Men's Hoops Hosts Providence Wednesday
Jan. 28, 2003
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PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (9-7, 2-3) vs. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (8-8, 1-4)
Wednesday, January 29, 2003 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Convocation Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, FL
TV: Fox Sports Net; Radio: WQAM (560 AM); Spanish: WNMA (1210 AM)
Website: hurricanesports.com
ON PROVIDENCE:
The Providence Friars enter their match-up with the Hurricanes with a record of 9-7, 2-3 in the BIG EAST, following a 71-65 home loss to 16th-ranked Notre Dame on January 21. The Friars have been led this season sophomore forward Ryan Gomes who is averaging 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Gomes has led the team in scoring 10 times this season including each of the last four games. Providence has also received consistant play from freshman point guard Donnie McGrath. McGrath is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 assists, and currently leads the BIG EAST in assist-to-turnover ration (3.15). The Friars, who are 8-2 at home this season, have struggled on the road recording a 1-5 mark.
THE SERIES:
Miami and Providence meet for the 26th time with the Friars leading the all-time series 13-12. Miami has won three of the last four meetings, including both games last season.
LAST GAME:
SYRACUSE 54, MIAMI 49
January 26, 2003
Convocation Center, Coral Gables, FL
The Syracuse Orangemen used a 9-0 run over the final 8:37 of the game to claim a 54-49 win against the University of Miami at the Convocation Center.
Hakim Warrick scored a game-high 18 points, Kueth Duany added 17 and Carmelo Anthony had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead Syracuse.
The Hurricanes were paced by Darius Rice, who recorded his first double-double of the season, with 13 points and 11 rebounds. James Jones and Robert Hite contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Hurricanes lost for the first time at home this season.
The teams traded leads throughout the first half, but Miami held the Orangemen to just five points over the last seven minutes of the period to claim a 30-25 edge at the break.
In the second half Syracuse took its time coming back and then clamped down on the defensive end of the floor to record the five-point win.
Miami finished the contest shooting only 31.7 percent from the field and made just 5-of-22 opportunities from behind the three-point line. Syracuse also struggled from the field throughout the game, making 37.3 percent from the floor and 4-of-24 beyond the arc.
Both teams shot 60 percent at the free-throw line, but the Hurricanes made only 6-of-10, compared to 12-of-20 for the Orangemen.
LAST TIME AGAINST PROVIDENCE:
No. 22 MIAMI 81, PROVIDENCE 65
February 26, 2002
Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Darius Rice scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half to lead No. 22 Miami to an 81-65 victory over Providence at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.
Rice also recorded 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. The win was Miami’s 22nd of the season marking the most regular-season victories for the school since joining the BIG EAST in 1991. It also marked the Hurricanes first season sweep over the Friars since the 1994-95 season.
Providence point guard John Linehan became the NCAA’s career steals leader. His fourth of the game gave him 377, one more than Eric Murdock, who played for the Friars from 1987-91.
James Jones added 15 points for the Hurricanes, while Marcus Barnes had 10. Abdul Mills had 21 points to lead Providence, while freshman Ryan Gomes added 18.
Miami extended a 45-27 halftime to 23 points early in the second half. Providence staged a mild rally to pull within 10 points with three minutes left, but got no closer.
UP NEXT:
Following the Providence game the Hurricanes take on St. John’s on February 2 at 2 p.m at Madison Square Garden in New York. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Miami’s game versus Providence is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and will be broadcast in Miami on Fox Sports Net Florida. Rob Stone 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.
A WIN AGAINST PROVIDENCE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 9-8, 2-4 in the BIG EAST.Mark Miami’s third straight win over Providence.Improve Miami’s home record to 8-1…3-1 at the Convocation Center.
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 48-29 (.623) at Miami while his career record stands at 233-174 (.572).
Providence head coach Tim Welsh is in his fifth season with the Friars and seventh season overall. His record at PC is 71-66 (.518) while his career mark stands at 141-88 (.616).
UM SINGLE-GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE:
Single-game tickets for the remaining men’s basaketball season, including the Hurricanes match-up with Providence on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. at the University of Miami Convocation Center are now on sale. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-GO-CANES or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
PROVIDENCE TICKETS AVAILABLE:
Tickets for Miami’s BIG EAST battle with Providence on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. are on sale. A limited number of $20 general admission seats are still available. Tickets are $20, $30 and $40.
CARRYING THE LOAD:
Darius Rice (18.4 ppg) and James Jones (17.5 ppg) have shouldered the scoring load for the Hurricanes this season. The two are accounting for half (50.3%) of Miami’s points. The two have continued to increase their combined production each month. During the month of January the tandem has accounted for 59.1 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.
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.
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.
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 fourth overtime of the season against Connecticut on January 11. Miami is 1-3 in overtime games this season. The four 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.
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.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME:
The University of Miami has been nearly unbeatable at home this season recording a perfect 7-1 record while struggling on the road posting a 1-6 record. The Hurricanes’ numbers both offensely and defensely have been considerably better at home then on the road this season.
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 22-14 (.628) in BIG EAST road games. The 22-14 mark ties UM with Syracuse for the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period.
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 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.
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).
