While the RedHawks have won all but one of their games this season, the timing of their loss could prove fatal to their chances of a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Miami lost to UMass in the MAC Tournament opener, leading Akron to capture the conference title and the crucial automatic bid to March Madness.
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While Miami’s 31 wins are the most in Division I, its weak schedule (256th) and mediocre NET ranking (54th) are hard to ignore.
What is also difficult to ignore is the historical element. Miami is just the fifth program in the 21st century to go undefeated in the regular season, and they got there thanks to their offensive brilliance. The RedHawks are second in the nation in scoring (90.9 points) and first in field goal percentage (52.6%), with seven players averaging double figures in scoring.
So, will the RedHawks make it to the March Madness field?
According to the latest bracketology from USA TODAY Sports, barely. Miami is projected as the last overall team in the field of 68, meaning they would play Dayton in the First Four.
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It’s good news for Miami fans, but they’ll still be holding their breath until the Selection Show at 6 pm ET.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Miami (Ohio) Make the NCAA Tournament?