Miami Basketball Doesn’t Need Another 31–0 Season. It Needs to Prove Last Year Wasn’t the Ceiling.

Inside the Field of 76: An Evening with Travis Steele

I’m not asking Miami basketball to go 31-0 again. Last season was one of the most incredible experiences this university has given its fans, and expecting another undefeated regular season would be ridiculous. But after attending Miami’s Field of 76 webinar as Hype & Honor and hearing Travis Steele discuss his team, I somehow came away even more excited about Miami basketball than I was before.

That’s saying something. Thirty-one consecutive victories, national attention, an NCAA Tournament win over SMU and an entire community falling in love with its basketball program made last season unforgettable. I don’t know if we’ll ever experience that particular combination of excitement and disbelief again, and I’m perfectly fine with that. I just don’t want it to be the last time Miami basketball gives us something special.

My family may have hoped an undefeated regular season would finally exhaust my available supply of Miami basketball hype. Unfortunately for them, Steele spent an evening explaining his roster to a group of supporters.

What impressed me most wasn’t some outrageous prediction for the upcoming season. It was how comfortably and candidly Steele discussed his players, what they’ve improved, where they still need work and how he intends to use them. He was incredibly well-spoken and genuinely enjoyable to listen to. When he talked about basketball, it didn’t feel like he was working through a list of preseason talking points.

The more he explained, the more fascinating this year’s possibilities became. Miami lost important pieces from last season, but there are legitimate reasons to believe this roster can compete for another MAC championship. The biggest reason starts in the backcourt.

Two Point Guards. One Dangerous Backcourt.

Of everything Steele discussed, his plan for Luke Skaljac and Evan Ipsaro might have me the most excited. Miami isn’t simply bringing back two talented point guards and asking them to split minutes. Steele wants them on the floor together, creating an offense where either player can handle the ball, initiate a possession and make decisions. He believes he has the two best point guards in the MAC, and he certainly didn’t sound hesitant about putting that belief into practice.

Skaljac already proved how valuable he can be during last season’s historic run. He’s a confident ballhandler, an intelligent decision-maker and someone Steele believes has the potential to become MAC Player of the Year. That last part caught my attention, especially because Steele was equally clear that Skaljac still needs to improve defensively. That’s the kind of honest evaluation I appreciate from a coach who clearly believes in his player.

Ipsaro’s return could be one of Miami’s biggest additions without involving a single new face. Steele shared encouraging news about his recovery, explaining that Ipsaro has returned to full practice and is progressing ahead of schedule. After watching Miami accomplish everything it did while missing him for much of last season, it’s difficult not to get excited about what a healthy Ipsaro could add.

The possibilities with both guards are fascinating. Opponents can’t simply focus on taking the ball out of one player’s hands, and Miami should have more flexibility initiating its offense. The pairing could also help the RedHawks maintain their pace and create better opportunities for shooters and cutters.

There will be challenges, particularly against teams with bigger guards. Steele will have to determine how the pairing holds up defensively and which players complement them best, but that uncertainty is part of what makes it interesting.

We spent last season watching Miami win without a healthy Ipsaro. Now we get to find out what happens when Steele puts him alongside Skaljac.

The Returning RedHawks Have Plenty Left to Prove

The departures of Peter Suder, Eian Elmer and Brant Byers leave real holes in Miami’s lineup. Their production and experience mattered, and expecting someone to replace everything they contributed overnight would be unfair. But Steele’s comments about the players returning to Oxford made me feel considerably better about those losses.

Almar Atlason was one of the most interesting names he discussed. Steele was particularly enthusiastic about the work Atlason has put into improving his body, mobility and defensive ability. He even suggested Atlason might have had the best offseason of anyone in the program.

That’s exciting because Atlason already offers an unusual offensive skill set for his size. At 6-foot-8, he can stretch the floor and create difficult matchups, but Steele wants him to become more effective playing power forward. If his physical development translates into better defense and more versatility, Atlason could become a significantly more complete player.

Kyle Waltz is another returning RedHawk Steele seems excited about. His development and versatility give Miami another option on the wing, and the opportunity for him to take on a larger role is intriguing. The next step is turning the improvements he’s made into consistent production when the games count.

Justin Kirby brings something different. He’s athletic, active on the glass and capable of making an impact without needing the ball in his hands every possession. Those qualities become especially valuable when you’re building lineups around two talented point guards and multiple shooting threats.

What I liked about Steele’s evaluations was their specificity. He wasn’t simply telling everyone that the returning players looked great in practice. He discussed what they had worked on and what still needed to improve.

