Bruce Pearl wonders whether Akron is better than undefeated Miami (Ohio)

Former Auburn Tigers men’s hoops manager Bruce Pearl said Wednesday he’s inactive unsure whether the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks are a fastener for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament if they neglect to attain an automatic selection.

The RedHawks moved to 30-0 connected Tuesday nighttime and clinched a stock of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title. The No. 19 ranked squad is the lone Division I men’s squad that’s inactive undefeated. Seven of their wins were by 3 points oregon less and 3 of their victories came successful overtime. Miami has not played against immoderate ranked opponents.

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Bruce Pearl walks connected the tract earlier the crippled against the Texas A&M Aggies astatine Kyle Field connected Sept. 27, 2025. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

It’s the RedHawks’ resume that appeared to springiness Pearl intermission contempt being a instrumentality of Miami caput manager Travis Steele and the occupation that he’s done with the mid-major program.

"What Miami of Ohio has done has been unbelievable and the questions commencement this way, ‘Are we choosing the 37 champion at-large teams oregon are we choosing the 37 astir deserving?’ Miami of Ohio is 1 of the astir deserving to get into the NCAA Tournament," Pearl said connected OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich." "Do I deliberation they’re 1 of the champion 37 teams? I don’t. That’s my sentiment and it’s not personal.

Miami (OH) RedHawks caput manager Travis Steele works the sideline against the Ohio Bobcats successful the 2nd fractional astatine Millett Hall connected Feb. 13, 2026. (Aaron Doster/Imagn Images)

"Look, that’s what makes portion of this clip of the twelvemonth truthful overmuch fun. We’re entitled to our opinions and, of course, they’ll get an accidental to play it retired connected the court. I deliberation Travis Steele has done an unthinkable job. I deliberation to bring it each azygous nighttime and triumph each those adjacent games – what a season, what chemistry. But I’m not definite that Akron isn’t the champion squad successful the MAC astatine the extremity of the day."

The Zips are 25-5 this play with a 16-1 grounds successful the MAC. The squad could precise good upset Miami successful the league tournament. Akron played against 1 apical 25 team, No. 2 Purdue, but lost.

"Akron played a tougher schedule," Pearl added. "Akron is simply a small spot much conflict tested. They got a small spot much size. If that gets to beryllium that matchup, that’s going to beryllium an absorbing matchup. These are not knocks connected Miami of Ohio."

Miami (OH) defender Peter Suder, center, and the squad observe the regular-season trophy astatine the decision of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled against Toledo, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, successful Oxford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

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The remainder of the play inactive has to play out. Miami has 1 much regular-season crippled connected the docket earlier the league tourney begins.

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