Why Miami (OH) loss is bad news for Auburn, Indiana and others

Miami (OH)’s stunning loss in the Mid-American Conference tournament may have ripple effects across the NCAA Tournament bubble teams. 

The No. 1-seeded RedHawks fell 87-83 to No. 8 seed UMass on Thursday in a quarterfinal thriller that featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties. Daniel Hankins-Sanford delivered the decisive moment with a tiebreaking layup with 29 seconds remaining, sending UMass to the MAC semifinals and shaking up the national bracket picture.

For teams hovering around the cut line, including Auburn, Indiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma, the result could prove costly.

Despite suffering its first loss of the season, Miami is still projected to remain safely in the NCAA Tournament field as an at-large selection. The RedHawks finished the regular season 31-0 and dominated the MAC with an 18-0 conference record, giving them one of the strongest resumes among mid-major programs.

According to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, Miami remains in the field but slides from around the No. 10 seed line to a projected No. 11 seed following the loss. That shift effectively pushes other bubble teams down the board.

Lunardi’s latest projection has Auburn falling out of the bracket entirely ahead of its matchup with Tennessee later Thursday, while Indiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma are also squeezed out.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Boozer Player of the Year | Lloyd Coach of the Year

The possibility of the MAC becoming a two-bid league for the first time since 1999 further complicates matters for bubble teams hoping to sneak into the field.

While Miami missed its chance at the automatic bid, it remains strong enough to occupy one of the limited at-large spots. This leaves fewer openings for teams still fighting for their postseason lives.

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