I’m not expecting all three to suddenly become All-MAC players. But if Atlason takes another step, Waltz becomes a dependable contributor and Kirby continues developing into a reliable two-way player, Miami will have a strong foundation around its backcourt.

Meet the New RedHawks: Three Players Who Could Change the Rotation

Miami’s three notable transfer additions bring different strengths, and I’m particularly interested in seeing how Steele uses them alongside the returning players.

Stevie Elam, a 6-foot-3 guard from Milwaukee, gives Miami another perimeter scoring option. His shooting should be valuable for a team replacing important offensive contributors, especially if Skaljac and Ipsaro consistently create open looks. The question will be how quickly Elam finds his rhythm within Miami’s offense and establishes himself as a dependable option.

Rich Rolf, a 6-foot-7 forward from Youngstown State, offers an intriguing combination of size and shooting. His ability to play on the perimeter could make him especially useful in smaller lineups or combinations where Steele wants more offensive spacing. With Atlason also capable of stretching the floor, Miami has interesting possibilities when choosing its forwards.

Preston Copeland, a 6-foot-9 forward from Ball State, brings another dimension to the frontcourt. His athleticism and potential as an interior defender could help Miami against bigger opponents, while his rebounding and activity around the basket give Steele additional options.

I don’t expect all three to have identical roles or immediately become stars. What matters is whether Elam can provide reliable offense, Rolf can create matchup advantages and Copeland can help Miami become more physical inside. Those are three very different ways to improve a basketball team, and I’m eager to see which addition makes the biggest early impression.

Too Much Depth? I’ll Take That Problem.

One of my favorite parts of Steele’s discussion involved the rotation. He’s traditionally been comfortable playing nine players, but this roster might push him toward ten. That is a pretty good problem to have.

Between the returning players and new additions, Miami has several combinations worth exploring. The RedHawks can lean into smaller, guard-heavy lineups with Skaljac and Ipsaro, use Atlason’s versatility at power forward or get bigger when opponents demand a more physical approach.

There are also additional frontcourt options in Tyler Robbins, Alan Horton and Antwone Woolfolk, giving Steele choices when it comes to size, rebounding and interior matchups. How those players fit into the rotation will be worth watching, particularly during the early nonconference games.

Of course, having depth on paper and finding a rotation that actually works are two different things. Steele acknowledged the challenge of distributing minutes, and someone who looks capable of contributing may still find himself outside a nine- or ten-man group.

That’s where the early season becomes particularly important. Which combinations defend well together? Who can provide energy off the bench? Which players are comfortable contributing without taking a dozen shots? How does Steele balance the offense when Skaljac and Ipsaro share the floor?

I’m also interested in whether Miami can improve its rebounding and interior defense without sacrificing the spacing and ball movement that make its offense dangerous. That’s where the added frontcourt versatility could really matter.

The RedHawks have options. Now Steele has to determine which ones give Miami the best chance to win.

The Road to March Starts at James Madison

Miami opens the regular season November 2 at James Madison, and I love that we’re starting with a road test. After last season, there will be plenty of attention on the RedHawks, and the opener should provide an early indication of how this group handles a challenging environment.

The nonconference schedule also includes UIC at the Jacksonville Classic, a neutral-site matchup with High Point and a home game against Wright State. Those games should provide useful opportunities to evaluate the backcourt, the newcomers and Steele’s rotation before the conference race reaches its most demanding stretch.

The 22-game MAC schedule will be a grind. Miami needs to remain consistent over a longer conference season while facing opponents that would love nothing more than to knock off the RedHawks. Trips to Akron, Kent State and Ohio stand out, while the home schedule offers several opportunities for Oxford to recreate the atmosphere that made last season so memorable.

Five nationally televised games provide another reminder of how much attention Miami earned last season. The RedHawks are no longer the interesting MAC team waiting to surprise people. They will enter conference play with expectations, visibility and opponents eager to knock them off.

I’m not going to pretend every loss will be easy to accept after what we just experienced. Last season spoiled us, and plenty of Miami fans may need time to remember what a normal college basketball season feels like. But this team should not be judged by whether it reproduces an almost impossible winning streak.

I want to see Miami compete for another MAC championship, improve throughout the season and put itself in position to return to the NCAA Tournament. The talent is there, the questions are compelling and Steele appears to have more legitimate options than he can comfortably fit into one rotation.

Last season showed us what this program can accomplish. Now we get to see whether Miami can do it again with different players, different strengths and expectations unlike anything this group has faced before.

I can’t wait.