Spring Break
Big thanks to MU bball for great season
Mike Zoller
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Sports
In a season that saw the Miami University football team win just two games and a hockey team unable to repeat their magical season from a year ago, a different Miami team stepped up and delivered a thrilling performance.
The men's basketball team led us all on a wild ride through the Mid-American Conference and NCAA Tournaments - a ride none of us will ever forget.
For once Oxford, Ohio and the RedHawks got to be in the national spotlight. We were the Cinderella team everyone around the nation heard about.
When Doug Penno banked in one of the most memorable 3-pointers in Miami history with just 0.6 seconds (well actually 0.0 seconds - but whatever) left in the game, he put Miami on the national scene.
Throughout the entire MAC Tournament the RedHawks were the underdogs. From their first game against Ohio, to the upset of Akron, no one ever thought Miami would be in the position it was in.
Constantly it seemed like the RedHawks were against the ropes and down to their final shot.
Against Toledo it seemed as if everyone had given up on the 'Hawks and the Rockets were already planning to play against the Zips in the MAC Championship game.
The 58-53 win over Toledo was something no RedHawk fan expected.
The next night was one of the most amazing moments in Miami athletics. Down 10 points to Akron it seemed as if the clock had struck midnight on the Miami Cinderella story.
Penno's 3-pointer, which has been plastered all over ESPN, extended Miami's dream season just a little bit longer.
Seeing a sea of red and white jumping up and down on the floor of Quicken Loans Arena was something I will never forget.
Getting to watch Associate Head Coach Jermaine Henderson skip, prance or do whatever that body contortion he did - was priceless. Words could not explain the excitement and joy that came with that bank shot.
It was so weird to say or even think, however, it was true. Miami was headed to the dance. The team which was thought to be down and out was now going to college basketball's biggest stage.
The men's basketball team led us all on a wild ride through the Mid-American Conference and NCAA Tournaments - a ride none of us will ever forget.
For once Oxford, Ohio and the RedHawks got to be in the national spotlight. We were the Cinderella team everyone around the nation heard about.
When Doug Penno banked in one of the most memorable 3-pointers in Miami history with just 0.6 seconds (well actually 0.0 seconds - but whatever) left in the game, he put Miami on the national scene.
Throughout the entire MAC Tournament the RedHawks were the underdogs. From their first game against Ohio, to the upset of Akron, no one ever thought Miami would be in the position it was in.
Constantly it seemed like the RedHawks were against the ropes and down to their final shot.
Against Toledo it seemed as if everyone had given up on the 'Hawks and the Rockets were already planning to play against the Zips in the MAC Championship game.
The 58-53 win over Toledo was something no RedHawk fan expected.
The next night was one of the most amazing moments in Miami athletics. Down 10 points to Akron it seemed as if the clock had struck midnight on the Miami Cinderella story.
Penno's 3-pointer, which has been plastered all over ESPN, extended Miami's dream season just a little bit longer.
Seeing a sea of red and white jumping up and down on the floor of Quicken Loans Arena was something I will never forget.
Getting to watch Associate Head Coach Jermaine Henderson skip, prance or do whatever that body contortion he did - was priceless. Words could not explain the excitement and joy that came with that bank shot.
It was so weird to say or even think, however, it was true. Miami was headed to the dance. The team which was thought to be down and out was now going to college basketball's biggest stage.
Be the first to comment on this story