DaytonDailyNews.com

SPOKANE, Wash. — Alex Moosmann will be right in the line of fire today, and the Miami University guard can't wait.

"Playing in the state championship game last year was the biggest game I've ever played in, but this is a humongous stage," Moosmann said Thursday after the RedHawks basketball team practiced at Spokane Arena in preparation for today's NCAA Tournament game against Oregon. "It's just unreal. It's going to be great. That's the only way I can describe it."

Moosmann led St. Francis Borgia Regional to the Missouri Class 4 championship as a senior. Now, as a true freshman, he's set to be a key figure in the biggest game of his career to this point.

The Ducks are a guard-driven squad that's loaded with quickness and long-range shooting ability. No doubt they will try to challenge the MU freshman.

"We've played a lot of quick teams this year," Moosmann said. "I would say Toledo was the quickest. I had some turnovers against them, but I don't think I was flustered. I just know I have to be able to handle Oregon's pressure."

Miami coach Charlie Coles said Oregon isn't a traditional team. The Ducks will use all five starters on the perimeter at times, and that creates difficult matchups.

"If you've got a good ballclub, that makes teams guard you all over the floor," Coles said. "A lot of people look at Oregon and see a bunch of outside shooting. But on further investigation, their outside shooting becomes very, very dangerous because they use dribble penetration to set that up."

Coles said you must have a strong inside presence — he used Ohio State as an example — to give a team like Oregon matchup problems.

RedHawks forward Tim Pollitz said one of the keys for Miami is simple fundamentals.

"Get your hands up," he said. "Get your hands up on their shots. When they pass to the wing, our hands are up flying."

Oregon only has one senior in its starting lineup — guard Aaron Brooks. Like MU, the Ducks start a true freshman, 5-foot-6 Tajuan Porter. He's averaging 14.4 points per game.

Pollitz and Moosmann compared Oregon to Toledo. Miami's Doug Penno compared Oregon to Ohio University. Coles compared Oregon to Xavier.

"I definitely think they're on to something," Coles said. "Those guys are not only quick, but they're very good players."

Bryce Taylor is the Ducks' second-leading scorer (14.8) behind Brooks (17.6).

"We've been shooting the ball extremely well," Taylor said. "We've waited and worked a lot to get to this point. So we will seize this moment."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.