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Hayes has Coles feeling good about his guards
Coach says his 2nd-leading returning scorer is the best point guard the team has had since William Hatcher three seasons ago.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
OXFORD — Ever since William Hatcher played his final game as a senior three seasons ago, Miami University basketball coach Charlie Coles has searched for a point guard who could do it all.
He finally found one, he said, in Kenny Hayes.
And just in time, too, since Coles wants Miami to play more of an up-tempo game this year.
Hayes, a 6-foot senior from Clayton Northmont High School, transferred to Miami in 2007 after playing for Cincinnati State Community College. He takes over at point guard after playing mostly the two-guard position last season.
In fact, Coles has three point guards, also including senior Carl Richburg and true freshman Kramer Soderberg, and in some situations he plans to use two at a time. But it's Hayes who will remain on the court the bulk of the minutes.
"It looks good," Coles said. "I think it'll be good that we have three guys who can play the point-guard position. We can play two at a time. You've got two ball-handlers, and if you look at teams across the country, they have two guards who can dribble and pass, and that's important to a team."
Hayes is the second-leading returning scorer for the RedHawks, who open against Weber State tonight, Nov. 12, at the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer event in Los Angeles.
Last season, Hayes averaged 12.1 points and ranked second on the team in 3-point shooting (37.9 percent) and free-throw accuracy (79.5 percent), while finishing third in assists (59) and fourth in steals (17).
"I thought Kenny had a pretty good year last year for a first-year player," Coles said. "I think you'll see him be more consistent this year."
Hayes totaled 12 points, five assists, two steals and no turnovers in Miami's 66-54 exhibition victory over Saginaw Valley State last week.
Alex Moosmann started 23 games at point guard last season, averaging 3.0 points and 1.0 assists, but has since transferred away from Miami. Eric Pollitz also played some point guard last year, but he will be mostly a two-guard as a senior.
"Oh yeah, it'll be improved," Coles said of the point-guard position. "I think that's a strength of our team for the first time in a long while."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197
or pconrad@coxohio.com.
