MIAMI BASKETBALL

MIAMI NOTEBOOK -- Monday, 2-10-25

Evan Ipsaro led MU scoring against Troy. (MVSmith/MRO)

It's back to Mid-American Conference play Tuesday, and the Miami RedHawks come back to a BIG matchup. 
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Toledo (8-2 MAC, 15-8 overall) is just one game behind MU (9-1 MAC, 18-5 overall), in the standings. This is the only meeting between the two schools, so head-to-head results would be focused on this one meeting. There are still eight conference games left before MAC Tourney time.

Eight of 12 MAC teams get to Cleveland. If the the tourney was held today, obviously MAC-undefeated Akron (10-0 MAC, 18-5 overall) would be the No. 1 seed. That would pit UA against the No. 8 seed. Miami - currently a No. 2 seed -- would open first round action against the No. 7 seed. 

Four teams currently . . . 

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Mekhi Cooper dishes off a pass against Troy (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . have 4-6 conference records: Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. With five teams above them, those four need to make sure they MAKE the eight-team field. Bowling Green 3-7 MAC) is just a game behind them. Buffalo (2-8 MAC) and Northern Illinois (1-9) look like longshots barring a late season surge. 

Last year, Miami made it to Cleveland as a No. 7 seed. Both MU and Western Michigan had 9-9 conference marks, but the Broncos won both meetings for a tiebreaker advantage. 

Toledo was the regular season champ, cliaming the No. 1 seed. That matched them with No. 8 Kent State. The Flashes, however, knocked off UT 67-59 in the tourney's very first game. KSU then beat Bowling Green 73-60 before falling to Akron 62-61 in the championship tilt. An unnecessary foul with eight seconds left gave Akron two free throws. Greg Tribble made both for points that ultimately proved decisive, and the No. 8 seed Flashes ended up one point short. 

The moral? High seeds are no guarantee, but seeds CAN be important. 

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Luke Skaljac shoots from the corner against Troy. The freshman connected on 3 of 3 treys in his last MAC contest (CMU). (MVSmith/MRO)

ABOUT TOLEDO/MIAMI
• The Rockets are riding a five-game winning streak, with the most recent victory being a 72-69 victory over James Madison last Saturday.
•  UT's two MAC losses were at Akron (85-78, Jan. 7) and against Kent State (83-64, Jan. 21). 
•  In last year's two meetings, the Rockets defeated Miami 68-64 in Oxford and 97-63 in Toledo. 
• Toledo's offense ranks second in MAC scoring (81.6 ppg). Miami (81.5 ppg) is just a tenth of a points back. 
However, the RedHawks are fifth in conference scoring defense (74.9 ppg). Toledo is eighth (78 ppg).
MU is second in conference scoring margin (6.6 ppg), while UT is fifth (3.6 ppg). 
• Miami leads the conference in (MAC) 3-point goal percentage (39.1%). Toledo is fifth (36.0%). 
The RedHawks are third (MAC) in made 3-pointers (9.3 per game). UT is 10th (6.3 per game). 
• Toledo leads the MAC in free throws made (193) and free throw percentage (78.8%). 
Miami is fifth in both free throws made (160) and free throw percentage (74.8%). 
• Akron is averaging 36.8 rebounds per MAC contest, while Miami is at 33.5 per MAC outing. 
•  Two Rockets are among the top four in MAC scoring: Sonny Wilson and Sam Lewis are both averaging 16.3 ppg in MAC play. 

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• UT's Javan Simmons is second among MAC rebounders (9.2 rpg, MAC). Miami forward Antwone Woolfolk is fifth (6.2 rpg MAC).
• Woolfolk leads the conference in (MAC) field goal percentage (65.5%).
• Toledo's Bryce Ford tops the loop in 3-point percentage (48.4%). MU's Reece Potter (47.4%) is second, while Brant Byers (44.9%) is third. 
• Four Rockets are averaging double figures in on the year: Sonny Wilson (15.6), Sam Lewis (15.3), Javan Simmons (12.3) and Isaiah Adams (10.5). 
• Toledo has won at least 20 games in six of the last eight seasons. It's current scoring rate of 77.3 ppg is higher than in any of those campaigns. 
• TOURNAMENT DROUGHT: The Rockets' last NCAA tournament appearance was in 1979-78. 
Miami last appeared in the Big Dance in 2006-07.
•  Miami center Reece Potter has missed the last two games. However, head coach Travis Steele said he was hopeful Potter would be available for Toledo. 
OTHER
•  Miami's home game against Kent State has been moved to Friday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. for national television and will be aired on CBS Sports Network. 

Eian Elmer has connected on 49.7 percent from the field and is averaging 11.5 ppg this year. (MVSmith/MRO)