The schools won't be playing each other this season for the first time in 66 years because of miscommunication and a lot of ambition, none of which makes any sense to Miami coach Charlie Coles.

"It's important because of tradition," Coles said. "I don't know how much that counts in (Dayton's) thinking. For us it did, because it was something that went on for a long time."

It won't happen again until at least the 2005 season, and that's if Dayton doesn't have better opportunities than playing the RedHawks.

"(Miami athletic director) Brad Bates and I agreed to get back together and talk about playing again," Dayton athletic director Ted Kissell said. "We really value the tradition of that series."

What that doesn't mean is that Dayton would sign up for another round of games with Miami at the expense of scheduling a series with, say, Indiana or Illinois.

The reason the Flyers had to bump Miami from the schedule this year was because Dayton is playing road games against DePaul and Vanderbilt and there was no room to play Miami on the road, which is where the game was supposed to be.

Lost in the communication of the controversy is that Miami would have been willing to play a second straight time at Dayton and that the Flyers would have welcomed that scenario. But neither side realized it until it was too late and the schedules were set.

"If we knew it would end the series otherwise, then yeah, we would have went up there," Coles said.

Miami can't complain too much. Instead of hosting Dayton, the RedHawks get Purdue at Millett Hall Nov. 19.

As for next season, both sides will have to wait and see.

"If we end up playing (Dayton), that's good," Coles said. "If they choose to capture the world, then that's good, too."

HIRING PRACTICES: La Salle made the right move by going after Penn coach Fran Dunphy to fill its vacancy, but Dunphy obviously saw a more competitive situation at his current location and opted to stay. Now, reports coming out of Philadelphia indicate that Maine coach John Giannini is the Explorers' second-choice. Giannini interviewed for the job in 2001 when La Salle hired Billy Hahn, who resigned July 24 amid a sexual assault scandal involving La Salle players.

Giannini has compiled a 125-111 record in eight seasons at Maine, and would be a wise choice because of his experience and price. Giannini likely would not command the $300,000-$400,000 annual salary that Dunphy was reported to have been offered by La Salle. But Giannini would be capable to continue solidifying the program that Hahn had renewed in his three seasons.

CHALMERS SIGNS: Former Xavier guard Lionel Chalmers signed with the Los Angeles Clippers last week after the Clippers drafted him with the No. 33 pick in the NBA draft.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Xavier's home game against Marshall is not Dec. 31 as previously announced. Instead, the game will be played Dec. 30 at Cintas Center.

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