1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: H twenty seven away from five o'clock. This is ESPN 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: fifteen thirty on Oleger. The Miami University RedHawks look for 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: a nineteenth consecutive victory to open up the season tomorrow 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: at Malette Hall against Buffalo. That game is going to 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: tip off at one o'clock. Travis Steels team just on 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: the outside looking into the AP Top twenty five Men's 7 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: College Basketball poll, and perhaps with a victory they can 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: find themselves with a number next to their name. On Monday, 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: the head coach of the RedHawks kind enough on the 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: afternoon before a game to join us coach Steele, It's 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: always awesome to have you. Good afternoon. How are you. 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: I'm doing well, mo, Thanks for having me on. 13 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: Always love having you. We talked a year ago. You 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: guys were on your way to a season and you know, 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: we know how it ended. You came within an eyelash 16 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: of making the NCAA tournament. But you win twenty fives 17 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: this offseason. You're going to start the season by bringing 18 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: back ten players from last year's team. So I'm guessing 19 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: you thought you had a chance a good squad. What 20 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: about this team this year has surprised you? 21 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 3: Though? 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? Mo you said it, and I think how we 23 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 2: lost last year. You know, we won twenty five games, 24 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: had a great year singles season record at Miami for 25 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 2: wins the season, but we did we came an I 26 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: lash away from from the Numbla Tournament. I think how 27 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: we lost really impacted our offseason in a great way. 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: You know, we've used the slogan unfinished business a lot 29 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: with our guys, and I think our guys had a 30 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: purpose right right from the jump in the spring, the 31 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: summer to the fall, where I knew we had a 32 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: chance to be a really, really really good team, especially 33 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: as you know, like in this landscape, the retention is 34 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: hard to find at times, and we only had to 35 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: bring in one guy out of the transfer portal. We 36 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 2: still recruit a lot of high school We do have 37 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: five freshmen, but we were able to retain a good 38 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: bulk of our roster from last year's team, which has 39 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: been huge in our success this year. 40 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: How old school does that field? I mean, it's it's 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: such an outlier, right, Like I feel like I'm following 42 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: a program from from another lifetime ago with all those 43 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: guys coming back from one year to the next. 44 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's unique. You know, you don't see it very 45 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: often in today's landscape, but I you know, I'm still 46 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: holding on to that, you know, in a lot of ways, 47 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: and you have to address Listen, We'll go to the 48 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 2: portal if we need to, But I think it's still 49 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 2: we really believe in player development and personal development, and 50 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: that's our mission here in our program. And you look 51 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: at a guy like Ian Elmer, Evan Ipsar or two 52 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: Cincinnati guys that are now juniors, and they're so much 53 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: better than they were when they walked in, and I'm 54 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: so proud of them. But they have a true love 55 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: for each other too, because they're not just with each 56 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: other for one year, and they've been with each other 57 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: for multiple years. So they really have that those deep 58 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: seated relationships, which I think really shows that how we 59 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 2: play on both ends of the floor. 60 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: It feels to me. And you know, you talk about 61 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: how last season ended, and so I think it's human 62 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: nature to always have an on march on the mac tournament, right, 63 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: because that's ultimately going to define whether or not you 64 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: play in the NCAA tournament. Right. And then in the 65 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,679 Speaker 1: middle of all that, you're undefeated. So there's a lot 66 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: swirling around your program. How do you keep these guys focused? 67 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: You know, we just focus on the process. Mo Like 68 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: it's you know, I've told our guys I could care 69 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 2: less about our record. I really don't care. I mean, 70 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 2: I'm glad that we're winning. We want to win every game, 71 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: but it's about are we going to play our best 72 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: in March? Can we peak at the right time. We're 73 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: obsessed with trajectory, and our guys know, we use a 74 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: lot of analytical data to be able to showcase, Hey, 75 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: are we growing in the right direction? Are we not? 76 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: And our guys process day to day is so elite. 77 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: So we haven't had one bad practice all year, which 78 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: is amazing, and I think that speaks always to the 79 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: character we have in our locker room and just the 80 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: player leadership that we have. Man, it's elite and it 81 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: just guides us in the right direction. Every day. 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: You're asked a lot about your schedule. Well, you do 83 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: not have to defend it. You play who's willing to 84 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: play you. Have you thought, though, like with your success 85 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: this year, those phone calls to other programs about finding 86 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: games are going to be even more difficult this offseason. 87 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's probably gonna be hard, you know, like it 88 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: is what it is, you know, and listen. And I 89 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 2: don't blame some of the Power five schools for not playings. 90 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: You know, I know that they're supposed to stay away 91 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: from quad two, Quad three games. They're supposed to only 92 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 2: do quad one and quad fours. That's what the net 93 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: that then Toba uses, right, that's what they want you 94 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: to play. That's at the advantage show school. So I 95 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: totally get it. I wish they would change that equation 96 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 2: to help was school like us out. 97 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 3: But I do. 98 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: I thought her I said the sign of respect. We 99 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: got to figure it out, and I think we'll be 100 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: in a better position next year, maybe schedule wise because 101 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: we are moving from eighteen to twenty two back conference games, 102 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: so that'll help alleviate our non conference schedule a little bit. 103 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: But I'm hoping. I mean, I got a couple of 104 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 2: calls in a couple of buddies. Am I trying to 105 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 2: plead with it to at least play us, you know, 106 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: at a pe BI just so we can give our 107 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: guys that experience, you. 108 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 3: Know, like I would love to do it. 109 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I would love if we can or we're trying. 