Canes Will Try And Make It Three Straight Over Texas A&M
Nov. 24, 2002
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2002-03 Game Recaps in PDF Format
2002-03 Player Notes in PDF Format
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ON TEXAS A&M:
Texas A&M opens its season Sunday evening against Texas Southern prior to taking on the Hurricanes on Tuesday night. The Aggies, who finished 9-22 last season, return 10 lettermen, including six players that started at least 15 games a year ago. Texas A&M was led last season by guard Bernard King and forward Nick Anderson. King averaged a team-high 17.2 points per game last season and is on track to become the Aggies’ and the Big 12’s all-time leading scorer. Anderson averaged 10.1 points per game last season.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Texas A&M meet for the third time with Hurricanes winning both previous meetings. Miami defeated the Aggies last season, 64-55, in College Station, TX.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Texas A&M game will not be televised. The game will be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM-560 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call all the action with Josh Darrow providing in-depth analysis. Fans can also catch the game on web at hurricanesports.com.
ON THE COACHES:
University of Miami head coach Perry Clark is his third season with the Hurricanes and 14th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Clark is 41-21 (.661) in two seasons at Miami while his career record in 13 seasons stands at 226-166 (.577). Last season Clark led the Hurricanes to the NCAA Tournament marking the ninth time in 13 seasons he has guided his team to post season play.
Texas A&M head coach Melvin Watkins is entering his third season with the Aggies and seventh season overall. His record at Texas A&M is 39-77 (.336) while his overall mark stands at 81-97 (.455).
A WIN AGAINST TEXAS A&M WOULD:
***Mark the fourth consecutive season the Hurricanes opened with two straight wins.
***Improve the Hurricanes’s non-conference home record to 52-13 (.800).
***Mark UM’s 19th consecutive non-conference regular-season win.
***Improve Miami’s record against Texas A&M to 3-0.
***Improve Miami’s record against Big 12 opponents to 7-8.
***Mark Miami’s third straight win over a team from Texas.
LAST OUTING:
MIAMI 93, NEW HAMPSHIRE 58
November 23, 2002
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Darius Rice recorded 19 points and James Jones added 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Hurricanes to a 93-58 win over New Hampshire in the season opener for both teams.
Jones recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots in the opening half as Miami opened a 44-28 lead. The Hurricanes shot 50 percent from the field (14-28) in the first half while holding the Wildcats to just 24.4 percent (10-41).
For the game UM shot 35-70 (.500) from the field while New Hampshire shot 17-62 (.274).
Miami’s pressure defense forced 29 New Hampshire turnovers leading to 38 Hurricane points. Miami also dominated in the paint outscoring the Wildcats 36-8.
A total of four Hurricanes scored in double-figures. Center Rafael Berumen went 5-5 from the field and 1-1 from the line in recording a career-high 11 points in only 14 minutes.
Freshman Robert Hite added 13 points as all five UM freshmen scored during the game totalling 33 points.
LAST SEASON AGAINST TEXAS A&M:
December 8, 2001
Reed Arena, College Station, TX
James Jones scored a season-high 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the University of Miami to a 64-55 win over Texas A&M in College Station, TX.
With the win, Miami improves to 8-0 and is one win away from tying the school-record for consecutive wins to open a season.
Four of the five starters scored in double figures for Miami including Darius Rice (15 points), Marcus Barnes (13 points) and Elton Tyler (12 points).
Texas A&M struggled offensively. Nick Anderson scored 17 of A&M’s 23 first half points, hitting 4 of 5 from 3-point range, while the rest of the team shot just 29 percent from the field.
For the game Texas A&M shot just 32.3 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers. Miami turned the 18 A&M turnovers into 22 points.
Miami, which led 35-27 at the break, extended the lead to 13 (42-29) following a lay-up by Tyler with 17:54 to play. Texas A&M then went on a 19-0 run over the next seven minutes to take a 48-42 advantage.
The Hurricanes bounced back and regained the lead for good when Jones nailed a three-pointer to from the right corner to make the score 52-50 with 6:16 to play.
HURRICANES TO DELIVER TURKEY DINNERS:
The University of Miami men’s basketball team will deliver Thanksgiving turkeys to the Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church located at 6075 SW 64th Street in Miami on Wednesday, November 27 at 6 p.m. The dinners are being donated by Norman Brothers Produce, Inc.
BASKETBALL FOOD DRIVE:
The University of Miami will be conducting a food drive for the Daily Bread Food Bank at the Miami women’s basketball game against Morris Brown on Nov. 25, as well as the UM men’s basketball game versus Texas A&M on Nov. 26.
Fans who bring two non-perishable food items to the Knight Sports Complex the day of the women’s game on Nov. 25 can purchase a special discounted ticket for only $3 (regularly $7). Anyone bringing two items to the Miami Arena the day of the Nov. 26 men’s game will be able to purchase a discounted ticket for only $5 (regularly $15).
For more information contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.
MIAMI DOMINATES AT HOME:
Since 1994-95 the Hurricanes have compiled a 95-26 (.785) overall home record, including a 1-0 mark this season. UM is 50-19 (.725) in its last 69 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 75-35 (.682) record against non-conference opponents, including a 51-13 mark (.797) at home. Miami is 1-0 against non-conference opponents this season.
