University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Basketball Set to Battle Stony Brook
12/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ABOUT UCONN: Connecticut is ranked No. 10 in the nation in the AP National Top 25 poll and No. 11 in the nation in the USA Today/ESPN poll (as of polls of Dec. 25). The Huskies will carry a 10-1 overall record into the Stony Brook game. UConn is riding a nine-game winning streak and the Huskies are coming off an 87-76 victory over Rhode Island (Dec. 26) in the Hartford Civic Center.
ABOUT STONY BROOK: The University at Stony Brook (State University of New York at Stony Brook) is in its second season as an NCAA Division I program. Stony Brook will enter the UConn game with a 5-5 overall record and the Seawolves are coming off a 75-72 win over Texas-Arlington.
THE BUTLER SHINES WITH TRIPLE-DOUBLE: UConn freshman forward Caron Butler registered a rare triple-double against Rhode Island (Dec. 26), scoring 14 points while adding 12 rebounds and 11 assists. In the second half of the URI game, Caron scored 12 points while also collecting eight rebounds and eight assists. The triple-double performance was the first for a UConn player since December 30, 1995 when Doron Sheffer scored 10 points while adding 10 rebounds and 11 assists against the University of Hartford. The only other triple-double effort at UConn took place on January 17, 1994 when Donyell Marshall scored 23 points and added 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Hartford.
BUTLER, HANSON ONLY FORWARDS WITH DOUBLE FIGURE ASSISTS: UConn freshman forward Caron Butler has joined former Husky star Tony Hanson (1974-77) as the only frontcourt players in Connecticut history to total at least 10 assists in a single game. Hanson totaled 12 assists as a forward on December 12, 1976 against Lafayette. Butler is coming off back-to-back games with double figure assists (10 vs. Fairfield on Dec. 22 and 11 vs. Rhode Island on Dec. 26).
CAREER HIGH FOR SELVIE OFF THE BENCH: UConn junior Johnnie Selvie roared off the Connecticut bench Tuesday (Dec. 26) to score a career-high 26 points while adding nine rebounds in 30 minutes of action vs. Rhode Island. In his first 11 games at UConn, Selvie is averaging 14.7/game while shooting a team-leading 63.3% from the floor.
SELVIE'S 26 RANKS NO. 2 AMONG CALHOUN SUBS: UConn junior Johnnie Selvie has scored 20 or more points three times this season as a non-starter and his 26-point performance Tuesday (Dec. 26) against Rhode Island ranks as the second-best single-game scoring effort by a Husky non- starter in head coach Jim Calhoun's 15 years at Connecticut. The only single-game scoring effort by a non-starter better than Selvie's showing against URI was a 28-point effort by UConn freshman Ray Allen on January 17, 1994 vs. Hartford. A total of eight different UConn players have scored 20 or more points in games as non-starters during Jim Calhoun's 15 seasons at Connecticut-Brian Fair, 9 times; Ray Allen, 4 times; Phil Gamble, 3 times; Johnnie Selvie, 3 times; John Gwynn, 2 times; Donyell Marshall, 1 time; Rashamel Jones, 1 time; Tony Robertson, 1 time.
CARON SHINES AMONG HUSKY ROOKIES: UConn freshman Caron Butler is the first freshman in Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun's 15 years as Husky head coach to score in double figures in each of his first eight collegiate games. 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 has followed that with scoring efforts of 21, 15, 18, 16, 14, 16 and 14 points. Butler's scoring average of 16.8/game ranks No. 2 under Jim Calhoun among freshmen in their first eight college contests (Khalid El-Amin scored 143 points-17.9/game-in his first eight college outings).
HUSKIES ON A 70-GAME ROLL AT HOME IN NOVEMBER- DECEMBER: Connecticut will carry an impressive 70-game winning streak into the Stony Brook game. UConn has won 70 consecutive home games during the months of November & December, dating back 12 college basketball seasons. On December 12, 1989 the Huskies dropped a 64-57 decision to Villanova at the Hartford Civic Center. Since that loss, the Huskies of head coach Jim Calhoun have reeled off 70 consecutive home wins in Hartford and Storrs (that mark does not include three neutral court wins over UMass in the Hartford Civic Center).
