MIAMI NOTEBOOK

RedHawks resume chase for first MAC win

By MIKE SMITH

GIFT WILL BENEFIT HOOPS PROGRAM
Miami recently announced a plan to provide some additional financial assistance to RedHawk men's basketball team members. 
The $2 million gift from Alumni Brian and Jennifer Niccol supplements regular scholarship funds. Half ($5,980) of the funs go to each player in annual payments, provided the players meet academic qualifications and remain eligible. The other half goes into a fun that players can use after graduating. 
Reported by Marcus Hartman for the Journal-News, it is further detailed in a WCPO story that can be found HERE.
After attending Miami, the Nichols met while later living in Cincinnati. Brian Niccol is currently chairman of the goard of directors and chieft executive officer for Chipotle Mexican Grill.

BUFFALO NEXT UP FOR REDHAWKS
-- Through 20 minutes last Friday, it looked like the Miami RedHawks were about to end a 20-game series losing streak against Toledo. The Rockets, however, turned up their . . .

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. . . defense after intermission and eventually pulled out a 68-64 win. Miami's next chance to break that streak is when UT visits Millett Hall on Tuesday March 5. That is the next-to-last game of regular season play. 
-- In the meantime, MU resumes its bid for MAC win No. 1 Tuesday at Buffalo. Although on the road, Miami (6-8 overall, 0-2 MAC) is favored. That may have something to do with UB's 2-12 non-conference record. Lest we forget, however, Western Michigan was 3-9 before opening MAC play with a road win at Miami.
-- Buffalo also opened its MAC schedule with a win, defeating Central Michigan 76-64 in Mount Pleasant. The Bulls fell to Western Michigan Saturday, 82-77.
-- Miami and UB split two meetings last year, with MU winning 91-80 Jan. 10 in Oxford and the hosting Bulls edging Miami 68-63 March 3. In the latter, MU shot 47.1 percent from the field while the Bulls made 39.0 percent. Unfortunately for Miami, the Bulls had a 40-25 rebound advantage and shot/made six more free throws. 
-- Both those stats categories have been issues this year. The RedHawks (and Central Michigan) rank last among MAC teams in rebounding (32.4 rpg). MU is eighth in team free throw percentage (68.2%).
Buffalo, meanwhile, is third in rebounding (37.1 rpg) and fourth in free throws (71.7%).
Buffalo finished third among MAC teams in scoring last year (78.8 ppg), but is currenly 11th with an average of 68.6 ppg). Defensively, the Bulls are last (79.0 ppg). 
Miami ranks seventh in offense (74.0 ppg) and is fifth in defense (72.1 ppg). 
-- The RedHawks strength has been been 3-point shooting percentage. Miami tops the MAC, hitting 38.1 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. Only Akron has made more treys (130 to MU's 123). Buffalo is last in 3-point percentage (26.0%).
-- The return of Anderson Mirambeaux and progress of 7-1 freshman Reece Potter has helped Miami's offense. However, there is work to be done on rebounding, as well as opponent second chance points and points in the paint.
-- Miami ranks fifth in turnover average (13.1 pergame) and fourth in turnover margin (0.79). Part of the issue there is MU can be inconsistent. After one turnover in the first half at Toledo, the RedHawks registered nine turnovers in the second half, contributing to UT's successful comeback. 
-- Toledo's second period half-court defense not only created turnovers, it pressured RedHawk shooters. Miami slipped from 51.6 percent from the field before intermission to 37.0 percent in the final 20 minutes. 
Suffice it to say, missing point guard Evan Ipsaro and guard Bradley Dean due to injury probably didn't help at Toledo. Granted, Ipsaro is just a freshman, but his toughness and scoring potential is already a plus. 
-- Buffalo has two players averaging double figures. Forwards Sy Chatman (18.8 ppg) and Isaiah Adams (13.2 ppg) lead the way. The former has secored at least 21 points in each of the last five games and has made 49 percent of his field goal attempts in 2023-24. Jonnivius Smith, a 6-9 senior tops UB rebounders with 9.5 caroms per outing, with 13 and 15 in his two MAC games to date).