Wednesday, March 01, 2000
Miami injuries may hurt in MAC opener
BY JEFF CARLTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
With one junior and four seniors usually composing its normal starting five, Miami boasts a lineup of seasoned veterans.
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RELATED
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• When: 7 p.m. today
• Where: Convocation Center (8,824), Ypsilanti, Mich.
• Records: Miami 12-14 (8-10 Mid-American Conference), Eastern Michigan 15-12 (9-9)
• TV: None
• Radio: WMOH-AM (1450), WCKY-AM (1360), WFMG-FM (101.3)
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TOURNEY GAMES
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• Buffalo at Marshall, 7 p.m.
• W. Michigan at Ohio, 7 p.m.
• N. Illinois at Toledo, 7 p.m.
• Miami at E. Michigan, 7 p.m.
• Cent. Michigan at Akron, 7:30 p.m.
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But this group of old guys is starting to look over-the-hill with the array of injuries that could cripple the RedHawks' chances in tonight's first-round Mid-American Conference tournament game at Eastern Michigan.
Leading scorer Anthony Taylor sprained his ankle at Buffalo and is questionable against the Eagles.
His backup, Jason Grunkemeyer, hasn't practiced at full strength in a week with back pain from a degenerative disc.
And center Mike Ensminger has been slowed by back problems of his own all season.
Still, both Grunkemeyer and Ensminger are expected to start against Eastern Michigan. And Taylor, who has worn a cast for several days, insists he will play.
“I hope it's not a case of a senior trying to be brave,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said of Taylor. “But we do need him. He's the only guy who gets to the free throw line with regularity.”
If Taylor is unable to go, the RedHawks will miss his 17.4 points a game. But his absence wouldn't be a complete disaster for the team, which relied on post play to defeat the Eagles 73-64 on Jan.17 in Oxford.
Ensminger (10 points and 11 rebounds) and forward Refiloe Lethunya (19 points and 14 re bounds) posted their first career double-doubles.
“We felt going in that Eastern Michigan's strength was not their post defense,” Taylor said. “Their weakness is definitely inside. They don't seem to trap down low.”
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