MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks need to tame red-hot Chippewas

By MIKE SMITH
It is starting to look like this year's Miami RedHawks basketball team actually has TWO personalities. Maybe its not exactly Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, but we could call it Dr. J and Mr. Slide.

Dr. J would be the RedHawks team that knocked off MAC co-leader Akron back on Jan. 27 and dominated Ball State Feb. 17. Mr. Slide is more like the RedHawks team that has slid to losses in four of its last five games. 

Only two games in that stretch were at home, and Miami split those outings. MU losl to Northern Illinois 62-59 and cruised past Ball State 80-59.

Which Miami team will show up Saturday when . . .

---

. . . the RedHawks battle Central Michigan? The Chippewas are a big of a surprise this year as their 10-3 MAC record has them just one game behind Akron in the loss column. They have won three straight and eight of their last nine. 

Among its MAC victories is a decisive 71-55 triumph over Miami back on Jan. 23 in Mount Pleasant. 

As has been the case on several other Miami losses of late, the RedHawks struggled on offense. Hitting just one of nine treys while scoring just 20 first half points, they found themselves down by 18 (38-20) at intermission. Although MU cut the margin to eight points with 5:19 remaining, the RedHawks could not catch CMU. 

Miami has been hurt by several teams that got hot from beyond the arc this year, but Central Michigan shot just 17.6 percent on threes in that first meeting. However, it registered four more field goals overall and had a 10-point advantage in made free throws. 

The Chippewas also out-rebounded Miami 42-30 and outscored the visiters 42-28 in the paint.

Individually, junior guard Anthony Pritchard (13.4 ppg) led Central Michigan with 18 points. Brian Taylor (14) and Markus Harding (11) were also in double figures. 

One week ago, Central Michigan pummeled rival Western Michigan 69-42. Miami last outing resulted in a 77-58 loss to WMU. Most recently, CMU edged Bowling Green 62-60 in overtime. 

MORE:
-- Miami holds a 56-25 all-time advantage in the series, although Central Michigan is currently on a three-game win streak vs. Redhawks. A win on Saturday would give CMU its second straight sweep vs. Miami. In games played at Miami, CMU is 9-28.
-- Miami (6-7 MAC)  is currently tied for sixth place in the MAC standings. The top eight will play in the post-season MAC tournament. Buffalo (2-11), Northern Illinois (3-10) and Eastern Michigan (3-10) look doubtful, but MU is among four teams in jeopardy of falling into the final group of four who would stay home come tournament time. Five games remain. 
-- CMU was picked to finish last in the MAC preseason coaches poll.
-- Central Michigan needs a victory and Ball State loss to clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, March 14-16 at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
-- Central Michigan is averaging 66.7 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 69.4 points per game. 
-- This season, the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 25th in the country in bench points with an average of 28.19 per game.
--  The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 74th in the nation in assists per game (14.9). Miami also ranks 106th nationally and third in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.26).
-- Miami is currently ranked 71st in the country (fourth in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (36.1%). 

TRAVIS STEEL INTERVIEW (FEB. 22) -- CLICK HERE

Chart courtesy CMU Athletics