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Miami (OH) Preview
Miami (OH) Preview
Whacker
Published by Whacker
11-27-2007
Smile Miami (OH) Preview

CINCINNATI (OH) – Dayton (3-1) travels to Oxford Wednesday night to face Miami (3-1). The red crushed velvet curtains and mustard-yellow bathrooms are anathema to the Flyers who last won there in 2000 and are just 1-12 in Oxford dating back to the 83-84 season.

Miami was picked to finish second in the MAC East Division in a poll of the league's coaches and the MAC News Media Association. The RedHawks received 9 first-place votes behind Kent State who was predicted to finish first in the East Division with 10 first-place votes.

Head coach Charlie Coles in his twelfth year at Miami returns a balanced team with his trademark suffocating man-to-man defense and a balanced motion offense. Last season Miami was the only NCAA Division I team to hold every one of its opponents to under 70 points and the stingy Miami defense has yet to yield 70 points this season either. They beat Xavier, South Alabama and Mississippi St and took USC down to the wire before losing 53-57 in the Anaheim Classic.

The RedHawks are anchored by All-Conference and MAC Tournament MVP senior forward Tim Pollitz (6-5 238). Pollitz averages 18 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

"When he plays well, it gives us a chance to be a very good team," Coles said.

Pollitz is coolly efficient, carving up opposing defenses with an arsenal of shots and shooting 60% from the floor. He is a tough match-up for opposing defenses because he can score in the low-blocks, hit jumpers or beat his defender off the dribble. He rarely takes a bad shot and rarely misses an open one.

Pollitz is relentless on the boards and punishes teams on the offensive glass when they don’t get a body on him. Pollitz is also an active defender who gets many deflections and leads the team in steals. When he recognizes the double-team early enough he is a deft passer and creates open shots for his teammates. As teams run more people from a variety of positions it’s harder for Pollitz to recognize the double-team and he will turn it over.

Junior wing Michael Bramos (6-5 221) leads the team in scoring at 21.3 points per game and is shooting 48% from the floor and 38% on three-point attempts. Bramos is excellent moving without the ball to create open shots and rarely makes bad decisions. He averages 5.3 rebounds per game, can play three positions and is a strong defender.

Junior Kenny Hayes (6-0 161) was a Junior College All-American at Cincinnati State last year and brings valuable experience to a young backcourt. Hayes is a streaky shooter with a quick first step who is still adjusting to the pace of the Division I game. Hayes will force shots and make poor decisions, but he has a green light from Coles. Like Dayton, Miami has a dearth of perimeter shooters and Coles knows he needs an active and confident Hayes for his team to play in the post-season.

"Kenny was huge; he's such a versatile player," Pollitz said after the Xavier win. "He's got the ability to shoot from the outside, but then he also has the ability to rise up off the dribble or drive.”

Sophomore point guard Alex Moosmann (6-0 192) is as steady as Hayes is flashy. After a freshman season in which he was often over-whelmed adjusting to the college game and running the team, Moosmann looks much more comfortable on the court this year. He makes good decisions, gets the team into their offense, rarely gets flustered and knocks down open shots. Moosmann makes up for his lack of speed on defense with smarts and is rarely out of position. On a team with multiple options on offense, he knows and excels in his role.

Junior center Tyler Dierkers (6-8 235) does the dirty work for the RedHawks setting solid screens, rebounding and often guarding the opposing team’s best big man. Tyler is an excellent passer and leads the team in assists (5.3 per game) often working the high-low post with Pollitz to perfection.

Junior Eric Pollitz is the team’s sixth man primarily backing up Moosmann and Hayes in the backcourt. A smart player who takes care of the ball and knows his role, he provides a defensive spark off the bench

Charlie Coles isn’t worried about settling into a rotation with this Miami team. His starters play the bulk of the minutes (83%) and except for Eric Pollitz, everyone else is relegated to spot duty.

Dayton will struggle to match up with Pollitz. A collapsing Dayton defense will create plenty of kick-out opportunities on the perimeter. Miami’s ability to knock down those shots will ultimately decide the outcome.

Brian Roberts is shooting 57% from the floor and an unreal 58% on three-point attempts while averaging 23 points per game. Coles will not let Roberts have a big game. Look for the RedHawks to double-team Roberts at every opportunity and play physical defense whenever he touches the ball.

The most likely candidates to pick up the slack are Chris Wright and Charles Little. However, the style of play doesn’t suit Wright’s strengths and he’ll also have to avoid foul trouble. Pollitz matches up well with Little, so Dayton will need an unlikely hero (or heroes) to pull out a win this year at Miami.
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