OT: Miami (OH) AD

NYShoreGuy

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Many people here forget bruce pearl was in coaching purgatory for a long time...div II Indianapolis the. UW Milwaukee...he would not cast this thought as a coach at UW M
 
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sobo1

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Life in the SEC isn't easy, but this is a nice reminder it's not just a spending contest. Auburn has one of the highest NIL budgets in the sport. You need money to succeed at this level, but money alone isn't enough.
 

NYShoreGuy

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Life in the SEC isn't easy, but this is a nice reminder it's not just a spending contest. Auburn has one of the highest NIL budgets in the sport. You need money to succeed at this level, but money alone isn't enough.
Yale beat Auburn 1st round a few seasons ago
 
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NYShoreGuy

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They

They havent played anybody so who knows
The premise of the MTE fields have expired. Some that were known even under the ESPN Events umbrella have contracted. Gonzaga would constantly be bashed a prevailing theme that they played in a soft conference and they would seek to schedule as best as possible OOC. Nevada did this a handful of years again coming off their tournament run. Now I truly feel it is not possible for a token mid major to have the chance.
 

NIL BAD

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Aug 15, 2025
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The Travis Steele revival tour. Pearl Sr. did a fantastic job at Auburn & he's probably right about Miami Ohio but they still belong in the tournament even if they don't win their conference tournament.
 

SPK145

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And Bruce Pearl is kind of an idiot here:

“If we’re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion."

Since when is the NCAA Tournament about the best 68 teams? If that were so, many conference tournament champions should not get in.
 

NYShoreGuy

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I mean 0 quad 1 wins, 0 quad 1 games, 1-0 vs quad 2…imagine if we were slightly better and they got in over us. We would all be outraged
They have played who was able to be scheduled and in some cases non Div I competition. It is quite glorious to see people on this board bashing the credentials of a team in a conference like this when the big east is not even a high major any more...BTW in this century your very own SHU team has been bounced from the tournament with teams represented by the MVC, WCC and SoCon.
 
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joeyklings

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They have played who was able to be scheduled and in some cases non Div I competition. It is quite glorious to see people on this board bashing the credentials of a team in a conference like this when the big east is not even a high major any more...BTW in this century your very own SHU team has been bounced from the tournament with teams represented by the MVC, WCC and SoCon.
Maybe they should actually schedule quality teams in the non conference
 

NYShoreGuy

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I wonder what the general reaction would be on this platform, in this space...if next season another mid major is having a run like this, played no P4s or other comparable competition then a week before selection sunday it was leaked that the AD and basketball staff left wild voice messages to P4 schools that had known openings in their schedules with comments like "you better play us or else..."
 
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joeyklings

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Is it difficult? Maybe
Santa Clara, VCU, Dayton didn’t have any issues…I don’t think any P5 team was scared to play Miami Oh.

I just randomly chose 3 decent mid majors. I’m sure I could pull more easily
 

Piratz

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This has been the nature of the sport forever and partially what makes college basketball nuts. You have these extremes of haves and have nots, 360+ teams. Remember all the criticism with the late Billy Packer going after St. Joseph’s for getting a #1 seed when they had that team with Jameer Nelson? It’s always this stuff because there’s no comparison to the rigors of the power conferences compared to the mid majors in these one-bid leagues.

They have their own way of selecting their auto bid, Miami (OH) can take it up with their league if they get knocked off.

I root for these teams when the brackets are unveiled to create chaos. It’s fun. But I watched a portion of that game Friday night and, I mean, c’mon, the athletes and speed is totally different to be awarding at-large based on a season’s worth of work.
 

NYShoreGuy

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Is it difficult? Maybe
Santa Clara, VCU, Dayton didn’t have any issues…I don’t think any P5 team was scared to play Miami Oh.

I just randomly chose 3 decent mid majors. I’m sure I could pull more easily
Santa Clara Herb Sendek HC was in the aciscure field, two guarantee games, played at Xavier, Nevada, arizona state in a name event and at New Mexico

VCU Martelli Jr new head coach, Utah State neutral site, at NC State, 3 guarantee games Battle for Atlantis, New Mexico

Dayton

At Cincy, at Marquette, 2 guarantee games ESPN Events Invite, Virginia neutral, Florida State home vs 1st year head coach
 

NYShoreGuy

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This has been the nature of the sport forever and partially what makes college basketball nuts. You have these extremes of haves and have nots, 360+ teams. Remember all the criticism with the late Billy Packer going after St. Joseph’s for getting a #1 seed when they had that team with Jameer Nelson? It’s always this stuff because there’s no comparison to the rigors of the power conferences compared to the mid majors in these one-bid leagues.

They have their own way of selecting their auto bid, Miami (OH) can take it up with their league if they get knocked off.

I root for these teams when the brackets are unveiled to create chaos. It’s fun. But I watched a portion of that game Friday night and, I mean, c’mon, the athletes and speed is totally different to be awarding at-large based on a season’s worth of work.
OK you went there on 2004. St Joe's had a perfect regular season

They opened the season at MSG defeating top 10 Gonzaga

Beat Cal neutral site, won vs BC at Nova

2004 a10 tourney was at UD Arena, Xavier beats them in QF and goes on to win and get in beating UD in final. Xavier got to the regional final that year as a 7 seed and lost to Duke by 3.

