Overview
- At 20-0, Miami owns the best start in Mid-American Conference history and is one of three unbeaten Division I teams.
- The RedHawks entered the AP Top 25 for the first time in 27 years, the MAC’s first ranked team since Buffalo in 2019.
- Miami’s attack features leading scorer Brant Byers and senior guard Peter Suder as the team leads Division I in effective field-goal and field-goal percentage and ranks second in scoring and three-point accuracy.
- January’s surge included overtime wins over Buffalo and at Kent State, with Miami rallying from at least four points down in the final minute of regulation in both games.
- Continuity is central to the rise, with 10 returners and minimal portal losses as Steele prioritizes culture and development, yet analysts note an NCAA bid may still require sustained near-perfection or a MAC tournament title.