University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Set to Host Pittsburgh
1/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
- Game Notes (.pdf)
ABOUT UCONN:
Connecticut is ranked No. 12 in the nation in the USA Today/ESPN poll and No. 13 in the Associated Press (as of polls of Jan. 8). The Huskies will carry a 12-2 overall record and a 1-1 BIG EAST Conference mark into the home game against Pittsburgh. UConn is coming off an 82-80 victory in overtime against St. Johns University.
ABOUT PITTSBURGH:
Pittsburgh has an overall record of 9-4 and the Panthers are 1-1 in BIG EAST Conference play. Pitt is coming off a 71-66 loss at home against Syracuse.
SERIES HISTORY:
This is the 43rd meeting in the sport of mens basketball between Connecticut and Pittsburgh. UConn holds a 23-19 edge in the overall series between the two schools, which dates back to the 1949-50 season. The Huskies hold a 21-15 advantage in the series between the two schools as BIG EAST Conference rivals. UConn has won the last four games played against Pitt.
FIRST CROSS-DIVISION GAME:
The matchup between Connecticut and Pittsburgh will be the first game of the season for each squad against a team from the "other" division in the BIG EAST Conference. UConn is one of seven BIG EAST squads competing in the East Division of the league while Pittsburgh represents the West Division in the BIG EAST. The 16-game BIG EAST regular season schedule will see UConn play two games each against all six East Division opponents (Boston College, Miami, Providence, St. Johns, Villanova, Virginia Tech) and single games against four (Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Syracuse) of the seven teams in the West Division. UConn will not play Georgetown, Rutgers and West Virginia during the 2000-2001 regular season.
BUTLER CO-ROOKIE OF WEEK AGAIN:
UConn freshman forward Caron Butler has been named BIG EAST Conference Co-Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week. Butler averaged 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in two contests (Boston College and St. Johns) last week. He totaled career highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds vs. Boston College and followed with a 15-point, 8-rebound effort vs. St. Johns. He also hit a three-point shot at the end of regulation vs. St. Johns to send the game into overtime, where Connecticut won 82-80. Butler shares the BIG EAST Co- Rookie of the Week award with Omar Cook of St. Johns. He shared the Rookie of the Week award one week ago with Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall.
CARON ONLY FRESHMAN IN TOP 10 IN FOUR CATEGORIES:
Connecticut freshman forward Caron Butler is the only freshman in the BIG EAST Conference ranked in the leagues Top 10 in four different statistical categories. The 6-7 Butler is second in the league in steals (2.7/game), eighth in assist- to-turnover ratio (2.14), ninth in rebounding (8.1/game), and 10th in scoring (17.1/game). Butler is also 12th in field goal percentage (47.7%) and 15th in free throw percentage (72.7%)
CARON SHINES AMONG HUSKY ROOKIES:
UConn freshman Caron Butler is the first freshman in Connecticut coach Jim Calhouns 15 years as Husky head coach to score in double figures in each of his first 11 collegiate games. Butler, who sat out the first three UConn games of the 2000-2001 season, is coming off a 15-point, 8-rebound performance against St. Johns. He started his Husky career with 20 points vs. Louisville (Nov. 22) and has followed that with scoring efforts of 21, 15, 18, 16, 14, 16, 14, 10, 29, and 15 points. Butlers scoring average of 17.1/game ranks No. 1 under Jim Calhoun among freshmen in their first 11 college contests. Following are the scoring statistics in their first 11 collegiate games for other heralded UConn freshman players under Jim Calhoun.
Caron Butler 188 points=17.1/gameKhalid El-Amin 180 points=16.4/gameRay Allen 165 points=15.0/gameRichard Hamilton 131 points=11.9/gameDoron Sheffer 129 points=11.7/gameDonyell Marshall 122 points=11.1/gameNadav Henefeld 103 points=9.4/gameScott Burrell 102 points=9.3/gameTate George 92 points=8.4/gameChris Smith 81 points=7.4/game
RIP-ONLY FRESHMAN LEADING SCORER:
In Jim Calhouns first 14 years as head coach of the Connecticut basketball program, Richard "Rip" Hamilton ranks as the only freshman to lead a UConn team in scoring for an entire season. Hamilton averaged 15.9 points per game as a freshman in 1996-97. Freshman Caron Butler currently is No. 1 on the 2000-2001 UConn team in scoring with a 17.1/game average. Butler also leads the team in rebounding (8.1/game).
