Millett Hall
edit | |
| Location | 500 E. Sycamore St. Oxford, OH 45056 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Miami University |
| Operator | Miami University |
| Capacity | 9,200 (6,400 for basketball) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 2, 1968 |
| Construction cost | $7.5 million |
| Tenants | |
| Miami University Men's and Women's Basketball and Women's Volleyball | |
Overview
editMillett Hall is a basketball arena in Oxford, OH. It is home to the Miami University men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball teams.It is also the home of the ROTCprogram and various university events. It is named after Miami University’s 16th President John D. Millett. The original construction cost was approximately $7.5 million. It is located on the northern part of Miami’s campus, near Yager Stadium. The arena opened its doors on December 2, 1968 against Adolph Rupp's Kentucky Wildcats. A crowd of 9,135 saw the Wildcats win 86-77. Miami’s first win came on December 4, 1968, a 86-67 win over Bellarmine. [1]
While the arena’s official capacity is listed as 9,200 [2], the seats in the south end of the arena are blocked off by a black curtain lowering the actual seating capacity to around 6,400 [3] for basketball games. Portable bleachers are instualled at the north end of the court for the main student section. The south end of the court is reserved for the Pep Band and for the Red Alert student section.
The majority of the seating is located on the sides of the court. These are divided up into an upper and lower bowl. The seats in the lower bowl are a green faberic material, while the upper bowl are a brown color. A large scoreboard hangs from the center of the arena with statistics. Two smaller scoreboards hang above each basket. A video screen is projected onto one of the black curtains at the south end of the court.
One of the main complaints with the arena is that the fans are too far away from the action. The arena was built for multi-purpose use and not for athletics. Unlike many of the other arenas in the Mid-American Conference, fans are not on top of the court at Millett. Miami head coach Charlie Coles reflected on this in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch in 2007. “When you play at Millett the fans are so far away, and that has affected our student crowd.” He added, “They don’t feel like they can be and influence, and young people today like to be an influence. You can’t get that momentum. We have to get a large crowd to have an impact of the home arena.” [4]
Men’s Basketball
editThe Miami Men’s basketball team has enjoyed a great amount of success in Millet Hall. They have complied an all time record of 390-130 or a .765 winning percentage (including the 2008-09 season).Banners hang from the catwalks recognizing Miami’s NCAA and NIT tournament appearances. Banners also hang recognizing Miami’s 21 Mid-American Conference (Regular Season) championships first in 1952 and most recently in 2005. There are five men’s jerseys retired at Millett Hall. They include: Ron Harper (34), Wayne Embry (23), Dick Walls (44), Darrell Hedric (86), and Wally Szcerbiak (32). Haper’s jersey was the first to be retired at halftime of his final home game in1986. [5]
Top 10 Crowds
edit| Attendance | Date | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 10,634 | December 15, 1976 | Cincinnati |
| 10,091 | December 6, 1995 | Xavier |
| 10,085 | March 3, 1976 | Western Michigan |
| 9,989 | February 5, 1994 | Ohio |
| 9,896 | February 1, 1993 | Cincinnati |
| 9,881 | November 29, 1988 | Indiana |
| 9,842 | March 2,1985 | Ohio |
| 9,411 | February 19, 1986 | Ohio |
| 9,306 | February 3, 1996 | Ohio |
| 9,183 | December 12, 1997 | Xavier |
Millett Hall Records
editMost Points:
Team- 114 vs. Findlay 1-30-74
Individual- 40 Eric Newsome vs. Evansville 12-9-89
Most Combined Points:
214 (Miami 110, Evansville 102) 12-9-89
Field Goals:
Team- 48 vs. Findlay 1-30-74
Individual- 16 Larry Cole vs. Toledo 2-22-75
3-Point Field Goals:
Team- 14 vs. Nebraska 11-27-89; vs. Purdue 11-19-04
Individual- 9 Michael Bramos vs. Dayton 11-28-07
Free Throws
Team- 53 vs. Central Michigan 1-29-92
Individual- 17 Anthony Taylor vs. Wright State 12-18-99
Rebounds:
Team- 68 vs. Cleveland State 11-28-72
Individual- 23 Ron Harper vs. Central Michigan 2-6-86
Assists:
Team- 31 vs. Ball State 2-15-86
Individual- 17 Eddie Schilling vs. Kent State 2-4-87
Blocks:
Team-11 vs. Bowling Green 2-10-88
Individual- 7 Kevin Beard vs. Toledo 1-10-96; Ron Harper vs. Bowling Green 2-5-85
Steals:
Team- 18 vs. Centre 12-2-85
Individual- 7 Ron Harper vs. Marietta 12-1-84; Chuck Goodyear vs. Toledo 2-11-76; Damon Frierson vs. Ball State 2-27-99
Women’s Basketball
