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#85 Miami (Ohio)
RedHawks
Mid-American
Conference
2004-05: 19-11, 12-6,
1st East
2004-05 postseason:
NIT
By
Joel Welser
Last year it was
Danny Horace and Chet Mason who stepped up and led the RedHawks
of Miami University to a
successful season. This year William Hatcher, Nathan Peavy and
Monty St. Clair are the candidates to lead the way. Despite
losing 47.6% of their scoring, Coach Charlie Coles’ squad will
reload and remain competitive in the MAC.
Who’s Out:
Danny Horace and Chet Mason were the first duo since 1973 to
earn First-Team All-MAC honors for Miami. Horace nearly averaged
a double-double with 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest.
Mason added 13.4 points and a team high 3.3 assists. As if
losing those two wasn’t enough, Tim Schenke’s eligibility has
also run out. The 6-6 forward only averaged 2.5 points and 2.5
rebounds per outing, but was a major contributor off the bench.
Guard Jaime Cooper spent most of his time on the football field
and only saw limited playing time on the court.
Who’s In:
A decent crop of newcomers should
be able to fill in nicely at Millett Hall. Small forward Michael
Bramos and power forward Adam Fletcher are expected to be ready
to compete for minutes right away. Bramos, who Coach Coles has
compared to former pupil Dan Majerle, has a solid all around
game and will end up being a solid scorer for the RedHawks.
Fletcher, a 6-8 220 pound forward from St. Albans, West
Virginia, has decent speed and a nice stroke for his size.
Fellow incoming freshman power forward Tyler Dierkers has plenty
of potential, but will need some time to reach it. Eric Pollitz
redshirted last year and will have an opportunity to play along
side his twin brother Tim Pollitz during the 2005-06 campaign.
Guard Lawrence Ross redshirted last season and will attempt to
help replace Chet Mason. Ross, at 6-3, has decent size and
blazing speed.
Who to Watch:
William Hatcher will take over the
floor leadership role. The 6-2, 184 pound Flint, Michigan native
averaged 10.0 points and 2.9 assists as a junior in 2004-2005.
Hatcher has improved greatly every season and another step up
during this off-season will have Hatcher ready to lead and be
the go to guy for the RedHawks.
Projected
Conference Rank:
Josh Hausfeld, Doug Penno, Tim
Pollitz and Nate VanderSluis will have to adapt well to seeing
more playing time in order for the Miami to repeat last year’s
success. A 3rd place finish overall in the MAC is an
impressive season considering the loss of two all-conference
players and will get the RedHawks back to the NIT.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected Starting
Five:
William Hatcher,
Senior, Guard, 10.0 points per game
Josh Hausfeld, Senior,
Guard, 5.1 points per game
Doug Penno, Junior,
Guard, 4.2 points per game
Nathan Peavy, Junior,
Forward, 7.0 points per game
Monty St. Clair,
Junior, Center, 6.0 points per game
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