University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Host Fighting Irish
2/25/2001 12:00:00โฏAM | Men's Basketball
ABOUT UCONN: Connecticut will carry an 18-9 overall record and a 7-7 BIG EAST mark into the contest with Notre Dame. UConn is coming off a 60-53 league win over Miami on February 24.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME: Notre Dame will carry a 19-6 overall mark and 11-3 league record into the game with Connecticut. The Irish have clinched the BIG EAST West Division title and a first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament. ND is ranked No. 18 in both national polls as of February 18. The Irish come off an 85-61 road win over Virginia Tech and have won ten of their last 11 games.
SERIES HISTORY: This is the 9th meeting in the sport of mens basketball between Connecticut and Notre Dame, dating back to the 1995-96 season. UConn leads in the series 5-3, but the Irish won both meetings in the 1999-2000 season. Notre Dame won last season at the Hartford Civic Center on January 5, 2000 by a score of 75-70, the only road win in the series for the Irish.
LAST MEETING: Albert Mouring had a three-pointer blocked in the final four seconds to secure the win for the Irish, 68-66, on February 12 at the Joyce Center. UConn shot only three free throws in the game, making two, the lowest total in the schools BIG EAST history. The Huskies led by six at the half, but ND started the second half with a 13- 6 run to take the lead. The Irish led by as many as six with five minutes left, but UConn tied the score twice on a pair of Kevin Freeman baskets in the final two minutes.
CROSS DIVISION GAME: The matchup between Connecticut and Notre Dame will be the 3rd BIG EAST Conference "Cross Divisional" game of the season for the Huskies. UConn is one of seven BIG EAST squads competing in the East Division of the league. The 16-game BIG EAST regular season schedule has seen 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. Connecticut is 7-7 in BIG EAST play and 1-1 vs. West Division teams, beating Pittsburgh and losing to Syracuse. Notre Dame is 11-3 in the BIG EAST and 3-0 vs. the East Division, beating Boston College, St. Johns and Virginia Tech.
ALBIE THE BEST AT THE LINE: UConn senior Albert Mouring has distinguished himself among the best free throw shooters in UConn history. His current career percentage of 84.1% (206-245) is No. 1 on the all-time Husky list. Wes Bialosuknia (1965-67) is No. 2 at 83.9% (343-409). During the 2000-2001 season, Mouring is currently shooting at an 89.0% clip, making 97-109 from the line, No. 3 on the single season list. The UConn single season record is 91.5% (43-47), set by Bobby Dulin in 1980-81.
MOURING SETS STEALS BEST: In the win over Miami, Albert Mouring set a new career-best with six steals. His total tied the highest mark by a Husky in 2000-2001, matching the six steals that Caron Butler had against Houston on November 30. The six steals was the most for a Husky in a BIG EAST game since Khalid El-Amin had six vs. Miami on January 6, 1998.
TALIEK AMONG TOP FROSH PASSERS AT UCONN: UConn guard Taliek Brown is among the assist leaders when it comes to all-time UConn freshmen. His per game average of 4.9 is No. 2 in Husky history, behind Tate Georges 6.0 assists per game in 1986-87. Browns total of 133 assists is currently No. 5 among UConn freshmen. Doron Sheffer had 164 in 1993-94, George had 156, Khalid El-Amin had 156 in 1997-98 and Karl Hobbs had 136 in 1980-81.
ALBERT MOURING JOINS 1,000-POINT CLUB: Connecticut senior guard Albert Mouring became the 32nd member of the Connecticut mens basketball 1,000-point scoring club during the Texas game (Jan. 15). Mouring will enter the Notre Dame game ranked No. 25 in career scoring with 1,166 points in 108 college contests (10.7/game). He is the 14th UConn player to perform under head coach Jim Calhoun who has reached the 1,000-point scoring plateau. Next on the list of top Husky scorers is Donny Marshall, who scored 1,197 points from 1992- 1995.
MOURING AMONG UNIQUE TRIO: In reaching the 1,000-point plateau, Albert Mouring joins a unique group of three Husky performers. Mouring, Donny Marshall (1992-95) and Art Quimby (1952-55) are the only members of UConns 1,000-point club to have done so despite scoring less than 100 points in a season during their career. Marshall scored 51 points as a freshman, Quimby scored 44 points as a frosh and Mouring only scored 16 points during his freshman season of 1997-98.
ALBIE HOT FROM THREE: Albert Mouring has heated up from three- point range over the past five Husky contests. He has hit on 13-of-22 threes in the last five games, a 59.1% clip. Mouring leads the team in three-point shooting in 2000-2001, making 53-of-136 (39.0%). He is No. 2 all-time at UConn in three-point shooting at 41.8% (172-411). Ray Allen is No. 1 at 44.8%.
