MU’s record deceiving, WSU's Brownell says


Today’s game

Who: Wright State (6-2) at Miami (2-7)

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Millett Hall, Oxford

Radio: WONE-AM (980)

FAIRBORN — Some would look at Miami’s 2-7 record and figure the men’s basketball team is on a downswing this season.

Wright State coach Brad Brownell is not one of those people.

“Because they’re better than 2-7,” Brownell said in advance of the game between his Raiders (6-2) and the RedHawks today, Dec. 13, at Millett Hall.

“Look at who they’ve played and where they’ve played.

“That team’s record is misleading until you have a little more information. They could be 7-2. In my opinion, they will compete for the MAC championship.”

While Miami is on a three-game losing streak, WSU has won three straight, and this will be the Raiders’ third game against a MAC team. Wright State already has beaten Central Michigan and Toledo.

Of Miami’s nine opponents, seven have winning records, including undefeated Kentucky (10-0) and New Mexico (10-0). The RedHawks also have lost two close games to ranked teams, 72-70 at No. 4 Kentucky on Nov. 16 and 63-59 at No. 19 Cincinnati on Dec. 10.

It is one of two philosophies Miami coach Charlie Coles likes — play a tough schedule and play local teams. Miami is the only southwest Ohio school to play all the other Division I schools in the area: WSU, Dayton, Cincinnati and Xavier.

“Charlie’s been known as having a tough scheduling philosophy,” Brownell said. “Right now, they just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”

While each team wants to win, consideration for each other is paramount, which is why the game will be played today.

A scheduling conflict last season was resolved when the teams agreed to play two straight years at WSU. This year, WSU wanted to play on Saturday night, but Miami asked for another day since the RedHawks were playing at UC on Thursday.

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