History made, expectations surpassed: Miami basketball’s historic season

COLUMN

When making the decision to come to Miami University, I knew I would be giving up the large-scale game days and sporting events that had consumed so much of my life as a fan of the University of Georgia (UGA) football team. I was OK knowing my new sporting teams would have less success nationally and the stands would likely never be filled to capacity.

The 2025-26 Miami RedHawks men’s basketball team proved me wrong. Three times over.

At the beginning of the 2025-26 basketball season, former sports editor Kethan Babu asked if I wanted to cover an article about the men's basketball team. I declined because of my lack of understanding with basketball, especially compared to the football and baseball teams I was more comfortable writing about.

Upon my return to campus in January, my pride for Miami Athletics overtook my previous decision to not cover basketball. Selfishly, I wanted to sit courtside and take photos, so on Jan. 27, I made the trek to Millett Hall and took my position to snap photos of the shockingly still undefeated Miami team.

The energy in the stadium was like nothing I had felt at Miami, but something I had become so familiar with throughout several childhood games at UGA’s football stadium. It was a different environment than I was used to, but the walls of excited, loud fans on every side was undeniable.

This was history, and Miami students were going to be there to watch it.

Later that same week, I sat for six hours on the same Millett court, watching both the women’s and men’s teams reach new attendance records. I spoke to Babu again during halftime and promised him I would finally write that basketball article he’d been encouraging me to write for two seasons.

On Feb. 5, I entered Millett again, under much calmer conditions, to interview head coach Travis Steele and two players for an article about the swim team’s presence at the games. I sat in on the end of the team's practice and watched, realizing the true potential of the team.

They worked well together in every aspect, were true friends on and off the court and were dead set on proving themselves to the world.

While I quietly watched from the side, assistant coach Khristian Smith asked what my article was going to be about and expressed his excitement for the concept. As we walked up to his office, Steele said he would look forward to seeing me next season as I explained my decision to stay at Miami for a fifth year.

Senior guard Peter Suder chuckled as he reflected on the distraction posed by a large group of swimmers in speedos. Freshman guard Trey Perry, excited to be interviewed, said his teammate Suder was the greatest of all time.

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This is not your typical college basketball team. Miami is not a Power Five program. We never will be. But these guys deserved to be in the spotlight as much as anyone.

Toward the beginning of March, the RedHawks won their last home game and followed it with a ceremonial cutting of the net and before receiving the regular season trophy. I walked around confetti-laden floors and congratulated the same people I had interviewed just a month prior.

Smith gave me a hug and took a photo with me. Suder smiled as I congratulated him. Steele thanked us for consistent coverage throughout the season. Perry posed for my camera and told me they weren’t done yet.

Watching them go undefeated in the regular season will be one of my greatest college memories. I will talk about those sold-out games for the rest of my life.

The postseason may have ended on a less jovial note, but it can’t take away from what the team did this season. Breaking school, conference and national records cannot be overshadowed by two unfortunate losses.

This season is still something to celebrate. I never imagined that my school would receive any kind of national spotlight like the UGA teams I watched so frequently growing up.

Miami basketball exceeded expectations I didn’t even know I had and showed me that attitude and resilience means everything when you surpass all odds.

I know this is not the end, but merely the beginning of what I’m sure will shape up to be an impressive basketball program. Steele showed what he’s been building at Miami for the past four seasons and proved you don’t need nationally-ranked recruits or transfers to be great.

Miami basketball has made a name for itself on the national scale and I don’t foresee that stopping anytime soon.

rosente2@miamioh.edu