Saturday, December 02, 2000
Miami's Drake making up for lost time
Thursday hero wasn't allowed to practice last year
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Larry Drake saved Miami against Temple on Thursday night, coming off the bench to score 11 points and grab six rebounds. But that doesn't necessarily mean Drake will play a big role tonight when the RedHawks play host to Wisconsin-Green Bay at Millett Hall.
“Against Temple's zone, Larry was a perfect fit,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “Against Green Bay, we'll see.”
Drake, a 6-foot-5 sophomore who was academically ineligible to play as a freshman, is fighting freshmen Julius Johnson and Eugene Seals for playing time.
“I don't know if it's fighting for playing time as much as being able to contribute when called upon,” Coles said. “That's what they have to learn, because this isn't going to clear up for a while.”
Drake might be ahead of Johnson and Seals if he had a chance to play last year. But he wasn't even allowed to practice.
“I couldn't even watch practice,” he said. “That puts you so far behind. I had to learn the coach's principles of offense and defense.”
Drake was the prize of last year's recruiting class. He was second-team all-Ohio at Groveport-Madison High in suburban Columbus.
Coles thinks the rule that prohibits players from playing and practicing goes too far.
“I don't know why that rule exists, to tell you the truth,” Coles said. “I understand why they're not allowed to play. That's punish ment enough. That's a beautiful lesson. But they should be allowed to practice and be part of the team.”
Drake has made up for lost time, although he started slowly. He scored a total of six points in Miami's first four games.
“He works real hard,” Coles said. “But had he not sat out, he would have been ready to go from the start.”
Drake gave Miami a spark by hitting back-to-back 3s shortly after entering the Temple game. All 11 of his points came in an eight-minute span. He played the entire second half because he played well within the team concept.
“I'm just trying to give the team energy when I get a chance to play,” Drake said.
Coles thinks this Miami team will get better as Drake, Seals and Johnson learn to co-exist.
“I ask them, "When are you guys going to learn to play together?'” he said. “I didn't recruit them all to play the same position. I like to have two or three of them on the floor together because they're all three good athletes.”
Wisconsin-Green Bay plays the same style it did under Dick Bennett. Coach Mike Heideman was an assistant under Bennett.
“They're very patient,” Coles said. “They make you move on defense. It's a very challenging game for us. They're a good team.”
Sports Stories
Bengals will have most salary cap room in 2001
SULLIVAN: Mike Brown won't quit
Stadium costs more yet
Mitchell upgraded to 'probable'
Cardinals scouting report
XU aims to make statement at Wisconsin
Reds get reliever Wallace
Notre Dame ousts UC in NCAA volleyball
Miami's Drake making up for lost time
