With one game remaining in their regular season, the 19th-ranked Miami RedHawks already have clinched the top seed in the MAC tournament March 12-14 at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.
The RedHawks remain the only undefeated Div. I men’s basketball team in the nation.
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Earlier this season, the RedHawks (30-0, 17-0 MAC) handed the Akron Zips (25-5, 16-1 MAC) their only conference loss of the season. The Zips are the No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament.
The Kent State Golden Flashes (22-8, 13-4 MAC) have locked up the No. 3 seed in the tournament, and the Toledo Rockets (16-14, 10-7 MAC) are the No. 4 seed.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks wing Brant Byers (22) hits a shot from three point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks wing Brant Byers (22) hits a shot from three point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks guard Trey Perry (1) makes a shot from three point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Toledo Rockets guard Leroy Blyden Jr. (2) blocks an attempted layup by Miami (OH) RedHawks guard Justin Kirby (6) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks guard Luke Skaljac (3) and Toledo Rockets guard Sonny Wilson (3) battle for possession of the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Toledo Rockets guard Jr. Will James (11), Miami (OH) RedHawks guard Justin Kirby (6) and Toledo Rockets center Austin Parks (25) reach out to the ball for a rebound in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks forward Antwone Woolfolk (13) hits a layup in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks fans react in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
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Miami Redhawks men’s basketball vs. Toledo Rockets, March 3 | Photos
Miami (OH) RedHawks head coach Travis Steele communicates with players in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Miami Redhawks and Toledo Rockets, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Oh.
The other four teams in the tournament will be the Ohio Bobcats (15-15, 9-8 MAC), the Bowling Green Falcons (17-13, 8-9 MAC), the Buffalo Bulls (17-13, 7-10 MAC) and the UMass Minutemen (16-15, 7-11 MAC). Their seeds have not been determined.
As No. 1 seed, the Miami RedHawks do not get a bye in the MAC tournament
The top-seeded RedHawks get under way in the MAC tournament on Thurs., March 12, along with the other seven teams.
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The RedHawks play in the first quarterfinal game of the day Thursday.
The winner of the MAC tournament receives an NCAA tournament automatic bid.
CBS and TNT college basketball analyst Bruce Pearl aroused the ire of Miami University director of athletics David Sayler and many RedHawks fans by suggesting that Miami is not among the top candidates in men’s college basketball for an NCAA tournament at-large bid.
ESPN Bracketology Joe Lunardi said Pearl should leave bracket predictions to the professionals.
Legendary college basketball play-by-play announcer Dick Vitale shared his opinion via Twitter/X, insisting that there “should not even be a debate” about whether the RedHawks should receive an at-large bid if they don’t earn the MAC’s automatic bid.
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MAC tournament schedule set
Quarterfinals: Thurs., March 12
Game 1 11 a.m. Eastern Miami vs. No. 8 seed
Game 2 Time TBD Toledo vs. No. 5 seed
Game 3 Time TBD Akron vs. No. 7 seed
Game 4 Time TBD Kent vs. No. 6 seed
Semifinals: Fri., March 13
Game 5 5 p.m. Eastern Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6 7:30 p.m. Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Championship: Sat., March 14
Game 7 8 p.m. Eastern Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Miami RedHawks players celebrate with fans after defeating the Toledo Rockets at Millett Hall
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Miami RedHawks clinch top seed in MAC tournament in Cleveland