Thursday, November 30, 2000
Miami likes home opener tough
Chaney brings No. 17 Temple to Millett tonight
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
For a couple of hours tonight, Miami coach Charlie Coles will try to stop admiring Temple's John Chaney long enough to coach against him.
“He has to be one of the all-time great coaches,” said Coles, whose Miami RedHawks play host to No.17 Temple at 7p.m. today, “because every year he gets his kids to play exactly the way he wants. They're not going to turn it over. They'll lead the nation in fewest turnovers. Their defense will hold you under 40 percent from the field. They outrebound everybody they play. And they make key shots.
“They just play so smart. It's amazing what (Chaney's) done there.”
That said, why in the name of James Naismith would Miami want to open at home against Temple?
“I've never thought that your home opener should be a breeze,” Coles said.
Last year, Miami's home opener was Xavier. Two years ago, it was No.8 Tennessee. Miami won both.
“You've got to play teams to have a chance to beat them,” Coles said.
Miami's chances of beating Temple would appear slim. The RedHawks (1-3), with five new players in the rotation, have struggled against a tough early schedule.
Coles said he did not consider easing the schedule because of the new players.
“When we recruited these guys, they were telling us how good they were,” Coles said. “They wanted the chance to play the best.”
Temple, despite losing four starters from last year's 27-6 team, certainly would qualify as one of the best.
The Owls finished second in the preseason NIT, losing to No.1 Duke 63-61 in the finals.
“The names and the faces change,” Coles said. “But they're the same team every year.”
The big loss for Temple to graduation was point guard Pepe Sanchez. Lynn Greer, a 6-foot-1 junior, has eased the loss. Greer has played every minute of all five games. He's averaging 16.4 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds and shooting 86.2 percent from the free throw line.
“What Greer has done is phenomenal,” Coles said. “He had two turnovers in the first four games. Chaney should be made the National Director of Not Making Mistakes. His players just don't make mistakes.”
Kevin Lyde (6-9, 260 pounds) and Ronald Rollerson (6-10, 290) give Temple strength inside, while Greer, Alex Wesby and Quincy Wadley are all 3-point threats.
Lyde and Wadley average 12.0 points apiece.
Coles will start freshman Julius Johnson, instead of Eugene Seals, tonight.
“Eugene is playing a little better than Julius right now,” Coles said. “But against that (matchup) zone, we need another outside shooter.”
MIAMI vs. TEMPLE
• When: 7p.m. today
• Where: Millett Hall (9,200)
• Records: MU (1-3), Temple (4-1)
• TV: Fox Sports Net
• Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 7: Number of turnovers Temple point guard Greer has committed in five games. Five of the seven came against No.1 Duke.
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Miami likes home opener tough