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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 24-8;
10-6 in Big East (2nd/East)
Postseason: Lost to Missouri 93-80 in first round of NCAA West Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Rice 14.9
Rebs: Jones 6.4
Assists: Simmons 2.1
FG: Jones 40.1%
3pt: Rice 36.5%
FT: Jones 84.1%
01-02 Stats:
Miami | Big East
KEY LOSSES
John Salmons | 13.1 ppg
Marcus Barnes | 12.3 ppg
Elton Tyler | 11.9 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | M. Simmons | Junior
G | Robert Hite | Fresh
F | James Jones | Senior
F | Darius Rice | Junior
C | R. Berumen | Senior
Player to Watch
Darius Rice
Junior Forward
Figures to lead 'Canes in scoring for third straight season.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Hurricanes travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to play Florida State and former Miami coach Leonard Hamilton -- who recruited Rice before leaving for the NBA's Wizards.
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MIAMI HURRICANES
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How can we say this delicately? Miami probably won't be very good this season. Certainly Miami could be the worst team that comes from a major conference and boasts a national player of the year candidate, as the Hurricanes do in Darius Rice (14.9 ppg). Miami lost three starters off last season's 24-8 team, including both guards -- most notably 6-7 John Salmons, a first-round NBA draft pick who did everything on game nights but wash uniforms. Rice will be joined by holdover forward James Jones (12.8 ppg), but coach Perry Clark must find a new center and two new guards from a collection of spare parts and untested freshmen. Post minutes probably will be split among 6-9 Rafael Berumen, 6-8 William Frisby and 6-7 Rodrigue Djahue, who averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last season -- combined. One starting guard figures to be last season's sixth man, Michael Simmons (2.2 ppg, 2.1 apg), while freshmen Robert Hite and Armondo Surrat will compete for the other position -- and the right to replace Simmons.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
When he's playing well, Rice is one of the best players in the country. When he's not ... he's a former McDonald's All-American, did we mention that? Rice could stand to use some more consistency, and as a junior leader on this season's team, expect him to add that to his already full bag of tricks. Don't be surprised if Rice becomes a 20-and-10 guy, and then bolts for the 2003 NBA draft.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Guard play is a problem. Simmons was a decent reserve last season, but if the Hurricanes are going to need him for 30-plus minutes per game this season in Big East play, the Hurricanes are in trouble. Hite and Simmons have promise and were more highly regarded coming out of high school, but this is a tough league for freshman guards to play -- and play well.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
One year after going to the NCAA Tournament, Miami might not make it into the NIT this season, especially with a non-conference schedule that has difficult games against Texas A&M, Charlotte, Florida State and North Carolina. The only way this changes is if Rice truly becomes a national player of the year candidate, and Jones scores in the high teens.
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