BUTLER AT THE LINE: UConn freshman Caron Butler is among the top freshman free throw shooters in UConn history. Only two players at UConn have made more free throws as a frosh, Corny Thompson in 1978-79 (158) and Earl Kelley (113). Butler has made 106 free throws in 2000-2001, tying Mike McKay, who also made 106 in 1978-79. Butler is shooting 75.2% from the line and has made at least one free throw in all 24 games he has played this season.
CARON AMONG HUSKY ROOKIES: UConn freshman Caron Butler has set a new standard among freshmen playing at Connecticut during coach Jim Calhouns 15 years as Husky head coach. The 6-7 Butler scored in double figures in each of his first 13 collegiate games in which he played before being held below double figures against Texas (Jan. 15). Butler, who sat out the first three UConn games of the 2000- 2001 season, started his Husky career with 20 points vs. Louisville (Nov. 22) and followed that with scoring efforts of 21, 15, 18, 16, 14, 16, 14, 10, 29, 15, 11, and 12 points. Butler has scored in double figures in 23 of his first 24 college games and his current scoring average of 15.5/game ranks No. 1 under Jim Calhoun among freshmen in their first 24 college contests. Following are the scoring statistics in their first 24 collegiate games for other heralded UConn freshman players under Jim Calhoun.
Caron Butler 372 points=15.5/gameKhalid El-Amin 348 points=14.5/gameRichard Hamilton 325 points=13.5/gameRay Allen 302 points=12.6/gameDoron Sheffer 286 points=11.9/gameNadav Henefeld 267 points=11.1/gameDonyell Marshall 255 points=10.6/gameTate George 234 points=9.8/gameChris Smith 230 points=9.6/gameScott Burrell 223 points=9.3/game
BUTLER ON THE BOARDS: Caron Butler recorded nine offensive rebounds vs. Syracuse on February 19, the most offensive boards by a Husky since Kevin Freeman recorded ten vs. Gonzaga in the 1999 NCAA Final Eight. His nine rebounds ties the UConn record in BIG EAST competition and is No. 3 under Jim Calhoun. Butler is currently leading the team with 7.7 rebounds per game, the highest freshman rebounding total at UConn under Jim Calhoun.
MOST OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS UNDER CALHOUN1. 12 Gerry Besselink vs. Holy Cross, 2/5/872. 10 Kevin Freeman vs. Gonzaga, 3/20/993. 9 Caron Butler vs. Syracuse, 2/19/01 9 Travis Knight vs. Seton Hall, 3/7/96 9 Donyell Marshall vs. Syracuse, 2/15/93 9 Rod Sellers vs. Providence, 2/22/92 9 Lyman DePriest vs. SCSU, 12/23/89 9 Murray Williams vs. Pittsburgh, 2/27/88 9 Cliff Robinson vs. Providence, 1/24/87
SOUL SETS CAREER BEST FOR DISHES: Senior center Souleymane Wane totaled a career-best five assists in the loss at Syracuse. The total of five assists was the most by a Husky center since Jake Voskuhl recorded five assists vs. Arkansas in the NIT Third Place game on March 27, 1997.
TALIEK IMPROVES FROM THE LINE: Freshman point guard Taliek Brown has made a stunning improvement from the free throw line during the course of his first season. Brown made only 13-of-43 free throw attempts in his first 11 games, a 30.2% clip. In the 16 games since, Brown has made 34-of-48 from the charity stripe, or 70.8% of his attempts. Brown is 47-of-91 overall (51.6%). More impressively, Brown is shooting 68.0% from the line in the final five minutes of games, hitting on 17-of-25 chances.
THREE IN DOUBLE FIGURES: Connecticut will enter the game against Notre Dame with three players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Albert Mouring leads the way for the Huskies with a 16.1/game average. Freshman forward Caron Butler is No. 2 with a 15.5/game scoring average and junior forward Johnnie Selvie is third at 11.1/game.
FOUR HUSKIES HAVE "DOUBLE DOUBLE" EFFORTS: When UConn senior center Souleymane Wane recorded an 11-point, 14-rebound effort vs. Villanova on January 24, he became the fourth member of the 2000-2001 Husky squad to record a "double-double" this season. Senior forward Edmund Saunders has had five "double-doubles" this season, including netting 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Miami (Jan. 20). UConn freshman Caron Butler has registered five "double- doubles" (21 points, 12 rebounds vs. Brown, 16 points, 10 assists vs. Fairfield, 29 points, 13 rebounds vs. Boston College (1/3), 17 points, 11 rebounds vs. Boston College (2/13) and 15 points, 13 rebounds vs. Syracuse). Butler also notched a rare "triple-double" with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists vs. Rhode Island. Freshman point guard Taliek Brown had a "double-double" with 10 points and 10 assists vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 10).
