Unbeaten Miami (Ohio) faces UMass, keeps goals in sight
After securing the first unbeaten regular season in the 80-year history of the Mid-American Conference, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) looks to continue its historic run into the postseason against UMass in the quarterfinal round of the MAC tournament on Thursday in Cleveland, Ohio.
The RedHawks (31-0) enter the contest as the nation's lone remaining undefeated team, and just the fifth team this century to complete a perfect regular season, joining St. Joseph's (2003-04), Wichita State (2013-14), Kentucky (2014-15) and Gonzaga (2020-21).
Miami barely escaped its last test, a 110-108 overtime road win against Ohio last Friday. The RedHawks had to watch as Jackson Paveletzke's floater in the lane bounced on the rim several times before falling off at the end of regulation. The close win actually dropped unbeaten Miami one spot in the polls from No. 19 to 20.
UMass (16-15) also is coming off a win against Ohio, posting a 94-82 victory on March 3 to just qualify for the MAC tournament as the No. 8 seed.
Miami's 31-game winning streak is the longest in program and conference history. There's been plenty of speculation about whether the RedHawks belong in the NCAA Tournament if they don't capture the automatic bid that comes with winning the MAC tournament.
"We want to leave no doubt by winning," Miami coach Travis Steele said. "We'll figure out Cleveland from there moving forward. Our goal is not to win 31 games. Our goal is to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That's where anything can happen."
UMass coach Frank Martin doesn't hold such doubt in his mind.
"I don't care what happens this week for them. Those guys belong in the Tournament," Martin said.
"I know this: If we win three games in three days in Cleveland, we'll get the automatic bid regardless of what happens," Steele added.
Miami swept the regular-season series, but both contests weren't decided until the final minutes. On Jan. 27 in Oxford, Ohio, Miami narrowly escaped with an 86-84 home victory behind Eian Elmer's then career-high 30 points.
On Feb. 17, the RedHawks earned an 86-77 win in Amherst, led by Peter Suder's 23 points.
In the 94-82 win over Ohio, UMass snapped a six-game losing streak, after opening the season 15-9.
"We've shown over the last 18 games that we're good enough to beat anybody in this league," Martin said.
Miami is averaging 90.9 points per game and leads the nation in offensive efficiency. Seven RedHawks are averaging in double figures, led by Suder at 14.8 points per game.
UMass also is strong offensively, averaging 80.5 points a game, led by Leonardo Bettiol at 17.8 points per contest.