Canes Welcome Hokies To Convocation Center

Feb. 9, 2003

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VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY (10-11, 3-5)vs.UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (9-10, 2-6)
Tuesday, February 11, 2003 – 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, FL
TV: Fox Sports Net; Radio: WQAM (560 AM)

ON VIRGINIA TECH:
Virginia Tech (10-11, 3-5 BIG EAST) are coming off a 71-54 win at St. John’s on Saturday. The Hokie have won two straight including a 95-74 win over 18th-ranked Connecticut on February 5.

The Hokies have been led this season by the veteran trio of junior forward Bryant Matthews, junior guard Carlos Dixon and senior center Terry Taylor. The three account for 66 percent of the team’s scoring led by Matthews at 16.3 points per game. Matthews posted a team-high 22 points in the Hokies victory over St. John’s.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Virginia Tech meet for the fifth time with the Hurricanes holding a 3-1 series lead. Miami won both games last season and has won three straight overall. Miami is 2-0 at home against Virginia Tech.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Miami’s game versus Virginia Tech is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and will be broadcast in Miami on Fox Sports Net Florida. Kenny Albert 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 with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host. The game will be broadcast in Spanish on Radio Unica (WNMA – 1210 AM). Roly Martin and Jose Martinez will describe the action. Fans can also catch the game on the web at hurricanesports.com.

UP NEXT:
Following the Virginia Tech game the Hurricanes hit the road for a two-game road trip against Boston College (Feb. 15 – 4 p.m.) and Providence (Feb. 17 – 7:30 p.m.).

A WIN AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 10-10, 3-6 in the BIG EAST.Mark Miami’s fourth straight win over Virginia Tech.Snap the Hurricanes’ two game losing streak.

LAST GAME:
VILLANOVA 72, MIAMI 67 (OT)
February 8, 2003
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, FL
Gary Buchanan scored 23 points to lead the Villanova Wildcats to a 72-67 overtime victory against the University of Miami at the Convocation Center in Coral Gables, FL.

Ricky Wright scored 14 points and knocked in the final six points for Villanova in overtime. Allan Ray scored 12 points off the bench, while Derrick Snowden chipped in 10 points for the Wildcats.

Darius Rice had a game-high 26 points and collected eight rebounds, in a losing effort for Miami. James Jones was the only other Hurricane in double figures, scoring 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field.

The Hurricanes were held to just 29.2 percent shooting from the field in the first half of action, as they trailed 38-26 going into the locker rooms.

Snowden sent the game into overtime for the Wildcats, hitting a free throw with 6.6 seconds left in regulation. Villanova made 4-of-6 shots from the floor and all four of its free throws in the overtime period, helping it record the five-point victory.

The Wildcats shot 54.5 percent from the field and 81 percent from the charity stripe, while holding the Hurricanes to only 38.6 percent shooting on their field goal attempts.

LAST TIME AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH:
No. 22 MIAMI 83, VIRGINIA TECH 77
March 2, 2002
Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Elton Tyler scored 20 of his season-high 24 points in the first-half as Miami opened a 43-31 halftime lead and then held on to defeat Virginia Tech in its regular-season finale at Miami Arena.

The Hurricanes improve to 23-6 on the season tying the school single-season record for wins.

The redshirt senior, playing in his final home game, also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, matched his career-high with three assists and blocked one shot.

Five Hurricanes scored in double-figures including Darius Rice with 14, James Jones and Marcus Barnes with 13 each, and senior John Salmons who recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 assists.

Bryant Matthews led Virginia Tech with 15 points while Brian Chase added 14 points and seven assists.

Miami looked to have the game well in hand when James Jones’ jumper put the Hurricanes ahead 58-38 with 15:24 to play. But the Hokies continued to chip away and pulled to within three, 72-69, following lay-up by Carlton Carter with 4:17 left.

Virginia Tech would get no closer as Salmons scored four points and assisted on another basket in a 6-0 UM run to put Miami ahead by nine with just over two minutes to play.

UM SINGLE-GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for the remaining men’s basaketball season are on sale. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-GO-CANES or by visiting ticketmaster.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 49-31 (.613) at Miami while his career record stands at 234-176 (.571).

Virginia Tech head coach Ricky Stokes is in his fourth season with the Hokies posting a 44-63 (.411) record.

RICE NAMED TO MIDSEASON WOODEN LIST:
Darius Rice is among 30 midseason finalists for the 2002-03 John R. Wooden Award. A national poll was conducted by the Wooden Award Midseason Committee to determine the Top 30 Midseason candidates.

