Miami Student

Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Sports

Senior Kenny Hayes returns after last year's season-ending injury. (Michael Griggs / The Miami Student)

After losing Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz in consecutive seasons, Head Coach Charlie Coles' Miami University RedHawk basketball squad hasn't seemed to pick up its dribble. The Red and White will meet up in Maryland to battle the University of Towson Tigers in the first game of their 2009-2010 campaign.

The opening game comes just three days before the 'Hawks will head into southern territory and be faced with a hostile Rupp Arena crowd in Lexington when they play the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

For now Coach Coles and company are focusing on the Tigers instead of the Bluegrass Felines.

"Towson has been a little down, but they are in a tough league," Coles said. "VCU, George Mason, Old Dominion and Hofstra. That was the same league that had two or three teams and the fourth team was upset because they didn't get in and then George Mason went to the Final Four that time. They haven't been at the top of the league, but they feel like they can get there this year so we are going to be playing against a team that has high hopes. That's the first thing. We aren't playing them when they felt like they were rebuilding, and they lost their leading scorer, but they've got everybody else coming back. They are very athletic, very athletic. So our first order of business is we are going to have to rebound. The second thing we are going to have to do is play great defense on their 3-point shooters. The third thing we are going to have to do is beat their defensive pressure full court. I think they will use some kind of press at some point in the game against us."

In the absence of Junior Hairston, who averaged 13 ppg a year ago, the Tigers will look to forward Jarrel Smith and guard Josh Thorton to rack up the points against the Red and White. The two averaged 10 and 11 points respectively last season. Thorton also shot .362 from downtown.

Facing a team that finished 12-22 before a perennial powerhouse hasn't fazed Miami's floor general Kenny Hayes.

"Towson is important," Hayes said. "It's the first game of the season and if we can go down there and get a win, and bring momentum down to Kentucky, that can help us. You don't want to go down to Towson and lose your first game and then get down on yourself and then we got UK three days later. The No. 1 thing is to go down there and get a win in the first game."

Continued...

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