I know the Convocation Center has taken quite a bit of abuse on this board, especially in recent years, but for a game of the magnitude and coverage that was Friday night, IMHO, the ole gal (guy if you wish) was still up to the challenge. Some, not affiliated with either Ohio or Miami, have even said this was the best college basketball game they have seen on TV this year. Who knows, maybe the committee will be impressed by the big time feel even if just a little bit. I’m not saying that the Convo doesn’t need a major refurbishment and some other amenities to make it better but the “bones” are there now. Again IMO.

The size and passion of the crowd, coaches, players, band, cheerleaders and dance team was a positive (even if there were a couple of unfortunate indiscretions) for the conference and especially for both Miami and Ohio. Anyone around the country who thought MAC basketball is irrelevent, no matter the situation, certainly got an education. I know Miami is riding high right now and some over there have been pretty outspoken about how schools should send a thank you letter to Travis Steele for the crowds they are bringing in on the road. I see their point but historically, despite being down some right now, we have our own basketball DNA, including large crowds, that doesn’t take a back seat to them or anyone else in the conference. Consequently, we’ll stand on our own accomplishments Red Hawks.

I've been working thru the grieving process and am ready to talk.

That was a tremendous college basketball game and we shouldn't take that for granted. I've clicked around a bunch of national news media posts and comments and there are countless impartial observers who were watching and said it was possibly the best game they had seen all season at any level. At the crux of it all was the rivalry, the deep seeded desire to take your rival out. It was apparent in the crowd, the players, and the coaches. With that, I not only didn't have a problem with the drama but I loved it. Bring it on.

To that point, I wanted to address what I saw in what people are referring to as "trash being thrown at coach Steele in the middle of the game." This is a horrible mischaracterization. At one point, someone near the concentration of Miami fans behind their bench threw what appeared to me to be 2 rolled/banded red shirts, I assume Miami shirts but I am not sure, back into the crowd away from the court. One came to rest with an Ohio fan, who simply threw it back the direction it came from. It pinged down and fell at the feet of the Miami bench. Again, some type of red fabric. It had nothing to do with anything going on on the court, and was literally one item. I've seen Miami fans say things like "they had trash thrown at them all game"...ridiculous.

As for the post-game...Aidan Hadaway isn't gonna let Miami taunt his fellow students. Not surprised at all he had to be held back, and I understand his anger in seeing that. I get why the Miami players taunted the student section, and again I love the fire. But most of us would agree you prefer your players understand you're going to hear it from the fans all game and you can't return the same energy. That is part of being a player. A lot of the Miami team seems likable. The bench guys that B-squared highlighted and Suder seem like total douchebags fit for Oxfart.

The Miami fans in the Convo were not as many as you might think. Less than 10% I would say. Their presence still annoyed me, mostly because I know 90% of them probably didn't attend a single game in the previous 5 seasons or know a thing about them until a couple months ago. Again I say, they will disappear just as fast as they showed up. I'm happy to see the rivalry rekindled while simultaneously loathing them and ready to start another 14 year streak.

All 4 techs on Miami were legit and confirmed by video. The only thing I think we got away with was no tech on Simmons in the final seconds, which didn't end up mattering. I think to call the foul on Sheldon and send Suder to the line, then NOT call the foul on Suder which would've sent Pav to the line, was ridiculous. They called the game a certain way and that defense from Suder should have been called. The broadcast said he went straight up...no he did not. His body clearly drifted in the air and caused contact on Pavs, who was attempting to get around.

It sounds ridiculous to see, but I really think Miami played better than they are. They put together a really good game and looked better than a lot of their other games I have watched this year. They made a lot of big plays, obviously Elmer was the key but Byers was a force and Perry was smooth. Agree with others that the biggest key was us actually hitting 3 pointers, namely Hadaway & Simmons going 6-8. If that was their usual 1 or 2 for 8 we would've been cooked.

As for what caused the loss, the key offensive rebounds for Miami would be the #1 thing for me. Several failures to box out and credit Miami for charging the paint and positioning themselves for the misses. The other thing was some rough Hadaway turnovers. He had a good game but he got swallowed up multiple times and donated them a bucket by throwing it to the wrong guy right under the basket. Add to that his frustration foul after missing back to back free throws.