editIn 34 years at Millet the women’s team has compiled a winning percentage of .683.During the 1981-82 season Miami went a perfect 10-0 at home. They set a record for home wins in a season with 12 during the 1996-97 season. The RedHawks have only suffered six losing seasons at Millett Hall.[8] Mary Ann Myers (20) and Heather Cusick (5) are the only two women's jerseys retired at Millett. [9]
Millett Hall Records
editMost Points:
Team- 110 vs. Wright State 12-7-02
Individual- 37 Laurie Byrd vs. Eastern Michigan 2-12-81
Field Goals:
Team- 49 vs. Toledo 12-2-78
Individual- 17 Laurie Byrd vs. Eastern Michigan 2-12-81
3-Point Field Goals:
Team- 16 vs. Bowling Green 1-22-00
Individual- 9 Jamie Stewart vs. Bowling Green 1-22-00
Free Throws
Team- 44 vs. Central Michigan 1-3-98
Individual- 15 Hollie Nelsen vs. Central Michigan 1-3-98
Rebounds:
Team- 61 vs. Northern Illinois 1-19-85
Individual- 25 Leslie Schultz vs. Purdue 12-2-81
Assists:
Team- 34 vs. Western Illinois 3-11-82
Individual- 15 Nikki Kremer vs. Xavier 12-12-86
Blocks:
Team-10 vs. Northern Illinois 2-4-06
Individual- 8 Heidi Gillingham vs. Vanderbilt 2-15-92
Steals:
Team- 27 vs. Toledo 12-2-78
Individual- 10 Lindsay Austin vs. Bowling Green 2-3-04
Volleyball
editThe 2009 volleyball campaign will mark the 25th season in Millet Hall for women’s volleyball. Prior to the 1985 season the volleyball team played at Withrow Court since they began play in 1974. [11] The RedHawks have enjoyed a lot of success with a winning percentage of .666 at home. The longest home winning streak was 17 starting on September 12, 1998 and ending on September 4, 1999. The 1998 team went a perfect 12-0 against Mid-American Conference opponents. The largest crowd to watch volleyball at Millett came during the 1995 MAC Volleyball Championship when over 1,000 fans attended.[12]
Other Events
editMillett Hall has hosted many other events and speakers. It also plays host to commencement exercises and concerts. A rather impressive list of entertainers and bands have performed at Millet. They include: Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby, Andy Williams, Ray Charles, Jay Leno, Barry Manilow, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Charlie Daniels, Gladys Knight, John Cougar Mellencamp, Don Henley, Yes, Hootie and the Blowfish and 50 Cent. [13]It was also the site of Miami University’s Bicentennial Ball held on February 21, 2009 as the university celebrated the 200th Anniversary of its charter signed February 17, 1809.[14]
Refrences
edit- ^ John D. Millett Hall. (2009). Retrieved March 14 2009, from http://www.muredhawks.com/facilities/mioh-millett-hall.html
- ^ Renninger, A., Weisman, M., Jorgensen, N., & Berry, M. (Ed). (2007). Miami University Men’s Basketball 2007-08 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing. (p. 174)
- ^ Renninger, A. (2009, January 14). Miami University Men's Basketball vs. Ohio, [Press release]. Oxford, OH: Miami University Athletic Media Relations.
- ^ Znidar, M. (2007, January 24). Variety of venues vexes MAC teams during road trips.Columbus Dispatch, The (OH), Retrieved March 19, 2009, from Newspaper Source database.
- ^ Renninger, A., Weisman, M., Jorgensen, N.,& Berry, M. (Ed). (2007). Miami University Men’s Basketball 2007-08 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing.(p.114-115)
- ^ Renninger, A., Weisman, M., Jorgensen, N.,& Berry, M. (Ed). (2007). Miami University Men’s Basketball 2007-08 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing. (p. 173)
- ^ Renninger, A., et al.(Ed). (2008). Miami University Men’s Basketball 2008-09 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing. (p. 133)
- ^ Roth, M., Jorgensen, N., Renninger, A., Pearson, M., & Symonds, J. (Ed). (2008) Miami University Women’s Basketball 2008-09 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing. (p.131)
- ^ Roth, M., Jorgensen, N., Renninger, A., Pearson, M., & Symonds, J. (Ed).(2008) Miami University Women’s Basketball 2008-09 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing.(p.110)
- ^ Roth, M., Jorgensen, N., Renninger, A., Pearson, M., & Symonds, J. (Ed).(2008) Miami University Women’s Basketball 2008-09 Media Guide. Minster, OH: Post Printing.(p.99-100)
- ^ Miami Uiversity History of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics.(1999) Retrieved March 19 2009, from http://www.lib.muohio.edu/epub/wsports/hist.html
- ^ John D. Millett Hall. (2009). Retrieved March 14 2009, from http://www.muredhawks.com/facilities/mioh-millett-hall.html
- ^ John D. Millett Hall. (2009). Retrieved March 14 2009, from http://www.muredhawks.com/facilities/mioh-millett-hall.html
- ^ Join the Celebration (2009) Retrieved March 17 2009, from http://www.miami.muohio.edu/bicentennial/jointhecelebration/index.cfm