With Selection Sunday mere days away, one of the bigger stories of the college basketball season is the 31-0 Miami (OH) RedHawks. The only remaining unbeaten team in Division I, the RedHawks have been the subject of public discourse in recent weeks, as they have remained perfect against one of the weakest strength of schedules in all of college basketball. Despite this debate, Miami (OH) is deserving of a bid in the NCAA Tournament, as keeping the team out would go against what makes March Madness special.
Why The Miami (OH) RedHawks Deserve NCAA Tournament Bid
As of right now, the RedHawks are slated to be an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament per ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. The bracket makers value Miami (OH)’s record despite the team’s weak schedule, as well as the fourth-best scoring team in the nation at 90.9 points per game. The best wins for the team have been a seven-point road win at Wright State, who are the favorites to punch their ticket to the big dance from the Horizon League, and a three-point home victory over Akron, who will likely have a rematch in the MAC finals this weekend.
Underscoring Miami (OH)’s ascension is the impact of the NIL on the school’s athletics. The football team went from an $80,000 roster in 2024 to an estimated $8-10 million in 2026 per CBS Sports, so it would be safe to presume that similar dollar amounts are available for basketball. The story of the RedHawks this season is not that different than how the rise of Indiana football started, albeit on a smaller scale.
When compared to the teams currently among the Last Four In, Miami (OH) makes a strong case for a tournament berth. Santa Clara does have a ranked win over league foe Saint Mary’s, but there are only four teams in the WCC that have a league record over .500 while the MAC has six such teams. SMU has a ranked win at home over North Carolina, but is 8-10 in ACC play. VCU has seven losses on the season, three of those to teams just inside the Top 25. Auburn is an interesting case as they have a ranked win over St. John’s, but are 16-15 on the season and 7-11 in SEC play.
The Case Against The RedHawks
There is a compelling argument for keeping Miami (OH) out of the NCAA Tournament, however. The team ranks #192 out of 365 teams in strength of schedule, while a fringe tournament team like Auburn is #14. Despite having an easier schedule, the RedHawks allowed 77.8 points per game in MAC play, so they are not dominating teams in the run up to the NCAA Tournament.
Whether or not Miami (OH) is viewed as a lock to the big dance, the debate has generated discussion of what the true purpose of Selection Sunday should be. Should a team that has beaten every team in front of it be included in a field of 64 teams that includes proven programs like Michigan State? Should a team with a lackluster record but enough talent to win a national championship get a bid? The choices made on Sunday will have a big ripple effect on March Madness this year and going forward.