100 YEARS OF UCONN BASKETBALL:
The University of Connecticut mens basketball program is celebrating a "Century of Husky Hoops" during the 2000-2001 season. The first varsity season for Connecticut Basketball was the 1901- 1902 season and the 2000-2001 season will complete 100 Years of UConn Basketball.
CONNECTICUT HAS 208 WINS IN LAST EIGHT SEASONS:
During the past eight basketball seasons (beginning with the 1993- 94 season), Connecticut has won 208 games (208-46), ranking the Huskies No. 3 in the nation among 318 NCAA Division I schools for total victories during that span. UConn has averaged 28 wins per year during the past seven full seasons. The only Division I schools with more wins than UConn during the past eight years are Kentucky and Kansas.
13 STRAIGHT NATIONAL POST-SEASON BIDS:
The Connecticut basketball program is one of only EIGHT schools (among 318 NCAA Division I institutions) to advance to national post- season tournament competition (NCAA or NIT) in each of the past 13 seasons (dating back to the 1987-88 season). Under the guidance of head coach Jim Calhoun, UConn has earned nine NCAA bids (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) and four NIT bids (1988, 1989, 1993, 1997). The eight institutions which have advanced to national tournament play for the past 13 consecutive seasons include: Arizona, Arkansas, CONNECTICUT, Georgetown, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Temple.
NATIONAL RANKING FOR 65 CONSECUTIVE POLLS:
The University of Connecticut mens basketball program has been ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 National Poll for a school-record 65 consecutive polling periods (including the AP poll of Jan. 8), dating back to the 1997-98 season.
UCONN IN HARTFORD:
Since January of 1976, the Hartford Civic Center has hosted games involving the University of Connecticut mens basketball program. UConn has played 209 times in the Hartford Civic Center. The Huskies are 133-64 against collegiate opposition in Hartford and 144-65 overall (including exhibitions). The 209 games in Hartford have attracted 2,947,566 fans, an average of 14,103.
UCONN TOUGH AT HOME:
Since the start of the 1989-90 season, Connecticut has posted an overall "home courts" record of 163-26 against collegiate opposition. During the past 12-year span, UConn has been 89-15 at home in the Hartford Civic Center, 69-11 at home in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, and 5-0 at home in the Hugh S. Greer Field House. During the past 12 seasons, UConn is 75-22 at home in BIG EAST Conference play (39-8 in Gampel Pavilion, 36-14 in the Hartford Civic Center) and the Huskies are 88-4 at home against non-BIG EAST opponents (53-1 in the Hartford Civic Center, 30-3 in Gampel Pavilion, 5-0 in the Hugh S. Greer Field House).
UCONN 108-13 AT HOME IN LAST EIGHT YEARS:
Since the start of the 1993-94 season, Connecticut has posted an impressive 108-13 "home courts" record against collegiate opponents in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs and the Hartford Civic Center. During the past eight seasons, UConn is 62-7 in Hartford and 46-6 in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. NOTE: The record does not include three "neutral court" wins over Massachusetts in the Hartford Civic Center.
UCONN HEAD COACH JIM CALHOUN:
Jim Calhoun (American International 68) is in his 15th season in charge of the Connecticut basketball program. In his 29th season as a collegiate head coach, Jim Calhoun has an overall career record of 591-269 (68.7%), having spent 14 seasons as the head coach at Northeastern University before taking over at Connecticut in 1986-87. Calhoun sports a 341-132 (72.1%) record at UConn and he registered a 250-137 (64.6%) mark at Northeastern. He is the only basketball coach in NCAA Division I history to have recorded at least 250 wins at two different schools. Jim Calhoun is the winningest coach in both UConn and Northeastern basketball history. Jim Calhoun has a 17-11 overall record vs. Pittsburgh as UConn head coach.
JIM CALHOUN HAS 110 WINS IN HARTFORD:
UConn head coach Jim Calhoun will enter the Pittsburgh game carrying a 15-year record of 110-31 (78.0%) against collegiate opponents in Husky games played in the Hartford Civic Center (including three neutral court wins over Massachusetts). In Jim Calhouns 15 years at Connecticut, the Huskies have recorded a 65-4 mark against non-conference opponents in Hartford and a 45-27 record against BIG EAST Conference foes. During the past eight seasons (since 1993- 94), the Huskies have posted a superb 65-7 record in Hartford. UConn is 4-0 in Hartford this season and the Pittsburgh game is the first of five BIG EAST Conference regular season home games to be played in Hartford this season.