THREE GAMES IN SEVEN DAYS IN HARTFORD: The game against Stony Brook is the third game during a busy three- games-in-seven-days home stand in the Hartford Civic Center for the University of Connecticut men's basketball program. Connecticut began the quick home stand against Fairfield (Dec. 22) with a 100-66 victory and the Huskies followed with an 87-76 win over Rhode Island (Dec. 26).
100 YEARS OF UCONN BASKETBALL: The University of Connecticut men's 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 206 WINS IN LAST EIGHT SEASONS: During the past eight basketball seasons (beginning with the 1993- 94 season), Connecticut has won 206 games (206-45), 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 63 CONSECUTIVE POLLS: The University of Connecticut men's basketball program has been ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 National Poll for a school-record 63 consecutive polling periods (including the AP poll of Dec. 25), 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 men's basketball program. UConn has played 208 times in the Hartford Civic Center. The Huskies are 132-64 against collegiate opposition in Hartford and 143-65 overall (including exhibitions). The 207 games in Hartford have attracted 2,931,690 fans, an average of 14,095.
UCONN 64-4 VS. NON-CONFERENCE TEAMS IN HCC UNDER JIM CALHOUN: In his 15 years as head coach of the Connecticut Basketball program, Jim Calhoun has compiled an outstanding overall record of 64-4 in the Hartford Civic Center against non-BIG EAST Conference teams. The only losses in Hartford to non-BIG EAST clubs were against Purdue and Hartford (1986), Virginia (1987), Kansas (1997). Since the loss to Virginia (December 6, 1987), the UConn basketball program has compiled a superb record of 63-1 against non- BIG EAST Conference opponents in games played in the Hartford Civic Center.
UCONN HAS 17-GAME WINNING STREAK VS. NON-CONFERENCE TEAMS IN HCC: Connecticut will enter the contest with Stony Brook riding a 17-game winning streak against non-BIG EAST opponents in games played in the Hartford Civic Center. The last loss to a non-BIG EAST rival in Hartford took place on Jan. 19, 1997 (a 73-65 loss to Kansas).
UCONN HAS 74-GAME WINNING STREAK VS. NON-BIG EAST NE FOES: Connecticut's 87-76 victory over Rhode Island (Dec. 26) was UConn's 74th consecutive basketball win against non-BIG EAST Conference New England college rivals. The streak dates back 15 seasons to UConn head coach Jim Calhoun's first year at Connecticut, the 1986-87 season. Jim Calhoun's overall record against non-BIG EAST New England schools in his 15 years at UConn is 78-3 (all three losses in his first season in 1986-87). The last Connecticut loss to a non-BIG EAST New England opponent took place on December 29, 1986 (49-48 to Hartford in the Connecticut Mutual Classic).
UCONN TOUGH AT HOME: Since the start of the 1989-90 season, Connecticut has posted an overall home courts record of 161-26 against collegiate opposition. During the past 12-year span, UConn has been 88-15 at home in the Hartford Civic Center, 68-11 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 74-22 at home in BIG EAST Conference play (38-8 in Gampel Pavilion, 36-14 in the Hartford Civic Center) and the Huskies are 87-4 at home against non-BIG EAST opponents (52-1 in the Hartford Civic Center, 30-3 in Gampel Pavilion, 5-0 in the Hugh S. Greer Field House).
UCONN 106-13 AT HOME IN LAST EIGHT YEARS: Since the start of the 1993-94 season, Connecticut has posted an impressive 106-13 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 61-7 in Hartford and 45-6 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 589-268 (68.7%), having spent 14 seasons as the head coach at Northeastern University before taking over at Connecticut in 1986-87. Calhoun sports a 339-131 (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 109 WINS IN HARTFORD: UConn head coach Jim Calhoun will enter the Stony Brook game carrying a 15-year record of 109-31 (77.9%) against collegiate opponents in Husky games played in the Hartford Civic Center (including three neutral court wins over Massachusetts). In Jim Calhoun's 15 years at Connecticut, the Huskies have recorded a 64-4 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 64-7 record in Hartford.
