Program History
END OF THE 1980s: UM MOVES FORWARD, UPSETS TOP 20 TEAMS • March 5, 1986 — An 84-62 loss to Marquette in Milwaukee closed the Hurricanes’ first season since 1970-71. Miami finished the year with a 14-14 record, giving Bill Foster his 19th non-losing record in 20 years as a collegiate head coach. • The 1986-87 season — Though still considered “America’s Youngest Team,” Miami compiled a 15-16 slate — recording upset victories against Marquette, Stanford and Florida State, while losing by only four points to future BIG EAST foe Providence — a team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four. • The 1987-88 season — Thrilling victories against Providence and Virginia Commonwealth propelled the ‘Canes to continued improvement with a 17-14 record. Following the season, center Tito Horford announced his intention to enter the NBA Draft without completing his final two seasons of eligibility. Miami was left with anything but a depleted roster as 10 lettermen, including eight seniors, returned for UM’s fourth season. • April 12, 1988 — Athletic Director Sam Jankovich announces plans to move Hurricane Basketball to the new $56 million Miami Arena. Also home to the NBA’s Miami Heat, the state-of-the-art basketball facility signified a new era in the rise of basketball in South Florida. • December 10, 1988 — A crowd of 6,654 watch the Hurricanes run neck-and-neck for 40 minutes with ACC powerhouse Duke. Blue Devil Danny Ferry needs a superhuman performance to stop the ‘Canes as he connects on 23-of-26 shots en route to 58 points. Ferry later calls Miami “a definite Top 40 team.” • January 12, 1989 — Joel Warren’s free throw, his only point of the evening, with two seconds remaining clinches Miami’s first victory over a Top 20 team as the ‘Canes upset defending national champion and No. 16-ranked Kansas, 87-86, at the Miami Arena. • March 6, 1989 — The Hurricanes post an 89-82 win against FIU in the first annual Carnival Miami Cup. The win leaves Miami with a 19-12 slate, good enough for the best record in 24 years and 10 seasons at Miami. Eric Brown ends his brilliant Miami career with 2,270 career points, just 28 behind All-American Rick Barry’s Hurricane record of 2,298. • December 6, 1989 — Miami hands an 87-82 loss to eventual NCAA tournament participant Dayton as a Hurricane squad that includes six freshmen and no seniors jumps out with three consecutive wins to start the season.
1990: HAMILTON HIRED, UM JOINS THE BIG EAST • January 18, 1990 — Nearly 5,000 fans turn out to watch one of the most exciting Hurricane games ever as Miami edges Florida State in double overtime, 101-97. • February 19, 1990 — Miami storms back to post a 62-59 victory against Florida, ending the Gators 11-game win streak against the ‘Canes that began during the 1964-65 season. • March 6, 1990 — The Hurricanes send Head Coach Bill Foster out on a winning note as one of the most successful and respected collegiate coaches in the nation leaves Miami following an 83-55 win against FIU. Foster’s six-year rebuilding record at Miami stands at 78-71 (.523), while his overall career mark stood at 431-247 (.636) in 24 seasons. • April 2, 1990 — UM Athletic Director Sam Jankovich ends a national search for a new coach that spanned an entire season with the hiring of Leonard Hamilton from Oklahoma State. “After meeting with Leonard Hamilton for just five minutes,” said Jankovich, “with that smile and that enthusiasm, there was no question who I wanted as coach of the University of Miami.” • October 10, 1990 — On the combined recommendation of President Edward T. Foote and Athletic Director Sam Jankovich, the University’s Board of Trustees unanimously votes to accept an invitation to become the 10th member of the BIG EAST Conference. The Hurricane Basketball
CONSTANTIN POPA takes the opening tip as Miami officially enters the BIG EAST with a game versus UConn at Gampel Pavillion on January 2, 1992.
program will begin BIG EAST play in the 1991-92 season. • December 28, 1990 — The Hurricanes rebound from back-toback double overtime defeats to upset No. 28 Mississippi State, 74-67, in the consolation contest of the Eastern Airlines Palm Beach Classic. Joe Wylie is voted to the alltournament squad after breaking seven tourney records including total points with 60 in the two games. • January 3, 1991 — Joe Wylie becomes the 17th player in UM basketball history to score 1,000 career points. Wylie would later go on to finish his UM career ranked No. 8 for both scoring and rebounding in the UM record books. • March 6, 1991 — Leonard Hamilton’s inaugural season ends with a 9-19 record. However, there were large doses of success throughout the year as the ‘Canes were victorious in six of their final nine contests and finished ranked No. 128 in the USA Today computer rankings — Miami’s highest finish since the rebirth of the program (including 1988-89 when the ‘Canes produced a 19-12 record). • April 10, 1991 — Leonard Hamilton’s first recruiting class is completed with the signing of Ochiel Swaby of Miami, the nation’s leading high school scorer with 47.1 points per game. Along with Hamilton’s three signees in the Fall of 1990 — Michael Gardner of Fredericksburg, Va., Pat Lawrence of St. Petersburg and 7'3" Constantin Popa of Bucharest, Romania — the freshmen class for the 1991-92 season was ranked in the Top 25. • January 2, 1992 — Miami tips off in its inaugural BIG EAST contest at UConn’s Gampel Pavilion. It is a baptism by fire for the young Hurricanes as the game at UConn is the first of four consecutive conference games in 10 days for Miami. • January 14, 1992 — In the first home conference game in UM history, the Hurricanes shock the nation with a stunning 45-42 upset of perennial BIG EAST power St. John’s. The UM victory would ultimately cost the Redmen the outright conference championship as they completed the regular season in a tie with Georgetown and Seton Hall. • March 12, 1992 — Miami turns the Big Apple upside down with a convincing 83-71 victory against Pittsburgh in the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Panthers had beaten Miami in the two regular-season contests by a total of 52 points, but Jerome Scott (30 points) and Trevor Burton (25 points) led a spirited Miami squad past Pitt and into the second round of the conference showcase. Earning the respect of the league and nation, Miami led Georgetown, 34-33, at the half of their quarterfinal contest before dropping a 77-64 decision to the Hoyas. The 1-1 performance in New York ended the Hurricanes’ 1991-92 campaign at 824. For his individual performance, Jerome Scott is honored as a member of the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team. • April 28, 1992 — Coach Hamilton takes another giant step in the development of UM basketball with the completion of his second recruiting class. Six prep standouts, including Steven Edwards of Miami Senior High, make up the new Hurricane class which is ranked No. 4 in the nation.
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HISTORY
offense, while Bryan Hughes enjoyed the distinction of scoring Miami’s first point in 14 years (a free throw with 18:34 remaining in the first half). • November 30, 1985 — Miami stuns 1985 NCAA Tourney participant Georgia with a thrilling 81-78 victory to capture the first AMI Classic Championship at the James L. Knight Center.
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