MU basketball roster includes big changes RedHawks open season Monday at App State ![]() By MIKE SMITH Miami and other MAC teams still have four more regular season football games to play, but basketball officially kicks off its 2024-25 season Monday night. All 12 MAC hoop teams will be in action, with all of them on the road, as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge -- a scheduling alliance between the Mid-American and Sunbelt Conferences. Miami faces Appalachian State in Monday's (5:30 p.m.) opener at Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, NC. The next two games are at Millett Hall as MU hosts Wright State Saturday (Nov. 9, 1 p.m.) and Maryland Eastern Shore Tuesday (Nov. 12, 7 p.m.). Certainly, there will be some . . . ![]() . . . familiar faces in the RedHawks lineup, but there will also be new names, several of whom will likely play significant roles for the 2024-25 RedHawks. If you are going to one of the early games, listening on radio or watching (ESPN+), do yourself a favor and print out an updated roster. We will include a link at the end of this article. In the meantime, we give you several questions, notes and quotes concerning this year's team. The quotes were provided by associate head coach Jonathan Holmes, who filled in for head coach Travis Steele during Monday's opening press conference. Steele was unavailable due to a late familiy commitment. >> What was Miami's record last year? The RedHawks finished 2023-24 with an overall record of 15-17. After being picked for 11th in a preseason MAC poll, they went 9-9 in Mid-American Conference play. Eight of 12 MAC teams qualified for the conference tournament. MU was a No. 8 seed and lost to eventual MAC champion Akron in opening round play. >> What year is this (as MU head coach) for Travis Steele. Last year was his first year at the RedHawks helm, so he is entering year two. >> What are MU's biggest roster losses from last year? Five of the top six scorers are gone. Center/Forward Anderson Mirambeau led the team in scoring (12.7 ppg) and also gave Miami a physical presence inside that it had lacked for some time. Darweshi Hunter, who transferred in from Northern Illinois, was also in double figures, averaging 11.9 ppg. He provided considerable experience and hit several key shots among his 285 field goals on the campaign. Bryce Bultman, who led MU in rebounding (4.8 rpg), is gone, along with 6-8 forward Jaquel Morris. The latter -- a Brooklyn native -- had improved his game considerably at Miami, but is now with Saint Peters. Guards Bradley Dean and Ryan Mabry, who combined to average 13.8 ppg. are also gone. ![]() Given the personnel losses, will the RedHawks have enough to compete/win? "I think what ends up happening is that with each new year, you have new guys emerge (and) step up," Holmes said. "We do have a lot of guys (returning) who played considerable minutes last year. I think those guys had (around) 70 starts. . . . With the addition of (new) guys . . . we've got a group that I think is poised to be balanced. I have no doubt that we will be able to bridge that (scoring) gap." >> Sooooo ... who's back? A key returnee is Eian Elmer. The 6-6 forward from Cincinnati scored in double figures 11 times during his freshman campaign. Overall, he averaged 18.6 minutes per game and averaged 7.0 ppg. He connected on 52.4 percent from the field overall and 40.3 percent from beyond the arc. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds per outing. Guards Evan Ipsaro (6.5 ppg) and Mekhi Cooper (6.3 ppg) are back for their sophomore campaigns and could be important ball distributors for some of the new talent available. Reece Potter (7-1, 215) played in 26 contests as a freshman, averaging 14.2 minutes per game. He contributed 6.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg with a season-best 17 points against Bowling Green (Jan. 16). Potter connected on 45.5 percent from beyond the arc but hit just 62.2 percent at the free throw line. Jackson Kotecki, a 6-9 forward, averaged just 7.5 minutes per game as a RedHawk last year. However, he could see more minutes this year as part of an overall stronger group along the baseline. ![]() >> Who are the newcomers? Among the newcomers, several transfers figure to play key roles during the season. Kam Craft is a redshirt sophomore who was a four-star recruit out of high school and comes to Miami via Xavier. He saw limited action for the Musketeers as a freshman during the 2022-23 season (Steele's last year at the Xavier helm). Craft then sat out 2023-24 due to an injury. The 6-6 wingman could be a significant scoring contributor. During his senior season at The Skill Factory in Atlanta (GA), he averaged 21.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg. and 2.5 apg. He also connected on 44.4 percent from beyond the arc and 89.2 percent at the foul line. Antwone Woolfolk is a 6-9, 235-pound Cleveland native who was coached in high school by former Miami standout Chet Mason. Woolfolk subsequently spent two seasons at Rutgers. His size and experience in Big Ten play could help as MU moves on from two years with Mirambeaux around the rim. Woolfolk appeared in 27 games last year, averaging 12.9 minutes, 3.3 ppg and 3.1 rpg. Peter Suder is a 6-5 junior guard out of Carmel, Ind and comes to Miami via Bellarmine. He averaged 9.9 ppg there in 2022-23 and 10.2 ppg last year. He connected on 41.1 percent from the field last year but sank just 24.0 percent from beyond the arc. Suder grabbed 4.3 rpg and dished out 3.3 assists per contest last year. Dan Luers is a 6-5 guard who graduated from Fenwick H.S. (Middletown,OH) and spent the last three years at Eastern Illinois. He played in 32 games for the Panthers last year, averaging 23.1 minutes and 6.8 ppg. He connected on 42.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent on threes and 87.0 percent at the stripe. ![]() >> Given the losses and additions, will there be enough experience/leadership? "You look at a guy like Antwone Woolfolk, who has played in the Big Ten, a guy like Pete Suder, who's played a lot of college basketball (and) Dan Luers -- an older guy," Holmes said. "Their leadership is going to be invaluable for our guys . . . We'll lean on them a lot." >> In the big picture, will there be enough talent to provide quality depth? "I think it is going to be one of our strengths," Holmes said. "We have depth; we have versatility." >> What is the non-conference schedule like? Wright State is the only local team on the schedule, and MU meets the Raiders early (Nov. 9 at Millett Hall). Other home games bring in Maryland Eastern Shore, Siena, Air Force, Bethany (WV), Sacred Heart and Defiance. Away games include trips to Michigan and No. 17 Indiana among others. Miami opens MAC play Jan. 4 when it hosts Buffalo. ![]() "It's important always to challenge your guys in the non-conference and give them great experiences, " Holmes said, noting in particular venues such as Michigan and Indiana, as well as a tournament in Fort Meyers. >> What are the key stat areas that need improvement this year? Holmes pointed to pace of play and offensive rebounding as areas getting special attention for 2024-25. PACE OF PLAY: "I think we want to get up and down the floor a little bit more and create a little more tempo -- maybe be a little faster than we were last year. OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING: Miami was last among MAC teams in offensive rebounds (8.0 per game) "Obviously, we have to do a much better job on the offensive glass." >> Where did Miami fit in the coaches preseason poll? The RedHawks were predicted to finish sixth among 12 teams. Ohio was first, followed by Akron, Kent State, Toledo and Bowling Green. After Miami in six, Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Buffalo followed. (FULL STORY HERE) Check out full Miami Basketball Roster HERE
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Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. Archives
February 2025
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