Sunday, February 14, 1999
MIAMI NOTEBOOK
No NCAA talk from RedHawks
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD — Now that Miami has wrapped up a share of the Mid-American Conference title, are the RedHawks in the NCAA field of 64 no matter what happens?
“No way,” Miami star Wally Szczerbiak said. “Absolutely not. The Big Ten's crying to get eight teams in ... We just want to not let down. We're playing our best basketball. We're peaking at the right time.”
Miami coach Charlie Coles feels the same way: “I don't want anything to interrupt the fact that we're playing pretty good basketball. I don't want anything to ruin a great, great run by this team.”
The Rating Percentage Index, which the NCAA Selection Committee uses to pick and seed teams, says Miami is a virtual lock. The RedHawks went into Saturday's game 21st in the RPI.
They're next game is against Toledo, which is 43rd, followed by Bowling Green (93rd) and Kent (60th).
“We want to win out,” Szczerbiak said, “and go into the NCAA Tournament with a lot of momentum.”
Szczerbiak, Damon Frierson and Rob Mestas were on the Miami team that went to the NCAAs two years ago, losing to Clemson in the first round.
“We were kind of awestruck,” Szczerbiak said. “This time we want to get a game under our belt, maybe two or three.”
Grunk plays
Jason Grunkemeyer sprained his ankle badly enough in practice Thursday that he was doubtful for Saturday's game.
But he played, scoring six points with two assists in 15 minutes.
“He did what he's been doing,” Coles said. “He hit some big threes when he needed them.”
Stat corner
Rob Mestas had six assists and one turnover Saturday. Against Ball State Wednesday, he had five assists and one turnover. On the year, Mestas has 63 assists and 38 turnovers.
• Miami is 19-0 this year when committing fewer turnovers than its opponents.
• Szczerbiak's 35 points Saturday gave him eight games of 30 points or more in his career.
Up next
The RedHawks go to Toledo Wednesday. Toledo (17-6, 9-6) is atop the MAC West. But the Rockets lost for the third time in their last four games Saturday, 81-72 at Marshall.
Miami will be going for its second 20-victory season in Coles' three seasons and fourth in the last five years. Miami, which has secured its ninth straight winning season, has six 20-win seasons in the '90s.
The game will be on Fox Sports Ohio.
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