In the world of college basketball, the debate over NCAA Tournament selections is as intense as ever. Miami (OH) found themselves at the center of this storm, advocating fiercely for their inclusion as an at-large team.
Despite their efforts, their tournament run was cut short by Tennessee in the Round of 64. Yet, the discourse around their campaign hasn't quieted down, especially with Purdue's head coach, Matt Painter, weighing in.
Painter, whose Boilermakers cruised past Queens to reach the Round of 32, took a moment to address Miami head coach Travis Steele's claims. Steele had argued that power conference teams were reluctant to schedule games against the RedHawks. Painter countered this by highlighting Purdue's own scheduling practices, which include playing five mid-major teams annually-teams that are often top contenders in their conferences.
"If he was in my position, you’re going to play 11 non-conference games. Next year it’s going to go to 12," Painter explained.
"We play 6 high-major games and 5 mid-major teams. So when they say they don’t play mid-majors, we played 5 this year.
If he was in our position, he’d do the same thing we’re doing."
Painter's point was clear: high-major programs do engage with mid-majors, and Purdue has faced off against notable teams like Akron, Kent State, and Toledo-all respected within their league.
He also offered a word of caution for Steele, suggesting that if Steele were to step into a high-major role, he might find himself in a similar position. "When you’re a mid-major guy and you say those things and now you get a high-major job, you got to be careful. You’re talking with a forked tongue there," Painter noted.
Miami's season was nothing short of impressive, boasting a 31-0 regular-season record and reaching as high as No. 19 nationally before the MAC tournament. Despite their eventual loss in the conference quarterfinals, they secured an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament. After a narrow victory over SMU in the First Four, their journey ended with a 22-point defeat to Tennessee.
The debate over tournament selections and scheduling practices continues, but one thing is certain: Miami's season, and the conversations it sparked, will be remembered as a significant chapter in this year's college basketball narrative.