Men's Basketball Takes On Florida State On Sunday
Dec. 4, 2002
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (3-1)
vs.
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (3-0)
Sunday, December 8, 2002 – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Leon County Civic Center (12,200) – Tallahassee, FL
TV – Sunshine Network (Live); Radio – WQAM (560 AM)
Website: hurricanesports.com
ON FLORIDA STATE:
Florida State hosts Florida on December 6 prior to its contest with Miami on December 8. The Seminoles, under first year head coach Leonard Hamilton, are off to a 3-0 start following a convincing 80-67 win over Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on December 2.
The Seminoles have been led this season by junior forward Michael Joiner and junior guard Tim Pickett. Joiner leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game and is shooting an remarkable 80 percent (20-25) from the field. In addition, he has connected on 5-6 (.833) three-point attempts this season. Pickett ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per contest, and leads the team with 13 steals.
Florida State’s defense is holding opponents to just 53.3 points per game and 34.1 percent (58-170) shooting from the field.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Florida State meet for the 51st time. The Seminoles lead the all-time series 26-24 including a 92-73 win the last time to the two met on February 17, 1990.
Miami and Florida State have faced off six times since the Hurricanes resurrected its basketball program in 1985 with each team winning the three games on its home floor.
Miami and Florida State first met on January 19, 1951 with the Hurricanes taking an 80-61 decision in Miami. The Hurricanes are 3-20 all-time versus the Seminoles in Tallahassee.
A WIN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 4-1 on the season.Mark the Hurricanes’ first win over FSU since a 101-97 double overtime win on January 18, 1990.Mark Miami’s first road win at Florida State since a 93-91 win on January 16, 1960.Improve UM’s record since 1992 against in-state opponents to 28-1.
LAST OUTING: FLORIDA ATLANTIC 74, MAIMI 73
Earnest Crumbley scored 25 points and hit a school-record eight 3-pointers, as Florida Atlantic beat Miami , 74-73, in overtime at FAU Gymnasium in Boca Raton, FL.
James Jones led the Hurricanes with 19 points and nine rebounds. The win was the first for FAU over the Hurricanes. Miami was 15-0 against the Owls heading into the game.
The Owls scored the first six points of overtime, and held Miami to 1-of-5 shooting from the field in the extra period.Jeff Cowans scored 12 points and Nick Neumann added 10 for the Owls.
Darius Rice and Robert Hite each had 12 for Miami. Rice played only 25 minutes because of foul trouble.
The loss snapped Miami’s 27-game winning streak against teams from the state of Florida, dating back to 1992, as well as its 20-game regular-season winning streak against non-conference opponents.
Hite had the chance to tie the game for Miami with 47 seconds left in overtime but missed the first of two free throws. The Hurricanes got their last chance by forcing a Crumbley turnover with eight seconds left, but Jones missed at the buzzer.
Crumbley scored the Owls’ final nine points of regulation, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 44 seconds left. He was 8-of-15 from 3-point range in the game, while Miami was just 2-17 from behind the arc.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Florida State game will not be televised live on the Sunshine Network. Paul Kennedy will provide the play-by-play with Eddie Fogler adding analysis. The game will also be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network. (WQAM – 560 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call all the action. Brian London will serve as studio host. 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 43-22 (.662) at Miami while his career record stands at 228-167 (.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. Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton is in his first season with the with the Seminoles and 15th season overall. His record this season at FSU is 3-0 while his overall record is 203-210 (.492).
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
Miami enters its game with Florida State with a record of 292-142 (.673) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 27 of its last 28 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season.
VERSUS THE ACC:
Miami holds a 33-50 (.398) record against Atlantic Coast Conference teams including a 4-15 (.211) mark since the rebirth of the program in 1985. The Florida State game will be the first of two against ACC competition this season for Miami. The Hurricanes will take on North Carolina on January 4th. The game will be the first at the Convocation Center, Miami’s new on-campus arena.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 77-36 (.681) record against non-conference opponents, including a 53-13 mark (.803) at home. Miami is 3-1 against non-conference opponents this season and has won 20 of its last 22 games against non-conference teams.
ITS BEEN A WHILE:
University of Miami freshman Robert Hite has scored in double-figures in all four of the Hurricanes’ games to open the season. He is the first freshman since Steven Edwards in 1992 to open the season with four straight double-figure scoring games. Edwards went on to score in double-figures in 26 straight games that season.
MIAMI DOMINATES AT HOME:
Since 1994-95 the Hurricanes have compiled a 96-26 (.788) overall home record, including a 3-0 mark this season. UM is 50-19 (.725) in its last 69 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 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.
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).
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.
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 IN THE 2002-03 POLLS:
The Hurricanes received four votes in the December 2 ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll placing them 41st 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.
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.
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.
WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami’s loss to Florida Atlantic snapped the Hurricanes three-game win streak in over time games. Miami was 3-0 last season in overtime games. Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last five 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 25-22 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-4 in double-overtime games and a 20-18 mark in single-overtime contests).
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. Jones has 953 career points while Rice is right behind hime with 945 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 466 of 469 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.
This season Miami has forced 100 turnovers in its first four games (25.0 per game) while scoring 119 points off those turnovers (29.8 points per game). The Hurricanes have recorded 60 steals in the first four games.
WATCH YOUR WALLETS:
The University of Miami recorded 60 steals (15.0 spg) in its opening four games this season including a school-record 21 against Savannah State on Dec. 30. 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 has recorded eight blocks this season to improve his career total to 150. The 150 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.
This season the Hurricanes have held team without a field goal for 5 or minutes twice. In its opener against New Hampshire, Miami went on an 11-0 run in the first half, holding the Wildcats scoreless for 6:52. Against Savannah State the Hurricanes went on a 10-0 run holding the Tigers scoreless for 5:02.
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.
