Sunday, March 19, 2000
Hurricanes start experienced lineup
BY SCOTT MAcGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NASHVILLE — The seeding wouldn't suggest it — a No.3 vs. a No.6 — but today's second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between Ohio State and Miami has the feel of something a little further down the road.
“It feels like a Final Four matchup,” Miami guard Vernon Jennings said.
Well, maybe not that far down. But today's 4:40p.m. tipoff in the South Regional does match the regular-season champions of two heavyweight conferences. Ohio State (23-6), the No.3 seed, tied for the Big Ten title; sixth-seeded Miami (22-10) tied for the Big East championship.
Each team slipped in the seedings when it lost in its conference tournament. But it's a much tougher game than Ohio State had last year on its way to the Final Four, when it met No.12 seed Detroit in the second round.
“The (round of 32) looks like a who's-who of college basketball,” Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien said. “If you share the championship of a conference like the Big East, you have to have a good team.”
“Realistically, we don't have much room for error,” Miami coach Leonard Hamilton said. “This is a very big game for us for the simple reason that Ohio State is one of the more tradition-rich programs, and they represent a place we're trying to get to.”
Miami may be a relative newcomer to the NCAA Tournament experience — this is its third straight year in the tournament but just fourth appearance in history — but these Hurricanes are as experienced a bunch as you'll find in this year's tourney.
Their core is a trio of seniors: 6-foot-5 guard Johnny Hemsley, a second-team All-Big East pick who averages 18 points, 6-4 point guard Jennings, the Big East assist leader at 6.8 per game, and 6-6, 265-pound center Mario Bland, who contributes 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
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Hurricanes start experienced lineup
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