Wednesday, January 17, 2001
Miami coach expects mad Marshall
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Mid-American Conference schedule makers didn't do Miami University any favors with the beginning of the MAC season.
Miami's first four conference games were against teams that have a combined 13-3 MAC record, and two of those three losses were to the RedHawks.
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MIAMI at MARSHALL
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• When: 7 p.m. today.
• Where: Henderson Center (9,043), Huntington, W.Va.
• Records: Miami 6-9 (2-2 Mid-American Conference); Marshall 10-3 (4-1).
• TV: None.
• Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450).
MARSHALL
Player-Ht-Yr-Avg
Latece Williams-6-8-Jr.-10.3
Tamar Slay-6-8-Jr.-19.1
J.R. VanHoose-6-10-Jr.-16.8
Joda Burgess-6-5-Jr.-9.2
C. Jackson-6-4-Sr.-7.7
Coach: Greg White (78-48, fifth season; 197-198 overall)
MIAMI
Player-Ht-Yr-Avg
Doug Davis-6-3-Jr.-10.3
Jason Grunkemeyer-6-5-Sr.-11.1
Alex Shorts-6-8-Jr.-13.5
Mike Ensminger-6-6-Sr.-4.7
Juby Johnson-6-5-Fr.-6.4
Coach: Charlie Coles (83-53, fifth season; 179-144 overall)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 7-1: Miami's record vs. Marshall since the Thundering Herd rejoined the MAC.
• 11.1: Number of rebounds a game VanHoose averages, best in the MAC.
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It doesn't get any easier tonight. The RedHawks play Marshall in Huntington, W.Va.
“Just seems like we can't sneak up on anybody,” MU coach Charlie Coles said. “We play a rival, Ohio U. (Saturday). Then we go to Marshall, and they're going to be very, very mad.”
Miami beat Marshall 71-54 11 days ago in Oxford. The game was a blowout, and Coles had a blowup with Marshall coach Greg White.
“If there's something I could take back, it would be the sideline controversy,” Coles said. “That adds fuel.”
White told Coles to sit down during the first half. Coles charged toward White. Both coaches downplayed the incident afterward, but Marshall's fans will be sure to play it up.
Miami's victory over Marshall was surprising because the RedHawks essentially wrapped up the game by building a 19-point first-half lead.
But Coles said Marshall (10-3, 4-1) was playing without guard Travis Young. Young has missed six games with a foot injury and is expected to return tonight.
“He makes a lot of difference,” Coles said. “We might have beaten them if he had played. But it wouldn't have been as bad. So this is going to be a test. But that's OK. It's a hurdle to pass. We haven't done very well with that so far.”
Young, 6-foot senior, averages 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists. A 14.5-point average would lead Miami, but Young is third on the Herd behind Tamar Slay (19.1) and J.R. VanHoose (16.0). Slay and VanHoose, both 6-8 juniors, were preseason all-MAC picks.
Miami (6-9, 2-2) is coming off one of its better efforts. The RedHawks lost 62-60 in overtime to Ohio on Saturday in Athens.
“I was encouraged — until the last three minutes,” Coles said. “It's tough when you play good and don't win. It takes the air out of you. Winning is so much fun. There's a carry-over.”
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