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Sports TwitterEXHIBITION basketball Miami 66, Saginaw Valley State 54
MU coach sees plenty to work on
Despite the victory, Coles expects better out of the RedHawks' tempo, defense and free-throw shooting.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
OXFORD — The Miami University basketball team would love to run a quicker, more up-tempo game this season. In fact, the RedHawks intend to.
But first thing's first.
"Right now, our guys aren't playing hard enough to go up-tempo," Miami coach Charlie Coles said following the RedHawks' 66-54 exhibition victory over Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Millett Hall.
"I would love to go up-tempo," Coles said after making his first game appearance since missing the final seven contests last season because of health issues that included heart surgery. "But we get the ball, and our guards don't get it up court. We would love to (get it up court). Honest. I don't tell them not to."
The Miami coach said it "takes a lot of good defensive effort to do that," and he wasn't crazy about his team's defensive play against Saginaw Valley State, either.
The Cardinals' Dante Williams led all scorers with 18 points and four 3-point baskets, and early in the second half, SVS led the RedHawks 28-27.
"Saginaw Valley did a good job in the first half," Coles said of the team that is coached by Frankie Smith, his former assistant. "I'm very disappointed in our defense. We allowed drives. We allowed things that in practice we don't allow to happen. For them to get as many points in the paint as they did surprised and disappointed me."
Miami senior center-forward Tyler Dierkers, who contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals, said the RedHawks "came out a little lethargic ... but in the second half we really imposed our will on them."
A 15-2 run early in the second half allowed the RedHawks to take control, and an 11-0 run later in the period allowed them to keep it.
The RedHawks were led in scoring by sophomore Antonio Ballard, who came off the bench to score 16 points and grab eight rebounds. Senior point guard Kenny Hayes added 12 points, and Michael Bramos and Nick Winbush each scored eight.
"Another concern of mine," said Coles — who never has been overly positive after the first exhibition game or early in the regular season — "is that we can't shoot free throws."
Miami made 10-of-23 from the foul line.
"You've got to do better than that," Coles said.
The RedHawks open their regular season against Weber State at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in Los Angeles at the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.
