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Miami University announces addition of two transfers

John Cooper

Miami (Ohio) head coach John Cooper, right, listens to a referee during first-half action of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Louisville. Louisville won 80-39. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

AP

Having finished the 2012-13 season with a 9-22 record (3-13 Mid-American Conference), the Miami RedHawks found themselves in a position where adding depth to the program would be more than welcome.

Add to that the fact that leading scorer Allen Roberts (12.3 ppg) is no longer with the program, and there’s a chance that the 2013-14 campaign could bring on more growing pains for second-year head coach John Cooper.

On Friday, Cooper announced the official addition of two transfers, 6-10 forward Blake McLimans and 6-3 guard Willie Moore. McLimans, who spent the last four seasons at Michigan (redshirting in 2009-10; 4.3 mpg), will be eligible to play immediately and he’ll be a two-sport athlete as well. A pitcher in high school, McLimans is expected to join Miami’s baseball program.

Moore didn’t see much playing time in his one season at Oregon (7.2 mpg), averaging 2.1 points per game in 2012-13. And with the Ducks retaining the likes of Johnathan Loyd and Dominic Artis, as well as adding Houston transfer Joseph Young, that was unlikely to change in 2013-14. Moore, who has three years of eligibility remaining, will have to sit out the 2013-14 season per NCAA transfer rules.

As a result Miami gains two players who have been a part of successful programs, something that shouldn’t be taken lightly given the task in front of coach Cooper and his staff.

“We are thrilled to add these two players to our program,” Cooper said in the release announcing the moves. “Both Blake and Willie bring postseason experience with them to Miami, which will only help us as we move into the future. I think it always helps when you have young men in your program with NCAA Tournament experience.”

Miami lost ten of its final 11 games last season, and the RedHawks struggled throughout the 2012-13 campaign defensively (11th in the MAC in both field goal and three-point percentage defense) and on the boards (12th in rebounding margin, 11th in offensive rebounding percentage and 9th in defensive rebounding percentage).

Senior forward Will Felder (11.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and sophomore guard Reggie Johnson (8.4 ppg) return in 2013-14, as the RedHawks look to take the next step in their rebuilding project.

Raphielle can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.