By Hal McCoy
For all those who insisted that Miami does not belong in the NCAA tournament: Do you prefer Scotch tape, electrician’s tape or duct tape to cover your mouth?
The much-maligned RedHawks were forced to participate in a play-in game at UD Arena Wednesday as 7 1/2-point underdogs despite their 31-1 record.
Southern Methodist University found out exactly what Miami is all about — a talented, scrappy and for real Division I basketball team.
It was Miami 89, SMU 79, and a whole bunch of talk show hosts and pundits are as red-faced as Miami’s red travel uniforms.
Every time the RedHawks scored or SMU missed a shot or SMU committed a turnover, the 11,002 in UD Arena raised the roof about 10 feet.
When the RedHawks scored with 7:15 left to take a 71-57 lead, the roar could be heard from Piqua to Franklin.
The detractors, and there were many, said Miami didn’t belong, that the RedHawks’ schedule was full of teams like Cupcake State and Bottom Feeder Tech and Loser Valley Institute.
It was not Miami’s fault. The RedHawks tried to schedule top-shelf programs, but they all ducked Miami like boxers ducking Mike Tyson punches.
Among the many Doubting Thomases was former Clemson player Toi Aogreksvy, who expounded on a podcast, “SMU is going to beat the (expletive) out of Miami.”
The excrement did not emanate from Miami. On this night, SMU took a haymaker to the jaw the RedHawks proved they belong with the Big Boys.
SMU came into the game with 20-13 record with a 97-83 win over North Carolina, plus wins over Texas A&M, Louisville, Mississippi State and Butler, Virginia Tech.
Miami was not impressed.
The RedHawks showed how and why they went 31-0 during the regular season, averaging 90.7 points a game that was No. 2 in the nation and leading the nation in field goal percentage at 52.4%.
As the RedHawks displayed during the season, they know how to win when a defeat was just seconds away — eight games decided by one possession and winning three overtime games.
Things began slowly and sloppily Wednesday for both teams, probably sensitive nerves.
Miami kept throwing up threes that threatened to bend the rim and/or shatter the backboard. They made only 3 of the first 10, but the RedHawks led, 15-13, because of skin-to-skin harassing defense.
Then, suddenly, the rim looked like a hula hoop and Miami made 7 of 15 threes after the slow start.
By intermission, they had cast 25 three-pointers and 10 were on target for a 43-34 Miami lead.
Eian Elmer hit 4 of 6 from three and had 14 first-half points. Brent Byers hit back-to-back threes that pushed Miami’s lead fromv 37-32 to 43-32. He hit three of six down-rangers for 12 first-half points.
And Luke Skaljac started things off bvy scoring Miami’s first five points and had 12 at intermission that included 2 of 4 from three.
While Miami was burying 10 of 25 from longf distance, SMU was 3 for 13.
SMU made a smattering of charges in the second but they all fell short as Miami kept shutting the door.
The Mustangs did take a brief 51-50 lead early in the second half, but Brent Byers unleashed a lead-recovering three and reserve player Almar Atlason connected on, what else, a pair of threes for a 58-50 lead.
It was time for the Mustangs to saddle up and head back to Dallas.
With 3:15 left and Miami leading 78-68 during a time, when the RedHawks broke the huddle they received a standing ovation and a rafters-rattling cheer.
And Miami’s Eian Elmer immediately ripped home another three for an 81-68 lead and the the Redhawks’ 16th three, a UD Arena record for an NCAA game.
As usual, when a Miami regular struggles, somebodey picks him up. Pete Suder, Miami’s heart and soul, endured an off shooting night — 2 for 9 from the field and 2 for 4 at the foul line.
But Elmer picked him by hitting 8 of 11 shots, 6 of 9 from three, for 23 points. Byers added 19 and Skaljac 17. Atlason came off the bench to score 12, including the two mammoth threes after SMU took the lead.
For the game, Miami launched an unbelievable 41 threes and made 16.
Next stop for ‘The Team That Doesn’t Belong’ is Philadelphia Friday night to play Tennessee in the first round.
The Volunters best beware.