RedHawks Send a Message: Why the SMU Win Mattered for the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament
Miami of Ohio made a statement win with an 89-79 victory over SMU Wednesday night in the First Four of the Men’s NCAA March Madness Tournament. Standout performances, like forward Eian Elmer’s 23 points, showcased their offensive prowess, especially from beyond the arc. SMU was widely favored to advance, but Miami showed resilience under pressure. The win secures Miami a spot in the Round of 64. They will face the six-seed Tennessee Volunteers on Friday, March 20th, at 4:25 p.m. EST. With momentum and the confidence from a hard-fought win, Miami will try to continue its Cinderella run against a strong Tennessee squad.
The RedHawks were the subject of speculation this season with a questionable strength of schedule, yet an undeniable ability to finish games, finishing the regular season with a historic 31-0 record. They became the nation's eighth undefeated team in the regular season in the last 50 years. After a MAC Tournament opener loss to UMass, their chances for an at-large bid were slim, and given their schedule ranked 339th in overall strength, those chances grew slimmer. Critics and analysts alike questioned if Miami deserved a spot, but many skeptics were silenced Wednesday night. Red-hot from beyond the arc, the RedHawks made a statement win with 16 three-pointers. Out of their 64 shots, 41 were attempted from three-point range.
It would be their first NCAA tournament win since 1999 and the most three-pointers made by a MAC team in tournament history. This win earns them a trip to play six-seeded Tennessee and a chance to continue their Cinderella run. It gives them a second chance to silence the skeptics. Tennessee has made the Sweet 16 three years in a row and is known for its defense. This is something the RedHawks didn’t necessarily face against SMU. The test for Miami gets harder against Tennessee, but I believe the recipe for the RedHawks stays the same.
What does this mean going forward? Miami is battle-tested; they belong and are more than capable of surprising. The first four winners are typically highlighted as potential bracket busters, and if their win over SMU proved anything, it’s that they’re dangerous. If Miami stays competitive against Tennessee, expect them to make a push in the Midwest region. They’ve proved they belong; now it’s time for the RedHawks to prove their story isn’t finished yet.
