Why did Miami of Ohio play such a soft non conference schedule? They beat up on a couple of NAIA schools - Milligan University by 54 and Trinity International University by 80. Because of that I don't think they should get an at large bid. I don't care that they are 30-1 they needed to win the MAC tournament as far as I'm concerned.
2026 NCAA March Madness Men's Basketball Tournament
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You're right, a team like Miami (Ohio) has to make every game count. Their non conference schedule is ridiculously weak.
Akron who is now favored to win the Mid-American Conference tourney and NCAA bid somehow found a way to achieve a power ranking of around #60 with five losses. Miami (Ohio) is wallowing in the 90s.
2025-26 Miami, (Ohio) RedHawks Men's Basketball Schedule and Results
If Miami, (Ohio) is given a tournament spot, I predict an 11 seed, or play-in game for 11.
From the looks of their schedule, their only 'quality' win is a three point home game vs Akron. Only Akron and Miami OH from the MAC are listed as top 100 teams on kenpom.
If Miami, (Ohio) is given a tournament spot, I predict an 11 seed, or play-in game for 11.
From the looks of their schedule, their only 'quality' win is a three point home game vs Akron. Only Akron and Miami OH from the MAC are listed as top 100 teams on kenpom.
One of the teams Akron, (#2 seed in MAC), defeated in their 2025-26 season was Penn State Shenango, which has 264 students. I'm reminded of Bill Cosby riffing about being on 'the ninth team' for his high school.
If the NCAA selection committee is inclined to invite Miami (Ohio), it's sets up the next dilemma. Where should they be seeded?
Miami (Ohio) is not worthy of an 11th seed, but the scenario you noted of having them play-in makes sense.
It sounds like they are going to give them an at large bid. I don't think they're worthy of a 16, let alone an 11. The Committee needs to grow a set. There are worthy teams who may not have the greatest record but had a difficult strength of schedule. Teams like Texas and UCF for instance. I can't wait until Thursday to watch the Madness.
Part of the fun of Selection Sunday is debating who should be in and who should be out. Miami (Ohio) doesn't deserve an invite. Texas might deserve an invite, but Mississippi might have been one bad loss at the wrong time. I don't have the history on this, but these mega conferences get so many bids that I will be surprised if 18 win teams from these major conferences get bids. These conferences are already going to be well-represented.
After it's all said and done, I don't think Miami (OH), Texas or UCF could make hay in the NCAA tournament. It's just fun to debate the selections.
Interestingly, most of my friends are 50/50 as far as the worthiness of Miami (OH). I would say of the 50% who think Miami (OH) should be in the tournament, they are surprised when you start naming their non-conference opponents. It's really a scraggly bunch of basketball schools.
Duke and Michigan are consensus favorites to make it to final 4. The two others are Arizona and Florida. Anything can happen but last year had many 1s and 2s advancing first time in over 10 years.
Iowa (might lose first or second round) and Wisconsin wont even make it to the elite 8.
Do you really think Iowa can beat Florida second round? Wisconsin has to beat Arkansas and Arizona to even reach elite 8.
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On paper no, that is why they call it March Madness, because anything can happen and people are left in aww...
Still to go 30-0 in the regular season and undefeated in your conference up until the playoffs is impressive. No off nights. So I'm starting to come around as to why they are being rewarded with a bid. That said I see them as a one and done in the tourney.
When I first got into NCAA March Madness in the late 80's to early 90's Big East was a powerhouse conference. They had 9 or 10 teams and 5 or 6 would consistently get to the dance. Usually U Conn, Georgetown, Syracuse, Seton Hall, St. John's and Villanova. Sometimes Pitt. Now they are an also ran.
I have a sentimental fondness for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights because I first followed the NCAA Tournament in 1976, and that was the year they were undefeated before losing in the Final Four.
Rutgers only joined the Big East in 1991 - they were not there in the initial Big East heyday of the mid to late 80's. They basically stank until they left in the 2013 conference chaos.
They were not so affectionally known as Buttgers by Big East fans during their time in the conference.
@K Douglas and @WyattEarp: If the Pomeroy Basketball Statistics improve your Bracket selections this year, please let me know in this thread.
Everyone else: See post #9.
Everyone else: See post #9.
I got this one correct.
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