Miami Set To Make Its Fifth NCAA Tournament Appearance All-Time
March 11, 2002
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HURRICANES 24-7, 10-6 BIG EAST – NCAA Fifth Seed
NCAA Championship – West Regional First & Second Rounds
Thursday, March 14, 2002 & Saturday, March 16, 2002
University Arena (16,596) – Albuquerque, NM
Time: 12:40 PM ET (approx)
TV:CBS, Radio: Hurricane Radio Network
Internet: Hurricanesports.com
MIAMI DANCING AGAIN:
Miami, seeded fifth in the West Region, is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance all-time and the fourth appearance in the last five seasons. Miami has also made NCAA Tournament appearances in 1960, 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 2000 the Hurricanes defeated Arkansas and Ohio State to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school-history.
The Hurricanes are 4-10 all-time in postseason play including a 3-4 record in NCAA Tournament competition. This season marks the sixth consecutive postseason appearance for Miami (NCAA – 1998, 99, 00, 02, NIT – 1997, 01) and the seventh appearance in the last eight seasons.
AN NCAA FIRST ROUND WIN WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 25-7, extending its school-record for victories in a season.Mark UM’s third consecutive NCAA opening round victory.Improve Miami’s NCAA record to 4-4.Be Miami’s second win over a Big Twelve opponent this season.
WEST REGION MATCHUPS:
1st and Second Rounds
Friday-Sunday at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh
(1) Cincinnati vs. (16) Boston University
(8) UCLA vs. (9) Ole Miss
Thursday-Saturday at University Arena, Albuquerque, N.M.
(5) Miami vs. (12) Missouri
(4) Ohio State vs. (13) Davidson
Thursday-Saturday at University Arena, Albuquerque, N.M.
(6) Gonzaga vs. (11) Wyoming
(3) Arizona vs. (14) UC-Santa Barbara
Friday-Sunday at American Airlines Center, Dallas
(7) Xavier vs. (10) Hawaii
(2) Oklahoma vs. (15) Illinois-Chicago
AGAINST THE TOURNAMENT FIELD:
Miami’s 24-7 record includes a 6-6 mark against teams competing in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Miami was 1-0 versus Charlotte, Florida Atlantic and Indiana this season, 1-1 versus Connecticut, Pittsburgh and St. John’s and 0-2 against Boston College.
ON MISSOURI:
The fifth-seeded Miami Hurricanes will face 12th-seeded Missouri in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Missouri enters the NCAA Tournament with a record of 21-11 following an 89-85 loss to Texas in the quarterfinals of the Big Twelve Tournament.
Missouri, which reached a No. 2 national ranking by the Associated Press on December 3, has been led this season by 6-6 junior guard Kareem Rush. Rush is averaging a team-high 20.1 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
The Tigers are averaging 79.5 points per contest and boast four players averaging in double-figures including 6-2 point guard Clarence Gilbert (17.1 ppg), 6-9 center Arthur Johnson (12.2 ppg) and 6-5 forward Rickey Paulding (11.1 ppg).
MIAMI VS. MISSOURI:
Miami and Missouri meet for the first time in basketball.
ON HEAD 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 40-20 (.667) at Miami, including an 24-7 start this season, while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 225-165 (.577). This year marks the ninth time in his 13 seasons that Clark has guided his team to the postseason (four NCAA, five NIT). This season he has guided Miami to 24 victories setting a UM single-season record. Miami’s 14 consecutive wins to open the season marked the best start in school history and tied the UM record for consecutive wins.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The University of Miami has registered a 46-20 (.697) conference mark since the 1998-99 season. UM’s record ranks second among BIG EAST teams over that period.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The NCAA Championship will be broadcast by CBS. The Hurricane games will also be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network. 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.
TYLER MAKES FOURTH TRIP TO NCAA:
Redshirt senior Elton Tyler is making his fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament. Tyler is the only Hurricane school-history to make four NCAA Tournament appearances. Tyler played on three straight UM NCAA Tournament teams from 1998 to 2000 including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000. Tyler sat out the 2000-01 season due to academics.
MIAMI SETS WINS RECORD:
With its win over Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the ConAgra Foods BIG EAST Championship, Miami recorded its 24th win of the season. The 24 wins are a UM single-season record. The old record of 23 wins was originally set in 1959-60 and later matched in 1962-63, 1998-99 and 1999-00.
