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Miami faces big challenge vs. UC

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Kenny Hayes (center), a senior guard on the Miami University basketball team, listens to Charlie Coles, the head coach, during a recent practice.

Ron Alvey/Staff photo by Ron Alvey Kenny Hayes (center), a senior guard on the Miami University basketball team, listens to Charlie Coles, the head coach, during a recent practice.

RedHawks hoops coach ‘concerned’ as his team prepares for rejuvenated University of Cincinnati.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:18 AM Thursday, December 10, 2009

OXFORD — If the 19th-ranked University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team looks at its opponent tonight, Dec. 10, and wonders “Who exactly are these guys?” it can hardly be blamed.

Those opponents, the struggling Miami RedHawks, don’t seem to know, either.

“The problem with our team, I don’t think it’s selfishness,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “But I don’t think we’re growing up, learning how to win. We’re not having timely contributions. We don’t have a team pulse. We still don’t have a collective identity.”

The RedHawks had better find one, fast. They’ve lost two straight, six of their first eight, and they’re taking on a rejuvenated Bearcats program, one they haven’t beaten in 19 years.

Miami’s team identity has been on Coles’ mind a lot lately. Following his team’s 65-58 loss at home to Dayton on Dec. 2, he said, “Our collective identity is splattered all over the place right now. We’re not a young team, but we’re a new team.”

Coles has been tinkering with his starting lineup. He made another change for the Temple game Tuesday, giving junior Antonio Ballard his first start of the season in place of freshman guard Orlando Williams, who had replaced sophomore Kramer Soderberg two games earlier. It didn’t seem to matter. Temple drilled Miami by 22 points.

Part of the problem, Coles said, might go back to the RedHawks’ near-miss at Kentucky on Nov. 16 when they lost 72-70 in a game that could have gone either way.

“I said after the Kentucky game to one of my closest friends in life, my wife (Delores), I don’t know if I like this,” Coles said. “We’re going to get a false sense of who we are.”

If the RedHawks don’t know who they are, Coles does know what they aren’t. “We aren’t very good right now,” he said.

“I’m not embarrassed and I’m not disappointed in our team,” Coles said. “I’m just a concerned coach.”

He emphasized that he is far from giving up on the possibilities he sees in this newest version of the RedHawks, a team that has changed a little every season with the loss of seniors Michael Bramos this year, Tim Pollitz in 2008, Nathan Peavy in 2007, William Hatcher in 2006, Chet Mason in 2005 and Juby Johnson in 2004.

If our players can just hang on ... I think we can get better,” Coles said. “The keys for us are working hard, not feeling sorry for ourselves,” he added. “Let’s face it, there’s only one way to go. Up.”