What a year it has been for Miami University. PG Rob Mestas injures a right knee and is lost for the season. Damon Frierson takes over for Mestas and makes 2nd Team All-MAC. Wally Szczerbiak pours in 24ppg including a 41pt one-man-show against Dayton and becomes an All-American heading into his final year. Head Coach Charlie Coles suffers cardiac arrest on the sidelines against Western Michigan in the MAC tourney. Whew. Now what?

Despite all the setbacks, the RedHawks return virtually 100% of the scoring and rebounding that pushed them to a respectable 17-12 record a year ago. If Miami can stay healthy, they are Sweet-16 material. Only a MAC title and a NCAA bid will keep fans in Oxford from calling it a disappointing season.

The RedHawks have gotten out of the gate quickly in 1998-99 with a road win over Notre Dame and a 68-62 victory over #9 Tennessee at Millett Hall. If Miami gets by Dayton on Sunday, they could be looking at their first national ranking since 1978. Few teams in the country can match Miami’s quickness, depth, and sharpshooting, leaving SW Ohio basketball fans wondering if the RedHawks are the best team in the state of Ohio. It could very well be the case.

The star of Coles’ team is Wally Szczerbiak, a 6-8, 242lb forward from Cold Spring Harbor, NY, who was recently tabbed the best all-around basketball player in the country by Sports Illustrated. Flyer fans are hoping the SI jinx will be alive and well on Sunday afternoon. Szczerbiak possesses the ultimate inside-outside game that spares no opponent. He can step out and shoot the trey (.492%), or post up with 242lb of muscle and overpower weaker players. Forget the hype, this kid is good, so good in fact that he was the leading scorer of the USA Gold Medal team at the Goodwill Games.

While Szczerbiak gets the press clippings, he has a lot of help. Damon Frierson, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball, is one of the top guards in the MAC and could sit aside Wally as a 1st Team conference selection by year-end. Rob Mestas, coming off a redshirt year with knee surgery, started all 30 games in 1996-97 but injured a knee once again against Tennessee and will undergo surgery. He will not play against Dayton. John Estick is a credible power forward who can grab rebounds and score a few buckets while Mike Ensminger (6-6, 249lb) and talented guard Anthony Taylor (6ppg, 1.5rpg) should come off the bench to spell the starters. Jason Grunkemeyer, a sharp-shooting transfer from Ohio University, is eligible this year and should find his way onto the court as well.

The only thing missing from Charlie Coles’ lineup is a true center. Jay Locklier, 6-11, 227lb, is the tallest on the team but saw only 11mpg last year before being declared ineligible in January. Jason Stewart, a 6-5 transfer from Furman, made his former conference’s Newcomer Team and has played well in the first two games.

Dayton struggles on the road and has struggled mightily at Millett Hall over the years. The Flyers have lost eight straight to Miami (97-81 in 1989-90) and could make it nine unless UD gets their act together and starts playing well on the road against strong opponents. This is a rivalry, the biggest rivalry for Dayton in fact. Everything will need to go right for the Flyers to win. Ashman, Bamigbola, and Holland must assert themselves inside. Look for Coby Turner to guard Szczerbiak. Turner may be the only player in the Midwest with the size, quickness, and defensive ability to slow down WallyWorld, but will it be enough? Even if three or four Flyers play well, it won’t be good enough to stop the RedHawks – they are simply too potent. Dayton must hope everyone shows up and plays the best of their ability because anything short of it will not get it done.

This is the first real test of the season for Dayton because will tell us where we are and where we need to be in March. Flyer fans are hoping UD is closer to the end than the beginning. If Dayton has an advantage, it is in timing. Miami is fresh off an emotional game against nationally-ranked Tennessee and could be primed for an upset.

Dayton will be at full-strength for the first time this season as junior guard Andy Metzler and freshman forward Nate Green end a two-game suspension for their involvement in a campus fight on October 2. Coby Turner was less involved in the incident and received only a reprimand and did not start the season opener. Charges may be filed against Metzler and Green, pending a further investigation by the DA and the wishes of the alleged victim.