The Miami RedHawks have been the feel-good story of the college basketball season. At 29-0, the No. 19-ranked RedHawks are the country’s last remaining unbeaten team, and only two wins away from finishing the regular season with a perfect record.
As great as Miami’s story has been, there’s no denying that it has faced a weak schedule this season, and the advanced metrics don’t love the Hawks as much as their record might suggest they would.
One of the RedHawks’ strongest public detractors has been former Auburn Tigers head coach turned television analyst Bruce Pearl.
“Miami (Ohio), here’s the deal,” Pearl said during a college basketball studio show for TNT Sports. “Are we selecting the 68 most deserving teams? Or are we going to select the 68 best teams? If we’re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion. Because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country. And that’s going to be a difficult choice for the committee to make.”
TNT host Adam Lefkoe wondered if Pearl had his son, Steven Pearl, in mind with his analysis. Steven replaces his father as Auburn’s head coach and the Tigers sit very much on the bubble as Selection Sunday approaches.
“You’re thinking about this right now with your son, as well, with all of it,” Lefkoe said to Pearl.
On Monday, Pearl appeared on Wake Up Barstool via a video call and doubled down on his doubts concerning the RedHawks, saying that its not out of the question they’d finish in the bottom half of a conference such as the Big East.
“In the Big East conference this year [Miami (OH)] would finish in the lower half… they may not finish last, but I’ll tell you what, I’m not so sure…”
Later in the show, Pearl insisted that there was no nepotism coloring his analysis.
“I’d love to be behind closed doors if you have to cast a vote for Auburn or a 1 loss Ohio team for the tournament… because I have a feeling I know which way it’s going!” – @stoolpresidente
“There’s no nepotism involved here!” – @coachbrucepearl pic.twitter.com/X8IN2SQ2JZ
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) March 2, 2026
Miami Univeristy athletic director David Sayler has taken it upon himself to publicly address Pearl’s takes.
@coachbrucepearl u are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East. The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors! Even slipped in a “we” when talking about Auburn, nice work!
— David Sayler (@MiamiOH_DSayler) March 2, 2026
Regardless of what Pearl’s motivations or hopes are, the reality is that the chances of Miami going 31-0 and being left out of the tourney are exceedingly slim, even if they fall short in the MAC tournament. Auburn, on the other hand, would be well served to win the SEC tournament, because unlike the RedHawks, its resume isn’t quite up to par.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.