Wednesday, March 08, 2000
Miami: One more miracle?
RedHawks just one game away from NCAAs
BY JEFF CARLTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CLEVELAND — All statistical indicators and old-fashioned common sense point to one conclusion: No way should Miami still be playing.
The RedHawks ended the regular season by losing seven of their last nine games. Their leading scorer has no field goals in the last two games. And they had to play in the quarterfinals against top-seeded Bowling Green.
|
WHAT A DIFFERENCE
|
|
Miami's stats have improved markedly over the last four games compared to the stretch when the RedHawks lost seven of eight:
| | 1-7 skid | 4-0 strk. |
|
Points allowed | 66.5 | 57.0 |
|
Opp. fg pct. | .482. | .390 |
|
3pt. pct. | .343 | .438 |
|
Opp. 3pt. pct. | .340 | .262 |
|
Yet here they are, still alive and playing tonight (7 p.m., ESPN) for the Mid-American Conference championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Standing in their way is No.2 Ball State, the top team from the MAC's West division. Miami is seeded No.9.
“I'm not going to explain being a fluke any more than I can explain how an airplane flies,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “I still don't know how that works.”
Miami's poor play down the stretch of the regular season was just as inexplicable. The RedHawks lost winnable games to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois, two teams that didn't even make the MAC postseason tournament.
During Miami's losing streak, opponents shot 48 percent from the field.
Rock bottom was the final home game, an 87-78 loss to Marshall that wasn't that close.
“It was the toughest loss I've experienced in a couple of years,” Coles said. “I got too emotionally attached to one game. I was down for a couple of days after that.”
Therapy came in the form of a trip to Buffalo, the last-place team in the conference. Miami overcame a 20-point first-half deficit and won by nine.
“Whatever mood you're in, you can't stay in it too long, because that bus ride (to Buffalo) is so long,” Coles said. “Somewhere along Pennsylvania, I became happy again.”
Since then, the RedHawks have been unstoppable. They are on a four-game winning streak and shooting 44 percent from 3-point range, 10 percent better than during the losing skid.
All this has come despite leading scorer Anthony Taylor's struggles. He has no points from the field in the two games in Cleveland, missing on drives, short jumpers and open 3s.
Though Coles is worried about his confidence, Taylor said he feels fine. Meanwhile, Jason Stewart and Jason Grunkemeyer have become the scoring leaders.
Stewart is averaging 12.1 points this season and Grunkemeyer 9.2. But during the winning streak, the two are averaging 19.5 and 15.8 points respectively.
Ball State coach Ray McCallum said his team will respect Stewart's and Grunkemeyer's ability to shoot the 3. Still, Taylor will not be discounted.
“We know what Taylor can do,” McCallum said. “Our scouting report is still going to start with Taylor.”
Though Ball State's strength is its guard play, the RedHawks need to find an answer for the Cardinals' bigger frontcourt. Miami center Mike Ensminger is 6-foot-6 and will match up against 6-8 Theron Smith and 6-11 Lonnie Jones.
Ensminger has been playing “like a man possessed,” Coles said. Against Bowling Green and MAC Player of the Year favorite Anthony Stacey, Ensminger pleaded with Coles to let him stay in the game to guard Stacey.
“When he came here his freshman year, I was like, "Who is that dude? Get off the court,'” point guard Rob Mestas said of Ensminger. “But now I'm just glad he's on my team. Lonnie Jones may be a great athlete, but he's not a better player than Mike. He won't be able to plant down in the post against Big Mike.”
The two teams met twice this season, and overtime decided both games. Miami took a triple-overtime win in Oxford and lost in overtime on a Duane Clemens buzzer-beater at Ball State.
“I hope it goes to overtime,” Coles said. “It means we're still in the game. The way Ball State plays, they could decide to send us home early.”
The statistics, the regular season, the experts and even Coles say Ball State should win. But with the logic-defying run Miami has enjoyed, none of that may mean a thing.
MAC tourney warms fans to the Madness
Sports Stories
Xavier faces long odds in A-10
Xavier has one last shot to make it in
UC's Martin picks up top defensive honors
C-USA teams look for signs of hope
Bengals await Mitchell's call
Brown: Pickens 'should plan to be back'
Bowden settles on staff
Portugal eyes 5th spot in rotation
Rose claims he will be back in the game soon
REDS REPORT
REDS NOTEBOOK
