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In the midst of a brilliant, perfect season for his men’s basketball team that has caught the attention of college basketball fans across the country, Miami (OH) AD David Sayler responded to former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. Pearl has commented that Miami (OH) is a mid-level team that does not have the best schedule to reach the NCAA tournament without winning the MAC.
Last weekend, Pearl went on air during his appearance on TNT’s College Basketball show to discuss Miami’s lack of big wins against higher-ranked teams that puts them in a situation where winning the MAC tournament next week is the only viable way the team should make the postseason.
Currently 30-0 on the season, the Redhawks have been the talk of the sport, but a point of contention on social media and other platforms has centered on their scheduling.
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(Left) Miami (Ohio) RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) celebrates after scoring a three-point basket 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. (Right) Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of the NCAA Tournament South Regional final 2025 against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 15, 2025. 30, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images; Brett DavisImagn Images)
If we select the top 68 teams, then Miami (Ohio) will have to win their tournament to qualify as champions. Because in general they are not one of the best teams in the country,” said Bruce Pearl.
In a very awkward coincidence, Pearl’s former team, which happens to be coached by his son Steven, is squarely in the NCAA tournament bubble.
While Bruce made it very clear this week that he is rooting for his son to make the postseason, which isn’t shocking news, there are some who feel his comments about Miami (OH) were also made in conjunction with the fact that Auburn is on the bubble.
Speaking with OutKick on Friday, Miami (OH) athletic director David Sayler made a recommendation on what networks should do when Bruce Pearl talks about teams that should compete 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, that certainly irritates me,” Sayler said. “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 coach Bruce Pearl walks on the field before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
The conversation surrounding Miami (OH) has reached a fever pitch, with a majority of reactions favoring the team making the postseason, even if the Redhawks suffer a loss in their regular-season finale against Ohio, or in the MAC tournament next week in Cleveland.
David Sayler Channels His Inner ‘Yoda’ When Fighting Expansion
Although the NCAA has postponed the conversation about adding additional teams until after the 2026 season is complete, there is still a looming discussion.
The question of whether expanding the NCAA Tournament will help mid-major teams in the long term has been a hot topic, given the current landscape of college athletics.
For Sayler, he considers schools like Miami (OH) and others to be an “afterthought” in these conversations.
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) celebrates after scoring a three-point basket 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/Image Images)
“I don’t want to see the SEC team ranked 11th or the Big Ten ranked 12th, and that’s why I’m against expanding the tournament,” Sayler told OutKick. “Now, you’re going to get the 13th-ranked team in these leagues. It’s not for the mid-major leagues. There’s no talk of the CFP or expanding the college basketball tournament because of us. We’re an afterthought. It’s like, ‘Okay, they’re just going to be happy with what they get.’
“That’s why I’ve been quoting Yoda lately when fighting the evil empire, because that’s really what it is, the Death Star advancing and we’re powerless to do it. So I’m part of the group of rebel ADs trying to fight the system and I rely on Yoda’s wise counsel.”
The conversation surrounding Miami (OH) isn’t dying down, especially if the Redhawks were to lose a game during the MAC tournament, or even their regular season finale on 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 shoe will fit well for the next month.
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