MU Preview for MBB

 Next is Miami, in Millet Hall.  

The RedHawks are off to a good start.  Blue Ribbon picked them #8 in the MAC.  To date, they are exceeding that.  They are 13-4. 11-4 in D1 games, and 5-0 in the MAC.  Now, there are a couple caveats....they played the #270 non-conference schedule and they have played, to date, the easiest schedule in the MAC.  They have beaten UB and WMU at home and then @BSU, @NIU and @KS.

Overall, they have won 7 straight, the #10 winning streak in the country.  Millett has been tough for BG, which has lost 6 straight there...the last win was in 2018.  MU is a 9.5-point favorite.

They play a pace similar to BG somewhere in the 69-70 range for the game.

Check this out. Miami has the stats of a 5-0 team...they are #2 in offense and #3 in defense.  BG is #9 in offense and #6 in defense.  This chart shows why MU is a 9+ point favorite.

Miami is the best shooting team in the MAC.  (Spoiler alert, BG is last).  They take 43% from 3FG, which is a lot. They lead the MAC, making 42% from 3FG and they are #3 from 2FG with 58%.  BG is #2 defending the 3FG, so that has the potential to be interesting.  The boards should also be interesting...lastly, MU is decent at getting to the line and BG is decent at keeping opponents off the line.  MU is #4 making 78% of their free throws.

As mentioned, BG is the worst shooting team in the MAC. Miami is #3 defending the shot. They are the best defending the 3FG.  They are only #7 against the 2FG, but BG is #11 on 2FGs, so that might be tough to take advantage of,  Rebounding should be a big battle.  BG needs every offensive rebound it can get.  BG has a chance to get to the line, but they are #11 in the MAC in FT shooting.

Their leading scorer is Kam Craft, with 15.4 PPG. Craft played for Coach Steele at Xavier. He's 6'6" and shooting 68% from 2FG and 41% from 3FG.  Among players using 20% of their team's possessions, he is the #3 most efficient player in the MAC. 

Their 2nd leading scorer is Peter Suder, who scores 13.4 PPG.  He's a 6'5" and a transfer from Bellarmine, where he played in the first of BG's 2 ignominious defeats to that team.  He shoots mostly 2FG and makes 52% and 91% at the line. He also averages 5.6 RPG.

Next is Brant Byers. He is a 6'8" RFR playing for the first time.  Get this...he's scoring 12.8 PPG.  25 of his 28 FGAs have been from 3FG...and he has made 68%. (MAC Play).  That's #1 in the MAC...to say the least. 

Mekhi Cooper is scoring 10.2 PPG with 50% 3FG shooting. 

Eian Elmer is also scoring 10 PPG.  MAC All-FR last year.

Antwone Woolfolk leads the team with 6.6 RPG.

It's going to have to start on defense.  MU is a really good offense with a lot of scoring options.  If BG can get some stops and clear the board, they stand a better chance in transition.  BG has underperformed for a few, it would be great to see than over-achieve tomorrow.