Miami itching to get back to NCAA tournament

Miami holds off Buckeyes  in CCHA quarterfinal
7:34 a.m.
OSU tops Miami in OT to even series
3/14/10
Hayes made Miami season memorable
3/14/10
Ask Hal: Trains were great for covering baseball
3/13/10
Miami eliminated by Ohio
3/13/10
> More sports headlines

MU coach Charlie Coles says senior point guard Kenny Hayes, who received a medical redshirt last season, seems to be in good shape for 2010-11.

AP Photo MU coach Charlie Coles says senior point guard Kenny Hayes, who received a medical redshirt last season, seems to be in good shape for 2010-11.

RedHawks’ backcourt is stellar, but the big men enter season with much to prove.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 7:00 AM Wednesday, November 11, 2009

OXFORD — The Miami University basketball team is itching to get back to the NCAA tournament. The RedHawks don’t think a second berth in 11 seasons sounds unreasonable.

But although there is little doubt the RedHawks have an NCAA-worthy backcourt, there are questions about Miami’s frontcourt.

Miami does have some size this season with 6-foot-9, 241-pound senior Adam Fletcher, 6-7, 226-pound junior Nick Winbush, 6-8, 245-pound sophomore Julian Mavunga, 6-11, 231-pound freshman Drew McGhee and 6-7, 253-pound freshman Drew Kelly.

But Charlie Coles, as he prepares for his 14th season at the Miami helm, is skeptical.

“We’ve got a little more height than we’ve usually had,” Coles said. “But those guys have to be able to move. Having the height doesn’t always equal success. Height is good, but it has to be developed height.”

Fletcher at least gives the RedHawks a solid starting point in the post. He had a breakthrough season as a junior, starting in 29 games and coming up with some surprising numbers at times (16 points, eight rebounds against Eastern Michigan).

Coles said Fletcher might be the strongest player on team, and also that Mavunga “is feeling much better” after playing through a leg injury last season.

But Coles wasn’t happy with Miami’s rebounding in its two exhibition games. “Mavunga has got to rebound better, Fletcher has got to rebound better,” he said.

Winbush, who is more of a scorer and less of a rebounder, is likely to alternate in the frontcourt with Fletcher and Mavunga, Coles said.

The good news for Miami is a backcourt that features the return of senior Kenny Hayes, the Northmont grad who missed most of last season with a wrist injury but appears to be close to peak condition again.

Hayes, equally adept at scoring from the outside or slashing to the basket, has some impressive company at guard.

Junior Antonio Ballard might be the most athletic player on the team, sophomore Kramer Soderberg has sparkled in the preseason, junior Rodney Haddix II was 8-for-8 from the 3-point arc in the two exhibition games, and freshmen Orlando Williams and Allen Roberts have huge potential.

Ballard, however, is injury prone. He missed almost all of 2007-08 with a foot injury, missed six games last December with a hand injury and has missed most of the preseason with a foot stress fracture.

Miami opens its season with five straight road games, starting at Towson on Friday, Nov. 13. The RedHawks don’t play at Millett Hall until Nov. 28, when they face Evansville.

Games to watch

Kentucky: Nov. 16 at Rupp Arena, Wildcats are ranked No. 4, and Miami has lost 19 straight to UK
Dayton: Dec. 2 at Millett Hall, Flyers are ranked No. 21
Cincinnati: Dec. 10 at U.S. Bank Arena, RedHawks have lost 10 straight to Bearcats
Xavier: Dec. 23 at Cintas Center, Musketeers have won 7 of last 9 meetings
Akron: Jan. 20 at J.A.R. Arena and Feb. 17 at Millett Hall, Akron, the MAC favorite, eliminated Miami in last season’s league tournament quarterfinals

Share this article