NIU is11-15 (7-6). Miami is 8-18 (2-11). NIU’s season turned around with their 4 point win in Oxford, they are now on a 6-3 run and have climbed into a 5th place tie with Ohio.
Their guards were great against us the first time. 5-11 soph David Coit has averaged 19.8 ppg starting with our game. 6-0 sr Kaleb Thornton and 6-5 Darweshi Hunter (47% on threes in MAC play) were also really good against us.
Containing their guards will be a key for us, plus it helps a whole lot if Safford is out of concussion protocol. Too many fouls lately will also be something we need to improve on.
This is the second game of a DH on Cram the Convo day. NIU women, who have beaten both Toledo and BG this year, take on first place Ball State in the first game.
I was impressed by them in the first meeting. Coit did a great job running their offense. They were something like 6-14 going into our game, but are 6-3 since then.
I see that Mekhi Lairy will set a new all time Miami record for games played tomorrow. He already is #1 all time in FT%. Lairy has definitely left his mark at Miami.
I wish he’d had a chance to be on better teams at MU. One of the best ever to play for us. Here’s hoping he gets invited to some pro opportunities wherever they may be.
Billy Smith out. Left elbow. Steele told him he was starting (solid +/- numbers) +7 at Toledo. Steele rewarded him for that and improved defense (specifically including practice).
I posted this in the wrong thread, but our game is going to start late as the NIU women upset first place Ball State in the first game of the DH and it did not end till 4:09.