I don't think we are comparing Miami OH in this fashion to SJU in 2004. I mean Jameer had a look at a J to send the game to OT vs OK state in a regional final.

Miami to me comps more to GW who was an 8 seed with a 28-3 mark heading into the field. Miami at large yes but seed appropriately.
 

TheHall87

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Jun 3, 2001
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Is it difficult? Maybe
Santa Clara, VCU, Dayton didn’t have any issues…I don’t think any P5 team was scared to play Miami Oh.

I just randomly chose 3 decent mid majors. I’m sure I could pull more easily
Those schools are at a higher level than Miami (OH) the risk/reward ratio is lower playing those teams.

ShoreGuy gave the rundown about SC, VCU and UD but all went to MTEs where you can get to name opponents. Miami didn't have that opportunity.

Miami (OH) is more along the lines of a James Madison who played (and won at) Michigan State a couple of years ago but played nobody else because nobody wanted to play them.
 

radecicco

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Jun 24, 2013
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This has been the nature of the sport forever and partially what makes college basketball nuts. You have these extremes of haves and have nots, 360+ teams. Remember all the criticism with the late Billy Packer going after St. Joseph’s for getting a #1 seed when they had that team with Jameer Nelson? It’s always this stuff because there’s no comparison to the rigors of the power conferences compared to the mid majors in these one-bid leagues.

They have their own way of selecting their auto bid, Miami (OH) can take it up with their league if they get knocked off.

I root for these teams when the brackets are unveiled to create chaos. It’s fun. But I watched a portion of that game Friday night and, I mean, c’mon, the athletes and speed is totally different to be awarding at-large based on a season’s worth of work.
I watched the 2nd half of that game too. Frankly I was extremely unimpressed with Miami, the offense was slow and plodding with very little athleticism. They are a low major and very distant from top mid majors like Dayton or VCU. I absolutly want them in the NCAAT but not as an at large.
 
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Piratz

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OK you went there on 2004. St Joe's had a perfect regular season

They opened the season at MSG defeating top 10 Gonzaga

Beat Cal neutral site, won vs BC at Nova

2004 a10 tourney was at UD Arena, Xavier beats them in QF and goes on to win and get in beating UD in final. Xavier got to the regional final that year as a 7 seed and lost to Duke by 3.

I don't think we are comparing Miami OH in this fashion to SJU in 2004. I mean Jameer had a look at a J to send the game to OT vs OK state in a regional final.

Miami to me comps more to GW who was an 8 seed with a 28-3 mark heading into the field. Miami at large yes but seed appropriately.
I’m not comparing the teams I’m comparing the mindset using that classic example. What Pearl did is nothing new.
 

Piratz

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Piratz

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I watched the 2nd half of that game too. Frankly I was extremely unimpressed with Miami, the offense was slow and plodding with very little athleticism. They are a low major and very distant from top mid majors like Dayton or VCU. I absolutly want them in the NCAAT but not as an at large.
I highly doubt that team could beat Marquette or Georgetown.
 

NYShoreGuy

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I watched the 2nd half of that game too. Frankly I was extremely unimpressed with Miami, the offense was slow and plodding with very little athleticism. They are a low major and very distant from top mid majors like Dayton or VCU. I absolutly want them in the NCAAT but not as an at large.
Nope you may not like their style of play or the athleticism eye test but they are def a mid major based on conf rep...btw they got to Mac title game last season and lost to akron
 

sobo1

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I will preface this by saying I would rather see Miami of Ohio in the field over another 8-12 high major team, but they didn't make a legitimate effort to build a resume. They scheduled three D2 opponents in their OOC. Their overall SOS overall is ~300. Are they legit? Maybe, but we will never really know until they actually play a competent opponent. It's all hypothetical but I have a hard time seeing a team like Providence losing a game with that same schedule, and we know Providence isn't even remotely close to an NCAA tourney team.

It's extremely impressive going 29-0 but going 29-0 doesn't necessarily mean you are a top 45 team - which is essentially what it means to be an at large team. Personally, I don't think they are a top 45 team but I still say give them a bid over someone like Auburn.
 

NYShoreGuy

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I will preface this by saying I would rather see Miami of Ohio in the field over another 8-12 high major team, but they didn't make a legitimate effort to build a resume. They scheduled three D2 opponents in their OOC. Their overall SOS overall is ~300. Are they legit? Maybe, but we will never really know until they actually play a competent opponent. It's all hypothetical but I have a hard time seeing a team like Providence losing a game with that same schedule, and we know Providence isn't even remotely close to an NCAA tourney team.

It's extremely impressive going 29-0 but going 29-0 doesn't necessarily mean you are a top 45 team - which is essentially what it means to be an at large team. Personally, I don't think they are a top 45 team but I still say give them a bid over someone like Auburn.
Read miami student net link you may feel differently
 

shu09

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Jan 6, 2006
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While the schedule certainly isn't great, I think they're for real. Of the Big East teams this year, I would say only UConn and St. John's would also go undefeated against that schedule.
 