110 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: Well, I mean that's the thing, Like, you can only 111 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: be so creative. So does it come down to simply 112 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: like reaching out to people you know in the business 113 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: and go, look, man, uh, I've done this for a while. 114 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: My program deserves it. Give us a shot. Is it 115 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: just as simple as that. 116 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, because I know they're going to say, well, the 117 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: numbers say not to play you. 118 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 3: Guys, And and everybody's using analytical data. And I love 119 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 3: analytical data. But I don't like that analytical data right, 120 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 3: Like I don't like it for scheduling. And but I 121 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 3: like Kelvin Sampson, for example, Like I have a ton 122 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 3: of respect for him, and I work for him in Indiana, 123 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 3: and he'll play anybody I would. 124 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: I think he'll play us next year. I'm hoping, you know, again, 125 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: he's got a great program. They don't be there. They're 126 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: a top five program in the country, if not top three. 127 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: Maybe the consistency that they've had to see that there 128 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: has been incredible. But but we're trying. I know this, 129 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: We are calling everybody to see say we can get 130 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: it done. 131 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine what those 132 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: conversations are, Like Travis Steel is with us Miami hosting 133 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: Buffalo tomorrow one o'clock at Mallett Hall. Uh. We've been 134 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 1: tracking the number of votes you guys have gotten since 135 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: you since you started getting them a few weeks ago. 136 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: And you know, I'm. 137 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: Watching Scott Van Pelt on Sports Center. I know you 138 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: saw it making the case for Miami to be ranked, 139 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: and you're focused on the basketball part of it. You're 140 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: you're focused on the opponent. You're guys having great practices. 141 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: But like for all of Miami's history, there have only 142 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: been seven weeks where the RedHawks have been ranked in 143 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: the AP top twenty five. So if you win tomorrow, 144 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: and if you keep winning, at some point, you're going 145 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: to be in the top twenty five. What will it 146 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: mean to have that number next to Miami in that poll? 147 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: If and when it happens, Well, I. 148 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: Just think it shows the growth that we've made. You know, 149 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 2: when we took over here three and a half years ago, 150 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: we were really, really, really far away from being a reality. 151 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: And and to see us that we're that close, Man, 152 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: it's it's nice to get recognition. And I would love 153 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: it for our university, for our bench basketball program, for 154 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: all the former the alumni, the former players. But we 155 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 2: got to focus on the things we can control too, 156 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: right Like, we can't control that. We can only control 157 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: our day to day, our process. And uh, you know, 158 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: but it does because I will tell you this though, 159 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 2: I think you know. I'm always trying to find ways 160 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: to motivate your guys, right like, because it is in 161 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: the long season. It's a long journey. 162 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: We have. 163 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: We have a lot of guys in our locker room 164 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: that have that have a chip on their shoulders, a 165 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: massive chip, and uh, who were told that they weren't 166 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: good enough at one point for this or that and 167 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: all this stuff. Listen, we have a lot to proof, 168 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: we have a lot to prove, we have unfinished business 169 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: and that. And obviously I hope this is a ride 170 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: all the way through the market peak at the right time. 171 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: I hope. So I know you've got a one o'clock 172 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: tip off tomorrow, so a lot on your plate. I am. 173 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: I'm root like heck for you, man. I have said 174 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: this at the top of our show. You have always 175 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: been so good to our show in circumstances that at 176 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: times haven't been awesome. So I'm rooting for you. I 177 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: hope you get a win tomorrow. I want to see 178 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: you guys ranked. Best of luck the rest of the season. 179 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 1: And I can't thank you enough for doing this means 180 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: a lot. Thanks so much. Thanks Moe, you got it. 181 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: Travis Steel, head coach of the Miami RedHawks, tomorrow one 182 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 1: o'clock against Buffalo, you know, one of three undefeated teams 183 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: in the sport. The longer it continues, the sillier the 184 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: voters are going to look for not putting him in 185 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: the AP Top twenty five. And I look, Travis is right. 186 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: You can't blame Power five coaches for not wanting to 187 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: schedule them. And everybody's going to do what's right by there, 188 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: and they've they've got to operate within the parameters that 189 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: the metrics say you should operate within. But holy hell, 190 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: at some point you want to see him get a 191 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: chance to play quote high major competition. They can if 192 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: they get to the NCAA tournament. It's fun ride. And 193 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: you know that program, We've talked about it a lot here, 194 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: largely and I hate to say this, largely dormant relative 195 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: to the nineties for much of this century. It's it's 196 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: fun to see that program back. It's fun to see 197 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: that program in the conversation for a regular season championship. 198 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: They were this close after losing by two in the 199 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: MAC Tournament title game to Acron last year. It would 200 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: be awesome to see the RedHawks not only finish off 201 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: a great regular season, but have Miami on the screen 202 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: on Selection Sunday after winning the MAC Tournament. And hopefully 203 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: that happens. And I mean and Travis Steele, you know, 204 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: has been on our show a bunch of times and 205 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: it came on during some some some stretches when he 206 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: was coaching Xavier where it wasn't going great and has 207 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: always been kind to us, and so I'm rooting like 208 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: hell for him. It's fun that Miami is good and hopefully, 209 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: hopefully interest continues, hopefully, you know, I know, getting folks 210 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: to come to Mallett Hall has been a quandary for 211 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches of that program. Hopefully as excitement builds, 212 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: attendance grows. And hope that for Travis, hope that for 213 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: the school, hope that for a lumps, and hope that 214 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: for his players.