It was 27 years ago. I was 14 at the time, and while I remember a lot from that season, what I don’t recall is this:
How “on the bubble” were we?
I remember my dad being pretty confident we’d be in, and I think I recall the broadcast of the MACC against Kent noting that the loser would probably be in. We were 22-7 with wins over Tennessee, Dayton, and Notre Dame OOC. Was there still some doubt on Selection Sunday? Or were we pretty comfortably in?
We were rather comfortably in. I don’t recall much doubt. Naturally, there was the “we might get screwed” banter, but I think that there was a general confidence that we were in.
We were in, the question was seeding after the 1997 team got screwed with a 13 seed. The real nail biter was the 1995 selection show. Not only did we sneak in, but got sent to Dayton to play (and upset) Arizona. Lute Olsen was not pleased.
My memory was that I was really confident that day until Jay Bilas came on (honest to god) espn and put us in the last discussion group. That was probably just wishful thinking on his part because we ended up with a 10 seed which is pretty safely in (especially back then when the last in where normally 12-13 seeds- not the 11s of today)
The ‘99 team was boosted by Wally’s prominence on the national scene. Having an All-American, PoY candidate, and high lottery draft pick makes a mid major more enticing IMO.
FYI - Miami slotted more as the 6-seed as they were like 23 or 24 in Sagarin and similar in RPI. First round matchup Washington was 40 in Sagarin. I swear the committee swapped Miami out of the 7th seed with Washington’s 10th, just so Miami would be considered a Cinderella and you’ll never convince me otherwise.
Like a 23-0 team in 2026 perhaps?
This team is no where close being as good as the 99 team this year team has played any team the 99 team beat Xavier and Tennessee
The media attention we’ve gotten will go a long way if Miami is on the bubble come Selection Sunday. It’s been wonderful. I want a regular season and tourney championship though
“Nowhere close”
I think that’s a ridiculous take
Here is another ridiculous take. I dont think the 99 team was as good as the 97 Team. But the 97 team was year one of coles and it took awhile to get humming
Having graduated in 99, we were fairly certain but remembering how that fall we didn’t get picked for a bowl game over teams we beat.
Wally was on the basketball team at the Goodwill Games the summer prior with the Xavier star (was it Posey?). It didn’t seem to surprise the national media as much as it did this year.
Notice that we don’t have Tenn.,Dayton,Notre Dame on Miami’s schedule.They want no part of us!
97 was the best starting lineup in Miami history, but we just lacked depth. The 98 was right there as well if Wally and Rob hadn’t gotten hurt.
Don’t know if this has been mentioned but this season the first time we’ve won 20 games back to back since 1997. We did it three years in a row (94-97). 93-94 was a 19 win season as mentioned above 97-98 got derailed by injuries.
As far as comparing this team to the teams of the 90’s I don’t really know. The game has changed a lot. 96-97 had two NBA players in the starting lineup and neither one was the best player on the team. 98-99 beat Dayton, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Washington, and Utah. 94-95 might have been better than both of those teams (16-2 in a really good MAC/beat Arizona/should have beaten Virginia).
Anyway, let’s wait and see how the rest of the season plays out before we make and grand conclusions.
‘99 was also my senior year at Miami. Me and three friends watched the selection show, hoping we were playing somewhere in driving distance. I’d say we were 80% certain we’d be selected. After the selection show, we packed our bags and drove from Oxford to New Orleans the next day. We spent Spring Break in New Orleans and Florida. It was an incredible week.
Not as good, but they’re at least somewhat close. Also, not what I asked. Stop being a downer, Boomer.
Wasn’t Dick Schrider on the selection committee?
In the 80s he was when Miami got an at large bid even though they finished 2nd in the MAC