CLARK COACH OF THE YEAR FINALIST:
University of Miami head men’s basketball coach Perry Clark has been selected as one of 25 finalists for the Naismith College Basketball Coach of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on April 5, 2002 at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta.
Now in its 34th year, the Naismith Awards program honors the outstanding college basketball coaches in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of excellence in basketball.
Clark, in his second season at Miami, has guided the Hurricanes to a 24-7 record, including a school-record 14 consecutive wins to open the season. Miami’s 24 victories this season set a new UM single-season record.
RICE, SALMONS ALL-DISTRICT SELECTIONS:
Darius Rice was named first-team All-District 6 and John Salmons earned All-District second-team honors by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Rice, a second-team NABC All-District selection last season, joins Johnny Hemsley (2000), Tim James (1998 and 1999), Tito Horford (1988) and Rick Barry (1965) as the only Hurricanes to earn first-team honors. The selections of Rice and Salmons marks the fifth consecutive season the Hurricanes have had at least one All-District selection.
COMEBACK KIDS:
In Miami’s 102-96 overtime win against Providence on January 19, the Hurricanes came back from a 13-point second half deficit tying the UM record for the largest second-half comeback in a BIG EAST game. Miami also came from 13 points down in the second half to defeat Georgetown on January 18, 1997. The game also marked the second straight in which Miami overcame a double-figure second-half deficit to win. Miami was down 11 in the second-half to Pittsburgh before rallying for a 76-69 double-overtime win. Overall the Hurricanes have rallied nine times from second-half deficits to win games.
BALANCED ATTACK:
The University of Miami is arguably one of the most balanced team in the nation offensively. All five UM starters are averaging in double-figures in scoring. Darius Rice leads UM in scoring at 14.9 points per game followed by John Salmons (13.0 ppg), James Jones (12.9 ppg), Marcus Barnes (12.3 ppg) and Elton Tyler (11.8 ppg). Miami joins Davidson, Texas and Valparaiso as the only teams in the NCAA Tournament field that have five players averaging in double-figures.
All five starters have led the team in scoring this season. Rice has led the team in scoring 10 times, followed by Salmons eight times, Jones six times, Tyler four and Barnes three times.
SALMONS THE ONE AND ONLY:
With his 15 points and 10 assists against Charlotte on December 22, John Salmons became the first Hurricane to record 1000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals during his career. Salmons currenlty has 1271 points, 682 rebounds, 429 assists and 192 steals. Salmons ranks 13th on UM’s career scoring list, third in assists and third in steals.
MIAMI IN THE 2001-02 POLLS:
Miami is ranked 21st in the current ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, and was 20th in last week’s Associated Press poll. Miami’s highest ranking came on March 1, 1960 when the Hurricanes jumped to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll. Miami’s highest ranking since the rebirth of the program in 1985 is ninth by the Associated Press on March 1, 1999. The Hurricanes highest ranking in the Coaches poll came on March 1, 1999 (10th).
SENIOR SUCCESS:
Miami seniors John Salmons, Jerry Schlie and Elton Tyler have been a part of the most successful stretch in UM basketball history.
Tyler and Schlie, both redshirt seniors, have been a part of teams that gone 104-48 (.684), made five straight post-season appearances, including four NCAA tournament berths, won the BIG EAST regular-season title in 1999-00, and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Championships for the first time school-history in 2000.
In the four seasons in which Tyler has competed, he redshirted the 2000-01 season, the Hurricanes have registered an 88-35 (.715) record. With this season’s NCAA tournament berth Tyler is the first player in UM history to compete in four NCAA Championships.
Salmons, a four-year starter, has helped lead Miami to an 86-38 (.694) record marking the most wins in a four-year period in UM history. Included in those four seasons is four post-season appearances, including three NCAA Tournament berths, the 1999-00 BIG EAST Regular Season title and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the 2000 NCAA Championships.
JONES SELECTED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT:
Junior forward James Jones has been selected to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District II Men’s Basketball team. Jones is now eligible for the national Verizon Academic All-America Team, which will be announced on March 7.
Joining Jones as All-District selections are Matt Bonner (Florida), Tim Lyle (James Madison), Mike Dunleavy (Duke) and Jobey Thomas (Charlotte).
