RedHawks will play SMU at First Four in Dayton

It’s the primary time the Mid-American Conference acquired a second bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1999.

The RedHawks misplaced to eighth-seeded Massachusetts 87-83 in a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday at Rocket Arena, ending their unbeaten run.

Miami was the fifth males’s Division I program this century to go undefeated through the common season. Now it is the second to get tripped up in its convention match. St. Joseph’s misplaced to Xavier in the 2004 Atlantic 10 quarterfinals however was nonetheless a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite their unbeaten file, the RedHawks have been no lock to make the NCAA match. The program’s power of schedule ranks 344th out of 365 Division I groups, in line with the NCAA Evaluation Tool.

The RedHawks confronted no Tier 1 groups and have been 2-0 towards Tier 2 squads.