Men's Basketball Travels To Charlotte

Men's Basketball Travels To Charlotte

Dec. 11, 2002

Game Notes in PDF Format
2002-03 Players Notes in PDF Format
2002-03 Game Recaps in PDF Format
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (3-2)
vs.
CHARLOTTE (2-3)

Sunday, December 15, 2002 – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Halton Arena (9,105) – Charlotte, NC
TV – Fox Sports Net Florida (Live); Radio – WAXY (790 AM)
Website: hurricanesports.com

ON CHARLOTTE:
Charlotte enters Sunday’s game with a record of 2-3 following a 75-56 loss at Davidson on December 7. All three 49er losses have come on the road. Charlotte is 2-0 at home this season with wins over Long Beach State (89-61) and Temple (91-80).

Charlotte has been led this season by junior guard Demon Brown. Brown, who has come off the bench the last two games after starting the opening three games of the season, is averaging a team-high 18.6 points per game. He leads the team with 13 steals and has connected on 25-57 (.474) from three-point range.

The 49ers, who are averaging 79.2 points per game, have a total of three players averaging in double-figures including center Curtis Withers (11.8) and forward Chris Sager (10.4).

Charlotte will be without junior center Calvin Clemmons who suffered a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Richmond on Nov. 30. Clemmons started the first three games averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Charlotte meet for the sixth concecutive season with the 49ers holding a 3-2 series lead. Charlotte has won both games at Halton Arena including a 95-63 win during the 2000-01 season. Last season Miami defeated Charlotte 64-56 at Miami Arena.

UP NEXT:
Following the Charlotte game the Hurricanes return to Miami to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wed., Dec. 18 at Miami Arena. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

A WIN AGAINST CHARLOTTE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 4-2 on the season.Snap the Hurricanes’ two-game losing streak.Mark UM’s first road win of the season.Mark Miami’s second straight win over Charlotte.Mark Miami’s first road win over Charlotte.

LAST OUTING: FLORIDA STATE 72, MAIMI 55

Decmeber 8, 2002

Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, FL
Tim Pickett scored a game-high 17 points, all of them coming in the first half, as Florida State defeated Miami, 72-55, at Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center.

Pickett shot 4-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-10 from behind the three- point line, while Anthony Richardson chipped in with 14 points and Todd Galloway 11 in the victory for the Seminoles.

Miami, which had won three straight to start the year, has now lost two in a row after falling to Florida Atlantic in its previous game.

James Jones scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Darius Rice added 11 for the Hurricanes, who shot just 28.3 percent from the field in the game and 21.7 percent from three-point range.

The Hurricanes scored the first points of the game, but from there on out it was all Florida State as it took advantage of a 12-1 run thereafter and cruise to a 39-28 edge at the break.

In the second half the Seminoles maintained their double-digit lead throughout, eventually claiming the 17-point win.

Miami shot just 5-of-23 from three-point range, compared to 9-of-19 for Florida State.

LAST SEASON AGAINST CHARLOTTE:

December 22, 2001

Miami Arena, Miami, FL
John Salmons recorded 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Miami Hurricanes to a 64-56 win over Charlotte at Miami Arena.

Darius Rice had 13 points for UM while Elton Tyler added 10. Eddie Basden led the 49ers with 12 points. Jobey Thomas and Cam Stephens added 10 points apiece.

The win improves Miami to 11-0 on the season while Charlotte falls to 5-5.

Salmons was one rebound shy of becoming the first player in school history to record a triple-double. He did make history becoming the first Miami player to register back-to-back games with 10 or more assists.

With 3:58 remaining, Salmons connected on a pair of free throws to become the 24th player in school-history to surpass 1,000 career points.

Charlotte had its second worst shooting performance of the season, hitting just 32 percent from the field and 4-of-26 from 3-point range.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
The Charlotte game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net Florida. Gary Williams will provide the play-by-play with Bob Wenzel adding analysis. The game will also be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network. (WAXY – 790 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 43-23 (.652) at Miami while his career record stands at 228-168 (.576). 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.

Charlotte head coach Bobby Lutz is in his fifth season with the with the 49ers and 14th season overall. His record this season at Charlotte is 82-53 (.607) while his overall record is 263-144 (.646).

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 77-37 (.675) record against non-conference opponents, including a 53-13 mark (.803) at home. Miami is 3-2 against non-conference opponents this season and has won 20 of its last 23 games against non-conference teams.

ITS BEEN A WHILE:
University of Miami freshman Robert Hite has scored in double-figures in the first four games of 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.

VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
Miami is 292-143 (.671) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 27 of its last 29 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season.

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).

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:
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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

BIG EAST COACHES TELECONFERENCE:
The BIG EAST men’s basketball coaches will hold six teleconferences during the season. Each coach is available for approximately eight minutes. Media wishing to participate should phone (913) 981-5520.

Dates for the Men’s Basketball calls are as follows:
Thurs., December 12 Thurs., February 13
Thurs., January 16 Thurs., February 27
Thurs., January 30 Mon., March 10

The schedule of coaches is (All times Eastern):
11:00 a.m. Jay Wright, Villanova
11:08 a.m. Mike Brey, Notre Dame
11:16 a.m. Al Skinner, Boston College
11:24 a.m. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut
11:32 a.m. Mike Jarvis, St. John’s
11:40 a.m. Ben Howland, Pittsburgh
11:48 a.m. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
11:56 a.m. Perry Clark, Miami
12:04 p.m. John Beilein, West Virginia
12:12 p.m. Louis Orr, Seton Hall
12:20 p.m. Gary Waters, Rutgers
12:28 p.m. Tim Welsh, Providence
12:36 p.m. Craig Esherick, Georgetown
12:44 p.m. Ricky Stokes, Virginia Tech