Canes Clash With Providence
Feb. 19, 2004
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (13-13, 3-9 BIG EAST) vs.
#19/#17 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (17-5, 8-3 BIG EAST)
Saturday, February 21, 2004 – 2:00 p.m.
Dunkin’ Donuts Center (12,993) – Providence, R.I.
TV – Fox Sports Net Florida; Radio – WQAM (560 AM)
Website – hurricanesports.com
ON PROVIDENCE:
Providence enters its game with Miami with a record of 17-5, 8-3 in the BIG EAST, following a 61-52 win at Boston College on February 14th.
The Friars have won three straight games and are ranked 19th by the Associated Press and 17th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll.
Providence has been led this season by National Player of the Year candidate Ryan Gomes. The 6-7 forward leads the team in scoring (19.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.8 rpg).
THE SERIES:
Miami and Providence meet for the 28th time with the Friars leading the all-time series 14-13. Miami has won three of the last four meetings. Miami and Providence split last season with both teams winning on their home floor.
LAST GAME:
#8/#8 CONNECTICUT 76, MIAMI 63
February 18, 2004
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Conn.
Emeka Okafor had 18 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots to lead the eight-ranked University of Connecticut Huskies to a 76-63 win over the University of Miami at the Hartford Civic Center.
Rashad Anderson led the Huskies with 19 points, and Taliek Brown finished with a career-high 13 assists. The Hurricanes, who were without leadind scorer Darius Rice (sprained right foot), were led by Guillermo Diaz with 14 points. Armondo Surratt added 12.
Anderson got going at the right time, hitting three 3-pointers in the span of just over a minute in the second half. They came just after Miami pared down UConn’s 17-point halftime lead to seven.
The Huskies led 41-24 at the break, but committed five turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half, and Miami took advantage. The Hurricanes opened the period with a 7-2 run. Diaz, fouled behind the 3-point arc, hit all three free throws to pull Miami to 45-38 with 13:53 left.
That’s when Anderson took over from the perimeter. His three 3-pointers fueled an 11-2 run, firing up the Huskies and the crowd. Miami never threatened after that.
LAST MEETING VERSUS PROVIDENCE:
PROVIDENCE 73, MIAMI 63
February 18, 2003
Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, R.I.
Ryan Gomes poured in 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Providence College to a 73-63 win over the University of Miami at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI.
Sheiku Kabba added 18 points while Rob Sanders scored 17 for the Friars. Darius Rice led Miami with 15 points while James Jones added 12 points seven rebounds and five steals. Freshman Armondo Surratt had 12 points and seven assists in a losing effort.
Despite shooting 61.5 percent in the opening half, Providence trailed 39-37 at the break. Miami also shot well in the first half connecting on 56.7 percent of its FG attempts.
Providence opened the second-half with a 10-2 run, led by five points from Kabba, to take a 45-41 lead early in the second stanza. Miami responded with a three-point play from Rice followed by a three-point basket from Robert Hite to regain the lead, 47-45, with 13:43 to play.
The Friars used a 7-0 run to regain the led the good, and then hit eight consecutive free throws in the final two minutes to seal the victory.
A WIN AGAINST PROVIDENCE WOULD:
Improve Miami’s record to 14-13, 4-9 in the BIG EAST.Mark Perry Clark’s 250th career win.Snap the Hurricanes’ eight-game losing streak.Mark the 10th consecutive season in which the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent.
UP NEXT:
Following the Providence game the Hurricanes’ return home to face Seton Hall on February 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
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. Bob Picozzi and Ron Perry will call the action.
The game will be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network WQAM (560 AM). John Sciambi will provide the play-by-play. Brian London will serve as studio host. Fans can also catch the game on the web at hurricanesports.com.
ON THE COACHES:
University of Miami head coach Perry Clark is in his fourth season with the Hurricanes and 15th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Clark is 64-51 (.557) at Miami while his career record in 14 seasons stands at 249-196 (.560).
Providence head coach Tim Welsh is in his sixth season with the Friars and ninth season overall. His career record is 168-100 (.627) while his record at Providence is 98-78 (.557).
RICE INJURES FOOT AGAINST SYRACUSE:
Miami forward Darius Rice suffered a mid-foot sprain of his right foot with 15:02 left in the second half against Syracuse on February 14th and will be out 7 to 10 days. Rice’s foot, which was placed in a cast after the game, will be reevaluated on Friday, February 20th.
