The Battle of the Bricks is always a highly anticipated game, no matter the records of the two teams or the location, but this matchup between Ohio (13-12 overall, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) and the still undefeated No. 23 Miami (24-0 overall, 11-0 MAC) feels especially big for the away team.
Ohio is coming off a bad loss on the road against Old Dominion in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. The Monarchs had won just seven games prior to them taking down the Bobcats. Freshman guard JJ Kelly was injured in the game, and it was just not the result that Ohio needed at this point in its season.
Now, the team will be traveling west to Oxford, Ohio, for a nationally televised game on ESPN against its biggest rival in Miami.
The RedHawks have been one of the biggest stories in college basketball this year, as they are now the only remaining undefeated team in the country after No. 1 Arizona fell on the road to No. 13 Kansas.
Miami has been doing this without one of its best players in junior guard Evan Ipsaro, who was injured on Dec. 20 against Ball State and has not played since.
A myriad of guys have stepped up for Miami since the injury, and the squad has not missed a beat, remaining unbeaten while averaging 92.7 points per game, which leads the country.
Ohio will be facing one of its toughest tests of the year on Friday, walking into a sold-out Millett Hall that will be amped for one of the biggest Battle of the Bricks games in quite some time.
A win for an underdog Bobcat team would be absolutely massive for the current season and the program as a whole. Being the team to finally knock off Miami would result in one of the biggest wins for head coach Jeff Boals and Ohio since the 2021 March Madness win over Virginia.
With all of that out of the way, let’s take a look at the RedHawks.
Game Information
Opponent: Miami RedHawks
Location: Millett Hall (Oxford, Ohio)
Time: Friday at 9 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPN
Meet the Opponent:
Head coach: Travis Steele (4th season)
Projected Starters:
#00 Eian Elmer
#03 Luke Skaljac
#05 Peter Suder
#13 Antwone Woolfolk
#22 Brant Byers
Statistical leaders:
Points: Byers (14.7 per game)
Assists: Skaljac (4.6 per game)
Rebounds: Elmer (6.0 per game)
Steals: Woolfolk (1.6 per game)
Blocks: Woolfolk (0.9 per game)
FG%: Woolfolk (64.3%)
3-point percentage: Elmer (43.5%)
Miami player to watch: Peter Suder
With the injury to Ipsaro, Suder has been one of a couple of players who have stepped up, along with Luke Skaljac. Even with all of the contributions, Suder has been the go-to guy for Miami, as he has truly leveled up his game recently.
He has been on fire shooting the ball, going for 14.2 points per game on 55.9% from the floor and 42.9% from 3 this season. Those are absurd shooting splits, and the shooting has been there in the clutch as well, as he drilled a game-winning 3-pointer against Buffalo in overtime. With Kelly and Elijah Elliott nursing injuries, Suder and the other Miami guards will be tough matchups come game time.
