If the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks win the MAC Tournament, they will secure an autobid for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. But what happens if Miami, currently the only remaining unbeaten team in college basketball at 29-0, loses a game in the conference tournament?<\/p>\n
Bruce Pearl isn\u2019t so sure that the RedHawks should get an at-large bid with a loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiami (Ohio), here\u2019s the deal,\u201d Pearl said during a Big East college basketball studio show for TNT Sports. \u201cAre we selecting the 68 most deserving teams? Or are we going to select the 68 best teams? If we\u2019re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion. Because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country. And that\u2019s going to be a difficult choice for the committee to make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce Pearl on 29-0 Miami (OH): \u201cIf we\u2019re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion. Because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country.\u201d \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f#NCAATournament<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/7DQiDmm1Ql<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s why it\u2019s crazy,\u201d TNT Sports host Adam Lefkoe said. \u201cThe MAC has not multiple teams, multiple bids, since (1998-99). So, that\u2019s almost 30 years ago. And the strength-of-schedule for Miami (Ohio)? 321st. It doesn\u2019t look good when we\u2019re weighing resumes, which is what is happening with the bubble talk right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Lefkoe also noted Pearl\u2019s son, Auburn head coach Steven Pearl, is part of that bubble picture. The Tigers are 15-13 and No. 35 in the NET. Bruce Pearl was the Auburn head coach from 2014 to 2025 and is now an ambassador for the program.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re thinking about this right now with your son, as well, with all of it.\u201d Lefkoe said to Pearl.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I mean, you\u2019ve got to play your way in, or you\u2019re going to lose your way out,\u201d Pearl responded. \u201cIt\u2019s just that simple with all these teams\u2026 For the mid-majors and low-majors, it\u2019s all about the tournament, because they recognize, you know, it\u2019s only going to be a one-bid league. For the rest of the leagues, it\u2019s all about the grind of the regular-season championship, and I think that\u2019s what matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n Miami escaped with a buzzer-beating victory at Western Michigan on Friday night to remain unbeaten (and RedHawks head coach Travis Steele created a wild scene<\/a> to end the game\u2019s first half).<\/p>\n TREY PERRY WINS IT FOR MIAMI \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n THE LEGEND OF THE REDHAWKS CONTINUES \ud83d\ude31 pic.twitter.com\/oMiHtW72E5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The RedHawks currently rank No. 49 in the NET, and they have played one Quad 2 game and zero Quad 1 games. They come in at No. 87 in Ken Pomeroy\u2019s efficiency ratings, with their non-conference schedule ranking 360th of 365 teams.<\/p>\n But 29-0 is 29-0. And it\u2019s really challenging for any team to not slip up a time or two over the course of a season, no matter the schedule. Two teams ranked in the top-10 of the NET (No. 4 Gonzaga and No. 9 Connecticut), for example, each have a Quad 3 loss. No. 28 NC State has a Quad 4 loss.<\/p>\n So, it would seem a bit silly to leave out a one-loss Miami team that would have won at least 30 games in such a scenario, entering the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n Reminder: This is why Wins Above Bubble and Strength of Record needs to be part of the discussion. At 26-0 vs. D-I teams, Miami (for now) easily clears the bar of being an at-large team. It\u2019s won three more games vs. its (easy) schedule this season than average\ud83e\udee7team would have. https:\/\/t.co\/xEdjCzxaGE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n I wonder if he thinks Auburn deserves a bid? Gonna guess yes. https:\/\/t.co\/FSanlOjzlY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Hold up.<\/p>\n Is it actually possible a 29-0 team is not one of the 68 best teams in America?<\/p>\n That just seems impossible. https:\/\/t.co\/OpXcaFB5ml<\/a><\/p>\n