Jones is a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and carries a 3.371 cumulative GPA in finance. He was named a 2001 Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete and was runner-up for the 2001-02 BIG EAST Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award.
LOGGING MAJOR MINUTES:
Senior John Salmons, a four-year starter for the Hurricanes, has played more minutes than any other player in UM history. Salmons has played 1,049 minutes this season improving his career total to 3,786. Salmons’ career total surpasses the old record of 3,761 minutes set by Eric Brown from 1985 to 1989. His 1,049 minutes this season is 68 shy of the UM single-season record of 1,117 established by Vernon Jennings during the 1999-00 season.
WHAT’S YOUR 20:
With its 65-56 win over Villanova on February 5 Miami recorded its 20th win of the season. The 20-win season is the ninth overall for the Hurricanes and third in the last four seasons. Miami’s win over Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament marked the Hurricanes 24th win of the season setting the school single-season record.
TAKING OVER:
This season the Hurricanes have had several players put the team on their shoulders and lead them to victory. In 18 games this season the 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 vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 74-35 (.679) record against non-conference opponents, including a 50-13 mark (.794) at the Miami Arena.
WINNING WAYS:
With its win over Pittsburgh (1-15-02) the Hurricanes ensured its eighth consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least eight straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the ‘Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.
WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami is 3-0 this season in overtime games. Miami defeated Georgetown in overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2002 BIG EAST Championships. Earlier this season the Hurricanes’ recorded back-to-back overtime wins against Pittsburgh and Providence marking 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 last four seasons. UM has amassed a 9-5 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (5-3 at home). The ‘Canes, who have never had more than three overtime games in any season (3-0 in 1986-87, 0-3 in 1990-91 and 3-0 in 2001-02), own a 25-21 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-4 in double-overtime games and a 20-17 mark in single-overtime contests). Below is a list of UM’s overtime games since 1990:
UM TIES WIN STREAK RECORD:
Miami’s 14-0 start set a school-record for consecutive wins to open a season, and tied the school-record for the most consecutive victories which was originally set in 1947.
FAMILIAR STARTERS:
Miami junior James Jones and senior John Salmons have started each of the last 60 games together. Salmons currently has the second longest streak in UM history having started 106 straight games. Kevin Norris (1994-98) holds the UM record for consecutive starts with 108.
MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 13 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 143-67 (.681) overall record, including a 12-2 mark this season, UM defeated Indiana earlier this season at the American Airlines Arena. UM has posted a 82-21 (.796) record at Miami Arena since 1995. UM is 43-16 (.729) in its last 59 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1995-96 season.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM is 3-1 versus ranked teams this season. The Hurricanes are 18-17 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last eight seasons. Miami is 27-82 (.248) all-time against ranked teams including a 24-68 (.261) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
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.
LATE SEASON HEAT WAVE:
Over the last four seasons Miami has played well in the month of February registering a 24-6 (.800) record.
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.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 68-66 win over No. 17 Connecticut on February 2 marked the eighth consecutive season that the Hurricanes defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.
MIAMI GOES PERFECT OUT OF CONFERENCE:
With its 71-48 win over St. Francis (PA) on December 30, the University of Miami completed its non-conference schedule with a perfect 13-0 record marking the first time in school-history the Hurricanes have gone undefeated in non-conference play.
STREAKING:
Miami’s loss to Connecticut on January 5th ended a very unusual winning streak. Including baseball, football and basketball the Hurricanes had recorded 43 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 12-0 record including a Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska for the 2001 national title. The UM basketball opened the season with 14 straight wins.
HURRICANES SIGN THREE:
Head coach Perry Clark signed three players during the early signing period. Joining UM next season will be 6-2, 185 pound guard 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).
ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 21-11 (.667) in BIG EAST road games. The 21-11 mark is the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period. The Hurricanes have won 23 of their last 34 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.
AND WITH THE ASSIST:
John Salmons recorded 13 assists against Notre Dame on February 23 marking the second highest single-game total in UM history. Salmons was one assist shy of tying the UM single game record.
Salmons recorded 10 assists against Charlotte on December 22 becoming the first player in UM history to record 10 or more assists in back-to-back games. Salmons also recorded 10 assists against Florida A&M on December 18.
On the season Salmons has recorded six games with 10-or-more assists setting a UM single-season record.
