Men's Basketball Battles Savannah State At Home
Nov. 27, 2002
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SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY (0-1) vs. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (2-0)
Saturday, November 30, 2002 – 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Miami Arena (15,388) – Miami, FL
Radio: WLVJ (1040 AM); Website: hurricanesports.com
ON SAVANNAH STATE:
Savannah State takes on Jacksonville on November 27 prior to travelling to Miami to face the Hurricanes on November 30. Savannah State, which competes as an independent, is 0-1 entering the Jacksonville game following a 79-46 defeat to Florida State in their season-opener. Last season the Tigers finished 2-26. Heading into its matchup with Jacksonville, Savannah State had lost 11 straight games dating back to last season.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Savannah State meet for just the second time. Miami won the lone previous meeting, knocking off the Tigers, 107-98 on March 2, 1989.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Savannah State game will not be televised. The game will be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network (WLVJ-1040 AM). Josh Darrow will call all the action. 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 42-21 (.667) at Miami while his career record stands at 227-166 (.578). 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. Savannah State head coach Edward Daniels, Jr. is in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 76-35 (.685) record against non-conference opponents, including a 52-13 mark (.800) at home. Miami is 2-0 against non-conference opponents this season.
A WIN AGAINST SAVANNAH STATE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 3-0 on the season.Mark the fourth consecutive season the Hurricanes opened with three straight wins.Improve UM’s non-conference home record to 53-13 (.803).Mark UM’s 14th straight win against a non-conference opponent at Miami Arena.Mark UM’s 20th consecutive non-conference regular-season win.
LAST OUTING: MIAMI 78, TEXAS A&M 72
James Jones recorded 14 points and eight rebounds to lead five Hurricanes in double-figures as the University of Miami knocked off Texas A&M, 78-72, at Miami Arena.
Jones, who was in foul trouble most of the game, scored nine of his points in the second-half including the go-ahead basket with 1:14 to play.
Darius Rice and Robert Hite each added 13 points, Rafael Berumen netted a career-high 12 and Rodrigue Djahue registered 10, his first double-figure scoring game since the 2000-01 season.
Hite, who scored 13 in Miami’s opener, is the first freshman since Steven Edwards in 1992 to open the season with consecutive double-figure scoring games.
Miami, which led 36-32 at the half, expanded its lead to 11 (49-38) when Jones hit the first of his two three-point baskets with 13:35 to play.
The Aggies battled back and took their first lead of the game, 57-56, when Marc Watkins connected on two free throws at the 8:01 mark.
Miami looked to have the game in hand when Hite nailed a jumper to put the Hurricanes up bu five with just over three minutes to play. But once again the Aggies fought back and when Antoine Wright converted a four-point play with 1:32 left, Texas A&M led 72-71. Wright finished with a game-high 25 points. Miami quickly regained the lead for good as Jones hit a jumper on the Hurricanes next possession.
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.
ITS BEEN A WHILE:
University of Miami freshman Robert Hite has scored 13 points in both of the Hurricanes’ games to open the season. He is the first freshman since Steven Edwards in 1992 to open the season with back-to-back double-figure scoring games. Edwards went on to score in double-figures in 26 straight games.
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 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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
MIAMI IN THE 2002-03 POLLS:
The Hurricanes received three votes in the November 25th ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll placing them 50th in the nation. 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.
