DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — When opponents watch Miami University's Tyler Dierkers play basketball, they get confused.

It's because the 6-foot-8, 235-pound junior from Cincinnati is a forward who plays center as if he were a guard.

"Tyler's done a wonderful job," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "Very seldom do you see a center leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio. He's got twice as many assists as any of our guards."

Dierkers leads Miami with 4.0 assists per game. The main beneficiary of his ability to pass for points has been Tim Pollitz, who leads Miami in scoring (16.1) and whose 54.9 percent field goal shooting is second on the team only to Dierkers' 55.8 percent.

"Throughout my career I've always done well with other big men, especially players like Tim," Dierkers said. "It's my job to deliver and his job to finish, and he does that very well."

Dierkers said he did the same thing when he played at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, where he played his natural position — big forward.

"Tim's a little shorter, but one of the strongest guys I've ever been around," Dierkers said. "He uses his body and legs so well to get position. He creates a space for me to throw the ball to him.

"I kinda know what he's thinking down there, what he's trying to do with his defender," Dierkers said. "We're on the same page."

Despite the RedHawks' recent struggles, having lost three straight heading into Saturday's contest at Ohio University, Dierkers has given the team consistent play on both offense and defense, thanks in part to his increased bulk and strength.

"It's helped a little bit, but it's been a struggle to maintain the weight I gained over the summer," said Dierkers, who said he has added 15 to 20 pounds to his frame.

"I've never been one of the bigger guys," he said. "Before I came here, I played the four position. The five (center) is not my natural body type."

Dierkers' ability to get the ball to Pollitz has improved his own standing as an offensive threat. In his first two years at Miami he had not scored more than eight points in a game. On Dec. 29, he poured in 18 against Cincinnati.

"Defenses have been keying on (Pollitz), and that leaves me open on offense," Dierkers said. "It allows me to be a little more aggressive one-on-one."

Coles hasn't had many good things to say about his team lately. Dierkers is an exception.

"It used to be that Tyler had potential, and that's what we talked about," the Miami coach said. "Now you're talking about him actually putting his potential into action. He's showing what he can do.

"He's the most unselfish kid I've seen in years." Coles continued. "If I were a player, I would love to have that kid as a teammate because he's for the team all the way."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.