The story of college basketball last season was Miami Ohio. The RedHawks finished the regular season with a perfect 31-0 record, blasting through the season with ease. In classic fashion, they lost in the MAC tournament to UMass, sparking a debate among collegiate fans and the media around whether or not they should have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament with just the 252nd overall strength of record.
Ultimately, the committee did the right thing and gave them the opportunity to prove themselves as an eleven-seed against SMU in Dayton. The RedHawks showed the world what they could do, lighting it up from deep and rolling past the Mustangs 89-79. They then fell to Tennessee in the next round 78-56 to end the historic season.
While in this era of college basketball, you’d look at this story and expect that the majority, if not entire roster would be hitting the transfer portal in search of lucrative opportunities. However, with nine players contributing significantly to their rotation, they lost just four players. A team that went 31-0 last season in the MAC is returning five key players while loading up on more talent in the portal.
This is a team that’s once again going to be a massive threat in the MAC. Let’s take a look at how their roster is shaping up, and see how they can follow up after a legendary season.
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Roster Turnover
Peter Suder (Ineligible)
14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.3 steals
Eli Yofan (Ineligible)
1.5 points (2 games / 7 minutes)
Eian Elmer (Senior) ~ Wisconsin
12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Trey Perry (Sophomore) ~ Coastal Carolina
5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Brant Byers (Junior) ~ Penn State
14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds
Given the season that the RedHawks had last season, it isn’t a surprise that they lost some key players to the power conferences. Out of the three transfers, Elmer and Byers are both headed to the Big Ten at Wisconsin and Penn State. Trey Perry also hit the portal in hopes of earning more minutes as he is headed to Coastal Carolina are putting up a solid line in just 13.1 minutes per game.
I have to take a moment and give kudos to Peter Suder after wrapping up a prolific collegiate career. After starting at Bellarmine in his first two seasons, he jumped to Miami Ohio where he he led the RedHawks to their historical season last year. After proving to be a star player in the mid-major ranks, he earned a spot in the Summer League where he initially signed a two-way contract with the Lakers. While he was waived, there is no doubt that he’ll find his way onto a G-League roster. Don’t be surprised if you see him on an NBA court in the near future.
Returning Players
Antwone Woolfolk (Senior)
9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 steals
Evan Ipsaro (Senior)
13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals
Jackson Kotecki (Senior)
1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds (5 games / 5.8 minutes)
Almar Atlason (Senior)
9.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Ethan Wright (Senior)
1.4 points, 0.8 rebounds (5 games / 2 minutes)
Blake Anderson (Senior)
DNP
Luke Skaljac (Junior)
10.3 points, 3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals
Justin Kirby (Sophomore)
6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds
Leshawn Stowers (Sophomore)
DNP
Kyle Waltz (Sophomore)
3 points, 1.3 rebounds)
Tyler Robbins (Sophomore)
3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds
Guards
Evan Ipsaro (6’0)
One of the key returners on the roster this season is Evan Ipsaro. He appeared in just 12 games before suffering a season-ending injury, one that many thought would end the historical run for Miami Ohio, which, obviously did not prove to be true. In those twelve games, he averaged 13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 57.1% overall and 39.4% from beyond the arc. He dropped 27 points against UNC Asheville, 24 against Maine, and he racked up seven assists against Air Force.
While it was a small sample size, his metrics were off the charts. He featured a 132.9 offensive rating, 67.4% true shooting percentage, 21.4 assist rate, and 2.1% steal percentage. The year prior, he finished the season with a 125.5 offensive rating (87th best), and a 23.3 assist rate (263rd best), which is a sign that the high performance against lesser competition last season was not just a fluke.
Luke Skaljac (6’2)
Skaljac followed up a strong showing as a freshman by taking a huge step forward in year two. He started in 21 of the 32 games he appeared in as he stepped up to replace Ipsaro after his injury. He finished the season averaging 10.3 points with three rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.1% overall and 35.3% from three-point. He put together some magnificent performances, including 18 points with ten assists against Buffalo. From December 30th through the end of the regular season, he averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
If you look at the metrics, his increase in performance during conference play didn’t fully reflect in his splits. On the season, he finished with a 114.3 offensive rating, 56.3% true shooting percentage, 9.3% defensive rebounding percentage, 27.1 assist rate (142nd overall), and a 2.9% steal percentage (283rd overall).