The thing I expected to see discussed here and am shocked no one has brought up is the benching of JJ Kelly. He committed his 3rd foul with 17 minutes to go in the 2nd half, and never returned. Kuany quickly got in equal then worse foul trouble before fouling out, yet still never came out for JJ. Conners had not played more than 12 minutes in any MAC game this season until Umass (when JJ was out) with 17. Then in the big one all of a sudden he never comes off the court in crunch time? Why? I found it extremely bizarre that Kuany & Conners stayed on the court while JJ sat. I am a fan of Kuany but he is erratic and not the guy I would expect to look at in crunch time. And until this past week, he never played alongside Hadaway all season.

Sitting right behind the bench, JJ was clearly confused if not upset. I am nearly certain it wasn't injury related, no chance it is attitude related as his is the best on the team, and I did not see anything in the game that looked like we was off. JJ is a team player and supportive, but he was a little slower to excite at the end of the game than the normal bench guys. Anyone would feel some serious emotions if you're a goto guy all season then shelved for the most important 20 minutes of the season. I hope Boals didn't do some damage to this relationship with this call.

Pavs was awesome, I think Simmons was even better. I would have liked to have seen a more complete offense down the stretch instead of isolating to Pavs as much as we did. Simmons was owning the paint, Hadaway was shooting well and we all know Sheldon's 3 point shot has been back for weeks now.

I will see some graphic decades from now about all undefeated regular seasons in history and will seeth with rage as a 90 year old in the retirement home to see Miami's name on it. We had them. A great game I will always remember. Unfortunately some of the best games you see are losses for your team.

I didn't mind the Conners run. This was going to be a high scoring game and we needed to hit threes to stay afloat. Kelly 0-3, Conners 3-9. And up close, Kuany really is a lot bigger than Kelly so maybe the defensive matchup was more favorable against Suder or Elmer?? Seemed like we were content to let Pav, Sheldon, or Conners guard Byers since he's mostly a wing shooter.

I disagree that Suder fouled Pav. On replay, I think he does go straight up and the mid air collision caused Suder to land at point B. Pav almost made the shot anyway which I didn't realize until I saw the replay. However, with the way the game had been called in the second half, it really should have been whistled too. Bilas and others have said Suder's late collision with Sheldon was the right call. That's horse shit. Sheldon didn't have legal guarding position, but the contact and fall to the floor was caused by Suder extending his arm into Sheldon's chest. Conners took contact square in the chest earlier in the second half that was oddly called a block, and there was a late and-1 that Pav converted I think on Elmer that I can't believe we got the continuation for.

Speaking of Pav, I hate to bag on the guy who scored 37 points, but the play at the end of regulation, a lob or bounce pass to Hadaway was wide open as was a passing lane to Conners for a three by the bench. Lots of neutrals are bagging on Boals for sitting on timeouts but I mostly am okay with playing through a disorganized defense while the game is tied. I do think with two timeouts, the play that ended with the non-call on Suder would have been a good time to use one.

Minus throwing things on the floor, I don't mind the postgame stuff. Like I said before, it's rivalry basketball in the midwest and it's healthy when the players and fans care. I would imagine if we had won in Oxford in front of their 10K, our players would do some of the same.

I'd estimate 1,000 or so Miami fans, maybe less. Certainly the best away fan contingent I can remember at the Convo. I haven't been to a ton of power conference games but I did go to IU @ Xavier a few years ago and it was a lot like that. I hope this season energizes their fan base to show up when they're very good but 1) unranked and 2) the president isn't picking up the bill, but I have my doubts. They don't show up for football and look at Akron. Maybe a better team and in a more populous area and yet they can't get 3K in the JAR against NIU on Friday.

First of all, my mention of mischaracterization was referring to Miami fan banter around the internet, seen many times as a defense for their behavior post-game, not directed at you or anyone in this thread.

But secondly, no, the issue is not how what was thrown was described and it being a shirt versus a bottle. The issue is:

1 - It being one single item, not a series of items.
2 - It being something likely initiated by a Miami fan.
3 - It not actually being thrown at the Miami bench and instead returned to the direction it came from.
4 - It landing at their feet after pinging thru the crowd, far from a head shot or anything of the sort.

Now the post-game stuff was absolutely trash, and absolutely thrown with the purpose to hit the Miami players. Water bottles, glow sticks, popcorn to be exact.

rock chalk redhawk