JIM CALHOUN-WINNINGEST DIVISION I COACH IN NEW ENGLAND HISTORY: Jim Calhoun's 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 Stony Brook game with 589 career wins. He posted 250 wins in 14 years at Northeastern (MA) University and has added 339 wins at UConn in his 15 years at Connecticut.
JIM CALHOUN NO. 9 IN WINS AMONG ACTIVE NCAA DIVISION I COACHES: Jim Calhoun's 29-year overall collegiate head coaching record of 589-268 places him No. 9 in total wins among NCAA Division I active coaches. The active Division I coaches currently ahead of Jim Calhoun in total victories include: Jim Phelan, Lefty Driesell, Jerry Tarkanian, Lou Henson, Denny Crum, Eddie Sutton, John Chaney, Lute Olson.
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 Calhoun's overall winning percentage at Connecticut (339-131=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)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 292-85 (77.5% winning effort), the sixth best overall record (total wins and winning percentage) among the 318 NCAA Division I teams in the nation. Prior to Jim Calhoun's 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 program's history (1900-1986). Since the 1989-90 season, UConn has averaged 25.6 wins per season.
UCONN 170-100 AGAINST BIG EAST TEAMS UNDER JIM CALHOUN: The Connecticut men's basketball program has posted an overall record of 170-100 (63.0%) against BIG EAST Conference teams during Jim Calhoun's 15 years in charge of the UConn program (150-90 in regular season play, 20-10 in BIG EAST Tournament games).
UCONN 169-31 AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER JIM CALHOUN: The Connecticut men's basketball program has posted an overall record of 169-31 (84.5%) against non- conference teams in Jim Calhoun's 15 years in charge of the UConn program. Connecticut's 87-76 victory over Rhode Island (Dec. 26) was the 200th non-conference game for Jim Calhoun as head coach at Connecticut.
UCONNBIG EAST TEAM OF THE 1990'S: During the decade of the 1990's, the Connecticut men's 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, UConn's 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.
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 UConn's 100-year basketball history and an average of 30.3 wins per season.
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 Stony Brook game having scored 933 points in 93 college contests (10.0/game). Currently, a total of 31 Connecticut men's basketball stars are members of the elite 1,000-point scoring club.
FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES: Connecticut will enter the game against Stony Brook with four players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Albert Mouring leads the way with an 18.2/game average. Freshman forward Caron Butler is next at 16.8/game. Junior forward Johnnie Selvie is third at 14.7/game and senior forward Edmund Saunders is fourth at 11.2/game.
EDMUND NO. 2 IN CAREER FIELD GOAL SHOOTING: UConn senior Edmund Saunders stands in the No. 2 spot on Connecticut's career field goal percentage shooting list. In 79 games during his Connecticut career, Saunders has converted 236 of 430 field goal attempts for a 54.9% field goal shooting performance. Chuck Aleksinas (1980-82) is No. 1 in career field goal shooting at 56.6%.
SWAIN JOINS UCONN: Robert Swain, a 6-4 freshman from College Park, Georgia, has enrolled at the University of Connecticut joined the UConn men's 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. He's a terrific shooter who can put it down, score, and do a lot of things on the court.
UP NEXT-BIG EAST CONFERENCE PLAY: Following the non- league matchup with Stony Brook, Connecticut will begin BIG EAST Conference play. The Huskies open the BIG EAST portion of their schedule on Wednesday, January 3, facing Boston College at 7:30 p.m. at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. Once the 16-game BIG EAST Conference schedule is launched, UConn has only one non-league game remaining on the regular season schedulea January 15 road game at Texas.
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR UCONN HOME GAMES IN HARTFORD: Reserved tickets, priced at $25 each, are on sale for the remaining Connecticut home games (Stony Brook-Dec. 28, Pittsburgh-Jan. 10, Villanova-Jan. 24, Providence-Feb. 6, Boston College-Feb. 13, Notre Dame-Feb. 26)) in the Hartford Civic Center. 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).
