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Battered Miami faces Bowling Green
RedHawks trying to get over a rash of nagging injuries.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
OXFORD — Pick a guard, any guard.
Miami University basketball coach Charlie Coles probably wishes it were that simple, especially at point guard, as his RedHawks look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight at home against the Bowling Green Falcons.
Extras
Last season, point guard was the one position which gave Coles a sort of steadfast comfort. Senior William Hatcher was his man, day in and day out.
Now Coles has to check with team trainer Mike Young, day in and day out, just to see which point guards are healthy enough to play.
"I don't know where we're at," Coles said Tuesday. "I've got to check with Carl and with Eric, and with the trainer. Alex Moosmann was healthy the last time I saw him."
Coles was being facetious. Moosmann, a freshman point guard, has been perfectly healthy all season, but the Miami coach is taking nothing for granted these days.
Eric Pollitz made his first start last week at Akron on Thursday night, and he played well. But by the time Miami arrived at Buffalo's Alumni Arena for Sunday's game, his ankle was hurting. Pollitz missed the game.
Carl Richburg has missed eight games with a sprained ankle, but returned for the Akron game, played 1 minute and hit a game-tying 3-point shot in the closing seconds. On Sunday he drilled 3-of-4 shots from the arc and scored 11 points in 18 minutes of playing time.
"That was encouraging," Coles said of Richburg's long-range shooting. "What we've got to get him to do better is move better when he's playing defense. He's got a limp there.
"I think he's coming along much better. I think we can use him a little more."
Another RedHawk with a limp is senior center Monty St. Clair, on the mend from a foot injury. He played only 5 minutes against Cincinnati, sat out the Kent State game, and has played 8 and 9 minutes, respectively, in Miami's last two contests.
"Monty is the kind of guy who plays with any injury, and sometimes you mean well but you're not as effective," Coles said. "But I think he's feeling better."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
