RedHawks win 5th Straight, Defeat WMU 91-71 at Millett
By: Jack Mueller
Cover Photo: Hope Maley / Miami Athletics
This time last year, the RedHawks sat at 7-8 and had just picked up their first conference win against Buffalo. Today, they have one of the most electric offenses in the country and are off to their best start to a conference season since 2005. Miami won their fifth straight game on Saturday, defeating Western Michigan 91-71 on their home floor to remain undefeated in the New Year.
“We’re building, we’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we were either.”
During their ongoing win streak, the RedHawks are averaging 99.8 points per game. That would rank as the #1 offense in the country, eight whole points more than the current #1 team, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Miami’s offense has been among the best in the country over the course of the past two weeks, and Head Coach Travis Steele knows it.
“We have so many threats, which makes us really difficult to guard.”
“We have high IQ players.” said Steele “We play a lot of conceptual basketball…we teach our guys solutions to coverages and just let them play.”
Two of the main reasons why Miami’s been able to score in bunches showed why they’re two of the best players in the MAC. Peter Suder and Kam Craft have only been in Oxford for a matter of months, but they’ve become integral to the success of the RedHawks this season. They combined for 39 points on 68% from the field on Saturday, with Craft knocking down five threes.
“We’re shooting it like crazy” said Craft. “That’s just what our team does so we’re going to keep letting it fly.”
Reece Potter started the season slow after battling back from injury, but has become a key figure in Miami’s gameplan. The sophomore big man poured in 14 points, showcasing his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Freshman Brant Byers added 14 of his own via the three ball and a vicious slam in the first half.
Miami’s offense was stellar, but the defense was just as good. The RedHawks held WMU to just 2-16 from beyond the arc, forcing them into contested shots late in the shot clock. Miami forced 15 turnovers as a team, with six players registering a steal in the box score.
“It kept me up over Christmas break thinking about our ball screen defense.” said Steele, “Our ball screen defense is dramatically better.”
How it Happened:
Peter Suder and Antwone Woolfolk got the scoring started for the home side, and Mekhi Cooper added one from the line to make it 5-2 early. The three of them combined for eight points on four shots to give Miami a 13-6 lead at the first media timeout. Byers’ first three of the night and a turnaround jumper from Kam Craft gave the ‘Hawks a ten point lead before the halfway point of the first period.
The RedHawks continued to pile it on, starting the game on a 13-2 run. Reece Potter scored six, and Brant Byers added two from the line to make it 26-10 before the clock ran under ten minutes. He outdid himself two minutes later, hitting a three from just inside the logo then slamming home a dunk seconds later to make it 32-14.
Miami’s defense kicked it into high gear from there, forcing the Broncos into three contested shots at the end of the shot clock. Owen Lobsinger pulled down an offensive board and converted an and-one off one of the shots, but Craft and Ipsaro responded with layups of their own to make it 38-17.
Reece Potter became a force, blocking two shots in one possession, then stepping out and hitting from beyond the arc to give the hosts a 22 point lead with three minutes left in the first half.
Did Miami stop there? Of course not. Craft and Potter combined for three more triples, and Evan Ipsaro found the transfer guard on a cut to the rim to give the RedHawks a 29-point lead. Evan Ipsaro ended the half with a buzzer-beating layup over two defenders to send his team to the break with a sizable lead.
“That was our best offensive execution we’ve had all season,” said Craft. “We were clicking on all cylinders.”
The halftime break had no effect on Miami’s momentum. Craft got the scoring started less than 30 seconds into the second half with a deep transition three. He hit another two minutes later to take Miami to the 60-point mark, extending the lead to 34.
Western Michigan built some momentum as the second half progressed, going on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 27 before Ipsaro got to the rim and added two more. Another 6-0 run later in the second half cut Miami’s lead to 23 as Donovan Willliams and Markhi Strickland both got easy looks at the rim, making Steele call timeout with under five minutes to play.
Whatever Steele said in the huddle must have resonated, because Eian Elmer slammed home a monster dunk just moments after emerging from the timeout. Strickland responded with a rim rocker of his own in transition to make it 84-61 with three minutes to play.
Kam Craft put the finishing touches on another outstanding individual performance with his fifth three of the night before Chauncey Willis Jr. responded with one of his own at the other end.
Both benches checked into the game with a minute left, and two free throws by Jackson Kotecki bookended Miami’s eleventh win of the season.
Up Next:
Miami improves to 11-4 (3-0 MAC) with the win, and will travel to DeKalb to take on Northern Illinois for the final time as members of the same conference. Despite their early success, the RedHawks are refusing to start thinking about a possible first regular season MAC title since 2005.
“We’re locked in on NIU.” said Craft. “We have goals to win the MAC championship, in order to do that you have to trust the process and not look too far in the future.”