Out of all of the NCAA basketball teams in the country, there only remains one team that holds a flawless record during the closing stages of the season. Not Duke nor Arizona, Houston, or even Kansas hold an unblemished record heading into the final stretch of the year but it is rather Miami Ohio who holds a perfect 27-0 record. Despite being the only undefeated team remaining, the RedHawks are ranked at No. 21 in the nation. Some would argue that a ranking that low is completely asinine for a team who has accomplished such a difficult feat, but there are several factors that contribute to Miami Ohio’s placement on the AP Poll.
While win-loss records are a highly influential component of how rankings are determined, placement is not solely based on this ratio. Strength of schedule (SoS) is another important factor in determining how far teams shoot up the rankings. Miami Ohio currently resides in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) along with Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Toledo, and many more teams. The MAC is considered to be a mid-major or “group of 5” conference, meaning that they are set apart from Power 5 schools. Power 5 conferences (SEC, ACC, BIG-12, BIG-10, and PAC-12) are where the more dominant schools reside. The level of competition in these conferences is immensely higher than that of the “group of 5” conferences. As a result, when considering ranking, these teams are prioritized when considering placement due to the toughness of their schedules and level of competition. Juxtaposing Miami Ohio’s schedule against a team like Michigan should offer the perfect explanation as to why Miami is so low on the poll.
Furthermore, Miami Ohio has yet to record a statement victory throughout their 27 games this season. Their best win was against an Akron team who holds a 22-5 record. The RedHawks defeated the Zips 76-73 in a tightly contested battle.
The team has also had their fair share of scares over the course of the season with a few close calls in games against both Buffalo and Massachusetts. The RedHawks managed to get the job done and maintain their perfect record, but their struggles against these teams reflect their inability to dominate the field, making it more evident that a spot in the top 15 is not exactly the right call as of now.
I do believe, however, that Miami Ohio should be ranked no lower than No. 17. They’ve proven that they know how to win even in signs of defeat, and that even on their worst days, they can pull through and end up on top. As the season counts down, it will be interesting to see how the team performs leading up to the most important time of the year—Conference Championships and March Madness. The concluding stages of the year will give Miami Ohio a true test as the field becomes increasingly challenging by the game.
