Darius Harper scores two of his six points. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- The torch was passed, so to speak, Friday as the Miami RedHawks opened their 2016-17 season with an 84-57 win over Division III Muskingum at Millett Hall.
Michael Weathers, one of seven freshman on a roster with just one senior, led the way for MU with 21 points. His brother Marcus Weathers also reached double figures (11 points), while redshirt sophomore transfer Jake Wright owned 13 points.
The RedHawks return . . .
OXFORD, OH -- The torch was passed, so to speak, Friday as the Miami RedHawks opened their 2016-17 season with an 84-57 win over Division III Muskingum at Millett Hall.
Michael Weathers, one of seven freshman on a roster with just one senior, led the way for MU with 21 points. His brother Marcus Weathers also reached double figures (11 points), while redshirt sophomore transfer Jake Wright owned 13 points.
The RedHawks return . . .
. . . only 30.1 percent of their scoring and 31.8 percent of their rebounding from last year’s squad. That unit, led by Geovonie McKnight and Eric Washington, finished with a 13-20 record. Just what this year’s group can do record-wise remains to be seen, but there were hints Friday as to how the latest contingent will look.
Michael Weathers led all scorers with 21 points. (MVSmith/MRO) “I definitely think that … there will be more people with the ability to give us scoring,” Miami head coach John Cooper said. “We’ve got some guys that can come in a help up and down the lineup.”
For a variety of reasons, Miami was bound to use a lot of players. All of them eventually saw action. In addition to the three double figure scorers, another four owned at least six points and 10 players reached the scoring column.
The Fighting Muskies, who finished 6-19 last year, return all five starters. Jarrell Marsh hit a triple to give the visitors a quick 3-2 lead, and Muskingum stayed out front until Dion Wade hit a jumper at 11:57 to move Miami ahead, 11-10.
When Michael Weathers hit a three-point goal at 10:23, it capped a 13-0 Miami run that left the hosts ahead, 18-10.
“Michael is a good athlete and he’s long,” Cooper said.”He’s got ability and he has talent. We’ve just got to make sure that we continue to coach him up and get him to command the game.”
Michael Weathers (6-2) and fellow freshman Milos Jovic (6-4) are the new face of point guard play for the RedHawks. Both are a contrast to the size and style of 5-foot-10 Washington.
For a variety of reasons, Miami was bound to use a lot of players. All of them eventually saw action. In addition to the three double figure scorers, another four owned at least six points and 10 players reached the scoring column.
The Fighting Muskies, who finished 6-19 last year, return all five starters. Jarrell Marsh hit a triple to give the visitors a quick 3-2 lead, and Muskingum stayed out front until Dion Wade hit a jumper at 11:57 to move Miami ahead, 11-10.
When Michael Weathers hit a three-point goal at 10:23, it capped a 13-0 Miami run that left the hosts ahead, 18-10.
“Michael is a good athlete and he’s long,” Cooper said.”He’s got ability and he has talent. We’ve just got to make sure that we continue to coach him up and get him to command the game.”
Michael Weathers (6-2) and fellow freshman Milos Jovic (6-4) are the new face of point guard play for the RedHawks. Both are a contrast to the size and style of 5-foot-10 Washington.
Jake Wright hit two three-point goals on the way to 13 points. (MVSmith/MRO) “It’s a little bit unusual if you look at our point guard position compared to years past,” Cooper said. Those guys (Weathers and Jovic) can … get in the paint and their size allows them to score.”
Wright’s trey at 7:23 gave Miami a double-digit lead at 29-18. Cooper believes Wright will be one of the key scoring contributors in the future. He “has the ability to really, really shoot the basketball,” Cooper said. “He does have the ability to get it going and score buckets.”
Muskingum knocked the lead down to 38-32 when Jalen Paige hit a three just before intermission. However, Miami quickly broke the game open with a 22-4 run coming out of the break. When Marcus Weathers hit a basket at 4:53, the RedHawks were up by 30 at 72-42, and they cruised the rest of the way.
“There was a point (when) we finally settled down and were able to execute and do a few thing,” Cooper said. “This is really the first time our group has been under the lights, per se, with fans in the stands and we have a lot of young kids.”
Asked about areas in need of improvement for the RedHawks, who play at Wright State Tuesday, Cooper identified turnovers, free throws and rebounding.
► Muskingum registered 22 turnovers, while Miami owned 20 on the game.
► Miami got to the line for 31 free throws, but made 19 (61%).
► MU won the rebounding battle, 53-40, overall. However, Cooper noted that a “stronger” performance would be needed against future competition.
“All in all, I’ll take it,” Cooper said. But there “are things we need to get cleaned up.”
“We’ll get better,” he added. “Particularly from the freshmen, you’re going to see those guys mature as the season progresses and you’re going to see their games grow by leaps and bounds.”
Wright’s trey at 7:23 gave Miami a double-digit lead at 29-18. Cooper believes Wright will be one of the key scoring contributors in the future. He “has the ability to really, really shoot the basketball,” Cooper said. “He does have the ability to get it going and score buckets.”
Muskingum knocked the lead down to 38-32 when Jalen Paige hit a three just before intermission. However, Miami quickly broke the game open with a 22-4 run coming out of the break. When Marcus Weathers hit a basket at 4:53, the RedHawks were up by 30 at 72-42, and they cruised the rest of the way.
“There was a point (when) we finally settled down and were able to execute and do a few thing,” Cooper said. “This is really the first time our group has been under the lights, per se, with fans in the stands and we have a lot of young kids.”
Asked about areas in need of improvement for the RedHawks, who play at Wright State Tuesday, Cooper identified turnovers, free throws and rebounding.
► Muskingum registered 22 turnovers, while Miami owned 20 on the game.
► Miami got to the line for 31 free throws, but made 19 (61%).
► MU won the rebounding battle, 53-40, overall. However, Cooper noted that a “stronger” performance would be needed against future competition.
“All in all, I’ll take it,” Cooper said. But there “are things we need to get cleaned up.”
“We’ll get better,” he added. “Particularly from the freshmen, you’re going to see those guys mature as the season progresses and you’re going to see their games grow by leaps and bounds.”
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