Miami's tourney prospects look better this year

Men’s hoops team gets set to play Buffalo for third time this season in MAC quarterfinals.

Kenny Hayes (14) of Miami, passes to a teammate at the baseline, during the basketball game against Kent State, Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at Millett Hall, in Oxford.

Contributed photo by Robert Leifheit Kenny Hayes (14) of Miami, passes to a teammate at the baseline, during the basketball game against Kent State, Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at Millett Hall, in Oxford.

Photos: 2009 Miami basketball

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:20 AM Thursday, March 11, 2010

OXFORD — For the second straight year Miami University’s basketball team will not take a full head of steam into the Mid-American Conference tournament.

But the RedHawks’ prospects look better than they did a year ago. Much better.

“We came in really hurt last year,” said Miami coach Charlie Coles, whose team has lost four of its last six, just like last March.

“We didn’t have much energy when we got to Cleveland,” he said. “They played hard. Our guys gave a valiant effort. We hope we’re better when we get to Cleveland this year.”

In 2009, Akron beat Miami 73-63 in the quarterfinals. The RedHawks had come to Quicken Loans Arena with two of their top players, Kenny Hayes and Eric Pollitz, out with injuries.

This year, the fourth-seeded RedHawks will play the fifth-seeded Buffalo Bulls for the second time in seven days in the quarterfinals tonight, March 11, at The Q.

“We’re playing a team that basically tied us in the league,” Coles noted. “There’s not really an edge to anybody.”

Miami and Buffalo split during the regular season, each winning convincingly on its home court (Buffalo 73-55 on Jan. 9, Miami 73-62 in the regular-season finale on March 4).

“What can you say? Hopefully it’s not their turn,” Coles said.

The Bulls advanced to the quarterfinals by winning their first-round game over Toledo 72-54, and they’re led by first-team All-MAC selection Rodney Pierce. The 6-foot-2 senior guard is the league’s third-leading scorer at 18.7 points per game.

“They’re the only team in the league to beat both Kent (State) and Akron,” Coles said of Buffalo.

Both wins, however, came on the Bulls’ home court. Buffalo lost 89-54 at Kent State and 77-67 at Akron.

The RedHawks are healthier than they were at this time last year. A nagging leg injury has kept senior center Adam Fletcher out of two games since the start of February, including Miami’s 66-58 loss at Kent State on Feb. 27.

“He should be ready to go,” Coles said. “He’s gotten a lot of rest. He should be able to play two games Thursday.”

The injury, however, might keep Fletcher from playing at full strength.

“It’s not a good situation,” Coles said, “but he’s handled it well and I think we’ve handled it well. When he’s been ready, he’s played, and we beat Western Michigan without him.”

The winner of tonight’s game will play Friday night against the winner of the quarterfinal game between top-seeded Kent State and ninth-seeded Ohio.

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