It's a safe bet Miami coach Charlie Coles will win his 200th career game this season. The question is when.

        Coles is 199-162 in 12 seasons with Central Michigan and Miami, including 107-78 in six seasons with the RedHawks. He leads current Mid-American Conference coaches in overall wins and conference wins (116).

        But adding to those totals won't be easy. Miami's schedule features three NCAA Tournament teams, including defending national-champion Maryland, and two NIT teams. The RedHawks also have games against area rivals Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton and Wright State, plus a challenging MAC schedule.

        So, is Coles looking forward to his 200th win?

        “I'm looking forward to any win,” he said.

        When will Coles pick up career win No.200?

        It might be awhile. The RedHawks are scheduled to open their regular season on the road against Purdue of the Big Ten, which returns leading scorer Willie Deane. They follow with a trip to Maryland, where the Terrapins will open the new Comcast Center.

        Barring an upset on the road, the most likely scene for Coles' milestone win will be Miami's home opener against Ohio Dominican Nov.27.

        The RedHawks lost 56.7 percent of their scoring from last season's 13-18 team. Much of it departed with forward-center Alex Shorts, who led the team in scoring, and guard Doug Davis, who was second in scoring and first in assists and was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

        The only returning player to average in double figures is 6-foot-5 junior guard Juby Johnson (10.5).

        The other returning starters - 6-3 junior guard Chet Mason, 6-6 junior forward Gene Seals and 6-5 sophomore forward Danny Horace (Western Hills High School) - combined to average 20.4 points a game last season.

        But replacing the scoring isn't the question that bothers Coles as much as size.

        “(The) size problem is the one,” Coles said. “Losing points, I think you can get around that, but the size factor could be big. Last year, we couldn't guard anybody inside. (David) West from Xavier killed us. Brandon Hunter (Ohio) killed us. Theron Smith (Ball State) lit us up for 29 points in the (MAC) tournament.”

        The problem grew with the loss of 6-11, 310-pound redshirt freshman center Nate VanderSluis, who needed surgery Sept.9 to repair a fracture in the same area of his left foot in which he suffered a season-ending fracture last October. VanderSluis is expected to be sidelined until mid-December.

        Freshman John Morningstar is the only other RedHawk taller than 6-6. Sophomore Tim Schenke (Elder) and senior Bryan Reed are two 6-6 players Coles says will have to step up.

        “(Morningstar's) got to give us part of what we need,” Coles said. “Those three have to fight and claw. They have to be physical in the post.

        “We're stronger, though - much stronger - and the team as a whole is quicker. I think we'll find some points.”

        Bowling Green, which lost to Kent State in the MAC tournament final, is Coles' pick as the league's dominant team. Kent State lost three starters and coach Stan Heath from the team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, but the Golden Flashes remain a title threat. Hunter, a Withrow product, could spark an Ohio team that many are overlooking. Ball State should be strong, and Coles likes two of three Michigans - Central and Western.

        “I think the surprise team in our league will be Akron,” Coles said.

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