The RedHawks went to a perfect 30-0 record with the win over Toledo
In a big twist, Miami (OH) basketball has become one of the most talked about teams in the country in recent weeks, but much of the discussion centers on what would happen if the RedHawks end up losing the game. That has yet to happen, as Miami improved to 30-0 for the season with a 74-72 win at home against Toledo.
The RedHawks have been the only undefeated team in the nation for some time, and now they enter the final game of the regular season with a chance to make history. Coach Travis Steele and company will hit the road in an in-state rivalry game against Ohio on Friday night as they try to complete a dream season.
Toledo had a chance to tie or win in the final seconds on Tuesday night, but a steal by Luka Skaljac sealed the deal for win No. 30 of the season.
Only three teams since 1991 have finished the regular season undefeated, and Miami (OH) is looking to add a fourth to that group. 2014-15 Kentucky is the only power conference team to accomplish the feat, and 2013-14 Wichita State and 2020-21 Gonzaga also lead the standings.
Unfortunately for all Miami fans, that didn’t mean much for the postseason hopes of these undefeated teams. Wichita State was upset in the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament by Kentucky, while the 2015 Kentucky squad made it all the way to the Final Four before falling to Wisconsin. In 2021, Gonzaga came within one win of perfect before Baylor beat the Bulldogs in the national title game.
Things will get interesting if Miami ends up losing one or more games, either on Friday or in the MAC tournament. The The RedHawks are currently projected to be somewhere around the 10th or 11th seedeven if they win the conference. However, a loss in the MAC Tournament would send them straight to the bubble, where they would be matched up against teams that played much stronger schedules.
Fortunately, Miami stands out on strength of record and wins above bubble metrics, which should help it survive a weak collection of predictive metrics. However, Steele and company will focus on ending all those conversations with a conference championship.
2026-03-04 02:51:00
