Miami (OH) basketball looks to continue to turn heads after an undefeated regular season in 2025-26.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Miami (OH) basketball.
It was a magical run for the RedHawks in 2025-26. Miami finished the regular season at a perfect 31-0, some games dominating and others, making the big play at the right time. Despite a MAC quarterfinals loss to UMass, the RedHawks proved their worth with a First Four victory over SMU, their only KenPom top 50 opponent up to that point.
Head coach Travis Steele had a chunk of his rotation either exhaust their eligibility or move on to power conference opportunities, but he was able to bring back a couple of key guards — Evan Ipsaro and Luke Skaljac. The roster’s front court looks intriguing as well, with 6-foot-9 Ball State transfer Preston Copeland joining a plethora of returning sophomore bigs.
At the end of the day, Miami finished 18-0 in MAC play last year and returns the third most minutes of any team in the league, making them the natural pick to go back-to-back in the regular season. With Akron head coach John Groce off to Charleston, Miami’s biggest competitor appears to be an always-solid Toledo team.
Head coach: Travis Steele (9th season overall, 5th at Miami Ohio)
2025-26 record: 32-2 (18-0)
2026 postseason finish: Lost in Round of 64 (78-56) to Tennessee
Notable departures:
- Peter Suder (14.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.0 APG)
- Brant Byers (14.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.6 APG)
- Eian Elmer (12.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- TBA
Projected Rotation
PG: Evan Ipsaro (6-0, 200, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 13.9 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 57.1 FG%, 39.4 3P%
SG: Luke Skaljac (6-2, 180, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG
SF: Rich Rolf (6-7, 195, Gr.-Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 36.8 3P% (Youngstown State)
PF: Almar Atlason (6-7, 195, Gr.-Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 36.4 3P%
C: Antwone Woolfolk (6-9, 250, Gr.-Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 62.9 FG%
Eligibility pending based on final verdict on 2022 HS grads
6: Justin Kirby (6-4, 185, So.)
2025-26 stats: 6.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 52.5 FG%, 40.5 3P%
7: Stevie Elam (6-3, 200, So.)
2025-26 stats: 10.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 SPG (Milwaukee)
8: Leshawn Stowers (6-5, 190, Rs.-Fr.)
2025-26: Redshirted
9: Tyler Robbins (6-10, 245, So.)
2025-26 stats: 3.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.3 APG
10: Anthony Fresh (6-4, Fr.)
Unranked on 247Sports Composite
Miami (OH) basketball team MVP: Evan Ipsaro
This was a tough call between Evan Ipsaro and Luke Skaljac who, together, make up one of the best one-two guard punches in mid-major basketball. While both are expected to play a more prominent ball-handling role, following the departure of do-it-all standout, Peter Suder, Ipsaro got the nod. The rising junior is destined for a further breakout after an injury ended his 2025-26 season in late December.
The proof is in the pudding; Ipsaro has already averaged nearly 14 points per game on incredible efficiency, shooting 57.1% from the field, 39.4% from three, and 82.4% from the line in just 27.9 minutes per game. Steele will likely rely on his starting back court much more this year, and that bodes even better for Ipsaro’s totals.
The Crestview Hills, KY native is undersized and has average athleticism, but is extremely crafty and adept at getting to the paint and drawing fouls. If Miami needs him to score on a given night, he is more than capable, having gone for 20+ in three of his twelve games last season. He also had 7 assists in a contest against Air Force, an afternoon where Ipsaro was relied upon to play 32 minutes, but did not have a ton of scoring looks.
Getting Ipsaro back to campus alongside Skaljac was a major victory for Steele.
Miami (OH) basketball make-or-break player: Rich Rolf
As a whole, the roster looks well put together. The guards are great, and the bigs tandem looks promising, especially if Antwone Woolfolk secures eligibility. The only question mark lies on the wing. Eian Elmer, who was off to Wisconsin, was invaluable as a 6-foot-6 guard who can shoot the lights out. Who rises into that role now?
The best answer looks like Youngstown State transfer Rich Rolf. At 6-foot-7, Rolf’s two-way versatility can mask Miami’s slightly undersized starting one and two guards. He is a high 30’s three-point shooter, a legitimate passer, and a solid rebounder. The only concern is whether he can translate into an impact player for a team where winning was expected, having previously played for underperforming YSU and Charlotte squads.
While the upside is clear, there is little insurance behind Rolf. On the bench lies a 6-foot-4 Justin Kirby, who is more comfortable as a ball-handler than spot-up shooter, or Leshawn Stowers, who has not played a minute of Division 1 basketball yet. Rolf may very well be the difference between merely a good RedHawks season, and another memorable one.
Key statistic: PPSC
Haslametrics has a stat called “potential quick points on second chance opportunities” or PPSC. In essence, this measures how often a team scores within five seconds of an offensive rebound.
Miami was ranked below 300th in this stat, both offensively and defensively. Their zone-heavy defense was susceptible to put backs after missed rebounds, and their three-heavy offense was not taking advantage in nearly the same way.
This is one area where Atlason and Woolfolk can both improve. Their offensive rebound rates were 2.4% and 7.2%, respectively, which both ranked towards the bottom of the MAC leaderboard for their position. Of note, Tyler Robbins, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound sophomore known for interior defense and rebounding, should see a much larger role this season, and may help in this regard.
Miami (OH) basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in the MAC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64