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In the midst of a stellar, perfect season from his men’s basketball team that captured the attention of college basketball fans across the country, Miami (OH) AD David Sayler applauded former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. Pearl pointed out that Miami (OH) is a middling team that doesn’t have the best strength of schedule to make the NCAA Tournament without winning the MAC.
This past weekend, Pearl took to the airwaves during her appearance on TNT’s college basketball show to discuss Miami’s lack of big wins against higher-ranked teams, which puts them in a situation where winning the MAC tournament next week is the team’s only viable way to make the playoffs.
Currently, at 30-0 this season, the Redhawks have been the talk of the sport, but one point of contention on social media and other platforms has centered around their schedule.
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(Left) Miami (Ohio) RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer against the Akron Zips during the first half of the MAC conference tournament championship game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 15, 2025. (Right) Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of the 2025 NCAA Tournament South Regional final against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 15. 30, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images; Brett DavisImagn Images)
If we select the best 68 teams, then Miami (Ohio) will have to win its tournament to qualify as champion. Because in general, they’re not one of the best teams in the country,” noted Bruce Pearl.
In a very inconvenient coincidence, Pearl’s old team, which happens to be coached by his son Steven, is squarely in the NCAA Tournament bubble.
While Bruce made it clear this week that he wants his son to make the playoffs, which isn’t shocking news, some feel like his remarks about Miami (OH) were also made in conjunction with Auburn being on the bubble.
While speaking with OutKick on Friday, Miami (OH) athletic director David Sayler made a recommendation for what the networks should do when Bruce Pearl discusses which teams should be in contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“I have a lot of respect for him as a coach, but when he starts using the word ‘We’ about Auburn, it certainly bothers me,” Sayler pointed out. “He shouldn’t be on a TV screen giving advice or opinions about the NCAA tournament when he’s clearly biased. There should be a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen or something, that’s clearly what he’s doing.”
Former Auburn Tigers men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl walks on the court before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas. (Trojan Taormina/Imagn Images)
The conversation surrounding Miami (OH) has reached a fever pitch, with a majority of reactions favoring which team will make the playoffs, even if the Redhawks suffer a loss in their regular season finale against Ohio, or in next week’s MAC Tournament in Cleveland.
David Sayler channels his inner ‘Yoda’ in his fight against expansion
Even though the NCAA has postponed discussion of adding additional teams until after the 2026 season, a discussion is still looming.
Whether expanding the NCAA Tournament will help mid-tier teams in the long run is a hot topic, given the current landscape of college athletics.
For Sayler, he views schools like Miami (OH) and others as an “afterthought” in these conversations.
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer against the Akron Zips during the first half of the MAC conference tournament championship game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on March 15, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
“I don’t want to see the SEC team 11th or the Big Ten 12th, and that’s why I’m against tournament expansion,” Sayler told OutKick. “Now you’re going to have the 13th-place team in these leagues. It’s not for the mid-majors. It’s not about the CFP or the expansion of the college basketball tournament because of us. We’re after the fact. It’s like, ‘Okay, they’ll just be happy with what they get.’
“That’s why I’ve been quoting Yoda when I’ve been fighting the evil empire lately, because that’s really what it’s about, the Death Star walking, and we’re powerless to do it. So I’m part of the group of rebel ADs trying to fight the system and relying on Yoda’s wise counsel.”
The conversation surrounding Miami (OH) won’t die down, especially if the Redhawks were to lose a game in the MAC tournament, or even their regular season finale Friday night against the Ohio Bobcats.
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But this has clearly been one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball this season. Maybe the slipper will fit over the next month.
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