Miami (OH) is the last unbeaten team standing in college basketball, currently 26-0 (13-0 MAC) after holding off UMass on the road on Tuesday. Their next test is at home, taking on Bowling Green (16-11, 7-7 MAC), coming off a 78-71 home loss to Kent State.
These teams have played earlier in the season, with the Redhawks winning 93-83. Is there a chance that the Falcons can pull off the upset? Based on the number of ranked teams that have already lost this week, it’s a possibility that it can happen.Â
Here are three keys to watch for the game.
1. Redhawks balanced approach
Miami is second in the nation in scoring at 93.2 ppg, including six players averaging between 10 and 14.8 ppg. Peter Suder (14.8 ppg and 4.2 apg) is coming off a 23-point effort in the win over UMass. In the first game against Bowling Green, four Redhawks had between 14 and 17 points. That’s what’s made them difficult to defeat in MAC play, as the Falcons will need to stop multiple key players from going off to slow the team down overall.
2. Guarding Sam Towns of Bowling Green
Compared to Miami, Bowling Green isn’t as balanced overall. They’re led by Javontae Campbell (18.6 ppg), who is averaging 21.9 ppg and 6.0 apg in league play. But even if he goes off, the Falcons will need someone else in a potential shootout. That x-factor to watch is Sam Towns (12.1 ppg), coming off a double-double against Kent State, and he had one of his best games against Miami in the first go-around, producing 24 points and six rebounds. Miami will need to prevent that to prevent the upset.Â
3. 3-point disparity
One of the Redhawks' biggest strengths is their perimeter shooting, ranking 4th nationally at 40% from deep, with nearly 11 makes per game. By comparison, Bowling Green ranks towards the bottom of the MAC in attempts and makes at 6.5 a game. In the first matchup, Miami made 11 three-pointers while the Falcons went 5/22 overall. That 18-point difference proved to be what the Redhawks needed for their first win, and a repeat performance will keep them unbeaten.