Dayton Soars Past Miami in Explosive Second-Quarter Showdown!

CBS college basketball analyst and former Miami University basketball standout Wally Szczerbiak said during the network's "NCAA March Madness bracket breakdown" that he was "very surprised" the RedHawks became the first Mid-American Conference team ever sent to the NCAA Tournament First Four in Dayton. "Very surprised that Miami was sent to the First Four," Szczerbiak said. "It is in Dayton.

It's an hour from campus. So they're gonna have a huge crowd. And they have a lot to prove by being put into that First Four.

" 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 Miami by the committee, meaning the RedHawks did not earn the final at-large. CBS' Clark Kellogg picks Miami RedHawks to beat SMU in Dayton During CBS' selection show, analyst Clark Kellogg said he's picking the RedHawks to beat SMU in the First Four.

With Akron earning the MAC's automatic bid, the league earned two NCAA Tournament bids for the first time since 1999, when Szczerbiak led Miami to the Sweet 16. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Szczerbiak surprised Miami RedHawks in NCAA Tournament 2026 First Four