As bad luck would have it, my Miami University RedHawks were given the “odd” slot in the NCAA tournament (one site out west plays a game in the slot between the 2:30 p.m. starts and the 7 p.m. starts.) So not a whole lot of people got to see our game and it’s a double bummer – one because we lost 58-56 and the other because we fought it to the bitter end only to come up short. We didn’t get the late 3-pointer to fall this time. And I didn’t get to see it because the East doesn’t see that particular game (plus I bowl on Fridays, so I didn’t see the score until just now.)
Miami is one team where, if you love hard-nosed defensive basketball, you’ll get it. They ended up 18-15 but were the ONLY team in the country not to give up more than 70 points in a game this year. (They gave up 69 points to arch-rival Ohio University in a 72-69 win and 68 points on four other occasions.) If they can recruit a really good scorer who can keep up with that D they’ll be unstoppable in the MAC and beyond. Does Ron Harper (a classmate of mine and five-time NBA champ with the Bulls and Lakers) have a son by chance?
So far (with three lower seeds yet to play as of this writing) the biggest “upset” if you can call it that is where two #11 seeds have won over #6 seeds. There’s really not been a bracket-buster so far although Miami gave it a shot – too bad because we would’ve gotten one of those #11 seeds in the second round.
Oh well. Baseball season begins in 2 1/2 weeks and the Shorebirds’ home opener is 4 weeks from tonight. Meanwhile, Charlie Coles (Miami’s head coach, class of ’65) has some work to do about finding a go-to scorer. If we can get away from 9-minute scoring droughts we’ll own the MAC and our NCAA story won’t be one-and-done.
Hey Michael, thought Id tell you we moved. We now live in NC again. Got to go feed the wee one! take care.
I’m guessing hubby is moving onward and upward on the ministry ladder? Or does even the church industry suck in northern Ohio these days?
Good luck being “home” again!