MAC Basketball Tournament - #4 Ohio vs #5 Miami
VanDelay Sports is sitting on press row for the MAC Basketball Tournament this week, so since it’s Thursday and most people are stuck in work we’ll be running live diaries during the games. We’ll be updating this at most of the media time outs. Hopefully this will be somewhat entertaining and informative for those who care.
Pregame - OU won handily early in the season in Athens. Miami smoked the Bobcats 10 days ago in Oxford. What’s gonna happen tonight? I have no idea. Ohio cannot settle for jumpers and has to work the ball inside to Leon Williams early and often. On the other hand I think Miami would be smart to run their offense through Tim Pollitz as much as possible to start. If he can make some shots/pick up some fouls on Leon that would be great for the RedHawks, and if not he’s a great passer and the offense usually flows pretty well through his hands.
Wow. OU’s band is good. OU’s band is loud. I like it.
18:35 - Tillman with 5 quick points (FT pending) and the Bobcats are up 7-1. Though Leon Williams already has a foul…
15:43 - Ohio up 10-6 early. Bramos is keeping this one close by himself with 5 early points. A hungry Jerome Tillman is a good Jerome Tillman for OU, and Tillman looks hungry.
10:19 - Tied at 16. After going down 10-1 early Miami settles down and scores 13 in a row as OU misses some open jumpers and Williams has trouble finishing on a couple of open looks inside. If I’m Tim O’Shea, I’m already considering giving Devon Washington Kenneth Van Kempen’s minutes spelling Williams. KVK looks completely overmatched in every facet of the game right now.
7:01 - Tied at 22, this is a fast paced game for Miami, usually they like to have the score in the 20’s at the half. OU beginning to establish Williams in the post. He’ll be at the line when we come back.
3:03 - 31-30 Miami’s lead. Bubba with a realllllly long 3, Bramos is hitting just about everything that he tosses up. This is a really good game.
0:38 - Miami player touches the ball on the cylinder… refs miss it. RedHawks up 39-35. Can Miami really score 40 in a half? Bramos is coming back in, so if he gets the ball on this possession I’m thinking so…
Halftime - 39-35 Miami leads at the half. Can Miami score 70+ to win this? I said last night that I thought Coach Henderson plays at a slightly quicker pace than Coach Coles, and I think that’s coming true. Bramos was hot early with 12, Winbush surprisingly came up really big for the RedHawks adding 10 points as well. It’s the big guys doing it for OU, Tillman with 11 and Leon with 9. After coming up really short on the boards against Buffalo last night, Miami is leading 20-10 in that category. This game’s going to come down to the wire.
15:37 - OU hits a couple of 3’s before Bramos hits another running 18-footer. Leon splits a pair of FTs and Miami’s up 1, 43-42.
11:26 - Bramos and Williams are carrying their respective teams with Miami up 50-48. Bramos is working really hard on offense and making really difficult shots. Williams has been all over the glass especially on the offensive end where he’s getting the Bobcats some second and third chance points. It’s really early in the tournament, but both these guys are looking good for the All Tourney Team.
7:10 - Miami up 57-53, but what’s crazy is that the RedHawks have committed 7 fouls this half compared to OU’s 1. Two ways to look at this… OU will be in the bonus which could mean free points, or when this foul differential closes up (if it does) it could spell huge trouble for Ohio.
6:06 - Ohio has been working a lot harder on the offensive boards this half and thanks to another 2nd attempt they’ve closed the deficit to two, 57-55, though Kenny Hayes will be going to the line for 3 when we get back.
3:39 - 61-56 Miami, RedHawk ball. I can feel this one slipping away for Ohio. They’re pressing like crazy on offense. They’ve gotta go to Leon here.
2:49 - Miami blows about 5 bunnies in a row but keeps working on the o-glass and eventually gets it to fall. 63-56 lead. Leon Williams hits a beautiful falling layup while being fouled… nope, they’re calling it on the floor, that could have been a momentum swing.
1:07 - Dead man walking. Ohio with an intentional foul, EP hits 1 0f 2 and OU sends Miami back to the line. Miami’s up 8 with a FT coming.
Final - Miami moves on, for the second year in a row getting the better of the Bobcats in the quarterfinals. Gotta hand it to Bramos who went off for the second game in a row. Also, really nice contribution from Tyler Dierkers who was all over the boards for the RedHawks. Should be some interesting games tomorrow night. More to come tomorrow…
Tags: bobcats, mac, MAC Basketball Tournament, mac tournament, Miami, ohio, ohio university, ou, redhawks
March 13th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I’d have to say this is the most evenly-matched game on paper of all we have seen in the Tournament, outside of BG/Toledo. What do you think Dan?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I think so too.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Ohio 5-0 run to start. Meanwhile, Jerome Tillman’s gum fell from his mouth to the floor. He proceeded to grab the gum and toss it to the benches.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
10-6 for a while now as the D has been stepped up on both ends.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Impressive 13-0 run by Miami.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
The Ohio band just received by far the best response from the crowd in the 2 days of the tournament so far for their dancing trombones.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Bubba Walther had some words for the fans behind the press. Due to the adult nature of those comments we will not be able to use the quote.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Bubba is getting drilled by the fans behind the press. From “nice capri pants” to questions of his sexuality, it’s getting heated.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Miami certainly looks sharper in this game so far. If we had some game stats we could give the fans more insight into the game thus far, but they’re being rather stingy with the stats.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Miami’s fans are having a field day with Bubba and the refs. While Miami had been whistled for 7 fouls to 0 for Ohio, RedHawks fans, with their team up 5 points, would not lay off the refs for the foul difference. Meanwhile, chants of “Bubba likes boys” continue to be popular with the Miami fans around section 109.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I’ve been saying this most of the game to thoe around me. This game will go down to the wire. One team will leave with a broken heart, the other will be thrilled. Another classic Ohio vs. Miami matchup!
March 13th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Allen called for an intentional foul. No doubt he was going for the ball…