87-65 win over Florida International.
BLOCK PARTY:
James Jones tied a UM single-game record when heblocked eight shots against Florida International earlier thisseason. Jones tied the record set by Constantin Popa againstFlorida Atlantic in 1992 and Tim James versus West Virginia in1996. As a team the Hurricanes have recorded 143 blocks and areaveraging 6.5 blocks per game. The record for total blocks in aseason is 175 set in 1987-88. Miami is on pace to record 202blocks this season.
JONES MOVES UP CAREER LIST:
James Jones recorded six blocks against Connecticut onFeb. 2 to improve his career total to 126. The 126 blocks ranksthird on UM’s all-time career list.
LOCKING UP:
Last season Miami made a habit of holding teams withouta field goal for long stretches. The Hurricanes held teamswithout a field goal for five minutes or more a total of 19 timeswhile holding teams scoreless for five or more minutes 10times. During the 1999-00 season Miami held teams without afield goal for five minutes or more a total of 31 times.This season the Hurricanes have continued the trendholding teams without a field goal for five minutes or more 21times.
SALMONS NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK, AGAIN:
John Salmons was been named BIG EAST Player of theWeek for the second consecutive week after leading the 21 st -rankedHurricanes to a pair of victories.Salmons joins former Hurricane Tim James (1999) as theonly Miami players in school-history to win the award inconsecutive weeks.
Salmons averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0steals and 1.5 blocks per game in leading Miami to wins overLSU and St. Francis (PA). He shot 16-22 (.727) from the field,including 4-5 (.800) from three-point range, and 4-6 (.667) fromthe line.
In the Hurricanes’ 68-61 win over LSU in the Sugar BowlBasketball Classic, Salmons recorded a game-high 19 points togo with three rebounds, five assists and three steals. The 6-7native of Philadelphia also dominated on the defensive endholding LSU’s leading scorer Collis Temple III (17.8 ppg) to justfive points (0 in the first half) on 2-13 shooting.
He followed the LSU game with a 21 point, five rebound,four assist and three block performance against St. Francis (PA).
SALMONS BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
John Salmons was named BIG EAST Co-Player of theWeek on December 23 after leading the Hurricanes to a pair ofvictories. Salmons shared the award with St. John’s guardMarcus Matten.
Salmons averaged 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists,3.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game in leading UM to wins overFlorida A&M and Charlotte. He shot 6-10 (.600) from the field,including 2-5 (.400) from three-point range, and 7-8 (.875) fromthe line.
Salmons recorded a career-high 10 assists to go with sevenrebounds, six points, four blocks and four steals in Miami’s 90-62 win over Florida A&M on December 18, and came within onerebound of recording the first triple-double in school-historywith 15 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in the Hurricanes’64-56 win over Charlotte on December 22.
The honor is the second of Salmons’ career. He was namedBIG EAST Player of the Week on March 4 of last season.
HURRICANES TABBED THIRD IN DIVISION:
The men’s basketball team was selected to finish third inthe BIG EAST East Division behind Boston College andConnecticut. Miami did receive two first place vote.
BIG EAST COACHES LIKE RICE, SALMONS:
University of Miami sophomore Darius Rice was named tothe preseason All-BIG EAST first team while senior JohnSalmons was named to the preseason second-team by a vote ofthe league’s coaches at the BIG EAST Conference Men’sBasketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden in New York.
BIG EAST COACHES TELECONFERENCE:
The BIG EAST men’s basketball coaches will hold sixteleconferences during the season. Each coach is available forapproximately eight minutes. Media wishing to participateshould phone (913) 981-5520. The audio from the teleconfer-enceis also available via Broadcast.com through the conferenceweb site at: www.bigeast.org/airwaves.
