MIAMI NOTES

• RedHawks vs Bobcats -- matchup of quality teams
• Free tickets for final home game
• Falcon coaching surprise

By MIKE SMITH
After bashing Northern Illinois Tuesday, Miami will face a much tougher challenge Saturday.
Going to Athens is tough enough. The Bobcats have lost just two games at the Convocation Center this year. The only Mid-American Conference home loss was to Toledo (86-83) back on Jan. 28. Ohio is second among MAC teams in attendance (4,225 per game), and its safe to speculate that they can pretty much pack the Convo for a Saturday afternoon battle against rival Miami.

The MAC Men's Basketball . . . 

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Vic Searls is a 6-9 senior. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . Preseason Coaches Poll picked the Bobcats to finish first in the conference. Aj Clayton was a First Team Preseason All-MAC selection, while Shereef Mitchell and AJ Brown were named to the Second Team.

Saturday will mark the 217th time Miami and Ohio have faced off. The RedHawks head into this game trailing in the series 120-96. Ohio has the advantage at home in the series, 73-27.

It's been an up-and-down year on paper, with Ohio bringing a 15-13 overall record to the weekend. It is 9-6 in MAC play. Injuries account for some of the issues, with junior forward Aidan Hadaway and senior forward AJ Clayton missing time. The former had surgery is is likely out for the season. Clayton is back, but missed the 'Cats game in Oxford. Miami won that contest 73-69. 

Since that contest, the Green and White have gone 4-3. The highlight of that run came a week ago when Ohio knocked off previously MAC-undefeated Akron 84-67.  It was a dominating performance, with the 'Cats leading by 27 points before winning by 17. Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke led the winning effort with 21 points. Clayton (18) and AJ Brown also reached double figures. 

Looking back and the first meeting against Miami, Ohio trailed by nine at intermission but pulled within one with 15 seconds to go. Shereef Mitchell led the 'Cats with 20 points. Peter Suder (15) and Kam Craft led Miami.

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That RedHawks victory was part of a five-game win streak. They then dropped back-to-back games at Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan before boucing back for a dramatic 96-92 overtime win over Kent State.

The Bobcats and Miami are near the top in several statistical categories. 
• Miami is second in scoring offense (81.6 ppg). Ohio is third (79.8 ppg).
• Miami is first in field goal percentage (48.7). Ohio is next (46.9 ppg).
• Miami is first in team 3-point percentage (39.5%). Ohio is third (35.6%).
• Miami is first in turnover margin (2.68). Ohio is second (2.04).
• Miami is third in assist/turnover ration (1.33). Ohio is fourth (1.31). 

Brant Byers is having a productive freshman campaign. (MVSmith/MRO)

'Resurging' RedHawks?
It's a little early to say that. The two road losses in one week probably brought MU down to early a bit after the RedHawks had won 13 of 14 games. 
•  Among the 'notables" from those losses was rebounding. The Broncos out-rebounded MU 54-26 in a 78-70 Western Michigan victory. They also out-scored the 'Hawks 48-34 in the paint. It's probably an area of concern, particularly if WMU ends up as Miami's first-round foe in the MAC tourney. It's very possible at this stage. 
• As for Eastern Michigan, the rebounding was relatively close, but EMU connected on 50 percent from the field. The RedHawks hit on just 23.1 percent on threes, well below their 39.5 percent average for the year.  They also connected on 62.5 percent from the free throw line. 
• Freshman Brant Byers only scored two points against Eastern Michigan, but he has been in double figures in four of the last six games. He tied for team-high honors against NIU, hitting 7 of 8 shots (4 of 5 threes) on the way to 22 points. He has now reached double figures in 13 games He has connected on 51.2 percent from the field and 43.0 percent on treys for the season. 
• Antwone Woolfolk continues to lead the MAC in field goal percentage (62.1%). He is, however, 23th in field goal attempts (95). 

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Eian Elmer has reached double figurs in five of his last seven games. (MVSmith/MRO)

 Kam Craft is second in 3-point goals per game (2.7). He is 22nd in scoring (13.3 ppg). He's been in double figures in two of the last seven games (11 vs EMU, 40 vs Toledo). 
• Sophomore Eian Elmer tied for team-high honors (22 points) against NIU and has reached double figures in five of the last seven outings. 
• Miami has reached 21 wins in a season for the first time since 1998-99 and set a new record for the most consecutive home wins (14) in a single season. The RedHawks have also secured the program's most MAC wins since 2005-06.

FREEBIE TICKETS FOR FINALES
• Miami men's basketball has one home basketball remaining -- a season finale against Ball State at 6 p.m. Friday, March 7. Thanks to President Greg and Dr. Renate Crawford, complimentary tickets are available for this - as well as the women's basketball finale (1 p.m. on Saturday, March 8). The women's time has put together a nice season (17-9 overall, 9-6 MAC). Like the men's team, it has already qualified for the MAC tournament. Enjulina Gonzalez (17.1 ppg) ranks third among MAC scorers. 

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET REQUESTS

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MAC FOOTBALL COACHING SURPRISE
• Some times are worse than others for coaching changes. Most collegiate programs are prepping for their spring work. Bowling Green has another priority as it will need to regroup soon after head football coach Scot Loeffler announced he has accepted a position as quarterback coach for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Throughout his career, Loeffler has coached eight quarterbacks who went on to play in the NFL – Tom Brady, Tim Tebow, Brian Griese, Chad Henne, Drew Henson, John Navarre, Logan Thomas and Anthony Brown. Those eight quarterbacks have won a combined 10 Super Bowl championships. 
Loeffler departs BGSU after six seasons, leading the Falcons to three straight bowl games. BGSU has immediately launched a national search for its next head football coach.