This wasn\u2019t just a victory over SMU.<\/p>\n
It was a victory over the skeptics too.<\/p>\n
After weeks of heated debate over Miami (Ohio)\u2019s NCAA tournament<\/a> worthiness, the RedHawks seized their opportunity to prove they belong. The team that has inspired 1,000 scorching-hot takes quieted its critics on Wednesday night by taking down SMU 89-79 to advance<\/a> from the First Four to the NCAA tournament\u2019s main draw.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Finally free from the target-on-the-back pressure that came with trying to keep an undefeated season alive at the end of MAC play, Miami regained the fearlessness and flow that were its trademarks earlier in the season. The reinvigorated RedHawks hoisted 41 threes and buried 16 of them, building a 14-point cushion with seven minutes left and holding off SMU\u2019s desperate attempts to rally.<\/p>\n By the time Eian Elmer rebounded Jaron Pierre Jr.\u2019s off-target 3-point attempt with 20 seconds to go, it was clear this was Miami\u2019s moment. Miami coach Travis Steele signaled for noise from an already raucous red-clad crowd. The fans who had traveled about an hour from Miami\u2019s campus in Oxford, Ohio, responded with a deafening roar.<\/p>\n Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes<\/a><\/p>\n Never again could anyone credibly claim that this 31-win Miami team wasn\u2019t good enough to compete with NCAA tournament-caliber competition. Never again could anyone credibly call the RedHawks a schedule-aided fraud. Regardless of what happens when Miami goes up against sixth-seeded Tennessee and its hulking, physical frontcourt on Friday, the RedHawks have achieved validation.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n When asked by Turner Sports sideline reporter Jenny Dell what Miami had shown the world, Steele said, \u201cOh, we more than belong. We can advance deep into this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur group is fully confident of that, fully confident,\u201d Steele added.<\/p>\n For years, First Four matchups have seldom generated any buzz since they tip off before fans finish filling out their brackets. Only students and alumni from the participating schools typically can get emotionally invested in watching two middling teams battle for a No. 11 seed in the 64-team main draw.<\/p>\n The matchup between Miami (Ohio) and SMU gave Wednesday night\u2019s First Four doubleheader a little extra juice. There was genuine curiosity among even casual fans whether the RedHawks would fall on their faces or rise to the occasion going up against the strongest opponent they\u2019ve faced all season.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Miami (Ohio) entered Selection Sunday with a gaudy 31-1 record but a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 unlike any previous NCAA tournament at-large hopeful. The RedHawks piled up those wins against one of the nation\u2019s softest schedules, one that included 19 games against MAC competition, three against NAIA foes and a handful of other non-league matchups against the dregs of Division I. Their lone top-100 victory came at home against Akron. Their next most impressive result was a road win at a Wright State team ranked 134th in the NET rankings.<\/p>\n Most predictive metrics echoed what analysts like Bruce Pearl and Tyler Hansbrough screamed \u2014 that Miami was not of the quality of other contenders for NCAA tournament at-large bids. The RedHawks fell to 87th in Bart Torvik\u2019s rankings and 93rd in Ken Pomeroy\u2019s after unheralded UMass spoiled their undefeated season in the MAC quarterfinals.<\/p>\n Results-based metrics evaluated Miami more generously. The RedHawks entered Selection Sunday at 28th in Strength of Record and 38th in Wins Above Bubble, better reflecting the challenge of completing the regular season undefeated against any schedule. That put Miami just ahead of NCAA tournament-bound Iowa, Saint Louis and Texas A&M and well ahead of bubble teams with many more marquee wins but also many, many more losses.<\/p>\n When the NCAA tournament selection committee placed Miami in the First Four against SMU, it doubled as an opportunity for the RedHawks to demonstrate they belonged in the main draw. SMU was about as average a power-conference opponent as Miami could have drawn. The Mustangs (20-13) went 8-10 in ACC play and barely slipped into the NCAA tournament despite dropping five of their final six games before Selection Sunday.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Asked on Sunday about Miami (Ohio) being a polarizing selection, SMU coach Andy Enfield told reporters, \u201cMaybe to one or two media people that speak out about them.\u201d<\/p>\n