Irish, `Canes fight to boost Big East ranks
By BRIAN KESSLER
Sports Editor
The Notre Dame men's basketball team (12-7, 3-2) will look to make a move in the Big East conference when it continues its four-game homestand at 7:30 tonight against Miami (11-7, 4-2).
"We're definitely looking at this homestand as a way to separate ourselves from the pack," Irish point guard Jimmy Dillon said. "We're in the middle of the pack and hopefully we can get to the top."
Notre Dame is currently ranked 6th in the Big East behind Miami and Rutgers. The Hurricanes are also fighting for position in the conference. They have won six of their last eight games and moved up to fourth place in the Big East.
In its last outing, Miami posted a 62-54 victory over Boston College in which center Mario Bland scored a career-high 24 points.
Bland, who is averaging 13.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per contest, reached the 1,000-career-point plateau with his effort.
The Irish will have their hands full with Hurricane shooting guard Johnny Hemsley, who is averaging a team high 18.5 points per game, good enough to rank him 4th in Big East scoring.
Forwards John Salmons and Elton Tyler have also played well for Miami this season. Tyler is a league leader in rebounds and blocks while Salmons is a league leader defensively.
"We know they are athletic and well coached and they will come out and play hard," Dillon said. "We need to take advantage of our strengths and play hard as well. It should be a good Big East game and hopefully we'll get the win."
As always, the Irish are led by Troy Murphy, who ranks third in the nation in scoring (24.4 points per game) and sixth in rebounding (10.5 per contest).
Murphy, however, got some support from his teammates in Saturday's 81-66 victory over Pittsburgh. Prior to the Pitt game, the Irish had dropped two straight, but they came out on fire against the Panthers, shooting more than 60 percent from the field and connecting on a school-record 14 3-pointers.
Both Graves and Dillon have stepped up for the Irish. Graves is a league leader in scoring, assists and steals and Dillon leads in assists and steals.
"On the road we struggled shooting the ball, but we like playing at home and we feel like we have an advantage," said Dillon, who is averaging just less than six assists per game. "Maybe its mental and we're comfortable in the environment, but shooting has definitely been one of our strengths this season."
The Irish are 10-1 at home this season and lead the series with the Hurricanes, 6-4. Last season, Notre Dame knocked off Miami, 71-68, on the road.
"Miami is a good team," Dillon said. "We just need to play our game and come out and play tough mentally and physically. If we do what is necessary, things should take care of themselves."
This is the second in a four-game homestand. After facing the Hurricanes, the Irish look to more Big East competition. St. John's comes to the Joyce Center on Saturday and West Virginia follows on Wednesday night.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, January 25, 2000
