Red Hawk Preview

 So next up on a quick turnaround are the Miami Redhawks.

Miami is at an all-time low in men's basketball.  From 1980-2000...they won the MAC 7 times.  Now?  They have 9 straight losing seasons in MAC play. That's the end of Charlie Coles, the John Cooper era and now the Jack Owens era.  No one has been able to turn it around.

Miami is 5-4, 4-4 in D1 play, and 2-2 in MAC play.  They beat NIU and Ball State and they lost to UB and OU.  They also lost by 24 to Wright State, a team that also smoked BG.  Their 3 non D1 wins are against teams with a kenpom over 300.

So, they don't appear to be much better this year.  It certainly isn't a quantum leap.

They lost Nike Sibandie (transfer to Pitt), which didn't help things.

They also had a 12-day pause for COVID.

So, you know, not a great time in Oxford.

They might be glad to see BG show up.  They have won 4 of the last 6 against BG and one of the BG wins was that crazy game from the Stroh last year.  Those of us who lived through the Miami Whammy just understand this as the normal state of affairs.

They are 8th in offensive and defensive efficiency in the MAC.  As you can see, they score more than BG is allowing and they allow more than BG is scoring.  That second one is good news.  BG is really struggling to score right now, and it would be nice to see that come around a little bit.

When you look at the Miami offense, they are 8th in the MAC in shooting, so about average.  They help that by being #4 in not turning the ball over and #4 at getting to the line.  They try 36% of the FGA from 3FG and they are 4th at making them.  They are #11 in 2FG% and 8th in FT shooting.  The biggest weakness is that they don't get any offensive rebounds.

Their defensive profile is interesting.  They are EASY to shoot against.  #10 overall in the MAC.  They are 12th at defending the 3FG and 10th at defending the 2FG.  So how to they get to #8 overall?  They lead the MAC in forcing turnovers and on the defensive boards and are #7 at keeping teams off the line.

So, you can see where the differences are.  This would be a good chance for BG's shooting to come around  BG is #10 in the MAC in shooting.  The other test will be turnovers.  Miami forces turnovers and BG takes care of the ball.  If you see BG missing shots and turning the ball over....it's going to be a rainy night in Oxford.

Miami is led by 2 double figure scorers.  Mekhi Lairi is scoring 12.5 PPG on 50% and 39% shooting, which is really efficient.  He also has 18 assists over 5 turnovers.  Dalonte Brown--Falcon Killer--is also averaging 12.5 PPG on 43% and 91% on FTs.  He also leads the team with 4 rebounds.  All-FR Dae Dae Grant is scoring 9.5 PPG.

So here we go.  You try to avoid losing streaks in championship seasons.  BG is faced with the "bounceback" challenge for the second time in a week.  Let's see them get it done.