He’s poised for a massive junior year this season.
Justin Kirby (6’4)
Despite missing the first half of the season, Kirby put together a solid freshman season. The 6’4 guard averaged 6.2 points with 3.2 rebounds while shooting 52.5% overall and a sharp 40.5% from three-point on two attempts per game. He had a couple of strong games, including 17 points with six rebounds against Central Michigan and 13 points with seven rebounds and three assists against UMass.
While his metrics are slightly skewed given his absence through the first half of the season, he finished with a remarkable 131.4 offensive rating. He also had a 67.1% true shooting percentage, 14.8% defensive rebounding percentage, 7.1% offensive rebounding percentage, and a 5.5 assist rate.
This roster is loaded once again, but Kirby is going to provide a valuable role in the rotation this season.
Leshawn Stowers (6’5)
Coming out of high school, Stowers had quite a few offers from other mid-major programs like Wyoming, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Purdue Fort Wayne, and more. When Ipsaro went down with his injury, Kirby was ultimately the freshman that stepped up in the rotation, so Stowers remained off the radar as he redshirted last season.
From highlights from 2024, he looks like he can be absolutely electric on the offensive end (a perfect fit for the team). He can create shot opportunities for himself, while using his strong frame to fight through contact. With how talented the roster is, I don’t see him breaking through into 15 minutes per game this season, but we should see him some as he starts to gain experience on the court in his first collegiate season.
Blake Anderson (6’4)
Anderson is listed as a walk-on, so you should expect to see him deep in the depth chart.
Ethan Wright (6’5)
Wright is listed as a walk-on, so you should expect to see him deep in the depth chart.
Forwards
Antwone Woolfolk (6’9)
After spending his first two seasons with Rutgers, Woolfolk has turned into a valuable player for Miami Ohio. Last season, he averaged 9.8 points with 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in just 23.4 minutes on average. The big man shot 62.9% overall from the floor and 32.4% from beyond the arc on 37 attempts. He racked up two double-doubles on the season, while dropping 21 points in their win over Toledo.
He featured a 115.7 offensive rating which jumped to 122.3 in conference play, a 64.3% true shooting percentage, 19.3% defensive rebounding percentage (234th overall), 7.2% offensive rebounding percentage, 3.3% block percentage (382nd overall), 3.1% steal percentage (184th overall), all while finishing 29th in the country in two-point shooting percentage. Across the board, his metrics grew in conference-play, making him statistically one of the more valuable players in the MAC.
While he isn’t going to light it up from three-point on 100 attempts in a season, he’s quick and versatile enough to bolster the RedHawks rotation. With four seasons under his belt, he should produce similar, if not better numbers in his final season of eligibility.
Almar Atlason (6’8)
Atlason transferred into Miami Ohio last season from Bradley and he immediately put up career high numbers across the board. The 6’8 forward finished the season averaging 9.9 points with 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in just 18.8 minutes per game off the bench. He shot 45.1% overall and 36.4% from three-point on 4.9 attempts per game. He served as a three-point specialist, and when he got hot he was impossible to stop.
His metrics speak for themselves as he finished with a 116.4 offensive rating, 59.5% true shooting percentage, 11.8% defensive rebounding percentage, and an 8.1 assist rate. He also shot 64.2% from inside the arc against Division I opponents, which was the 118th best in the country.
With him returning this season, Coach Steele retains an important offensive cog in the phenomenal offensive machine of the RedHawks.
Jackson Kotecki (6’9)
Kotecki has spent all three seasons of his career with the RedHawks while appearing in 43 games off the bench. His playing time has diminished, going from 7.5 minutes per game as a freshman down to just 5.8 last year across five games. At this point, he operates similarly to the production of a walk-on, so I don’t expect his numbers to vary much from what he produced last season.
Kyle Waltz (6’7)
The 6’7 freshman appeared in 21 games last season, averaging three points with 1.3 rebounds per game. He shot 56.1% overall and 37.5% from three-point in 7.4 minutes on average. The majority of his production came in their three games against non-division I teams, including a 23 point performance. In other opportunities, he didn’t contribute much on the court. Waltz is still a raw talent, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him a little bit more this season as surely he developed some more over the past season.
