Throughout the history of college basketball, perfection is rarely seen on the court. An undefeated regular season is not only hard to see but insanely improbable to achieve. From blue-bloods like the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to the one-year wonders like the Larry Bird-led Indiana State Sycamores. These teams are etched into the history books as the best to ever grace the court, and their legacies live on to this day. This year, however, perfection is being questioned, as the Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks finished their regular season with a perfect 31-0 and crowned the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Champion. As Selection Sunday gets closer, one would think an undefeated team would be a lock to dance in the NCAA Tournament, but many analysts are questioning it. Is perfection not enough to make the big dance?
Miami University’s undefeated season was thrilling, as nine games were decided within one score and/or overtime. This grit and ability to finish games is a double-edged sword to the selection committee, as this might show their clutch factor, but also shows damage in their resume as they play up or down to meet their competition, which, in the case of their “easy” schedule, can put the team behind the so-called 8-ball, per ESPN.com. While Miami of Ohio might not have a blemish on its record, its path to perfection was not a treacherous road, as it finished the regular season with zero “Quad One” (the best) wins and only two “Quad Two” (the next strongest) wins, per bballnet.com. While this might be expected of mid-major programs, the doubt surrounding the team seems to be hanging over the Redhawks more than others. Take, for example, the University of Gonzaga for example, which currently plays in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), another mid-major conference, where they also primarily play “Quad Three” and “Quad Four” opponents; however, Gonzaga’s resume is filled with a stacked non-conference schedule. The Redhawks do not have this, however, as their non-conference schedule had the likes of Mercyhurst College and even Indiana University-East. If Miami is actually built for an NCAA bid, they have never had the opportunity to prove it, per ESPN.com.
So what is Miami’s future? The MAC Conference Tournament is vital in showing its strength. While they are seeded first, with the easiest path to the championship, many analysts see them choking along the way, which would really put their resume on ice. The University of Akron Zips are a team on the rise and are projected to give the Miami Redhawks a run for their money in Cleveland, OH. While Miami might have edged the Zips during the regular season, Akron has blown out the rest of its conference foes. If Miami makes it to the MAC championship game against Akron, they should be safe from elimination in the NCAA tourney, but an early-round exit would really cook their chances for a ticket to dance in March. Even though Miami’s chance to play in March is in question, some analysts have them going deep in the tourney, with their elite ability to win games. These predictions seem like they are pulling the cart before the horse, as they still need to prove that there is no problem with their perfection.
