Miami (OH) Advances with Win vs. SMU, What Fans Said After Heavily Debated March Madness Bid

Miami (Ohio) became one of the more controversial potential bubble teams leading up to the NCAA men's tournament despite their 31-1 record entering March Madness. They took the first step to putting that talk to rest on Wednesday.

The RedHawks knocked off SMU, 89-79, becoming the final First Four team to book their ticket to the tourney.

The trio of Brant Byers (19 points), Luke Skaljac (17 points) and Eian Elmer (23 points) was simply too much for SMU to handle. It didn't hurt that the RedHawks shot 39 percent from three (16-of-41), while SMU struggled immensely from beyond the arc (5-of-21, 24 percent).

Jaden Toombs' double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) led the way for SMU.

And so a first-round matchup with Tennessee beckons for the RedHawks, but not before folks on social media gave America's new darlings some deserved props:

SMU's chances weren't helped by the absence of BJ Edwards, who was unable to play due to a lingering ankle injury. It was his sixth straight absence, and SMU had indicated a belief that he might be back for Wednesday's contest.

But that didn't happen, and his presence may not have saved him anyway. The RedHawks simply shot too well from deep to be denied.

Sorry Bruce Pearl—Miami (Ohio) very much looks like it belongs.