Kenny Hayes--June 23, 2009

The last several months have been interesting. I received a medical redshirt after the injury I suffered against Northwestern State that kept me out the rest of the season, and I'm happy to get another shot to finish out my senior year!

At first, I was down on myself after my wrist injury. It was really hard for me to be sitting out, but I tried not to let my teammates see it. I had developed a lot of good relationships with last year's seniors -- Michael Bramos, Tyler Dierkers, Eric Pollitz, Carl Richburg and "Z" (Isiah Carson) -- and not playing was something I just had to get used to.

But I think sitting out has helped my leadership abilities. I began to see things that I didn't see when I was playing that the coaches see all the time. I could begin to tell when a guy wasn't giving it his all in practice.

I've done a lot of rehab work over the last seven months but have tried to keep working on my game in whatever ways I can too. Our athletic trainer, Mike Young, and I have spent a TON of time together ... we are like family now! He's helped me out a lot. Mike keeps me motivated and keeps pushing me through rehab.

These last seven months have also forced me to become much better with my left hand, since I wasn't allowed to use of my right hand at all until recently. I've done drills working with my left hand, and I think it will ultimately help my game for next year because I should be able to finish around the basket with either hand. Really, I feel like I haven't been out at all ... I just haven't been able to use my right hand like I would like to.

Just recently I've been able to start dribbling and shooting short-range with my right hand. The other day I made 25-of-30 shots close to the rim with my right hand.

Since school let out, I've been getting up at 6 a.m. to run. After that, I go work out for an hour or so, then I lift for about an hour, and then I do about an hour of rehab. I'll go home and nap and eat before heading back to the gym for another two-hour workout, doing drills with my left hand and working on game moves. I think it's going to pay off in the end.

Next year is an important year for me, and I feel like I can't let anyone outwork me. If I want to be the best in the league and one of the best in the country I have to find ways to separate myself, and that's what I've been trying to do.

I get back to campus quite a bit. My teammates have been working hard, and I see them working to get better. Losing five seniors to graduation, people may look at this as a rebuilding year for us, but I think that motivates our team. We don't really care where we get picked to finish in the preseason polls. Our goal is to win the Mid-American Conference.

The way everyone has been working out this summer, there are improvements in everyone's game and it motivates me when I see them. I've got to do my part so that we can win the MAC and get to the NCAA Tournament, and I'm confident in our team.

Winning the MAC and going to the NCAA Tournament is our main focus, and I think about it all the time.

I look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates this season ... hope to see you at the games this winter!

This is the first in a series of updates throughout the summer from members of the Miami University men's basketball team.

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