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Miami hopes to get back on track

After losing six of seven, Miami plays host to 2-10 William & Mary team.

Contributed photo by Scott Allison One of Miami's losses in the past seven games came against Wright State University on Saturday, Dec. 10.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 10:39 AM Thursday, December 29, 2011

OXFORD — Confidence and concentration. That’s what Miami University’s basketball team needs tonight, according to coach Charlie Coles.

With six losses in their last seven games, the RedHawks will try to start turning their season around when they face the William & Mary Tribe at Millett Hall.

One problem for Miami is that William & Mary, 2-10 with eight losses coming by 15 or more points, likely is thinking the same thing.

“They’re not a bad team,” Coles said. “In fact, in the preseason they were picked to be better than they are now. They’ve played a fairly tough schedule with teams like Missouri and St. John’s.

“We’ve got to guard them because they’ve got a kid, (Quinn) McDowell, from Moeller High School, who’s a good scorer,” he said. “I’m sure they’re thinking if they can get one against us, maybe they can get back on track.”

That’s where the concentration comes in.

“One game,” said Coles, whose team has a game at Vanderbilt coming up next Monday and the start of the Mid-American Conference season soon after that.

“We’ve got to play one game. We can’t be thinking about anything else.”

The RedHawks also need to play with more energy and confidence, especially on offense, the Miami coach said.

“When you’re not playing very good,” he said, “your energy and all that plays a big part. We’re trying to get everybody to play together, play confident and play hard.

“I got on the guys (Tuesday in practice) because (on Monday) I saw a bunch of good signs and today we went back to our old selves,” Coles said. “We’re trying to get some confidence on offense.”

Over the last seven games Miami has scored more than 66 points only once.

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