MooneyHall07

Sophomore
Feb 18, 2023
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OK you went there on 2004. St Joe's had a perfect regular season

They opened the season at MSG defeating top 10 Gonzaga

Beat Cal neutral site, won vs BC at Nova

2004 a10 tourney was at UD Arena, Xavier beats them in QF and goes on to win and get in beating UD in final. Xavier got to the regional final that year as a 7 seed and lost to Duke by 3.

I don't think we are comparing Miami OH in this fashion to SJU in 2004. I mean Jameer had a look at a J to send the game to OT vs OK state in a regional final.

Miami to me comps more to GW who was an 8 seed with a 28-3 mark heading into the field. Miami at large yes but seed appropriately.

I don't think that the GW comparison is on point either. The core of that GW team the A-10 regular season and tournament titles the previous year and had Pops Mensah Bonsu + 2 other guys who were either drafted or played in the NBA. With that said, I agree with you on giving them an at large bid if they go undefeated but give them an 11 seed in Dayton.
 

Seton75

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I am not a big NET fan, but:

BE NET 1 - 99 - 10
BE NET 100-198 - 1
BE NET 200 - 299- 0
BE NET L 300 AND UP - 0

MAC NET 1 - 99 - 2
MAC NET 100-198 - 4
MAC NET 200 - 299- 5
MAC NET L 300 AND UP - 2

SH OOC NET 1-99 - 2
SH OOCNET 100-198 - 4
SH OOC 200 - 299 - 3
SH OOC NET 300 AND UP - 2

SH OOC
St Petes - 225
Wagner 308
Fairfield 244
Monmouth 179
New Haven 327
NC St 29
USC 64
Wash St 136
Central Conn St 282
Kansas St 102
RU 158
 

NIL BAD

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Aug 15, 2025
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It's extremely difficult to go 28-0, even in the MAC. This is especially true on the road where they have a bullseye on their back every game.

The attendance for the UMass men's basketball home game against Miami (OH) on February 17, 2026, at the Mullins Center was
7,524.
  • Significance: This was the highest home attendance for a UMass men's basketball game since the 2014-2015 season opener.
 

SHUBK

Redshirt
Jan 5, 2015
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As good a story as it is, Miami, OH doesn't deserve to be in the NCAA's without winning their conference tournament.
Completely disagree - winning 29 games is very difficult no matter schedule imo. But you are not alone in your opinion and it’s not a crazy take

I am an alum of both Miami and Seton Hall and have watched most games both have played.

Miami is way more fun to watch- they can score the basketball and actually shoot.

I truly believe Seton Hall does not go 29-0 with the same schedule. It’s hard.

Miami called most major programs and no one would play them due to returning most players from a solid team. There is no benefit for high majors to play good mid majors which is unfortunate
 
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NYShoreGuy

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I don't think that the GW comparison is on point either. The core of that GW team the A-10 regular season and tournament titles the previous year and had Pops Mensah Bonsu + 2 other guys who were either drafted or played in the NBA. With that said, I agree with you on giving them an at large bid if they go undefeated but give them an 11 seed in Dayton.
Nope, no 11 seed for Dayton...presume they win the MAC tourney that won't happen...even with a loss I would hope that 2.9% of their schedule doesn't weigh down. They have a great WAB wins above bubble right now.

GW that season played and beat ranked Maryland in the BB&T event, lost a true road game to NC State lost A10 QF to Temple after having a undefeated conference regular season. GW seed that season has nothing to do with what their team did the season before.

GW was also ranked preseason and steadily climbed the polls getting as as high as AP 6.
The year before while they did win conf tourney they had best record in A10 west but it was not the best conf record that season. They were 11-5.
 

Hall Berry

Freshman
Apr 12, 2024
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I find this argument fascinating about Miami (OH). As NYShoreGuy just raised, last year, the NCAA introduced WAB, wins above bubble. Basically, the metric represents how many more (or fewer) wins a team has when compared to the hypothetical "average bubble team" playing that same schedule.

Miami (Oh) is #32 in WAB.

By comparison, teams considered more safely in the field that are behind Miami (OH) in WAB include:

#33 Missouri
#34 Saint Louis
#35 Georgia
#36 Iowa
#40 NC State

Last year, every team within the Top 40 in WAB made the tournament.

Someone mentioned they would rather see Miami (OH) get a bid than Auburn. Talk about two extremes!

Miami (OH)
29-0

52 NET/32 WAB
0-0 Quad 1 record
1-0 Quad 2 record
28-0 Quad 3-4 record
Wins vs. Tourney Teams: 0
Best Win(s): #57 Akron (H)
Worst Loss(es): None

Auburn
15-14

38 NET/48 WAB
5-11 Quad 1 record
2-2 Quad 2 record
8-1 Quad 3-4 record
Wins vs. Tourney Teams: 6
Best Win(s): #4 Florida (A); #19 Arkansas (H); #22 St. John's (N); #27 Kentucky (H); #29 NC State (H)
Worst Loss(es): #91 Ole Miss (H)

BTW, Miami (OH) is the current #19 in the AP Polls.