The excitement was tangible at the Quicken Loans Arena this weekend. Miami's fans, though outnumbered, were louder. Miami men's and women's basketball, though statistically inferior to their opponents, were desperate and energized. There was little room for error and nerves.
The Miami RedHawks football team took the practice field for the first time on Sunday during the spring practice session. Much like last year, many familiar faces littered Ben Roethlisberger field inside the indoor practice facility, while at the same time, solid contributors such as Heath Harding, Ryan Smith, and Tony Reid are gone and must be replaced by younger RedHawks.
CLEVELAND -- Miami men's basketball battled to a 71-69 loss to the Toledo Rockets in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Thursday evening. Playing the No. 2 seeded Rockets, the No. 7 seeded RedHawks matched the potent Toledo offense in the first-half, but fell behind by 12 in the second half and couldn't complete the comeback.
Miami hockey's season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday night, as the RedHawks lost 4-3 in overtime to the No. 1 St. Cloud State University Huskies. The 'Hawks lost 5-2 on Friday night in Game One of the three-game National Collegiate Hockey Conference playoff series, but battled back to win 3-2 on Saturday night to force the finale on Sunday.
CLEVELAND -- When Miami took the court against top-ranked Central Michigan University on Friday morning, they did so with nothing to lose. Under the bright lights of the Quicken Loans Arena, the 'Hawks suited up for the program's first semi-final game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in 10 years.
The Miami men's basketball team is headed to a postseason tournament for the first time since 2011.
Following a breakthrough 2016 season in which the Miami RedHawks football program won six straight games to reach bowl eligibility, many expected the 2017 campaign to bring a Mid-American Conference Championship to Oxford. However, following an underwhelming 5-7 season full of missed opportunities and disappointing losses, the Red and White failed to take the next step many were hoping to see.
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When asked about his expectations for the upcoming season, Reds' first baseman, Joey Votto, was clear with his expectations. "I think we're starting to get to the point where people are getting tired of this stretch of ball. I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction," Votto stated matter-of-factly to Cincinnati.com.
Miami women's will face Ohio for the Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinals, after earning a first-round bye last week and finishing the regular season with a 58-35 win.
The Miami baseball RedHawks (8-3) brought their brooms to Hayden Park last weekend as they swept Rider University (4-7) in their first home series of the season.
The Miami RedHawks (15-15, 8-9 MAC) proved the third time isn't always the charm at Kent State on Tuesday. After winning two consecutive games late in the second half or in overtime, Miami ran out of last-second magic, falling to Kent State 90-83 in overtime.
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RedHawk baseball had a successful showing in the Campbell Invitational last weekend, winning three of its four games in Buies Creek, NC. After dropping the weekend opener to Western Michigan on Friday, Miami (5-3) bounced back to win its next three, sweeping a Saturday double-header against Yale, and then defeating Campbell on Sunday.
For the second straight game, first-half shooting woes caused the Miami men's basketball team (15-14, 8-8 MAC) to fall behind by double-digits at Akron (12-16, 5-11 MAC) Saturday.
The 'Hawks handily defeated BGSU on Saturday 92-64, vaulting them into second place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Miami has won eight of their last nine heading into its final two games of the season.
The return of baseball is generally a welcome sight to individuals across America. It means the return of hot dogs, stadium lights visible from the interstate, cold drinks and everything else that you can find in the lyrics of a Kenny Chesney song.
Loser of its previous four contests, the Miami men's basketball team needed a morale booster heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.