‘Awesome at what they do’: Miami’s basketball teams creating a buzz
Meal at Gross Center celebrates student-athletes as both RedHawk teams are perfect at home, in MAC play
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Published
Rodney Coates, right, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, talks with the Miami University men's and women's basketball teams during a meal at the Gross Center celebrating their success. (Photo by Scott Kissell)
‘Awesome at what they do’: Miami’s basketball teams creating a buzz
•
Published
Need a reason to celebrate Miami University’s basketball teams? There are more than a few.
The RedHawks’ men’s and women’s teams have combined for, so far, 31 victories. They are both undefeated this season at Millett Hall. And the Miami men’s basketball team is one of three undefeated programs in the nation.
Members of the campus community rallied around the teams Thursday afternoon at the Gross Center to provide a meal for both programs as a way to commemorate their success.
“It’s awesome that there’s a buzz going around campus,” said Peter Suder, a senior guard on the RedHawks’ men’s team. “We just want to continue that.”
Organized by Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, Thursday’s meal brought many members of Miami’s administration to the Gross Center.
Coates has coordinated similar events for other Miami athletic programs. He said it’s a way to recognize student-athletes and the importance of their contributions to the university.
“They’ve brought national attention to the university, and the highest levels of the institution are out here,” Coates said.
“I’m a public servant. We are all public servants. Serving these students, that’s the essence of love and honor.”
Miami’s men’s basketball team is currently 18-0 with a 25-game winning streak at home. The RedHawks’ women’s team is 13-4 and a perfect 7-0 this season at Millett Hall.
The RedHawks – both programs – are also undefeated in the Mid-American Conference.
“We’re really good at supporting each other,” Amber Tretter, junior forward on the women’s team, said of the two programs.
“We really appreciate this a lot. We appreciate the support that the school and everyone else is giving to our teams. It’s amazing to see all these people come together.”
Both teams are in action this Saturday. The Miami men’s team plays host to Buffalo at Millett Hall with a 1 p.m. tipoff, while the women’s team travels to Bowling Green for a 4 p.m. start.
A moment like Thursday’s meal is part of what makes Miami so special, said men’s head coach Travis Steele.
“The people make the place, and this is a great example of that,” Steele said.
This is Steele’s fourth year leading the RedHawks, and the third season for women’s head coach Glenn Box.
“We take it one game at a time, one day at a time, but we’re building,” Steele said. “We’ve been building the program since I came here three years ago. We continue to get better. Just like building a house, you had to lay the foundation.
“We love the journey. We love practice. We love conditioning. What people can see on the floor during games, that’s created off the court. That’s where it starts, and that’s where we have fun.”
Suder echoed that sentiment.
“We’re just having a lot of fun,” Suder said. “There’s a lot of experience, a lot of connectivity. Our superpower is our culture.”
The Miami women’s team returns for a home game on Jan. 21 against Buffalo. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
Continuing to have success at home has been special, Tretter said.
“That’s a big thing for us right now,” Tretter said. “It’s a great thing to bring people to the game and build an atmosphere.”
Fans will have an opportunity to catch both RedHawk teams during a doubleheader at Millett Hall on Jan. 31 as part of One Miami presented by E&H Ace Hardware.
Complimentary tickets for the games are available to Miami faculty and staff, as well as the greater Oxford community, courtesy of Miami President Gregory Crawford and University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford.
David Sayler, director of athletics, noted Thursday’s meal featured representation from across Miami, with deans and members of the president’s office participating.
“Making that connection is huge for our student-athletes to see how much everybody cares about them and wants to support them,” Sayler said. “They’re certainly accomplishing great things. They’re putting the work in.
“What I’m most proud of is that they’re just great student-athletes and they happen to be awesome at what they do.”
The RedHawks’ men’s and women’s teams have combined for, so far, 31 victories. They are both undefeated this season at Millett Hall. And the Miami men’s basketball team is one of three undefeated programs in the nation.
Members of the campus community rallied around the teams Thursday afternoon at the Gross Center to provide a meal for both programs as a way to commemorate their success.
“It’s awesome that there’s a buzz going around campus,” said Peter Suder, a senior guard on the RedHawks’ men’s team. “We just want to continue that.”
Organized by Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, Thursday’s meal brought many members of Miami’s administration to the Gross Center.
Coates has coordinated similar events for other Miami athletic programs. He said it’s a way to recognize student-athletes and the importance of their contributions to the university.
“They’ve brought national attention to the university, and the highest levels of the institution are out here,” Coates said.
“I’m a public servant. We are all public servants. Serving these students, that’s the essence of love and honor.”
Miami’s men’s basketball team is currently 18-0 with a 25-game winning streak at home. The RedHawks’ women’s team is 13-4 and a perfect 7-0 this season at Millett Hall.
The RedHawks – both programs – are also undefeated in the Mid-American Conference.
“We’re really good at supporting each other,” Amber Tretter, junior forward on the women’s team, said of the two programs.
“We really appreciate this a lot. We appreciate the support that the school and everyone else is giving to our teams. It’s amazing to see all these people come together.”
Both teams are in action this Saturday. The Miami men’s team plays host to Buffalo at Millett Hall with a 1 p.m. tipoff, while the women’s team travels to Bowling Green for a 4 p.m. start.
A moment like Thursday’s meal is part of what makes Miami so special, said men’s head coach Travis Steele.
“The people make the place, and this is a great example of that,” Steele said.
This is Steele’s fourth year leading the RedHawks, and the third season for women’s head coach Glenn Box.
“We take it one game at a time, one day at a time, but we’re building,” Steele said. “We’ve been building the program since I came here three years ago. We continue to get better. Just like building a house, you had to lay the foundation.
“We love the journey. We love practice. We love conditioning. What people can see on the floor during games, that’s created off the court. That’s where it starts, and that’s where we have fun.”
Suder echoed that sentiment.
“We’re just having a lot of fun,” Suder said. “There’s a lot of experience, a lot of connectivity. Our superpower is our culture.”
The Miami women’s team returns for a home game on Jan. 21 against Buffalo. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
Continuing to have success at home has been special, Tretter said.
“That’s a big thing for us right now,” Tretter said. “It’s a great thing to bring people to the game and build an atmosphere.”
Fans will have an opportunity to catch both RedHawk teams during a doubleheader at Millett Hall on Jan. 31 as part of One Miami presented by E&H Ace Hardware.
Complimentary tickets for the games are available to Miami faculty and staff, as well as the greater Oxford community, courtesy of Miami President Gregory Crawford and University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford.
David Sayler, director of athletics, noted Thursday’s meal featured representation from across Miami, with deans and members of the president’s office participating.
“Making that connection is huge for our student-athletes to see how much everybody cares about them and wants to support them,” Sayler said. “They’re certainly accomplishing great things. They’re putting the work in.
“What I’m most proud of is that they’re just great student-athletes and they happen to be awesome at what they do.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.
