Canes Travel To Morgantown To Take On Mountaineers

Jan. 6, 2003

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (7-4)vs.WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY (8-3)
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
WVU Coliseum (14,000) – Morgantown, WV
TV – Fox Sports Net Florida; Radio – WQAM (560 AM)

ON WEST VIRGINIA:
West Virginia enters its match-up with Miami with a record of 8-3 following a 75-45 loss at St. Louis on January 4th. The Mountaineers were led by sophomore guard Drew Schifino who poured in a game-high 22 points.

Schifino leads the team in scoring this season at 19.1 points per game. The Mountaineers, who are 6-0 at home this season, have just two players averaging in double-figures. Freshman center Kevin Pittsnogle is averaging 10.6 points per game.

The Mountaineers have shot well from the field this season connecting on 295-586 (.503) of their field goal attempts. They have struggled this season on the glass where they have been outrebounded by an average of 7.3 rebounds per game (35.6-28.3).

THE SERIES:
Miami and West Virginia meet for the 12th time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series 6-5. Miami has won five straight against the Mountaineers including a 73-66 win at Miami Arena on February 28, 2001. UM has defeated West Virginia in its last two trips to Morgantown but are 2-3 all-time in the WVU Coliseum.

UP NEXT:
Following the West Virginia game the Hurricanes continue their three-game road trip against Connecticut (Jan. 11). Miami concludes its road trip against Seton Hall (Jan. 18). Miami’s next home game will be Jan. 20 against Connecticut at 7 p.m.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Miami’s game versus West Virginia will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Florida. John Sanders and Bob Wenzel will call the action. The game will also be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM – 560 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will handle the play-by-play. Brian London will serve as studio host. Fans can also catch the game on the web at hurricanesports.com.

A WIN AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 8-4, 1-0 in the BIG EAST.
Mark UM’s fourth straight win.
Mark Miami’s sixth straight win over West Virginia.
Mark UM’s second straight BIG EAST opening victory.
Mark Miami’s sixth win in its last eight BIG EAST openers.

LAST GAME:
MIAMI 64, NORTH CAROLINA 61
January 4, 2003
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, FL
Darius Rice nailed a three-pointer at the end of regulation and provided the only field goal in overtime as the Miami Hurricanes pulled out a thrilling 64-61 victory over North Carolina at the Convocation Center. Rice finished with 17 points, as Miami picked up its third straight win.

James Jones registered a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes, who were playing their first game in their new arena.

North Carolina was led by Rashad McCants, who tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. Raymond Felton added 14 points, while Jackie Manuel chipped in 11. Felton dished out a game-high six assists for the Tar Heels, who lost their second game in three outings.

After Miami gained a 27-19 lead through 11 minutes of action, North Carolina used an 8-2 burst to close to within 29-27. The Tar Heels failed to get over the hump, however, and continued to trail at the half, 35-30.

North Carolina took the lead with 18 consecutive points in the second half, but fell into a 60-60 tie at the end of regulation when the team failed to score a field goal in the final 12:10. The Tar Heels were equally inept in the extra session, missing all nine of their attempts from the floor.

LAST TIME AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA:
MIAMI 73, WEST VIRGINIA 66
February 28, 2001
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
John Salmons poured in a career-high 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the University of Miami to a 73-66 win over West Virginia at the Miami Arena.

The win marked the 200th career victory for head coach Perry Clark and clinched the Hurricanes’ seventh consecutive winning season.

The double-double marks the second of the season for Salmons who also registered four assists, three steals and one block.

Miami also recieved strong play from center Dwayne Wimbley who scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and held West Virginia leading scorer Calvin Bowman (18.8 ppg) to only eight points.

Chris Moss led West Virginia with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Tim Lyles added 16 points for the Mountaineers.

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 47-25 (.653) at Miami while his career record stands at 232-170 (.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.

West Virginia head coach John Beilein is in his first season with the Mountaineers and 25th season overall. His record this season in 8-3 while his career mark stands at 455-261 (.635).

MIAMI CHRISTENS CONVOCATION CENTER:
The Hurricanes christened the Convocation Center, the new on-campus home of men’s and women’s basketball, and the University’s first large-capacity venue for other educational, cultural and community events with a 64-61 win over North Carolina on January 4.

The $48 million facility, totally funded through private donations, seats 7,000 for basketball and will provide the University and the Coral Gables community with a facility designed for a wide array of uses.

Convocation Center Firsts
Field Goal – James Jones (UM)
3PT Field Goal – James Jones (UM)
Dunk – James Jones (UM)
Free Throw – Byron Sanders (UNC)
Rebound – Raymond Spencer (UNC)
Blocked Shot – Jawad Williams (UNC)

UM LEAVES MIAMI ARENA IN STYLE:
Miami ended its 14-year run at Miami Arena with a 68-62 victory over Lehigh on December 30.

Miami began playing its home games at the Miami Arena in 1988 and registered a 135-66 (.672) record including a 5-0 record this season. Since 1994-95 the Hurricanes had compiled a 98-26 (.790) overall home record at the Arena.

Miami won its last 19 non-conference games at Miami Arena. Miami’s first game at Miami Arena was on November 25, 1988 against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Hurricanes won 108-80.

HURRICANE DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
James Jones and Darius Rice are the only players on the Hurricanes’ roster that have recorded double-doubles during their careers. Jones has two double-doubles this season and nine for his career, while Rice has three career double-doubles.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled an 81-39 (.672) record against non-conference opponents, including a 56-13 mark (.809) at home. Miami finished 7-4 against non-conference opponents this season and has won 24 of its last 29 games against non-conference teams. Miami has won 20 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents.

MIAMI IN THE 2002-03 POLLS:
Miami is unranked. 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 18-18 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last eight seasons. Miami is 27-83 (.245) all-time against ranked teams including a 24-69 (.258) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami is 0-1 against ranked teams this season.

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.

ITS BEEN A WHILE:
Freshmen Robert Hite and Armondo Surratt were both in the starting lineup for the Hurricanes’ game against Charlotte on December 15 marking the first time since the 1993-94 season that two freshmen started for the Hurricanes. That season freshmen Alex Fraser and Torey McCormick started the final 14 games of the season. Hite and Surratt have started the last three games together.

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).

WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami played its third overtime of the season against North Carolina on January 4. Miami is 1-2 in overtime games this season. 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 25-23 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-5 in double-overtime games and a 20-18 mark in single-overtime contests).

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.

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.

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.

RICE, JONES JOIN 1000-POINT CLUB:
Miami senior James Jones and junior forward Darius Rice both joined the 1,000-point club this season. Jones scored 26 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on December 18 to become the 25th player in UM history to surpass 1,000 career points. Junior Darius Rice scored 32 points against Florida on December 21 to become the 26th player in UM history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. 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 473 of 476 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 233 turnovers (21.2 per game) while scoring 263 points off those turnovers (23.9 points per game). The Hurricanes have recorded 123 steals this season.

JONES MOVES UP CAREER LIST:
James Jones has recorded 23 blocks this season to improve his career total to 165. The 165 blocks ranks third on UM’s all-time career list.

WATCH YOUR WALLETS:
The University of Miami has recorded 123 steals (11.2 spg) 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). Miami is on pace to record 302 steals this season.

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 seven times.