Saturday, January 27, 2001
Miami's Jameson gets another test
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Backup point guard Matt Jameson was a lifesaver for the Miami RedHawks early this season, but lately he has been dragging them down with him.
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BALL STATE at MIAMI
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• When: 1 p.m. today.
• Where: Millett Hall (9,200).
• Records: Miami 8-11 (4-4 Mid-American Conference), Ball State 9-7 (4-3 MAC).
• TV: Ch.25.
• Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450).
BALL STATE
Player-Ht-Yr-Avg
Patrick Jackson-5-10-Jr.-13.1
Billy Lynch-5-9-Jr.-2.2
Lonnie Jones-6-11-Jr.-10.6
Theron Smith-6-8-So.-17.2
Josh Murray-6-7-Jr.-10.1
Coach: Tim Buckley (9-7, first season; 59-59 overall)
MIAMI
Player-Ht-Yr-Avg
Matt Jameson-6-1-Jr.-2.5
J. Grunkemeyer-6-5-Sr.-11.4
Alex Shorts-6-8-Jr.-14.1
Mike Ensminger-6-6-Sr.-5.7
Juby Johnson-6-5-Fr.-6.3
Coach: Charlie Coles (85-55, fifth season; 177-139 overall)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 3-0: Ball State's MAC record on the road.
• +5.6: Ball State's rebounding margin — best in the MAC.
• 3-for-21: What Miami's two leading scorers — Alex Shorts and Jason Grunkemeyer — combined to shoot vs. Akron.
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“Early on, he saved us,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said, “but he hasn't lately. There's a different kind of point guard in our league. They're smaller, quicker. Matt has to make the adjustment.”
Jameson struggled, going scoreless in Miami's loss to Akron Wednesday. He gets another challenge today at 1 p.m. when the RedHawks host Ball State in a Mid-American Conference game at Millett Hall.
Ball State starts Billy Lynch, who is 5-foot-9 and quick.
“Matt can learn something from Billy Lynch, because Billy is just a tough kid,” Coles said.
Jameson was thrust into a starting role when Doug Davis dislocated his right big toe two games ago. Jameson started two games early in the season for Davis when he was out with a strained tendon in his foot.
One of the two was Miami's upset of then-No.10 Notre Dame. Jameson played 40 minutes and had seven points and six rebounds, both career highs.
But ...
“Notre Dame starts (Martin) Ingelsby,” Coles said. “He's not a jet.”
Jameson, a 6-1 sophomore, is from Newport Beach, Calif. He never saw the Miami campus until he arrived to enroll last season. He was a late signee, brought into spell Rob Mes tas with freshman Chester Mason ineligible. He's Miami's only true point guard.
“We have to play him,” Coles said. “He's the only guy we got.”
“I don't really look at that as pressure,” Jameson said. “Doug was playing so well when he got hurt. I'm not trying to play like Doug. I'm just trying to keep the team playing well like I did earlier.”
Coles tried using Jason Grunkemeyer at point, but Grunkemeyer is much better suited for off guard.
For Jameson to be effective, he's going to have to make a shot or two. He's shooting only 37.8 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from 3-point range.
Those numbers have opponents daring him to shoot.
“They're playing us five-on-four,” Coles said.
“He wants me to break down the defense more,” Jameson said. “Still look to get the ball to Grunk, Alex Shorts and Mike (Ensminger), but at least be a threat.”
Ball State (9-7, 4-3) lost to Marshall at home 77-72 last time out. The Cardinals are defending MAC tournament champions.
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Miami's Jameson gets another test
