Miami (OH) Faces Top NBA Prospect in March Madness

RedHawks predicted to take on BYU's AJ Dybantsa in first round

Mar. 14, 2026 at 9:36pm

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The Miami (OH) RedHawks, who finished the regular season a perfect 31-0, are predicted to face one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, BYU's AJ Dybantsa, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. While the RedHawks are projected as a No. 11 seed, they have no Quad 1 or Quad 2 wins on their resume, leading to questions about their tournament status despite their impressive record.

Why it matters

This potential matchup would be a significant test for the undefeated RedHawks, who are looking to prove they belong in the NCAA Tournament despite their lack of high-quality wins. A victory over a top NBA prospect like Dybantsa could bolster Miami (OH)'s case and tournament seeding.

The details

Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele has defended his team's resume, arguing that the focus should be on their 31-0 record rather than their lack of marquee wins. Meanwhile, BYU is currently projected as a No. 6 seed, led by potential lottery pick AJ Dybantsa, making the RedHawks' potential first-round matchup a daunting challenge.

  • Miami (OH) finished the regular season a perfect 31-0 out of the MAC.
  • The RedHawks were upset by UMass in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
  • The NCAA Tournament field will be revealed on Selection Sunday.

The players

Miami (OH) RedHawks

The Miami (OH) men's basketball team, who finished the regular season a perfect 31-0 out of the MAC.

AJ Dybantsa

A top NBA prospect for the 2026 draft, currently playing for the BYU Cougars.

Travis Steele

The head coach of the Miami (OH) RedHawks, who has defended his team's resume despite their lack of high-quality wins.

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What they’re saying

“In this world, everybody gets caught up in results. That's all the world wants. That's all they talk about. But then when we are at 31-0, then everybody's talking about, oh, everything else matters. People contradict themselves all the time.”

— Travis Steele, Head Coach, Miami (OH) RedHawks

What’s next

The NCAA Tournament field will be revealed on Selection Sunday, determining Miami (OH)'s seeding and first-round opponent.

The takeaway

Despite their impressive 31-0 record, the Miami (OH) RedHawks face questions about their tournament resume and potential matchup with top NBA prospect AJ Dybantsa of BYU. A win over Dybantsa and the Cougars could bolster the RedHawks' case, but their lack of high-quality wins remains a concern heading into the Big Dance.