Miami looks for road win at Saginaw

D-II team is coached by former Miami assistant Frankie Smith.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 11:39 AM Monday, November 21, 2011

OXFORD — After opening the season with back-to-back games against Dayton and Xavier, teams always in the running for NCAA Tournament berths, Miami University’s basketball team plays tonight at Saginaw Valley State.

RedHawks coach Charlie Coles does not see this as a gimme win.

“This might be the biggest game they’ve (Saginaw) ever played because they’ve never played a Division I team on their home court,” Coles said, “We’re going to have to be ready to play because this will be emotional for them.”

The Cardinals are coached by Coles’ former assistant, Frankie Smith. Saginaw played and lost to the RedHawks in Oxford in each of Smith’s first four seasons with the team. The first three were exhibitions, but last year’s 76-57 loss was a regular-season contest.

Coles said he also is concerned about turnovers. His team committed 18 in Friday’s 66-60 loss at Xavier.

“What usually happens when you turn the ball, over 75 percent of the time it’s carelessness, not paying attention to detail,” said Cole.

Last season the Cardinals led all NCAA Division II teams with the fewest turnovers.

“Yes it is (a challenge defensively),” Coles said. “They’re not going to make foolish plays. They know their margin of error is much less than it would be against one of their normal opponents.”

This will be the second of five consecutive road games.

“At some point during the season, you have to do some things you normally don’t have to do and you have to do them well,” said Cole.