Franklin graduation 2012
Badin graduation 2012
Carroll graduation 2012
Miami Basketball NCAA Tournament
Wednesday's Miami Notebook
Miami coach: Akron's omission from NIT 'criminal'
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
OXFORD — The mid-major syndrome has claimed a couple more victims, prompting a reaction of disgust from the Miami University basketball team.
The RedHawks (18-14) will travel to Spokane, Wash., to meet Oregon in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, and Toledo (19-12) began National Invitation Tournament play at Florida State on Tuesday.
Extras
But fellow Mid-American Conference squads Akron (26-7) and Kent State (21-11) got shut out of the postseason dance. The Zips' exclusion was particularly baffling.
"I think that's a slap in the face to the league," MU senior guard Doug Penno said. "With us already being a one-bid league for the tournament, to make us a one-bid league for the NIT, I think that's ridiculous.
"Kent State has a great team, and Akron's a team that really could've done some damage — maybe in the tournament, but at least in the NIT," he added. "There's no reason they shouldn't have been getting a home game in the NIT."
RedHawks coach Charlie Coles made a face when the subject was brought up.
"It's criminal," he said. "How could you be on the NIT committee and not let Akron in there? That question's got to be asked. I'm upset about it because that means somebody isn't watching out for us. And that's not good."
These Ducks can fly
Oregon, the Pacific 10 Conference Tournament champion, isn't a No. 3 seed on a fluke. The Ducks are extremely fast, balanced and like to let it fly.
As a team, Oregon is averaging 76.4 points per game and has converted 313-of-813 treys. That's 38.5 percent.
Miami, meanwhile, is scoring 59.6 points a contest and has made 162-of-488 attempts (33.2 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc.
Oxford, Ind.?
MU senior forward Nathan Peavy, a Dayton native, admits he wasn't much of a Miami fan growing up.
"I never really knew where Miami was," said Peavy, a Chaminade-Julienne High graduate. "I thought it was probably in Indiana or something. I was more of a (University of Cincinnati) fan. My stepdad was affiliated with UC. He used to play there back in the day and took me to a couple UC games.
"I followed college basketball a lot," he continued. "I was a big tourney fan when I was younger. I used to mark my names down, make my predictions, stuff like that. I never thought I'd be playing in it. It's just a great feeling to be that person on the other end of the stick."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.