Center
Tyler Robbins (6’10)
Robbins was another freshman on the squad last season that didn’t have a chance for a true expanded role in year one. The 6’10 center appeared in 27 games and averaged 5.8 minutes per contest. He finished with a line of 3.1 points with 1.9 rebounds while shooting 57.9% overall from the floor. He also knocked down four of his 15 attempts from deep.
Similarly to Waltz, the majority of his production came against their three non-Division I opponents where he finished with one double-double and nearly two more. However, he did see the court a bit more, especially in the non-conference slate of their schedule. He finished with eight points, two rebounds, and three blocks against Arkansas Pine Bluff, and six points against UNC Asheville.
I don’t see him taking a massive leap in year two, but he will most likely be playing some more in the rotation this season.
Roster Additions
Rich Rolf (Senior) ~ Youngstown State
9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Stevie Elam (Sophomore) ~ Milwaukee
10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1 steal
Preston Copeland (Sophomore) ~ Ball State
4.6 points, 4.4 rebounds
Anthony Fresh (Freshman)
Alan Horton (Freshman)
Danny Kelly (Freshman)
Rich Rolf (6’7)
After starting off his career at Charlotte, Rich Rolf transferred into Youngstown State where he slid into the starting rotation last season. He emerged as an offensive threat, averaging 9.1 points while shooting 46.1% overall and 36.8% from three-point. He also provided to be a strong rebounder, averaging 4.5 rebounds total with 1.3 offensive rebounds per game.
Looking at his metrics, he fits the Miami Ohio mold. He featured a 122.0 offensive rating which was 265th overall. He had a 58.5% true shooting percentage (356th overall) and a 55.4% effective field goal percentage (331st overall). Rolf also finished with a 14.3% defensive rebounding percentage and a 5.2% offensive rebounding percentage.
Rolf isn’t a huge defensive threat, but he’s strong on offense and will provide rebounding where players like Peter Suder have left a hole on the roster.
Stevie Elam (6’3)
Coming out of high school, Stevie Elam was listed as a three-star recruit and the fifth best in the state of Michigan. He quickly proved why as he averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and one steal per game as a freshman. Elam shot 38.5% overall and 35.4% from three-point. While he had some strong performances early on in the season, he fell short against strong opponents, finishing with zero points against Indiana and Texas Tech. However, he turned it on towards the end of the year. Over the final five games of the regular season, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
For a true freshman, his metrics shined. He finished the season with a 119.1 offensive rating, 53.9% true shooting percentage, 4.9% offensive rebounding percentage, 16.2% defensive rebounding percentage, 5.6% assist rate, microscopic 6.0 turnover rate (15th best in the country), and a 2.1% steal percentage. Against Division I talent, he took 144 three-pointers vs 74 attempts from inside the arc…a perfect fit for Travis Steele.
Preston Copeland (6’9)
Copeland might not have scored against the RedHawks in Ball State’s only matchup with them last season, but Coach Steele saw something that he liked. The 6’9 freshman fits the mold as a slightly undersized traditional big man. He averaged 4.6 points with 4.4 rebounds and a shade under one block per game while starting in 24 of the 30 games he appeared in.
Looking at his metrics, he finished the season with a 108.6 offensive rating, 61.2% effective field goal percentage, 11% offensive rebounding percentage (180th overall), 17.2% defensive rebounding percentage (426th overall), and a strong 4.7% block percentage (212th overall).
While there is plenty of room for him to grow on the offensive end, he had some strong performances last year. Against Le Moyne, he finished with ten points and 16 rebounds, while he racked up three blocks in three different games. While Miami Ohio runs of lights out offense, Copeland brings stability inside the paint with experience in the MAC.
Anthony Fresh (6’4)
Fresh is coming in from Indiana where he played for the Charleston Pirates while being named an Indiana All-Star following his senior season. He finished the year averaging 21 points with 5.4 rebounds, two assists, and 1.9 steals in his final season. He’s a walking bucket, someone that will have no problem fitting in the offensive scheme. Given the others on the roster, I don’t see Fresh seeing a ton of the court as a freshman, but he should be in the rotation to help develop his skills.
Fresh had two other offers from Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan.
Alan Horton (6’9)
It was clear that Coach Steele wanted to address his depth in the paint this offseason. Horton is another slightly undersized traditional big man, similar to Copeland. He played high school at St. Francis de Sales in Toledo, Ohio, where he averaged 11.7 points with 9.8 rebounds as a junior. He set the school record for most blocks in a single season that year as well. He was even named a McDonald’s All-American nominee. With Copeland, Almar Atlason, Antwone Woolfolk, and Rich Rolf, I don’t think he’ll have a huge role in the rotation. Look for him to take a developmental year and gear up for an impactful sophomore campaign.