The Wooden Award, which will be presented on April 1 in Los Angeles, is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball and 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 grade point average.

Rice is one of seven BIG EAST players on the list of 30 candidates including Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Marcus Hatten (St. John’s), Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh), Emeka Okafor (Connecticut), Michael Sweetney (Georgetown) and Chris Thomas (Notre Dame).

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).

CARRYING THE LOAD: Darius Rice (19.6 ppg) and James Jones (16.9 ppg) have shouldered the scoring load for the Hurricanes this season. The two are accounting for half (51.7%) of Miami’s points. The two have continued to increase their combined production each month. During the month of February the tandem has accounted for 58.2 percent of the Hurricanes’ scoring.

PLAYING THEIR BEST AGAINST THE BEST: The UM forward combination of Darius Rice and James Jones have both shined this season in the big games. Miami has three games against ranked teams this season. In those games Rice is averaging 34.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 35-69 (.507) from the floor and 15-33 (.455) from three-point range. Jones is averaging 21.0 points against those teams while shooting 21-39 (.538) from the field.

RICE SEEING 20-20:
With his 26 points against Villanova, Darius Rice recorded his third consecutive 20-point game. It marks the second time in his UM career he has posted three consecutive games of 20 or more points. The last player to record four straight 20-point games was Tim James who posted five straight during the 1998-99 season. Rice has recorded seven games of 20 or more points this season which leads the team.

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.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 73-72 win over No. 11 Connecticut this season marked the ninth consecutive season that the Hurricanes defeated a ranked opponent at home.

WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami played its fifth overtime of the season against Villanova on February 8. Miami is 1-4 in overtime games this season. The five overtime games establishes a school single-season record. 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 9-6 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (5-3 at home). The ‘Canes own a 25-24 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-5 in double-overtime games and a 20-19 mark in single-overtime contests).

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
Miami is 1-2 against ranked teams this season. The Hurricanes are 19-19 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last nine seasons. Miami is 28-84 (.250) all-time against ranked teams including a 25-70 (.263) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME:
The University of Miami has been nearly unbeatable at home this season recording a 8-2 record while struggling on the road posting a 1-7 mark.

MR. CLUTCH:
Darius Rice’s three-point basket with 0.5 seconds left to defeat Connecticut on January 20th marked the fourth time this season the junior forward has hit a three-pointer at the end of regulation to either win the game or send the game to overtime.

With the Hurricanes’ down 72-69 to Florida , Rice connected on a three-pointer from the right corner with 26 seconds remaining to tie the score. Florida went on to win the game 94-93 in double-overtime.

On January 4th against North Carolina, Rice hit a three-pointer, again from the right corner, to tie the score at 60-60 with three seconds left. Miami went on to win the game 64-61.

In Miami’s first meeting with Connecticut on January 11, Rice sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer from the tip of the key tying the score at 71-71 with two seconds left. Connecticut won the game 83-80.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 22-15 (.595) in BIG EAST road games. The 22-15 mark ranks second behind Syracuse for the best road record in league play over that period.

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 overtime 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)

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.

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.

RICE NAMED TO PRESEASON NAISMITH LIST:
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.

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.

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.

RICE MOVES UP 3-POINT LIST:
Darius Rice has recorded 50 three-point baskets this season giving him 188 for his career which places him second on UM’s all-time career list behind Steven Edwards who connected on 265 three-point baskets from 1992-96.

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 481 of 484 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.

RICE’S NIGHT:
Darius Rice poured in a career-high 43 points against Connecticut on Jan. 20 tying him for third on the BIG EAST all-time single-game scoring list. The point total was the most in a BIG EAST game since Feb. 20, 1996 when UM forward Steve Rich posted 43 points against St. John’s.

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 362 turnovers (19.1 per game) while scoring 387 points off those turnovers (20.4 points per game). Miami has recorded 28.8 percent (387 of 1343) of its total points this season off turnovers.

JONES MOVES UP CAREER LIST:
James Jones has recorded 33 blocks this season to improve his career total to 175. The 175 blocks ranks third on UM’s all-time career list.

WATCH YOUR WALLETS:
The University of Miami ranks No.1 in the BIG EAST and 5th in the nation in steals. UM has recorded 201 steals (10.6 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 296 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 teams without a field goal for 5 or minutes 12 times.