{"id":187008,"date":"2026-03-11T09:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/187008\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T09:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:53:18","slug":"how-miami-earned-a-31-0-record-and-a-chance-to-make-history-in-the-mac-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/187008\/","title":{"rendered":"How Miami earned a 31-0 record and a chance to make history in the MAC Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 The hottest team in all of men\u2019s college basketball is coming to Cleveland this week to fulfill its destiny.<\/p>\n

The No. 20 Miami RedHawks just capped off an undefeated 31-0 regular season. Now, they look to win the men\u2019s Mid-American Conference Tournament, which will take place at Rocket Arena Thursday through Saturday. <\/p>\n

Last year, Miami\u2019s season ended in heartbreak with a loss in the MAC Tournament championship. This time around, they take the stage as the country\u2019s most talked-about team for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n

For one, Miami is the country\u2019s only undefeated men\u2019s team. <\/p>\n

They became the 21st team in men\u2019s Division I hoops history, and the first MAC team, to have an undefeated regular season.<\/p>\n

The RedHawks can really score, ranking second nationwide in points (90.9) while holding the top spot in field goal percentage (52.6%).<\/p>\n

Despite the dominance, Miami\u2019s legitimacy has been questioned, because their schedule is not dotted with big-name opponents. And there\u2019s debate over whether they should make the NCAA Tournament field if they don\u2019t win the MAC Tournament title and the league\u2019s automatic bid.<\/p>\n

All eyes are on the RedHawks this week. <\/p>\n

\u201cI told our guys, listen, it\u2019s good to have recognition,\u201d Miami coach Travis Steele said. \u201cBut at the same time, we all didn\u2019t come here just to be ranked. We came here for bigger goals than that and actually get to the NCAA Tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the story of how they\u2019ve done it, why Speedos are showing up at their games, and what this week means for their legacy.<\/p>\n

\"NMiami forward Eian Elmer.APSuperstitions <\/p>\n

An undefeated season usually comes with superstitions, and some of the players have their own to live by before each game.<\/p>\n

Though the RedHawks wear red, Steele wears blue T-shirts underneath his quarter-zip.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s his lucky shirt, and he wears it every game at the request of his 3-year-old daughter. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe loves my shirts that I wear underneath my quarter zip,\u201d Steele told ESPN<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve got a Skyline Chili shirt and I\u2019ve got an Ultimate Warrior T-shirt. She likes that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior guard Peter Suder wears the same game socks every game, though he makes sure they\u2019re washed. <\/p>\n

Redshirt sophomore forward Brant Byers eats candy before games, particularly Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers.<\/p>\n

Junior forward Eian Elmer wears the James Harden Volume 9 Adidas shoes and started the season with eight pairs, but he gets rid of a pair if he has a bad game in them. Elmer is down to six pairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had two bad games in them,\u201d Elmer said<\/a>. \u201cIt was time to give them up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami forward Brant Byers.APBuckets<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a thing of beauty when you watch the RedHawks set up their halfcourt offense.<\/p>\n

All five players space out behind the arc and display pristine ball movement, crisp screens and cuts, pick-and-pops, and they won\u2019t stop moving until they get the right shot.<\/p>\n

Their offense compares best to European basketball \u2014 a fundamentally sound style of play that can tire out an opposing defense without trying.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur offense is super fun to play with and we got great guys, a great arsenal of a bunch of offensive weapons for that,\u201d Suder said in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s led to 90.9 points per game, the second-most in the country, trailing only Alabama (92.1), while ranking first in field goal percentage (52.6%).<\/p>\n

The 3-ball is also in the arsenal for the RedHawks. They rank 25th in 3-pointers made per game (10.4) and ninth in 3-point percentage (39.3%).<\/p>\n

Suder leads the team in points (14.8), but six of the RedHawks average double digits. Even with the loss of junior guard Evan Ipsaro 12 games into this season due to an ACL tear, Miami found the next man without missing a beat.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look at our numbers; we\u2019ve had seven guys this year score 20 (points) or more in a game,\u201d Steele said. \u201cYou don\u2019t really know who to take away from us. And I think that\u2019s what makes us hard to guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami guard Peter Suder.APBring on the Speedos<\/p>\n

