Miami (Ohio) Faces Uncertain March Madness Fate Despite 31-1 Record

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Miami of Ohio's men's basketball team has captured the attention of college basketball fans with an impressive 31-1 record, including being the first team in five years to enter their conference tournament undefeated. However, the Redhawks' weak schedule and lone loss to UMass have raised questions about whether they will earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the brackets are revealed on Sunday.

Why it matters

Miami (Ohio)'s potential exclusion from the NCAA Tournament despite their outstanding regular season record highlights the complexities of the selection process and the challenges mid-major programs face in earning tournament bids, even when they dominate their regular season schedule.

The details

The Redhawks won the Mid-American Conference regular season title with a 31-1 record, but their schedule was ranked 339th nationally and they had zero Quad 1 wins. Their only loss came against UMass, a team that did not have a strong season. These factors could work against Miami (Ohio) when the NCAA Tournament selection committee makes its decisions, even though the team has captured the imagination of college basketball fans.

• Miami (Ohio) entered their conference tournament with an undefeated 31-0 record.
• The NCAA Tournament brackets will be revealed on Sunday, March 17, 2026.

What’s next

The NCAA Tournament selection committee will announce the 68-team field on Sunday, March 17, 2026, determining whether Miami (Ohio) earns an at-large bid despite their impressive regular season record.