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After losing Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz in consecutive seasons, Head Coach Charlie Coles' Miami University RedHawk basketball squad hasn't seemed to pick up its dribble. The Red and White will meet up in Maryland to battle the University of Towson Tigers in the first game of their 2009-2010 campaign.
The opening game comes just three days before the 'Hawks will head into southern territory and be faced with a hostile Rupp Arena crowd in Lexington when they play the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
For now Coach Coles and company are focusing on the Tigers instead of the Bluegrass Felines.
"Towson has been a little down, but they are in a tough league," Coles said. "VCU, George Mason, Old Dominion and Hofstra. That was the same league that had two or three teams and the fourth team was upset because they didn't get in and then George Mason went to the Final Four that time. They haven't been at the top of the league, but they feel like they can get there this year so we are going to be playing against a team that has high hopes. That's the first thing. We aren't playing them when they felt like they were rebuilding, and they lost their leading scorer, but they've got everybody else coming back. They are very athletic, very athletic. So our first order of business is we are going to have to rebound. The second thing we are going to have to do is play great defense on their 3-point shooters. The third thing we are going to have to do is beat their defensive pressure full court. I think they will use some kind of press at some point in the game against us."
In the absence of Junior Hairston, who averaged 13 ppg a year ago, the Tigers will look to forward Jarrel Smith and guard Josh Thorton to rack up the points against the Red and White. The two averaged 10 and 11 points respectively last season. Thorton also shot .362 from downtown.
Facing a team that finished 12-22 before a perennial powerhouse hasn't fazed Miami's floor general Kenny Hayes.
"Towson is important," Hayes said. "It's the first game of the season and if we can go down there and get a win, and bring momentum down to Kentucky, that can help us. You don't want to go down to Towson and lose your first game and then get down on yourself and then we got UK three days later. The No. 1 thing is to go down there and get a win in the first game."
Hayes will be counted on in both games after averaging 19 points and four and a half dimes in the RedHawk's first two exhibition contests.
"I like our team," Coles said. "Now liking them and lovin' them at this point are a little different. I think we are versatile, have good athletes, are quick and have some things we haven't had in the past. We don't have plenty of experience. This year we are young with the exception of Kenny Hayes and Adam Fletcher, our two seniors, but we've got some other guys. I think we've got a lot of potential. I hate to use that word now because we haven't played a regular season game yet, but I think I like our potential."
The potential will need to be reached quickly if the Red and White want to beat the Tigers and compete against the 'Cats.
"We are underdogs and I think we are a lot better than what people think," Hayes said. "We got a chance to shock a lot of people. This team has way more talent than last year's team but last year we were way more experienced."
The youthful "underdogs" boast nine underclassmen on the reloaded roster, including five freshmen. Win or lose the group will have their work cut out for them when they board the bus to Kentucky.
"They are the best talent in the country," Coles said. "That's all I'll say. They've got Patrick Patterson, who is their all-American from last year and who is a first round draft choice. They probably have four first-rounder's on their team and have the No. 1 pick in the draft, who is John Wall."
Coach John Calipari's crew is young but highly touted, compared to Coles' unknown talent, but the RedHawk coach has never been afraid to schedule the elite teams of college basketball.
Although the coach jokes about the game, the 'Hawks are trying to keep themselves from being a Lexington laugh.
"My mission is going to be brave enough to get on the bus and then we get on the bus lock all the doors so nobody jumps out," Coles said. "No, our mission is to play the best we can. It's always been our policy to play good teams. We played Kansas and they beat up on us and we beat Illinois the game before. We always try to have a good non-conference schedule and mainly it's to try to get us ready for the Mid-American Conference. No more or no less."
The Towson game tips off at 7 p.m. Friday. The 'Hawks battle the Wildcats at that same time Monday.