The Miami RedHawks swimming and diving team stuck out in its own unique way.<\/p>\n

They could be seen behind the hoop during home games in their team swim gear, including Speedos. <\/p>\n

When an opposing player prepared for a free throw, the swimming and diving team set out to distract them<\/a> by waving their T-shirts in the air or crowd-surfing one of their swimmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the swim team was shocking to say the least,\u201d Steele told ESPN<\/a>. \u201cWhen I saw them the first time in their Speedos down there, their swim gear, but just the whole overall community has just been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans have caught wind of it and sent Steele Speedos in the mail. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a couple sent to me in the mail,\u201d Steele told Caleb Noe of WCPO<\/a>. \u201cOne of them had stitched into it, an \u2018M\u2019 for Miami.\u201d<\/p>\n

It got to the point where Steele sat down with Rece Davis on ESPN\u2019s \u2018College GameDay\u2019, and Davis asked Steele if he\u2019d wear a Speedo on Selection Sunday if Miami stayed undefeated and won the MAC tournament.<\/p>\n

What a turn of events.<\/p>\n

Steele agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDone!\u201d Steele said<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s done. Yes.\u201d <\/p>\n

Close wins<\/p>\n

Every team is out to knock off Miami, yet the RedHawks have prevailed each time.<\/p>\n

Eight of Miami\u2019s outings during the regular season were one-possession wins, or in other words, won by three points or less.<\/p>\n

There was the 105-102 overtime win over Buffalo, where Elmer\u2019s buzzer-beating 3-pointer extended the game and Suder hit the game-winner<\/a> in overtime.<\/p>\n

Then there was the 110-108 season finale win<\/a> over their rival, the Ohio Bobcats, where Suder made two clutch free throws to grab the lead.<\/p>\n

\"TreyMiami guard Trey Perry, center rear, puts up the game-winning shot against Western Michigan in a February game.AP<\/p>\n

One of the RedHawks\u2019 most impressive wins was a 69-67 outing over Western Michigan. <\/p>\n

The Broncos led for 74% of the game. Suder fouled out with just over seven minutes left. Elmer shot poorly and Byers couldn\u2019t find a rhythm.<\/p>\n

Despite this, the RedHawks leaned on freshman guard Trey Perry, who made his first career start in place of then-injured sophomore guard Luke Skaljac. Perry and junior forward Almar Atlason combined for 30 points. Perry put the cherry on top with the game-winning layup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finding ways to win tight games is an important ability to hold in March.<\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami head coach Travis Steele.APTrashed DJ equipment <\/p>\n

You can\u2019t forget about Steele\u2019s viral moment going into halftime in the Feb. 27 matchup with Western Michigan.<\/p>\n

Steele received a technical foul after giving the officials a piece of his mind, angrily walked out, then pushed over a DJ\u2019s speakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Steele was fined $2,500 by the Mid-American Conference for violating the league\u2019s sportsmanship policy and had to reimburse Western Michigan\u2019s arena DJ Charles Welch for damage to his equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a little verbal confrontation up under the tunnel,\u201d Welch told ESPN<\/a>. \u201cHe didn\u2019t initially go into the locker room. He was still yelling and shouting. I was like, \u2018Yo, what\u2019s your problem?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the win, Steele spoke on the moment where his emotions got the best of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, I don\u2019t even know how I got that technical,\u201d Steele said<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m still trying to figure that one out. That really upset me. And I can\u2019t do that. I can\u2019t get technical fouls. <\/p>\n

\u201cAgain, the margin for error is so small, and I\u2019ve got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Questioned<\/p>\n

The biggest debate in all of college basketball is whether the RedHawks should make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team if they fail to win the MAC Tournament.<\/p>\n

It has become a question of how legitimacy should be measured.<\/p>\n

The debate of Miami\u2019s legitimacy rose when former Auburn coach and now TV analyst Bruce Pearl stated his doubts of Miami<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion. Because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country,\u201d Pearl said.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith gave his opinion<\/a> of the RedHawks during last Thursday\u2019s edition of \u201cFirst Take.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no reason on God\u2019s green earth why a team that goes 30-0 in the regular season \u2014 only the fourth team in the last 45 years to do so\u2014 can\u2019t make a field of 1 of 68,\u201c Smith said.<\/p>\n

