Men's Hoops Heads To No. 3 Connecticut
Jan. 9, 2003
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (7-5)
vs.
#3/#3 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT (9-1)
Saturday, January 11, 2003 – Noon (ET)
Gampel Pavilion (10,027) – Storrs, CT
TV: WFOR-TV (Channel 4); Radio: WQAM (560 AM)
Website: hurricanesports.com
ON CONNECTICUT:
Connecticut enters its game with Miami with a record of 9-1 following a 73-63 loss at Oklahoma on January 7. The Huskies are ranked third in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN College Basketball polls.
Connecticut has been led this season by the sophomore inside-outside combination of guard Ben Gordon and center Emeka Okafor. Gordon leads the Huskies in scoring at 21.1 points per game while Okafor, a preseason first-team All-BIG EAST selection, is averaging 16.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game.
The Huskies have also received strong play off the bench from senior guard Tony Robertson who is averaging 11.5 points per game.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Connecticut meet for the 21st time with the Huskies leading the all-time series 13-7. The Hurricanes have won four of the last six games against Connecticut including a season split last season. The last eight meetings between Miami and Connecticut have been decided by nine points or less.
LAST GAME:
WEST VIRGINIA 68, MIAMI 63
January 7, 2003
WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV
Drew Schifino scored a game-high 20 points in leading the West Virginia Mountaineers to a 68-63 victory over the University of Miami in the BIG EAST Conference for both schools at WVU Coliseum.
Kevin Pittsnogle added 19 points for West Virginia on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting effort from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Patrick Beilein chipped in 11 points for the Mountaineers, who picked up their second win in three games.
Miami had a three-game winning streak snapped, despite getting 18 points from James Jones. Darius Rice delivered another 15 points for the Hurricanes, but Miami shot just 38.1 percent from the field.
West Virginia, which led 27-24 at the half, maintained its slim edge throughout the second half, garnering a 43-39 advantage midway through the stanza. The Mountaineers extended their lead to double digits at 62-52, before finally settling on a five-point win.
After making no appearances at the foul line in the opening period, West Virginia earned its victory from the charity stripe in the second half, going 18-of-27 from the line.
LAST TIME AGAINST CONNECTICUT:
No. 15 MIAMI 68, No. 17 CONNECTICUT 66
February 2, 2002
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Elton Tyler’s dunk with 11 seconds remaining lifted No. 15 Miami to a 68-66 win over 17th-ranked Connecticut at Miami Arena.
The win was the Hurricanes’ sixth consecutive against ranked opponents and improved their home record to 12-1 on the season.
A lay-up by the Huskies’ Taliek Brown evened the game at 66-66 with 22 seconds remaining but John Salmons, who banked in a three-pointer with 33 seconds left to give UM a 66-64 lead, found a wide-open Tyler under the basket.
On the final play, Connecticut went to freshman guard Ben Gordon, whose three-pointer was blocked by guard Mike Simmons to preserve the win.
John Salmons led Miami with 20 points and Tyler chipped in 16. James Jones recorded six of Miami’s season-high 12 blocked shots.
The game featured 18 second-half lead changes and 11 ties.
UP NEXT:
Following the Connecticut game the Hurricanes conclude their three-game road trip against Seton Hall (Jan. 18). Miami’s next home game will be Jan. 20 against Connecticut at 7 p.m at the Convocation Center.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Miami’s game versus Connecticut is the BIG EAST Game of the Week and will be televised live in Miami on WFOR-TV (Channel 4). Bob Piccozi and Ron Perry 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. Josh Darrow will serve as studio host. Fans can also catch the game on the web at hurricanesports.com.
A WIN AGAINST CONNECTICUT WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 8-5, 1-1 in the BIG EAST.
***Mark the ninth straight season the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent.
***Mark the highest ranked opponent Miami has defeated since knocking off No. 2 ranked Connecticut on February 20, 1999 in Gampel Pavilion.
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 47-26 (.644) at Miami while his career record stands at 232-171 (.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. Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun is in his 17 season with the Huskies and 31st season overall. His record at Connecticut 385-150 (.720) while his career mark stands at 633-287 (.688).
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
