Sports

Miami AD Ignores Basketball Coach’s Bad Behavior To Blast Bruce Pearl For Being Son’s Mouthpiece

#Miami Redhawks
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iStockphoto / © Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images / © Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


The Miami RedHawks basketball team is the last undefeated Division 1 program in the sport. Still, it’s March Madness fate has not been determined.

The squad may have to win its conference tournament even with a perfect regular season. Bruce Pearl argued that point in a recent television appearance.

Resumes are the end-all-be-all come Selection Sunday. Wins and losses matter. So, too, does strength of schedule.

Miami boasts a spotless 29-0 mark. It will more than likely win the MAC. It does not, however, possess a marquee win.

The RedHawks have yet to play a Quad 1 opponent. Their 2025-26 slate ranks 201st in the country according to TeamRankings. They will not compete against a ranked foe this season or in the upcoming conference tournament.

The MAC is not a strong league, relatively speaking. It has not gotten two teams into the NCAA Tournament in the same season since 1999.

That trend would mean the RedHawks’ only chance of making the field is to win their conference championship.

Bruce Pearl agrees.

“Are we going to select the 68 most deserving teams or the 68 best teams?” the former Auburn coach asked. “Miami is going to have to win its conference tournament to qualify as a champion, because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country.”

Pearl does not believe the RedHawks are deserving if they lose a game in the MAC Tournament. An undefeated regular season will not change his outlook.

Instead, he believes Power 4 programs that have played stiffer competition should be selected. That includes his old school where is son is now the coach.

Miami’s AD responded.

Pearl doubled down on his opinion in a recent appearance on FS1’s Wake Up Barstool.

“I’d love to be behind closed doors if you have to cast a vote, and it’s Auburn or a one-loss [Miami (Ohio)] team from the tournament, and which way this vote goes, because I’ve got a feeling I know which way it’s going…

“There is no nepotism involved here… They’re not built for the grind of a Big Ten or even a Big East. In the Big East conference this year, they’d finish in the lower half. They may not finish last, but I’ll tell you what, I’m not so sure. I’m not so sure.”

-Bruce Pearl

RedHawks AD David Sayler heard the comments. He blasted Bruce Pearl’s takes, which he believed to be unprofessional.

Sayler thinks his school is deserving. Pearl would take his son’s Auburn bunch. He talked the Tigers up, even with their current 15-14 record.

The debate is an interesting one. Mid-majors have a more difficult time scheduling. Certain smaller schools are often avoided by P4 competition as teams want to avoid a harmful upset.

Those high major teams can rely on conference play to boost strength of schedule. Mid-majors cannot. They are then punished for their success against weaker foes.

Miami’s athletic director defended his program. He was vocal on social media, reposting a number of messages and videos related to the topic.

He was silent, however, when it came to another Miami basketball topic.

The RedHawks’ head coach was fined.

Travis Steele was fined $2,500 for his bad behavior in a recent win over Western Michigan. The coach confronted a referee before damaging property of the opposing school.

Steele lost his mind with his team trailing a conference rival. The pressure of a perfect season is building. He has been punished for his actions.

Steele will reimburse the Mustangs for the damage. Miami will be forced to pay for the outburst. The RedHawks avoided their first loss with a comeback performance in a 69-67 victory.

Now, the eye is set on the future. The team will finish the regular season with games against Toledo and Ohio. It will then look to carry momentum into the MAC Tournament in hopes of avoiding a March Madness controversy.