Struggling RedHawks searching for answers

Miami gets no schedule break with game at 10-4 Kent State tonight.

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Updated 10:13 AM Wednesday, January 11, 2012

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — Miami University’s 65-60 loss to Akron last weekend was a another strong effort by a young, undermanned team which fell short.

The same thing happened against Xavier and Vanderbilt. And there were the close losses to Wright State and Evansville.

“We can’t sit here and say, ‘Guys, we’ll get the next one’ after every single game,” Miami junior Julian Mavunga said.

It should not be a surprise if Mavunga is getting impatient with a season that has yet to start clicking. It’s his senior season, the RedHawks are 4-9 or worse for the second time in three years and things won’t get any easier tonight with Miami playing at Kent State.

RedHawks coach Charlie Coles said it’s not a matter of his players failing to work hard, showing improvement or having potential.

“I’m really enjoying practice. If I didn’t have to look at our record, I’d be the happiest man in the world,” Coles said.

“You know what? If we can get this down, we can be a pretty dangerous group,” he said. “I’m not crying. I think our starting five match up ... I find solace that we can get better.”

But if the RedHawks want to be in the running for a high seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, they’d better hurry up.

And that means everybody on the roster.

“It can’t be two guys or five guys or seven,” Mavunga said. “It’s got to be everybody playing together. Down the stretch we just have to figure out how to do it collectively.

“But as coach Coles says, we’ve got to do it now,” he said. “It’s something we have to figure out.”

Kent State, coming off a 66-65 loss at Buffalo in its league opener, is the MAC preseason favorite to win it all.

The Flashes are led by 6-foot-8 senior forward Justin Greene (11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game), 6-1 junior guard Randal Holt (11.6 points) and 6-4 senior guard Carlton Guyton (10.4 points).

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

Today’s game

Who: Miami RedHawks (4-8, MAC) at Kent State Golden Flashes (10-4, 0-1 MAC)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: MAC Center (6,327)

TV: None

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450)

Series: Miami leads 85-43

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