Monday, November 19, 2001
RedHawks need a better effort
Open at home tonight after bad opening loss
By Ian Duthie
Enquirer contributor
Miami coach Charlie Coles knew it was going to take time for his young team to play to its potential. But he never could have anticipated how poorly his RedHawks would play in their season-opening 50-42 loss at UNC Wilmington.
The 42 points marked the lowest output for Miami since 1962 when they scored 36 in a game before the shot clock. Miami's basketball team was even outscored by the Miami football team, which put up 51 points Saturday night.
Nothing went right for the basketball team on Saturday night as the RedHawks shot just 27 percent from the field.
More troubling for Coles was his best offensive weapon, Alex Shorts, was saddled with foul trouble and played only 11 minutes before fouling out just one minute into the second half. Shorts' night ended with a career-low two points.
Without Shorts, the RedHawks had no inside scoring threat, having to settle for long jumpers that were not falling. Freshman Danny Horace had an impressive college debut, recording a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds (10 offensive), both team bests. But even Horace made only five of 17 shots from the field.
Tonight the RedHawks attempt to regroup when they meet Geroge Mason in the home opener. The Patriots are coming off a season that saw them make the NCAA Tournament, narrowly losing their opening round game to eventual Final Four participant Maryland. They return two starters from that team, including 6-foot-10 center Jesse Young, who will be a difficult matchup for undersized Miami.
The RedHawks' trouble is that inexperienced Brian Edwards is the team's only healthy center, and at 6-foot-8 even he is playing out of position. Too often, Coles has to put Shorts, a power forward, on the other team's biggest man and put Miami's best offensive performer in jeopardy of getting into foul trouble.
Shorts and Doug Davis, who also fouled out in the opener, must find a way to stay on the court.
Miami has played well at home against non-conference opponents, going 14-2 in Coles' five seasons as head coach.
Last season, the RedHawks lost 64-50 at George Mason after holding a nine-point lead at halftime. Dreadful shooting in the second half (7-for-27) was Miami's downfall as Shorts was the only Miami player to reach double-figures (19 points).
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