Horton held offers from Towson, Kent State, Toledo, and Youngstown State.
Danny Kelly (6’5)
Kelly is listed as a walk-on, so you should expect to see him deep in the depth chart.
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Expectations
This roster is loaded once again, and they shouldn’t be concerned about missing a few of the key pieces from last season. Coach Steele and his staff have done a fantastic job at retaining others, while bringing in some additional players to help fill the open roles. Let’s look at what their starting lineup could look like:
Evan Ipsaro
Luke Skaljac / Justin Kirby
Justin Kirby / Rich Rolf
Almar Atlason / Preston Copeland / Rich Rolf
Antwone Woolfolk
Looking at the guards, Evan Ipsaro is a lock at point guard. He was one of the best in the mid-major ranks before going down with his season-ending injury, so there’s no doubt that he’s going to be vying for an outstanding performance this year.
Shooting guard gets a bit interesting. Luke Skaljac stepped up in a huge way without Ipsaro, so do you reward that and bring him in as the starting two? You’d have two outstanding playmakers that both are weapons on the offensive end. Otherwise, you’d bring him off the bench, and give him the same amount of minutes you would as a starter. Keep in mind, you also have Justin Kirby. He was tremendous as a freshman, and I just saw his name on a list on social media that had him as a mid-major player to watch for future NBA potential. While there’s still plenty of time for us to see if that’s true, there is no doubt that his performance last year has set him up for an expanded role. These three players are probably going to be rotating. When Ipsaro isn’t in the game, you can have Kirby and Skaljac together, and vice versa.
Moving onto the forwards, if Coach Steele ever wanted to run a small lineup, he could with Kirby at the three. He’s a strong rebounder, and one that could fill up the production needed from a traditional small forward. However, you do have a wing in Rich Rolf. At 6’7, he shot 36.8% from three-point last season. He makes the most sense to start at the three, in my opinion.
Power forward is a toss up on the surface. Almar Atlason primarily came off the bench last season, but he was incredibly efficient. He shot 45.1% overall and 36.4% from three-point while sitting at 6’8. The only issue is, he’s not really a defensive presence. He averaged just 2.5 rebounds, and he finished the season with just an 11.8% defensive rebounding percentage. Do you leave him out of the equation and bring him in as more of a small forward / wing? Preston Copeland fits more of the traditional four role. He has experience in the MAC and he’s a strong rebounder. While he didn’t show a ton of what he can do on the offensive end at Ball State last year, there would be plenty of other offensive weapons in the lineup. Plus, he did shoot 61.2% from inside the arc, so a quicker tempo with a focus on shots from beyond the arc could open up more opportunities for him on the inside.
Antwone Woolfolk has started in every game he’s appeared in as a RedHawk over the last two seasons, and that’s not going to change this year. He’s not going to light it up as a traditional center that finishes the season with a block or two a game, but he’s strong on the boards and efficient on offense. He finished the season with a 115.7 offensive rating and 19.3% defensive rebounding percentage. A traditional center doesn’t fit the scheme of Miami Ohio, but a versatile player like Woolfolk does.
Looking at the bench, we haven’t even talked about Stevie Elam. I don’t see him winning a starting spot in his first season with Miami Ohio, but he’ll have a huge role and should see 20+ minutes per game. He had a strong showing as a freshman and with some efficiency improvements on offense, which should be assisted by having more natural playmakers around him, he could have a true breakout season. Other players off the bench to watch are those that we’ve talked about here that would fall out of the starting rotation (players like Atlason or Copeland), and the freshman Anthony Fresh. They have a ton of guards but I can see Fresh earning 8-10 minutes per game and potentially earn more minutes like Kirby did last year if there’s an injury.
This team is loaded once again. I’d find it hard to believe if they don’t finish in the top-three of the MAC as they have the ceiling of winning the conference and reaching their second NCAA Tournament in a row. The program and university have a lot of momentum going with their success on the court, getting a new arena, and even other programs like football. There’s a reason they are looking at jumping to the American (although that looks like that won’t be happening any time soon). I’m all in on the RedHawks once again this season.