RedHawks Lightning Strikes Down Miami, Blaze Up NBA Finals Chances!

The Miami RedHawks will have to travel about 44 miles to get to University of Dayton Arena. It likely won't take the two hours CBS' Adam Zucker suggested during the Selection Sunday broadcast. The RedHawks' presence in the NCAA Tournament First Four in Dayton will be a first for a Mid-American Conference school.

Akron earned the MAC's automatic bid. The league hadn't received two bids in the same NCAA Tournament since 1999. As the RedHawks heard their name called on Selection Sunday , CBS college basketball analyst Seth Davis said Miami earned the final NCAA Tournament at-large bid available.

NCAA Tournament selection committee chairman Keith Gill explained a short time later during CBS' broadcast that North Carolina State, Texas and SMU all were ranked below the RedHawks by the committee, meaning Miami did not earn the final at-large. The RedHawks are scheduled to face SMU in the First Four at UD Arena, for a No. 11 seed.

The winner would play No. 6 Tennessee in the first round in Philadelphia. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Miami RedHawks are first MAC team in First Four | NCAA Tournament 2026