RICE SETS CAREER MARK:
With his start against Georgetown on February 7th senior forward Darius Rice established a new school-record for starts in a career with 109. The previous record was held by Kevin Norris who started 108 games at point guard from 1994-98. Rice has now started 110 career games.
RICE MOVES UP BIG EAST SCORING LIST:
Miami forward Darius Rice scored 14 points against Syracuse on February 14 becoming the 24th player in BIG EAST history to score 1,000 points in BIG EAST play. Rice is the second Hurricane to reach the 1,000-point plateau in conference play joining Tim James who recorded 1,062 points in 72 career BIG EAST games from 1995-99. Rice leads all active BIG EAST players in points scored.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES:
Miami guard Rob Hite may be the most improved player in the BIG EAST this season. The sophomore has been the Hurricanes’ most consistant offensvie threat scoring in double-figures in 23 of 26 games this season. Hite’s numbers are significantly improved in almost every category this season.
NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s 73-72 win over No. 11 Connecticut last season marked the ninth consecutive season that the Hurricanes defeated a ranked opponent at home.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
Miami is 0-3 against ranked teams this season. The Hurricanes are 19-21 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last nine seasons. Miami is 28-87 (.243) all-time against ranked teams including a 25-73 (.255) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.
WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami’s game versus Boston College on February 1 was its fourth overtime game of the season. Miami played a school single-season record five overtime games last season. Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last six seasons. UM has amassed a 9-10 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (5-6 at home). The ‘Canes own a 25-28 overall record in overtime contests during their history (5-6 in double-overtime games and a 20-22 mark in single-overtime contests).
PLAYING ABOVE THE RIM:
The Hurricanes have recorded 85 dunks (3.27 per game) already this season. Miami registered only 50 dunks all of last season. At this current pace the Hurricanes would record 99 dunks which would be the most since UM had 111 dunks during the 1988-89 season. Rob Hite leads the Hurricanes in dunks this season with 25 this season.
A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY:
Rob Hite ranks 14th in the BIG EAST in scoring at 15.7 ppg but a closer look shows that he is one of the most efficient scorers in the league averaging 1.40 points per shot attempt (408 points/292 field goal attempts). His 1.40 average ranks fifth among the BIG EAST’s Top-20 scorers (through Feb. 18) behind a quartet of post players.
HIGH FLYERS:
The University of Miami’s backcourt may be the most athletic in the country. Miami’s guards have an average vertical jump of 38.2 inches. All of UM’s guards have vertical jumps of at least 36 inches. Leading the way is freshman Guillermo Diaz who has a vertical leap of 41 inches.
CATCHING FIRE:
Darius Rice has recorded 34 games of 20-or-more points during his UM career including nine games this season. Even more impressive is that Rice has gone for 20-or-more points in a single half 10 times, including 20 points in the second half of UM’s last game versus Rutgers.
MR. CLUTCH:
This season against Georgetown on January 31 Rice hit a trey with 12 second remaining to send the game to overtime marking the fifth time of his career he has either won or sent a game to overtime with a three-pointer at the end of regulation..
Last season Rice turned the trick four times. His three-point basket with 0.5 seconds left against Connecticut last season gave UM a 77-76 win.
Against Florida, Rice connected on a three-pointer from the right corner with 26 seconds remaining to tie the score.
Versus 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.
CLARK TOPS AMONG UM COACHES:
Fourth-year head Coach Perry Clark recorded 51 wins in his first three seasons with the Hurricanes marking the most wins by any UM basketball coach in his first three seasons. Clark is 13-7 this season giving him 64 wins as UM’s head coach. Clark needs one more victory to tie BIll Foster for the wins (65) by a UM coach in his first four seasons.
TOP RECRUITING CLASS:
Head coach Perry Clark and his staff put together one of the nation’s top recruiting classes for this upcoming season. Miami’s class of forward Karron Clarke, guard Guillermo Diaz, guard Anthony Harris and forward/center Anthony King is ranked as high as eighth in the nation by Street & Smith’s.
MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since joining The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled an 91-43 (.679) record against non-conference opponents, including a 64-14 (.821) mark at home. Miami was 10-4 against non-conference opponents this season.
VS THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
Miami is 296-145 (.671) against teams from the state of Florida. Miami has won 31 of its last 35 games against Florida schools dating back to the 1992-93 season.