RICE NAMED TO NAISMITH, WOODEN LISTS:
University of Miami junior forward Darius Rice has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2002-03 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award, and one of 50 preseason candidates for the John Wooden Player of the Year Award.
The Naismith Awards program, now in its 35th year, honors the outstanding college basketball players 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.
The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts. Members of the board were asked to name top male and female players who are most likely to be in contention for the award.
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
MIAMI IN THE 2002-03 POLLS:
Miami received one vote in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. Miami’s highest ranking ever 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).
SUCCESS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:
Entering the 2002-03 season the Hurricanes are the only team in the state of Florida to register a winning record in each of the last eight seasons. The Hurricanes’ 150-89 (.628) mark since the 1994-95 season is the top winning percentage over the last eight seasons while the 150 wins ranks second among the state’s 11 Division I programs.
HURRICANES SIGN FOUR:
Head men’s basketball coach Perry Clark signed four recruits during the early signing period including 6-6 forward Karron Clarke (Brooklyn, NY/The Winchendon School), 6-9 forward/center Leonard Harden III (Detroit, MI/Garden City Community College), 6-11 center Yankuba Camara (Gambia, West Africa/Moberly Area Community College) and 6-3 combo guard Guillermo Diaz (Miami Christian Academy).
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 68-66 win over No. 17 Connecticut last season marked the eighth consecutive season that the Hurricanes defeated a ranked opponent at home.
MIAMI GRADUATION RATE RANKS THIRD:
According to a report released by The Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Miami men’s basketball program ranks third in the nation among the 115 Division I-A institutions with an 82 percent graduation rate for student-athletes who entered school from 1992-93 to 1995-96.
The national average for men’s basketball players over that four-year period was 34 percent. Graduation rates were tabulated and released by the NCAA in its 2002 NCAA Graduation Rates Report.
Miami’s 1993-94 to 1995-96 classes registered a perfect 100 percent graduation rate.
COMEBACK KIDS:
Miami rallied nine times from second-half deficits to win games last season. 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.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
With its win over Florida A&M last season, 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.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM went 3-1 versus ranked teams last 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.
RICE, JONES NEAR 1000-POINT CLUB:
Miami junior Darius Rice and senior James Jones are both closing in on the 1,000-point platuea at the University of Miami. Rice has 906 career points while Jones is right behind with 898 points. Twenty-four UM players have scored 1,000 or more career points led by Rick Barry who holds the Miami career scoring record with 2,298 points.
BOMBS AWAY:
Last season 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 connected on 236 of 684 three-point field goals last season establishing single-season records in three-point field goals and three-point field goals attempted. The Hurricanes averaged 7.4 three-point field goals per game. Miami connected on 10 or more three-point field goals eight times last season.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
Miami failed to hit a three-point basket against Indiana last season 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 463 of 466 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 35-70 (.500) from the field in its season opener against New Hampshire. Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 24-1 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Miami has won its last 10 games when shooting 50 percent or better.
GETTING DEFENSIVE:
Last season Miami’s defense was been adept at forcing its opponents into turnovers. The Hurricanes forced 554 turnovers (17.3 per game) including 285 steals (8.9 per game). UM averaged 19.1 points per game off turnovers.
In its season opener against New Hampshire the Hurricanes forced 29 turnovers scoring 38 points off those turnovers.
WATCH YOUR WALLETS:
The University of Miami recorded 16 steals in its season opener against New Hampshire. The total was two away from tying the school single-game record. Miami recorded 285 steals last season, an average of 8.9 steals per game. The Hurricanes ended the season two steals shy of tying the UM single-season record of 287 set in 1988-89 (31 games).
JONES MOVES UP CAREER LIST:
James Jones recorded four blocks against New Hampshire to improve his career total to 146. The 146 blocks ranks third on UM’s all-time career list. His 78 blocks last season ranked third on UM’s all-time single-season list. The UM single-season record for blocks is 85 set by Constantin Popa in 1992-93.
LOCKING UP:
Last season Miami made a habit of holding teams without a field goal for long stretches. The Hurricanes held teams without a field goal for five minutes or more a total of 27 times while holding teams scoreless for five or more minutes five times.
In its opener against New Hampshire, Miami went on an 11-0 run in the first half, holding the Wildcats scoreless for 6:52.
BIG EAST COACHES LIKE RICE, JONES:
Darius Rice was named preseason first-team All-BIG EAST while James Jones was named preseason second-team All-BIG EAST by a vote of the league’s coaches.
2002-03 Preseason ALL-BIG EAST Selections
First Team
DARIUS RICE, MIAMI
Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh
Troy Bell, Boston College
Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
Marcus Hatten, St. John’s
Second Team
JAMES JONES, MIAMI
Chris Thomas, Notre Dame
Jerome Coleman, Rutgers
Andre Barrett, Seton Hall
Gary Buchanan, Villanova
Ricky Wright, Villanova
Preseason Player of the Year: Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
MIAMI PICKED FIFTH IN EAST DIVISION:
The men’s basketball team was selected to finish fifth in the BIG EAST East Division by a vote of the conference coaches.
MIAMI SETS BIG EAST FREE THROW RECORD:
Miami shot 77.0 percent from the line last 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.
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.
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.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 22-11 (.667) in BIG EAST road games. The 22-11 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.
