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Miami has been resilient despite multiple injuries to key players

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 10:10 PM Monday, December 19, 2011

OXFORD — It seems that every several weeks since the start of the preseason, Miami University’s basketball team has had to re-make itself after the loss of a key player.

“We’re probably down on talent,” conceded coach Charlie Coles. “Three of the guys we thought we’d have (Orlando Williams, Allen Roberts and Bill Edwards) we don’t have. But you won’t catch me crying.”

The RedHawks will try to win back-to-back games for the first time tonight at Millett Hall when they take on Evansville.

“Our kids are giving all they have,” Coles said. “I’m anxious to see — and I hope they are too — can we actually get better?”

Miami took a step in that direction with Saturday’s 66-61 victory over a strong Belmont team despite yet another addition to the casualty list, sophomore forward Bill Edwards, whose wrist injury is expected to keep him sidelined for an unknown period of time.

Coles said he saw some promising things Saturday from the players still on active duty.

“I think Julian Mavunga made great sacrifices (against Belmont),” he said of his star senior. “He played like a leader. We’re going to depend on him at the end, but he helped guys by saying things to them.”

Mavunga also forced his teammates to take a more active role in the offense by taking fewer jump shots.

One RedHawk who became more active was sophomore point guard Quinten Rollins, who scored 11 points and whose driving shot with 1:03 remaining resulted in one of the game’s more crucial baskets.

“Quinten got going to the basket,” Coles said. “That’s a good thing for him, because now you’ve got to guard him.

“What he’s been doing is dribbling, getting the advantage, and then stopping,” the Miami coach explained.

Miami also got six points off the bench from sophomore center Drew McGhee, who was averaging 3.1

“He’s been doing well in practice, making that little jump hook,” Coles said. “We’ve got to get him in games more with a few more shots, a few more touches.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.

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