IT’S ALL ACADEMIC:
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Miami men’s basketball program ranks third in the nation among the 117 Division I-A institutions with a 78 percent graduation rate for student-athletes who entered school from 1993-97 and earned their degrees within six years.
Only Stanford (100%) and Southern Methodist (83%) had higher graduation rates among Division I-A institutions. The national average for Division I-A men’s basketball players over that four-year period was 36 percent.
In addition the Hurricanes ranked in a tie for 19th among all 327 Division I institutions.
Graduation rates were tabulated and released by the NCAA in its 2003 NCAA Graduation Rates Report. The Hurricanes’ 78 percent graduation rate is the highest among any institution in the BIG EAST, ACC or SEC.
From 1993-94 to 1995-96 the Hurricanes registered a perfect 100 percent graduation rate.
For the 1995-96 class, both the UM men’s and women’s basketball programs registered 100 percent graduation rates. Miami was one of only six Division I-A institutions, along with BYU, Duke, Rice, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, to record a 100 percent graduation rate for that class in both men’s and women’s basketball.
RICE NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT:
Miami senior forward Darius Rice was named first-team All-District 6 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches for the third consecutive season. Rice, who was also named to the first-team as a sophomore and junior, currently leads the Hurricanes in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (6.3).
Rice is joined on the first-team by Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State), Anthony Roberson (Florida), Tim Pickett (Florida State), and Justin Reed (Mississippi).
Rice is the first UM men’s basketball player to be named first-team All-District three times.
NABC All-District 6 First-Team
Darius Rice, Miami
Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State
Anthony Roberson, Florida
Tim Pickett, Florida State
Justin Reed, Mississippi
NABC All-District 6 Second-Team
Timmy Bowers, Mississippi State
David Lee, Florida
Morris Finley, Alabama-Birmingham
Marco Killingsworth, Auburn
Kennedy Winston, Alabama
UM SIGNS CENTER EARLY:
Head coach Perry Clark signed of 6-11, 233 pound center Chester “C.J.” Giles (Seattle, Wash.) to a national letter of intent during the early signing period.
Last season Giles averaged 8.2 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks per game earning third-team All-State honors and helping Rainier Beach High School to a 26-3 record and its second consecutive Class 3A State Championship. Rainier ended the season ranked 16th in the nation by USA Today.
Giles is ranked 39th overall and 7th at his position by Rivals.com. He is the 12th ranked high school center in the nation by Athlon Sports, is ranked among the Top-100 players in the nation by Lindy’s (No. 66) and The Sporting News (No. 87), and is an honorable mention All-America selection by Street & Smith’s.
RICE NAMED WOODEN AWARD CANDIDATE:
Senior forward Darius Rice has been named one of 50 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden College Basketball Player of the Year 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. The 2004 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American team and the presentation of the Legends of Coaching Award, will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on Saturday, April 10, 2004 and will be broadcast live on CBS.
RICE NAMED NAISMITH CANDIDATE:
Darius Rice has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2003-04 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 36th 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.
HURRICANES DISTRIBUTE DINNERS:
Members of the University of Miami men’s basketball team as well as several student-athletes from the Hurricanes’ football, women’s rowing, women’s track, women’s volleyball, men’s tennis and women’s soccer programs handed out Thanksgiving dinners to six Miami-area organizations prior to the start of the women’s basketball exhibition game versus The Tournament of Champions on November 17 at the Convocation Center.
The six Miami-area organizations who picked up dinners were: Children & Families, Ronald McDonald House, Gladstone Center, Florida Baptist Home, Universal Truth Center, and Child Hope.
The full dinners were donated by Sysco Food Services of South Florida. This Thanksgiving marked the eighth consecutive year that University of Miami Athletic Department and its student-athletes have reached out to the community during the holidays.
HURRICANES VISIT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL:
Head coach Perry Clark and the University of Miami men’s basketball team spread some holiday cheer on Thursday with a visit to the pediatrics ward at Baptist Hospital in Miami.
“It is very important for our kids to give back to the community,” said head coach Perry Clark. “Giving of ones time is the greatest gift you can give, and I think we were able to spread some Christmas cheer today.”
The Hurricanes visited with children in pediatrics ward as well as the critical care unit. The Miami coaches and players signed autographs, took pictures with the children and distributed approximately 300 toys donated by Mattel, Inc.
“I think it means a lot to the children here at the hospital, and it means a lot to us to see the kids smile,” said All-American forward Darius Rice. “Hopefully we were able to brighten up their holiday.”
