The Miami Ohio RedHawks have found a way to become the biggest story in college basketball this season.
On Tuesday evening, the RedHawks improved their undefeated record to 30-0 with a thrilling win over the Toledo Rockets.
Here’s the problem with Miami’s undefeated record:
To secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament, they must win the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland. Each year, the MAC receives an automatic bid that is used for the conference tournament winner. But at 30-0, are the RedHawks really in danger of missing March Madness if they lose in Cleveland?
Former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has been a leader in disparaging Miami’s record. The Tigers are 16-14 and on the bubble heading into the tournament.
After beating Toledo on Tuesday, Miami’s Travis Steele downplayed Pearl’s comments about the RedHawks not being the best team in college basketball.
“I like Bruce (Pearl). Bruce is a great guy, but I’m not going to call Bruce and ask his opinion about our team,” Steele said. “With all due respect to Bruce, he’s a much better coach than me. He’s in the Hall of Fame. But we control our own destiny.”
Steele was very close to making this statement. Totally rely on that competition. Pearl was a college basketball coach. Currently, he works as a broadcaster for TNT and CBS Sports. Of course, he’ll rest for Auburn, which is just two games above .500 to make March Madness.
But let’s be real. Even Pearl’s employers at CBS would prefer Miami. March Madness is about underdogs and Cinderellas. Miami gives the network a better opportunity for these storylines, even if the advanced metrics aren’t all that great.
The most important thing about Pearl is that the RedHawks are not highly regarded in the KemPom or NET rating world. Playing in the MAC isn’t the same either, with Miami facing a very difficult schedule.
But the purpose of sports is to try to win every game you play. The RedHawks can only face the person in front of them. From Steele’s perspective, they control their own destiny.
But it might feel good to see the little guy punch a bully in the face just once. Pearl spent weeks criticizing what Miami did. 30-0 is nothing to turn your nose at. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about youth recreation leagues, high school basketball, JUCO, or college. The RedHawks are a very impressive group that deserves to play in March.