Even Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, a nine-time NBA All-Star and NBA 75th Anniversary Team selectee, took to X with his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan somebody explain to me how Miami OH should\/would not get an (at-large) bid? I\u2019m confused\u2026,” Lillard said on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Weak\u2019 schedule<\/p>\n

Because Miami is doing what it\u2019s doing as a mid-major school, its mid-major status has fueled doubt among outsiders. <\/p>\n

There are two factors people use to level Miami to their competition.<\/p>\n

One way is through strength of schedule. It\u2019s a way for people to see who Miami has played, and if that it\u2019d indicate they\u2019d match up with teams from power conferences.<\/p>\n

One resource for measuring that is KenPom.com<\/a>. It\u2019s a popular website filled with data and analytics used to measure teams in college basketball.<\/p>\n

Miami ranks 274th in strength of schedule.<\/p>\n

That indicates Miami\u2019s regular-season schedule was weak \u2014 by those metrics, Akron is the best team they\u2019ve faced.<\/p>\n

Steele has spoken about the struggles of constructing a good schedule. In short: There are no big-name opponents on the RedHawks\u2019 schedule because no big-name opponents would play them.<\/p>\n

\u201cScheduling was hard, especially with our retention. I knew we were in trouble in June. I was uneasy,\u201d Steele told \u201cField of 68<\/a>\u201c. \u201cWe kept trying. We waited until October to finalize. Nothing fell our way. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a long list of teams that said no or wouldn\u2019t hit us back\u201d <\/p>\n

In the eyes of the doubters, unless Miami is playing the heavyweights of college basketball, its undefeated record holds no weight.<\/p>\n

\"AkronMiami head coach Travis Steele.John Kuntz, cleveland.com\u2018Unfinished business\u2019<\/p>\n

Redemption may be the most important factor newcomers to the Miami RedHawks story don\u2019t yet know about.<\/p>\n

Miami has not experienced a loss since March 15 \u2014 the same day they blew an 18-point lead to Akron and lost the MAC Tournament championship.<\/p>\n

The game was in the palm of their hands and they couldn\u2019t capitalize.<\/p>\n

That feeling has not left them. Steele has revisited that game multiple times, noting that, as he puts it, the RedHawks \u201cled for 39 minutes and 56 seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re in a locker room, it\u2019s very fragile after an emotional ending like that. Because you pour your heart and soul into it,\u201d Steele said<\/a>. \u201cOur guys, they give everything. And they\u2019re rock stars both on and off the court, so it was hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season has been about getting back to that point. By any means necessary. <\/p>\n

If anything, that game created a monster. Because the RedHawks have shown how good they are, but there\u2019s a likelihood an undefeated regular season isn\u2019t their peak. <\/p>\n

They\u2019ve managed to run through the conference in a manner that\u2019s caught the country by surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I met with them individually, they all kind of said to me, \u2018Listen, we\u2019re going to go over and beyond to make sure that this doesn\u2019t happen next year\u2019. And they\u2019ve done it,\u201d Steele said.<\/p>\n

\"BowlingMiami fans earlier this season against Bowling Green.APLegacy<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s MAC Tournament starts Thursday at Rocket Arena.<\/p>\n

Miami will return to a site where it last left in heartbreak.<\/p>\n

All eyes are on them. Fans, doubters, and everyone in between will tune in, rooting for the RedHawks\u2019 success, or downfall.<\/p>\n

With factors lining up against the RedHawks, their best way into the NCAA Tournament is through an automatic bid, meaning they\u2019ll have to win the MAC Tournament championship \u2014 and they\u2019d enter March Madness at 34-0.<\/p>\n

If that were to happen, this weekend\u2019s Selection Sunday could be one for the ages. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 The hottest team in all of men\u2019s college basketball is coming to Cleveland this week…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":187009,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124,142],"class_list":["post-187008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news","tag-ncaa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187008\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/187009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}