Show summary Hide summary
Miami (Ohio) delivered one of the first true shocks of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, forcing a reminder: March still rewards unexpected runs. Their First Four win over SMU in Dayton didn’t just advance the RedHawks — it rewrote questions about their place in the field and reset the weekend bracket narrative.
How Miami arrived under scrutiny
All season the RedHawks carried an unusual résumé: a dominant nonconference run followed by skepticism because they had limited marquee wins. A 32-0 stretch through much of the regular calendar gave way to doubts after a conference opener loss to UMass, and critics pointed to the lack of a Quad 1 victory as evidence Miami might not belong in March.
California lawsuit targets 23andMe, alleges lax security after 2023 breach
Starbucks weighted vest ignites buzz: where to find the 5-pound workout gear
Coach Travis Steele pushed back before the tournament, saying top programs were reluctant to schedule the RedHawks. That argument was part of the broader debate about whether Miami’s record reflected quality or simply an easy slate.
Wednesday in Dayton: a performance that answered critics
The First Four matchup felt almost like a home game for Miami, but sportsbook odds favored SMU by about 7½ points. What unfolded was a different story.
Miami’s approach — heavy perimeter shooting, quick ball movement and low turnovers — paid off. They buried 16 three-pointers on the night and finished with an 89-79 victory, overturning pregame expectations and leaving many analysts re-evaluating the team.
Statistically the RedHawks produced a rare combination: a high-volume three-point attack, more than 20 assists and fewer than five turnovers while still posting a 30-point scoring mark — a line of efficiency and volume that tournament history has rarely, if ever, recorded in a single game.
What this means for the tournament
Miami’s win is more than one game; it’s a reminder that the bracket can still be punctuated by surprises despite the growing influence of NIL and consolidation of talent at blue-blood programs. The 2024 field has displayed many chalk results, but the RedHawks have reintroduced the underdog variable just as the first full weekend approaches.
- Game: Miami (OH) 89, SMU 79 (First Four, Dayton)
- Pre-game spread: SMU favored by ~7.5 points
- Three-pointers: Miami made 16 from long range
- Turnovers: Fewer than five — notable for a high-volume shooting team
- Broader stake: Miami now advances to face a top seed, and their win reshapes perceptions entering Thursday and Friday matchups
Perspective: do Cinderella stories still exist?
Arguments that deep-pocketed programs and NIL deals had effectively dampened Cinderella runs were common before the tournament. But single-elimination basketball is still susceptible to matchup quirks, hot shooting nights and disciplined team basketball.
Miami may face a much tougher test in the next round — a lopsided loss is possible — but their Dayton performance will be remembered both for its statistical oddity and for what it signals: an underdog that can execute under pressure.
The RedHawks’ victory doesn’t settle every debate about seeding or schedule strength, but it restores the simple, vital truth of March: outcomes on the court can still overturn preseason narratives. For now, Miami has forced a fresh conversation about which teams deserve attention going into the weekend.