BOMBS AWAY:
Against Florida A&M (12-18-01) and Virginia Tech (1-12-02) the Hurricanes connected on 13 three-point baskets tying for the second highest single-game total in school-history.
Miami has connected on 230 of 661 three-point field goals this season establishing single-season records in three-point field goals and three-point field goals attempted. The Hurricanes are averaging 7.4 three-point field goals per game. Miami has connected on 10 or more three-point field goals eight times this season.
SALMONS JOINS 1000-POINT CLUB:
Miami senior John Salmons scored 15 points against Charlotte on December 22 to become the 24th player in UM history to surpass 1000 career points. Rick Barry who holds the Miami career scoring record with 2,298 points. Salmons currently ranks 13th on UM’s career scoring list with 1,261 points.
SALMONS MOVES UP CAREER ASSISTS LIST:
Point guard John Salmons is quickly moving up the Hurricanes’ career assists list. His 429 career assists ranks fourth on UM’s all-time list.
FINDING THE OPEN MAN:
Salmons is also moving up the UM single-season assist list. His 191 assists this season currently ranks second on UM’s single-season list behind only Vernon Jennings who handed out a school-record 218 assists in 32 games during the 1999-00 season.
RICE, BARNES NEAR THREE-POINT RECORD:
Darius Rice and Marcus Barnes are both nearing the UM single-season record for three-point field goals. Barnes has made 76 of 220 three-point field goals while Rice has connected on 75 of 203 long range attempts.
The UM single-season record for three-point field goals is 79 set by Steven Edwards in 1992-93. Barnes’ 220 three-point attempts this season establishes a new UM single-season record surpassing the old mark of 207 set by Steven Edwards in 1992-93.
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 461 of 464 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 is 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 23-1 when shooting over 50 percent from the field. Miami has won its last nine games when shooting 50 percent or better.
MIAMI SETS BIG EAST FREE THROW RECORD:
Miami is shooting 77.0 percent from the line this season to rank 10th in the nation. In BIG EAST games however the Hurricanes connected on a lead best 81.8 percent (275-336) from the charity stripe establishing a BIG EAST single-season record. The Hurricanes broke the old mark of 79.6 percent (234-294) set by Connecticut in 1980-81.
SALMONS HONORED:
John Salmons was presented with the 2001-02 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.
The award was determined by a vote of the conference’s head basketball coaches prior to the 2002 ConAgra Foods BIG EAST Championship, which will be played at Madison Square Garden on March 6-9.
Salmons, a 6-7 senior guard from Philadelphia, Pa., was honored for exemplifying sportsmanlike play during his four-year career with the Hurricanes.
BARNES NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Marcus Barnes was named to the ConAgra Foods BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament team. Barnes averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in two tournament games including a 27 point outburst in Miami’s quarterfinal win over Georgetown. He followed the Georgetown game with a 20 point, five assist performance against Pittsburgh.
Barnes is just the second Hurricane is school-history to earn All-Tournament honors. Tim James was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team in 1999.
A SWEEPING SUCCESS:
With its win over Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale, Miami recorded a two-game season sweep over the Hokies. Miami registered season sweeps over three opponents this season and has registered 17 BIG EAST regular season two-game sweeps since joining the league in the 1991-92 season. The Hurricanes have recorded at least one series sweep in each of the last eight seasons.
RICE NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Darius Rice was been named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week following a stellar performance against Villanova on January 24. Rice shares the honor with Providence guard John Linehan.
Rice recorded his first double-double of the season with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 76-58 win over the Wildcats. He was 10-15 from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range, 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-back games of 30 or more points. Rice currently leads the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game.
SALMONS NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK, AGAIN:
John Salmons was named BIG EAST Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after leading the Hurricanes to a pair of victories.
Salmons joins former Hurricane Tim James (1999) as the only Miami players in school-history to win the award in consecutive weeks.
Salmons averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in leading Miami to wins over LSU and St. Francis (PA). He shot 16-22 (.727) from the field, including 4-5 (.800) from three-point range, and 4-6 (.667) from the line.
SALMONS BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
John Salmons was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week on December 23 after leading the Hurricanes to a pair of victories. Salmons shared the award with St. John’s guard Marcus 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 over Florida A&M and Charlotte. He shot 6-10 (.600) from the field, including 2-5 (.400) from three-point range, and 7-8 (.875) from the line.
