31-0: A Perfect Regular Season

The obituaries are one of my favorite sections in the Columbus Dispatch. To hear what people highlight in their life is fascinating. When were they born? Who is their family? What are their interests? Where did they go to school?

I just had a birthday, and while I hope to have many, many more the statistics say I am already past my halfway point of my life. I'm not writing that to be depressing, but rather just wanted to state a fact. Another fact is that my obituary is likely already more than 50% complete. Most of the critical people / dates / moments are set in stone. When / where I was born is clearly complete. Also, where I went to school - Miami University.

That two-paragraph preamble is my strange way of saying that Miami University is a huge part of my life. I absolutely LOVED my 4 years in Oxford, Ohio and will gladly talk to anyone about the campus, students and sports teams. Miami is a mid-major school which normally means very little national attention and stadiums that are often less than half full. That's ok. I've accepted that fate. I will cheer on Miami regardless of if other people care. 

But something strange has happened this year with the basketball team - other people have cared. It started off small. 2025 turned into 2026 and Miami was 14-0. They hadn't played any big schools, but still it was exciting to see that they had a winning team. The first time there was any spark of national attention was the January 17th game against Buffalo. Miami needed an offensive rebound and last second 3 to force overtime at Millett Hall. Then Peter Suder hit the game winning 3 at the end of overtime time to give them a 105-102 win. That was the start of the madness. And somehow it continued during the last 12 games:

• 1/20 at Kent State: Miami were underdogs on the road in a game where they were down 5 points with only 2 minutes go before winning in overtime. At one point they had a 15% chance of winning. They needed a Luke Skaljac layup with 6 seconds left AND a missed 3 from Kent State's Quinn Woidke to survive. If either of those plays were changed then Miami would have lost.

• 1/27 vs UMass: At one point they had a 35% chance of winning (down 45-35) and the game was close throughout. Up only 2 points, Miami missed a free throw and UMass had a 3 pointer from half-court that would have given Miami a loss

• 1/31 vs Northern Illinois: I knew Miami was becoming a big deal because I went to buy tickets to this game and it was sold out. Millett Hall is never sold out. Miami was doing a big "One Miami" thing where you could see both the Women's and Men's team while they also honored Ron Harper. But a sellout? At Miami? Crazy to me. Anyway, at one point Miami only had a 70% chance of winning (down 52-47), but they were able to pull away for an easy 24 point win.

• 2/3 at Buffalo: Road games are tough. Miami's coach Travis Steele has talked about how the RedHawks were "everyone's Super Bowl." Buffalo finished 7th (out of 13) in the MAC and kept the game close pretty much the entire game. The game ended with Luke Skalijac (a 79% free throw shooter) missing two free throws and Buffalo having a 3 pointer at the end that would have given Miami a loss.

• 2/7 At Marshall: This was supposed to be a close game with Miami only being favored by 1.5 points. Thankfully Miami led for 99% of the game and never really had to worry. 

• 2/13 Ohio: By now I was fully locked in with the Redhawks and had bought tickets early enough to avoid a sellout. L & I drove down to Oxford and had an amazing night watching an easy Miami win. While the other games had certainly been more exciting, I was completely fine just enjoying a completely sold out game at Millett Hall with my oldest daughter. Truly a special moment. 

• 2/17 at UMass: This was supposed to be a close game with Miami only being favored by 3.5 points. UMass kept it close most of the game (it was tied with 7 minutes to go) before Miami pulled away.

• 2/20 Bowling Green: This was supposed to be an easy game. It was an easy game. Miami won by 14.

• 2/24 at Eastern Michigan: This was supposed to be an easy game. It was an easy game. Miami won by 10.

• 2/27 at Western Michigan: This was supposed to be an easy game, but it turned into one of the toughest games of the year. At the low point Miami had a 16% chance of winning the game. They were down 59-50 with 6 minutes left and needed a dramatic last second shot by Trey Perry to win the game at the end. This was a truly amazing win. If Perry missed that shot then it goes to overtime and Miami might loss the game. 

• 3/3 Toledo: This was supposed to be a relatively easy win (Miami was favored by 7.5) and while Miami led 99% of the game they needed to survive at the end. Up 2, Brant Byers of Miami missed a free throw that led to a last second possession where if Toledo would have gone for 3 then that would have given Miami a loss. 

• 3/6 At Ohio: The final cherry on the top was the rivalry game at an arena that Miami hasn't won at in since 2011 - Miami had lost 14 straight at the "Convo." I convinced M that date night should include us driving down to Athens to support the Redhawks. It ended up being a great decision because this was the best Miami sporting event I've ever seen. In kind of a circus like enviornment (national media, highly engaged fans and an absurd ref show) Miami won 110-108. They survived a shot at both the end of regulation and at the end of overtime. If either of those shots went in then that would have given Miami a loss.

For those inclined here is a grid recapping the last 13 games. The pregame odds of going 13-0 based on %s from ESPN was 3.7%. If you looked at the odds from the point of the game then overall odds were 0.003% or 1 in 343,000! And this is just the last 13 games and doesn't even factor in the other 18 games. The true odds of going 31-0 are tough in general, but considering the close wins recapped above it's been just a once in a lifetime season. 

Anyway, to hear actual professional writers on Miami check out:

Pat Forde: Miami forged 30-0 College Hoops Season the Old School Way

• Forde really captures Miami well by highlighting out the school's President, AD and head coach. And the end is...well....perfect.

• The big dreams are out there, but the present is too precious to look far ahead. Today, everything is perfect for Miami basketball. Literally perfect.

Matt Norlander: Miami's perfect regular season is more than enough: RedHawks are an NCAA Tournament lock after win vs Ohio

• Check out how Norlander started the article:

• Of course it would not be easy. The Miami RedHawks refuse to take the easy way to a win.

• Of course it would be dramatic. The RedHawks have mastered tension in tight moments better than any team this season.

• Of course it had to be an epic.

• An instant classic.

• The game of the year.

The season isn't over. Miami has gotten the accolades (MAC player of the year and coach of the year) and you can (and I probably will) buy 31-0 merchandize. But they have the MAC tournament starting tomorrow and then the NCAA tournament. I don't know how that will go, but regardless this team has given me so much joy and pride in my university. Go Redhawks! Love And Honor!!