ALL-CENTURY GUARDS NAMED; 25-MEMBER TEAM COMPLETE: Ten players, led by Honorary Captain Ray Allen, have been named as the guards on the University of Connecticut Mens Basketball All-Century Team.
The 10 guards named to the 25-member UConn Basketball All- Century Team include: Ray Allen (1993-96), Wes Bialosuknia (1964- 67), Khalid El-Amin (1997-00), Tate George (1986-90), Richard Hamilton (1996-99), Earl Kelley (1982-86), Ricky Moore (1995-99), Kevin Ollie (1991-95), Doron Sheffer (1993-96), Chris Smith (1988-92). The UConn Basketball All-Century Team centers include: Walt Dropo (1942-47), Art Quimby (1951-55), Toby Kimball (1962-65), Bill Corley (1965-68), Travis Knight (1992-96), Jake Voskuhl (1996-00).
The nine forwards named to the UConn Basketball All-Century Team include: Vin Yokabaskas (1949-52), Tony Hanson (1973-77), Corny Thompson (1978-82), Clifford Robinson (1985-89), Nadav Henefeld (1989-90), Scott Burrell (1989-93), Donyell Marshall (1991-94), Donny Marshall (1991-95), Kevin Freeman (1996-00).
A Connecticut Basketball All-Century Team Celebration and Awards Dinner will be held during the summer at a date and place to be announced.
The UConn mens basketball program is celebrating a century of varsity competition during the current 2000-2001 college basketball season. The first varsity year for mens basketball at Connecticut was the 1901-1902 season.
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 300-93 (76.3% winning effort), the sixth 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.
CONNECTICUT HAS 214 WINS IN LAST EIGHT SEASONS: During the past eight basketball seasons (beginning with the 1993-94 season), Connecticut has won 214 games (214-53), 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 IN AP POLL SNAPPED: The University of Connecticut mens basketball program had its school record run of 67 consecutive polling periods ranked in the Associated Press National Top 25 poll halted when the Huskies dropped out of the AP poll (Jan. 29, 2001). UConn began its run in the National Top 25 at the start of the 1997-98 season (18 polls in 1997-98, 18 polls in 1998-99, 19 polls in 1999-00, 12 polls in 2000-01). Included in those national rankings were 10 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in the nation during UConns national championship season in 1998-99, and the No. 1 ranking in the 1999-2000 preseason poll.
HUSKIES WIN ON THE ROAD IN THE BIG EAST: The Connecticut basketball program is the leader in BIG EAST Conference regular season road wins during the past 12 years. Since the start of the 1989- 90 season, Connecticut has posted a BIG EAST "best" 64-39 road record in league regular season games. Syracuse (59-44) is the only other BIG EAST school sporting a winning percentage in BIG EAST road games during the past 12-year span.
ALSO WINNING AT HOME IN THE BIG EAST: In addition to its highly- successful road record in the BIG EAST, the Connecticut basketball program has paced the entire BIG EAST Conference in regular season wins at home during the past 12-year span (beginning with the 1989- 90 season). UConn has posted a 80-23 record at home in BIG EAST games during the past 12 years. Syracuse is No. 2 in victories at home during the past 12 years (74-29).
UCONN 176-107 AGAINST BIG EAST TEAMS UNDER JIM CALHOUN: The Connecticut mens basketball program has posted an overall record of 177-107 (62.3%) against BIG EAST Conference teams during Jim Calhouns 15 years in charge of the UConn program (157-97 in regular season play, 19-10 in BIG EAST Tournament games, 1-0 in NIT play).
UCONN 170-32 AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER JIM CALHOUN: The Connecticut mens basketball program has posted an overall record of 170-32 (84.2%) against non-conference teams in Jim Calhouns 15 years in charge of the UConn program.
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.
100 YEARS OF UCONN BASKETBALL: Connecticut Basketball is celebrating a "Century of Husky Hoops" during the 2000-2001 college basketball season. The first varsity season for Connecticut Basketball was the 1901-1902 season and the 2000-2001 season completes 100 Years of UConn Basketball.
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."
SWAIN JOINS UCONN: Robert Swain, a 6-4 freshman from College Park, Georgia, joined the UConn mens basketball program beginning with the Rhode Island game (Dec. 26) - wearing uniform No. 2. Swain began classes at UConn on January 23 (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.
UP NEXT-SETON HALL: Following the game against the Fighting Irish, UConn will wrap up regular season play on the road, traveling to East Rutherford, NJ for a Saturday, March 3 contest against the Pirates of Seton Hall. The game will be televised live nationally by CBS at 2:00 p.m. The game can also be heard on the UConn Radio Network, with WTIC-AM 1080 as the flagship station.
