‘We’re everything that’s right about college athletics in my opinion’
Miami coach Travis Steele says after season-ending loss to Tennessee
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Published
Miami Men's Basketball Coach Travis Steele, right, talks with his team during the NCAA Tournament. Steele's RedHawks went 32-2 to earn the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007. (Scott Kissell photo)
‘We’re everything that’s right about college athletics in my opinion’
Miami coach Travis Steele says after season-ending loss to Tennessee
•
Published
Following Miami University’s season-ending 78-56 loss to No. 6-seed Tennessee on Friday night in Philadelphia, RedHawks head coach Travis Steele was not just talking about statistics and strategy. He was talking about people.
“The quality of human beings that we have in our locker room, man, we're everything that's right about college athletics in my opinion,” Steele said.
Those human beings are already legendary, ending with a 32-2 record, a Mid-American Conference regular-season title, and an electric win earlier in the week at UD Arena in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Miami came out hot, like usual, and led 13-10 at the 16-minute media timeout. The Volunteers then went on a 24-2 run over the next eight minutes that changed the complexion of the game, and put the RedHawks in catch-up mode.
The RedHawks never stopped attacking, as usual, never backed down from stellar Tennessee play on both sides of the court, and never changed who they have been all season.
“Next play, Luke. Next play, Luke,” Steele shouted from the sideline after sophomore point guard Luke Skaljac was briefly frustrated with the result of a second-half offensive possession.
It was not, “What are you doing?” It was not, “Come on, Luke.” It was, “Next play, Luke.”
It is that mindset and leadership that made so many 3-points-or-less wins possible this season. It also makes the future of Miami University men’s basketball blindingly bright for RedHawk fans, including the many new, and many young fans who packed Millett Hall with sold-out crowds this year.
Miami senior and team-leader Peter Suder led the RedHawks with 27 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and 9-of-10 free throws. Sophomore Brant Byers followed with nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
Closing the post-game press conference, Suder was asked, “What's that definition to you about everything that's right in college?”
“Culture,” Suder said. “I have so much fun playing with those guys and I wouldn't change it for the world.”
RedHawk fans, including the many new followers, even with the pain of this loss, certainly agree.
“The quality of human beings that we have in our locker room, man, we're everything that's right about college athletics in my opinion,” Steele said.
Those human beings are already legendary, ending with a 32-2 record, a Mid-American Conference regular-season title, and an electric win earlier in the week at UD Arena in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Miami came out hot, like usual, and led 13-10 at the 16-minute media timeout. The Volunteers then went on a 24-2 run over the next eight minutes that changed the complexion of the game, and put the RedHawks in catch-up mode.
The RedHawks never stopped attacking, as usual, never backed down from stellar Tennessee play on both sides of the court, and never changed who they have been all season.
“Next play, Luke. Next play, Luke,” Steele shouted from the sideline after sophomore point guard Luke Skaljac was briefly frustrated with the result of a second-half offensive possession.
It was not, “What are you doing?” It was not, “Come on, Luke.” It was, “Next play, Luke.”
It is that mindset and leadership that made so many 3-points-or-less wins possible this season. It also makes the future of Miami University men’s basketball blindingly bright for RedHawk fans, including the many new, and many young fans who packed Millett Hall with sold-out crowds this year.
Miami senior and team-leader Peter Suder led the RedHawks with 27 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and 9-of-10 free throws. Sophomore Brant Byers followed with nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
Closing the post-game press conference, Suder was asked, “What's that definition to you about everything that's right in college?”
“Culture,” Suder said. “I have so much fun playing with those guys and I wouldn't change it for the world.”
RedHawk fans, including the many new followers, even with the pain of this loss, certainly agree.
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.