Sept. 9, 2002

Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami men’s basketball team will play a total of 12 games against teams the reached postseason play last season, including nine games against teams that reached the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

The Hurricanes’ 15 game home schedule will include nine games at the new University of Miami Convocation Center, Miami’s new $48 million on campus arena. Miami’s first game at the new 7,000-seat facility will be January 4 against perennial power North Carolina.

All eight of Miami’s BIG EAST home games this season will take place at the Convocation Center. Miami’s BIG EAST home schedule includes Connecticut (Jan. 20), Syracuse (Jan. 26), Providence (Jan. 29), Villanova (Feb. 8), Virginia Tech (Feb. 11), Georgetown (Feb. 22), Boston College (Mar. 1) and St. John’s (Mar. 8).

Included in Miami’s non-conference schedule are road games against NCAA tournament participants Florida Atlantic (Dec. 3) and Charlotte (Dec. 15), as well as intrastate rivals Florida State (Dec. 8) and Central Florida (Dec. 27). The Hurricanes will also renew its rivalry with Florida on December 21 at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Hurricanes’ BIG EAST road schedule will include games versus West Virginia (Jan. 7), Connecticut (Jan. 11), Seton Hall (Jan. 18), St. John’s (Feb. 2), Boston College (Feb. 15), Providence (Feb. 17), Villanova (Feb. 25) and Virginia Tech (Mar. 5).

“This is an extremely challenging schedule,” said head coach Perry Clark. “Playing such established programs as North Carolina, Florida, Charlotte, and Texas A&M presents a lot of opportunities and will help prepare us for our difficult league schedule.”

Boston College, Connecticut and St. John’s all received NCAA Tournament berths last season with Connecticut reaching the East Regional final before falling to eventual National Champion Maryland. Syracuse and Villanova both played in the postseason NIT.

A minimum of five UM games will be nationally televised this season. Four games will air on ESPN starting with the Hurricanes’ Jan. 4 match-up with North Carolina. Other games airing on ESPN include Connecticut (Jan. 20), Georgetown (Feb. 22) and St. John’s (Mar. 8). Miami’s Jan. 26 game versus Syracuse will be shown live on CBS.

For season ticket information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.

2002-03 University of Miami Men's Basketball ScheduleDate Day Opponent Site TimeNov. 11 Mon. SE All-Stars (Exh.) Knight Sports Complex 7:00 p.m.Nov. 16 Sat. Global Sports (Exh.) Knight Sports Complex 7:00 p.m.Nov. 23 Sat. New Hampshire Miami Arena 7:30 p.m.Nov. 26 Tue. Texas A&M Miami Arena 7:30 p.m.Nov. 30 Sat. Savannah State Miami Arena 7:30 p.m.Dec. 3 Tue. @ Florida Atlantic FAU Gymnasium 7:30 p.m.Dec. 8 Sun. @ Florida State Leon County Civic Center 2:00 p.m.Dec. 15 Sun. @ Charlotte Halton Arena 4:00 p.m.Dec. 18 Wed. Arkansas-Pine Buff Miami Arena 7:30 p.m.Dec. 21 Sat. #vs. Florida AmericanAirlines Arena 7:00 p.m.Dec. 27 Fri. @ Central Florida UCF Arena 7:30 p.m.Dec. 30 Mon. Lehigh Miami Arena 7:30 p.m.Jan. 4 Sat. North Carolina (ESPN) Convocation Center 7:00 p.m.Jan. 7 Tue. *@ West Virginia WVU Coliseum 7:00 p.m.Jan. 11 Sat. *@ Connecticut Gampel Pavillion NoonJan. 18 Sat. *@ Seton Hall Continental Airlines Arena NoonJan. 20 Mon. *Connecticut (ESPN) Convocation Center 7:00 p.m.Jan. 26 Sun. *Syracuse (CBS) Convocation Center 1:00 p.m.Jan. 29 Wed. *Providence Convocation Center 7:00 p.m.Feb. 2 Sun. *@ St. John's Madison Square Garden 2:00 p.m.Feb. 8 Sat. *Villanova Convocation Center 7:30 p.m.Feb. 11 Tue. *Virginia Tech Convocation Center 7:30 p.m.Feb. 15 Sat. *@ Boston College Silvio O. Conte Forum 4:00 p.m.Feb. 17 Mon. *@ Providence Dunkin Donuts Center 7:30 p.m.Feb. 22 Sat. *Georgetown (ESPN) Convocation Center NoonFeb. 25 Tue. *@ Villanova The Pavilion 7:30 p.m.Mar. 1 Sat. *Boston College Convocation Center TBAMar. 5 Wed. *@ Virginia Tech Cassell Coliseum 7:00 p.m.Mar. 8 Sat. *St. John's (ESPN) Convocation Center 9:00 p.m.Mar. 12-15 Wed.-Sat. BIG EAST Championship Madison Square Garden TBA

DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

* – BIG EAST Conference Games# – Orange Bowl Basketball Classic