Miami Ohio Proves Doubters Wrong with March Madness Victory PHILADELPHIA – Miami (Ohio) men’s basketball made a strong statement in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, defeating SMU 89-79 at UD Arena in Dayton. The win silenced critics who questioned the Mid-American Conference team’s place in the 68-team field, as the RedHawks entered the tournament with a 31-0 regular-season record and a first-ever at-large bid in program history. Coach Travis Steele emphasized that the team’s focus remains on proving their worth to themselves rather than external skeptics. “We know how good we are. We know we deserve this opportunity,” Steele said. “We’re going to go showcase that.” The RedHawks, who are the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid since 1999, face No. 6 Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday. Despite the challenge, players like guard Peter Suder and sophomore Luke Skaljac stressed that the team’s confidence stems from internal belief rather than external validation. Suder, reflecting on the win over SMU, said, “We showed that last night, especially, but just don’t count us out.” Skaljac added, “We’re not really trying to prove it to the media, fans, or whatever. We all know inside the locker room who we are as a team.” The RedHawks’ offensive firepower was evident, as Eian Elmer, Skaljac, and Brant Byers combined for 59 points, showcasing their ability to dominate in high-stakes games. The victory also marked a historic milestone for the program, which made its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and its first since 2007. The win came amid a season of overcoming skepticism, with some analysts questioning whether the team should have been included in the field after failing to secure an automatic bid.#travis_steele #miami_ohio #smu #dayton #ud_arena
Miami (Ohio) downs SMU in First Four: 'Deserve' to be here Miami (Ohio) made a strong statement in the First Four of the NCAA tournament, defeating SMU 89-79 at UD Arena. The 11th-seeded RedHawks, who had been a polarizing 30-win team in the lead-up to the tournament, proved their worth by outperforming the 6.5-point favorite. The victory marked their first tournament game since 2007 and set them up for a first-round matchup against No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region. Coach Travis Steele emphasized that the game was not an upset, calling it a validation of the team’s preparation. “We were the better team coming into this game,” he said. The RedHawks led for most of the contest, hit a season-high 16 three-pointers, and scored their highest total in a tournament game since 1958. Star guard Peter Suder credited the team’s resilience, saying they had “proven the doubters wrong” by defeating a “really good team” with physical talent. Miami’s path to the tournament was unique. The team did not face any power conference opponents in nonleague play, as schools avoided scheduling them due to their weak schedule. Despite going 31-0 in the regular season and reaching the Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinals, their lack of high-profile wins created an unusual at-large profile. “We had to basically be perfect in the whole regular season to get that at-large,” Steele said. The RedHawks’ success in the tournament was bolstered by a passionate crowd, with over 12,000 fans in attendance. The game’s energy was heightened by the presence of Miami’s men’s swimming and diving team, who sprinted down the aisle behind SMU’s basket to distract free throw shooter Corey Washington. “What really surprised me was the swim team, when they came out,” said forward Antwone Woolfolk. Miami’s offensive strategy was key to the win.#travis_steele #miami_ohio #smu #ud_arena #peter_suder
Miami's undefeated regular season makes it an NCAA Tournament lock Miami University's 31-0 record in the regular season has solidified its place in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, as no Division I men's basketball team has ever missed the tournament after finishing its regular season undefeated. The RedHawks, led by coach Travis Steele, are guaranteed an at-large bid regardless of their performance in the MAC Tournament, with the selection committee facing immense pressure to include them if they fall short. Despite a strength of schedule ranking 344th nationally, Miami's undefeated run has been a dominant force in the MAC. The team's schedule, which included several high-profile matchups, was shaped by their consistent success, as returning four of the top five scorers from a 25-win season gave them an edge over other programs reluctant to face them. However, the low strength of schedule has sparked debate, with critics arguing it undermines their credentials. Yet, the RedHawks' perfect record remains a defining factor in their NCAA Tournament inclusion. Miami currently sits at No. 19 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings, with Duke holding the No. 1 spot for the 14th consecutive day. The Blue Devils, along with Michigan and Arizona, have already secured No. 1 seeds in the tournament. The fourth No. 1 seed is expected to be among Florida, UConn, Houston, or Michigan. The rankings section highlights individual performances from top teams, including Cameron Boozer's 26-point game for North Carolina State, Yaxel Lendeborg's 16-point effort for Iowa, and Jaden Bradley's 17-point contribution for Kansas. These stats reflect the competitive landscape as teams prepare for their final regular-season games.#miami_university #travis_steele #ncaa_tournament #mac_tournament #cbs_sports