JIM CALHOUN-WINNINGEST DIVISION I COACH IN NEW ENGLAND HISTORY:
Jim Calhouns 29-year career as a collegiate head coach ranks him as the winningest NCAA Division I coach in New England history. Jim Calhoun enters the Pittsburgh game with 591 career wins. He posted 250 wins in 14 years at Northeastern (MA) University and has added 341 wins at UConn in his 15 years at Connecticut.
JIM CALHOUN NO. 9 IN WINS AMONG ACTIVE NCAA DIVISION I COACHES:
Jim Calhouns 29-year overall collegiate head coaching record of 591-269 places him No. 9 in total wins among NCAA Division I active coaches. The UConn head coach needs nine more victories to join an elite list of 23 NCAA Division I coaches (all-time) who have compiled a minimum of 600 college coaching wins.
NCAA Division IWinningest Active CoachesThrough Games of January 7, 20011. Jim Phelan, Mt. St. Marys 812-4732. Jerry Tarkanian, Fresno St. 746-1823. Lefty Driesell, Georgia St. 744-3744. Lou Henson, New Mexico St. 731-3725. Denny Crum, Louisville 667-2865. Eddie Sutton, Oklahoma St. 667-2627. John Chaney, Temple 640-2328. Lute Olson, Arizona 622-2249. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut 591-26910. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 588-20011. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke 584-220
JIM CALHOUN IMPRESSIVE IN POST-SEASON:
UConn head coach Jim Calhoun currently sports an impressive 76.2% winning percentage (32-10 overall) in national post-season tournament play in his first 14 years as Husky head coach. Jim Calhoun is 21-7 in NCAA play at UConn and is 11-3 in NIT competition. That post-season winning percentage is higher than Coach Calhouns overall winning percentage at Connecticut (341-132=72.1%).
JIM CALHOUN NO. 15 ALL-TIME IN NCAA WINS:
UConn head coach Jim Calhoun, who directed Connecticut to the 1999 NCAA Division I National Championship, currently ranks No. 15 all-time in NCAA career victories. Calhoun is 24-12 overall in NCAA play (21-7 at UConn, 3-5 at Northeastern).
1. Dean Smith 65-27 (.707) 2. Mike Krzyzewski 50-14 (.781) 3. John Wooden 47-10 (.825) 4. Bob Knight 42-21 (.667) 5. Denny Crum 42-23 (.646) 6. John Thompson 34-19 (.642) 7. Lute Olson 32-21 (.604) 8. Jerry Tarkanian 31-14 (.689) 8. Jim Boeheim 31-20 (.608) 10. Adolph Rupp 30-18 (.625) 11. Eddie Sutton 30-20 (.600) 12. Rick Pitino 26-7 (.788) 12. Nolan Richardson 26-14 (.650) 12. Guy Lewis 26-18 (.591) 15. JIM CALHOUN 24-12 (.667) 16. Roy Williams 23-11 (.677) 17. Steve Fisher 20-6 (.769) 17. Al McGuire 20-9 (.690) 17. Joe Hall 20-9 (.690) 17. Rollie Massimino 20-10 (.667)
ALBERT APPROACHING 1,000-POINT PLATEAU:
Connecticut senior guard Albert Mouring is closing in on the coveted 1,000-point scoring plateau as a UConn player. Mouring will enter the St. Johns game having scored 969 points in 96 college contests (10.1/game). Currently, a total of 31 Connecticut mens basketball stars are members of the elite 1,000-point scoring club.
ALBERT MOURING ON WOODEN MID-SEASON TOP 30:
Connecticut senior guard Albert Mouring is one of 30 collegiate stars listed on the John R. Wooden Award Midseason candidate list. The 6-3 Mouring, who leads the Huskies in scoring with a 17.4/game scoring average, is one of only four BIG EAST Conference players included in the Top 30 list. The other BIG EAST stars include Troy Murphy of Notre Dame, Preston Shumpert of Syracuse, and Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall.
EDMUND NO. 3 IN CAREER FIELD GOAL SHOOTING:
UConn senior Edmund Saunders stands in the No. 3 spot on Connecticuts career field goal percentage shooting list. In 82 games during his Connecticut career, Saunders has converted 241 of 441 field goal attempts for a 54.7% field goal shooting performance. Chuck Aleksinas (1980-82) is No. 1 in career field goal shooting at 56.6% and Rod Sellers is No. 2 at 54.8%.
