The Miami University men's basketball team (0-2) finishes up a tough three-game road stretch to open the season when it takes on Xavier University (3-0) Wednesday at the Cintas Center.
The RedHawks have lost their first two road games of the season by double-digits against big-time opponents in the University of Notre Dame and Arizona State University. Head coach John Cooper said the team needs to persevere through a difficult set of road games against quality competition.
"This is the gauntlet to start the year," Cooper said. "We knew it was going to be tough."
A player who has thrived through the first two games of the season is sophomore guard Reggie Johnson. Johnson has averaged 23 points per game and has shot 55 percent from the field so far this season. He is the only RedHawk averaging double-figures in points.
The 'Hawks have not gotten off to the start offensively they had hoped for. As a team, they are shooting 37 percent from the floor, and 24 percent from three-point range. The story hasn't been much better defensively, as they have allowed their opponents to shoot 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from three, while being outrebounded by an average of nine boards per game.
Johnson said he does not believe he or his teammates have been discouraged by the start to the season.
"I think we've got a confident group," Johnson said. "The experienced players will be able to take in people like me, the sophomores and freshmen, and just rally us and keep us levelheaded. Just [remind us] that it's early in the season."
The 'Hawks receive another crack at their first win of the season against their in-state rival Xavier. The Musketeers are coming off a 79-56 drubbing of Morehead State in which they improved to 3-0, with all of their victories taking place on their home court.
Xavier is led in scoring by 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Semaj Christon, who is averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting over 60 percent from the field. Second on the team in scoring is 6-foot-10 junior center Matt Stainbrook, who is averaging a double-double with 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Johnson had a laundry list of items the 'Hawks needed to work on before they take on Xavier.
"We need to work on finishing games," Johnson said. "Defense, boxing out. Just paying attention to the details. Just knowing the things that we talk about before the game and executing on them in the game. It's pretty much just minor things."
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Johnson said he believes this "gauntlet" of an opening to the season will ultimately help the RedHawks in the long run.
"I think it is going to help us later on in the MAC [Mid-American Conference]," Johnson said. "It's good preparation."
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday.
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