Figuring out the RedHawks....lots of luck

How's this for a riddle....diagnose a team that:

• Is 5-12
• Has played the tenth toughest schedule in the nation
  
• Is winless on the road
• Has not played a road team ranked below 149
• Lost by 11 @ Towson (where BG won)
• Lost @Kentucky by 2
• Lost @Xavier by 3
• Lost @UC by 4
• Lost @Buffalo by 18
• Lost @Akron by 20
• Best win is over Kent (at home)
• Has played in Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio and New York (This year).

These are the stylings of Charlie Coles, the evil genius behind the RedHawk program.  He is pretty much the only coach in the MAC who subscribes to the idea that playing a really tough non-conference schedule is to your advantage.  Keith Dambrot has been defending this in the local papers in Akron, and his idea is that the MAC is a one-bid conference, and since you won't be earning a bid with your tough schedule, you might as well play to win.

A philosophy that is shared by most MAC teams.

Not the evil genius...he does this every year, loading the RedHawks into more tough gyms than the Washington Generals. 

Now, I'm not interested in arguing the issue of whether the MAC must be a one-bid conference, because it is relatively simple to me....we are a one-bid conference, and our lack of recent success in the tourney has only made it worse.

What I am interested in discussing is whether the tough schedule prepares you better for the MAC season than playing a mediocre or easy schedule.  Do you get seasoned?  Do you get worn out?

Now, I did a little research into the Miami program dating back to 1999-2000.  I did find that their reputation for shocking tourney runs was probably built in the 2001 and 2001 tourneys when they went to the finals each each, once as an 8 seed and once as a 9 seed (and one year dragging the Falcon's heart from the back of their bus the whole way).

But, you also cannot argue that their schedules are killing them.

• In those 10 years, they were a top 4 seed 6 times.
• And a fifth seed once.
• They have been in the finals 3 times.
• They have made the semis 6 times in 10 years.

I don't have the figures, but I doubt if there are too many teams with better track records, with the exception of Kent.

Well, enough of that.  Let us merely stipulate that they are a mystery, and the evil genius is always dangerous when he reaches the end of the season.

In terms of style of play, Miami is normally very similar to BG...very deliberate and defensive-oriented play.  Coach Coles had high praise for Orr when he came to BG, and they coach very much alike.  In fact, their 63 possessions per game is even a little slower than BG.

NCAA Basketball

Miami's points per possession (.95) is about BG's (.98) and point per possession allowed is better for BG (1.0) than Miami (1.06).  Miami is much more committed to the 3 than BG is, but does not create many turnovers, preferring a very careful style.  Of course, keeping in mind all the while that they played the toughest schedule in the conference.

Kenny Hayes is back and is their only double-figure scorer at 14 per game.  Julian Mavunga is scoring about 9 points and is the leading rebounder with six a game.  They predominantly played a seven man rotation with an eighth guy getting a few minutes.  They don't have one really big guy, but they do have two 6'8" and a 6'7" guys.

I don't know.  Been through all this and they are still a mystery.  I guess I would just say this....I always think they are dangerous, especially in Oxford.  We'll see how the story evolves on Saturday.