RECORD-SETTING SPAN:
During the past 12 seasons (beginning with the 1989-90 season), head coach Jim Calhoun has directed the Connecticut basketball program to an overall record of 294-86 (77.4% winning effort), the fifth best overall record (total wins) among the 318 NCAA Division I teams in the nation. Prior to Jim Calhouns tenure as head coach, Connecticut had only won as many as 23 games in a single season twice in the first 86 years of the programs history (1900-1986). Since the 1989-90 season, UConn has "averaged" 25.6 wins per season.
UCONN - BIG EAST TEAM OF THE 1990S:
During the decade of the 1990s, the Connecticut mens basketball program was the winningest program among all BIG EAST Conference schools. From 1989-90 through the 1998-99 season, UConn sported a 10-year overall record of 257-74 (77.6%). In that same span, UConns conference-best regular season record in BIG EAST games was 127-49.
UCONN HAS DOMINATED THE BIG EAST:
Connecticut has won outright possession of five BIG EAST Conference regular season titles in the past seven years. UConn has also won three of the past five BIG EAST Tournament championships. In 1997-98 & 1998-99, UConn became the first program in BIG EAST history to win the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons.
UCONN 171-101 AGAINST BIG EAST TEAMS UNDER JIM CALHOUN:
The Connecticut mens basketball program has posted an overall record of 171-101 (62.9%) against BIG EAST Conference teams during Jim Calhouns first 15 years in charge of the UConn program (151-91 in regular season play, 20-10 in BIG EAST Tournament games).
MOST WINS IN A THREE-YEAR STRETCH:
The last three seasons of Connecticut Basketball have produced an overall record of 91-17 (32-5 in 1997-98, 34-2 in 1998-99, 25-10 in 1999- 00), the most wins in any three-season stretch in UConns 100-year basketball history and an average of 30.3 wins per season.
FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES:
Connecticut will enter the game against Pittsburgh with four players scoring in double figures. Freshman forward Caron Butler leads the way with an 17.1/game average. Senior guard Albert Mouring is next at 16.9/game. Junior forward Johnnie Selvie is third at 14.6/game and senior forward Edmund Saunders is fourth at 10.1/game.
SWAIN JOINS UCONN:
Robert Swain, a 6-4 freshman from College Park, Georgia, has enrolled at the University of Connecticut joined the UConn mens basketball program beginning with the Rhode Island game (Dec. 26) - wearing uniform No. 2. Swain will begin classes at UConn in January (spring semester). Swain averaged 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists a game during the 1999-2000 scholastic season in leading Tri-Cities High School (East Point, Georgia) to a 25-4 record and a regional championship.
GORDON SIGNS WITH UCONN:
Ben Gordon, a 6-2 combination guard at Mount Vernon (NY) HS, signed a National Letter of Intent with the Connecticut Basketball program during the November signing period and plans to enroll at UConn for the 2001-2002 academic year. Gordon, rated among the Top 20 scholastic recruits in the nation and the USA Today New York Player of the Year as a junior, averaged 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 steals during his junior season at Mount Vernon in 1999-2000. "Ben is obviously an important recruit for us," said UConn head coach Jim Calhoun. "We believe he is one of the top 20 high school players in the country. Hes a terrific shooter who can put it down, score, and do a lot of things on the court."
UP NEXT-ON THE ROAD FOR THREE STRAIGHT:
Following the home game in Hartford against Pittsburgh, UConn heads on the road for three straight contests. The Huskies will travel to Providence on Saturday, January 13, for a 12 noon BIG EAST matchup with the Friars. UConn then plays its final non- league game of the 2000-2001 regular season by traveling to Austin, Texas for a January 15 "ESPN Big Monday" game at 9 p.m. against the University of Texas. Connecticut then moves on to Miami, Florida and resumes BIG EAST competition on Saturday, January 20, facing Miami at 4 p.m. at the Miami Arena.
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR UCONN HOME GAMES IN HARTFORD:
Reserved tickets, priced at $25 each, are on sale for the remaining Connecticut home games in the Hartford Civic Center (Pittsburgh-Jan. 10, Villanova-Jan. 24, Providence-Feb. 6, Boston College-Feb. 13, Notre Dame-Feb. 26). Tickets are available at TicketMaster outlets throughout the state, by calling TicketMaster at (860) 525-4500 or (203) 624-0033, by ordering on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office, or in person at the UConn Athletic Ticket Office in Storrs (cash or check only).
