CBS and TNT college basketball analyst Bruce Pearl aroused the ire of Miami University director of athletics David Sayler and many RedHawks fans by suggesting that 19th-ranked Miami is not among the top candidates in men’s college basketball for an NCAA tournament at-large bid, despite being the only remaining undefeated team in Div. I at 29-0.
Pearl’s remarks sparked a debate on social media, and ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi wrote that he thinks Pearl should’ve stayed out of it.
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“I try to avoid debates without clear right or wrong answers, but Bruce Pearl’s argument against Miami (Ohio) as an at-large team requires context,” Lunardi wrote. “First, high-major status aside, we have no idea whether Auburn is the better basketball team. Second, Miami has won four more true road games than Auburn has played, and road teams in men’s college basketball win less than one-third of the time.”
“Finally, in the modern history of the NCAA tournament, great mid-majors have won almost twice as many games as middling high-majors, despite fewer bids and weaker seeding,” Lunardi continued. “Now, I suppose it’s possible Miami is the worst undefeated team of all time, and Auburn is the best .500 team we’ve ever seen, but it’s way more likely Pearl would be better off leaving Bracketology to the professionals.”
Earlier, legendary college basketball play-by-play announcer Dick Vitale shared his opinion via Twitter/X, insisting that there “should not even be a debate” about whether the RedHawks should receive an at-large bid if they don’t earn the Mid-American Conference’s automatic bid.
CBS’ Gary Parrish argued that “nobody needs a 16-loss Auburn over a two-loss Miami” in the NCAA tournament.
Miami RedHawks guard Trey Perry
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ESPN’s Joe Lunardi to Bruce Pearl: Leave Bracketology to professionals
