Miami looking for win streak

Coles hopes team’s come-from-behind win over Kent State start of good things.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 1:20 AM Saturday, January 16, 2010

OXFORD — Charlie Coles isn’t asking for the moon. The Miami University men’s basketball coach has set a modest goal for his up-and-down RedHawks.

“We’re trying to get some consistency,” he said.

A two-game winning streak would be a good start. It’s something Miami has yet to achieve this season.

The RedHawks, coming off an improbable 55-53 overtime victory over Kent State, will take another shot at a second straight win today, Jan. 16, against the Ohio Bobcats.

Miami had trailed Kent State 24-11 at halftime and never led during regulation.

“We started out like we did against Temple but finished strong,” Coles said. “I hope it’s a sign of things to come.”

Miami had trailed Temple 30-6 and lost by 22 in a game played Dec. 8 in Oxford.

A victory over Ohio would be big, but also difficult, Coles cautioned.

“They’re a talented team,” he said, “a lot like us, playing with a lot of kids who haven’t started before.”

Ohio has lost its first two Mid-American Conference games after posting a strong 9-5 record in nonconference play behind two newcomers, freshman point guard D.J. Cooper and junior guard Armon Bassett, a transfer from Indiana University.

Bassett leads the Bobcats with a 13.3 scoring average and Cooper, who averages 12.8 points, ranks first in the MAC in both assists and steals.

“Cooper is a very good player,” Coles said. “He’s a left-hander and can really drive to the basket. And he’s an outside shooter, one of those guys who has great confidence for a freshman.

“Bassett is a good player, too,” the Miami coach added. “Those two kids kind of get them going on offense.”

Coles has tinkered with his lineup for most of the season, especially with his three guards.

Senior Kenny Hayes, a Northmont High School graduate has started all 15 games, and the other starts have been split among junior Rodney Haddix II (14 starts), junior Antonio Ballard (eight), sophomore Kramer Soderberg (five), freshman Orlando Williams (two) and freshman Allen Roberts (one).

“I think I’ve found our starting lineup,” Coles said, explaining that for now he will go with the veterans and will use Soderberg, Williams and Roberts to provide a spark off the bench.

“Haddix and Ballard aren’t shooting very well, but they give us a big edge on defense.”