Miami (OH) Earns Top Spot: Greenberg Picks Undefeated RedHawks!

Miami (OH) RedHawks Secure Undefeated Regular Season, Earn High Praise

In a thrilling regular season finale, the Miami (OH) RedHawks clinched a perfect league record, overcoming a tough Ohio Bobcats squad 110-108 in a game that went down to the wire. The victory, achieved in a place where Miami hadn’t won in 15 years, capped off a remarkable 30-0 regular season, solidifying their status as one of college basketball’s most compelling stories.

A Game for the Ages

The contest against Ohio was a back-and-forth affair, showcasing elite shot-making and clutch performances. Tied at 100, Jackson Pavletki had a chance to put Miami ahead, but his shot was blocked by Ian Elmer. Peter Sudter then came up big for Miami, drawing a foul and sinking both free throws to give the RedHawks a 110-108 lead. Pavletki had another look at the end, but it wouldn’t fall, sealing the monumental win for Miami.

Miami head coach Travis Steel praised his team’s resilience in the locker room, stating, “Really good job, man. Listen, we had to overcome a lot of stuff as you guys know. Some of the stuff was a little wild in there, but we always we always kept our mind. And I think that’s been the trait of us being such a good team in those moments cuz I know there were some times where probably want to get frustrated. I there was some some weird stuff going on in there, but it is what it is. We overcame we overcome stuff. We’ve been doing this all year long, fellas. And that’s what makes our group so special is you guys stay calm, cool, collected. You guys stay in the moment. Do your job when we need to do it and finish games. That’s what we do.”

The Speedo Watch Continues

The RedHawks’ perfect season has kept the ‘Speedo watch’ alive. A few weeks prior on College GameDay, coach Steel had pledged to join the Miami swim team in wearing Speedos to games if his team went undefeated. “I got to see which one fits and which one’s going to flatter me the most,” Steel quipped. “Listen, when when Ree put me on GameDay and put me on the spot, I said, ‘Listen, that’s a heck of a problem to have if I have to wear a Speedo.’ So, I got to get some extra workouts and watch my diet here over the next week.”

Selection Committee Debate: Miami’s Case

The discussion then shifted to the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s perspective, with a hypothetical scenario involving six bubble teams vying for four at-large spots. Seth Greenberg, a prominent voice on the panel, firmly placed Miami (OH) in the tournament, despite their resume’s perceived weaknesses.

“Look, I’m going to be outside the box, suck, their resume says that they should not be in because they don’t have enough quad one wins. Their resume says they only have one quad two win. Their resume says they come from the MAC. I don’t care about the resume perfection, being undefeated in league play. I understand they lost in the conference tournament, but being undefeated in league play, being 30 and0, and I know only 27 of them are division one wins in the most level playing field of the in the country, I have them in.”

Greenberg emphasized the importance of rewarding perfection, stating, “Amongst all those teams, they’ve got to reward the perfection of their regular season. The regular season has to mean something, especially in that league.”

While acknowledging Miami’s NET ranking in the 50s and a weaker strength of schedule, the panel agreed that the RedHawks’ undefeated regular season was a compelling narrative that March Madness couldn’t ignore. The last time the Mid-American Conference received two bids was in 1999, with Miami being one of them.

The Bubble Battle: Auburn, Indiana, SMU, and New Mexico

With Miami’s spot seemingly secured, the debate moved to the remaining at-large bids. Auburn was a strong contender, with Jay Williams highlighting their strength of schedule and quality wins, despite a recent losing streak. Indiana also entered the conversation, with Billis arguing for their inclusion based on the caliber of teams they played, even with a significant number of losses.

The conversation also touched upon SMU and New Mexico. Jay Williams favored SMU due to their ability to secure multiple quality wins, while Greenberg expressed a liking for New Mexico’s tough, defensive style and their proven ability to win against Quad 1 opponents.

Looking Ahead: Seeding and Tournament Implications

The panel discussed the potential seeding for Miami, with the consensus being that an undefeated regular season deserved better than an 8 or 9 seed. “The only thing I would say in the for the committee is don’t put them in the 89 game and put them against a one seed in the second game if they if they’re able to win their first game. you know, put put them in a decent seed where they’ve got a chance,” urged one commentator.

Miami’s journey through the MAC tournament and their subsequent NCAA Tournament fate will be one of the most closely watched storylines as the madness unfolds.

Source: 'I have Miami (OH) in!' – Greenberg's in on RedHawks after their perfect season ✍️ | College GameDay (YouTube)