January 16, 2026 • 10 mins
The Miami Redhawks head into the weekend with a spotless 18-0 record. Head Coach Travis Steele joined us on ESPN1530.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
H twenty seven away from five o'clock. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty on Oleger. The Miami University RedHawks look for
a nineteenth consecutive victory to open up the season tomorrow
at Malette Hall against Buffalo. That game is going to
tip off at one o'clock. Travis Steels team just on
the outside looking into the AP Top twenty five Men's
(00:22):
College Basketball poll, and perhaps with a victory they can
find themselves with a number next to their name. On Monday,
the head coach of the RedHawks kind enough on the
afternoon before a game to join us coach Steele, It's
always awesome to have you. Good afternoon. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm doing well, mo, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Always love having you. We talked a year ago. You
guys were on your way to a season and you know,
we know how it ended. You came within an eyelash
of making the NCAA tournament. But you win twenty fives
this offseason. You're going to start the season by bringing
back ten players from last year's team. So I'm guessing
you thought you had a chance a good squad. What
about this team this year has surprised you?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Though?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah? Mo you said it, and I think how we
lost last year. You know, we won twenty five games,
had a great year singles season record at Miami for
wins the season, but we did we came an I
lash away from from the Numbla Tournament. I think how
we lost really impacted our offseason in a great way.
You know, we've used the slogan unfinished business a lot
(01:27):
with our guys, and I think our guys had a
purpose right right from the jump in the spring, the
summer to the fall, where I knew we had a
chance to be a really, really really good team, especially
as you know, like in this landscape, the retention is
hard to find at times, and we only had to
bring in one guy out of the transfer portal. We
(01:48):
still recruit a lot of high school We do have
five freshmen, but we were able to retain a good
bulk of our roster from last year's team, which has
been huge in our success this year.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
How old school does that field? I mean, it's it's
such an outlier, right, Like I feel like I'm following
a program from from another lifetime ago with all those
guys coming back from one year to the next.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, it's unique. You know, you don't see it very
often in today's landscape, but I you know, I'm still
holding on to that, you know, in a lot of ways,
and you have to address Listen, We'll go to the
portal if we need to, But I think it's still
we really believe in player development and personal development, and
that's our mission here in our program. And you look
at a guy like Ian Elmer, Evan Ipsar or two
(02:30):
Cincinnati guys that are now juniors, and they're so much
better than they were when they walked in, and I'm
so proud of them. But they have a true love
for each other too, because they're not just with each
other for one year, and they've been with each other
for multiple years. So they really have that those deep
seated relationships, which I think really shows that how we
play on both ends of the floor.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It feels to me. And you know, you talk about
how last season ended, and so I think it's human
nature to always have an on march on the mac tournament, right,
because that's ultimately going to define whether or not you
play in the NCAA tournament. Right. And then in the
middle of all that, you're undefeated. So there's a lot
swirling around your program. How do you keep these guys focused?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
You know, we just focus on the process. Mo Like
it's you know, I've told our guys I could care
less about our record. I really don't care. I mean,
I'm glad that we're winning. We want to win every game,
but it's about are we going to play our best
in March? Can we peak at the right time. We're
obsessed with trajectory, and our guys know, we use a
lot of analytical data to be able to showcase, Hey,
are we growing in the right direction? Are we not?
(03:37):
And our guys process day to day is so elite.
So we haven't had one bad practice all year, which
is amazing, and I think that speaks always to the
character we have in our locker room and just the
player leadership that we have. Man, it's elite and it
just guides us in the right direction. Every day.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You're asked a lot about your schedule. Well, you do
not have to defend it. You play who's willing to
play you. Have you thought, though, like with your success
this year, those phone calls to other programs about finding
games are going to be even more difficult this offseason.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yeah, it's probably gonna be hard, you know, like it
is what it is, you know, and listen. And I
don't blame some of the Power five schools for not playings.
You know, I know that they're supposed to stay away
from quad two, Quad three games. They're supposed to only
do quad one and quad fours. That's what the net
that then Toba uses, right, that's what they want you
(04:36):
to play. That's at the advantage show school. So I
totally get it. I wish they would change that equation
to help was school like us out.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But I do.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I thought her I said the sign of respect. We
got to figure it out, and I think we'll be
in a better position next year, maybe schedule wise because
we are moving from eighteen to twenty two back conference games,
so that'll help alleviate our non conference schedule a little bit.
But I'm hoping. I mean, I got a couple of
calls in a couple of buddies. Am I trying to
(05:05):
plead with it to at least play us, you know,
at a pe BI just so we can give our
guys that experience, you.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Know, like I would love to do it.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I mean, I would love if we can or we're trying.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Well, I mean that's the thing, Like, you can only
be so creative. So does it come down to simply
like reaching out to people you know in the business
and go, look, man, uh, I've done this for a while.
My program deserves it. Give us a shot. Is it
just as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, because I know they're going to say, well, the
numbers say not to play you.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Guys, And and everybody's using analytical data. And I love
analytical data. But I don't like that analytical data right,
Like I don't like it for scheduling. And but I
like Kelvin Sampson, for example, Like I have a ton
of respect for him, and I work for him in Indiana,
and he'll play anybody I would.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I think he'll play us next year. I'm hoping, you know, again,
he's got a great program. They don't be there. They're
a top five program in the country, if not top three.
Maybe the consistency that they've had to see that there
has been incredible. But but we're trying. I know this,
We are calling everybody to see say we can get
it done.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine what those
conversations are, Like Travis Steel is with us Miami hosting
Buffalo tomorrow one o'clock at Mallett Hall. Uh. We've been
tracking the number of votes you guys have gotten since
you since you started getting them a few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And you know, I'm.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Watching Scott Van Pelt on Sports Center. I know you
saw it making the case for Miami to be ranked,
and you're focused on the basketball part of it. You're
you're focused on the opponent. You're guys having great practices.
But like for all of Miami's history, there have only
been seven weeks where the RedHawks have been ranked in
the AP top twenty five. So if you win tomorrow,
and if you keep winning, at some point, you're going
(06:53):
to be in the top twenty five. What will it
mean to have that number next to Miami in that poll?
If and when it happens, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Just think it shows the growth that we've made. You know,
when we took over here three and a half years ago,
we were really, really, really far away from being a reality.
And and to see us that we're that close, Man,
it's it's nice to get recognition. And I would love
it for our university, for our bench basketball program, for
(07:24):
all the former the alumni, the former players. But we
got to focus on the things we can control too,
right Like, we can't control that. We can only control
our day to day, our process. And uh, you know,
but it does because I will tell you this though,
I think you know. I'm always trying to find ways
to motivate your guys, right like, because it is in
the long season. It's a long journey.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
We have.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
We have a lot of guys in our locker room
that have that have a chip on their shoulders, a
massive chip, and uh, who were told that they weren't
good enough at one point for this or that and
all this stuff. Listen, we have a lot to proof,
we have a lot to prove, we have unfinished business
and that. And obviously I hope this is a ride
all the way through the market peak at the right time.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I hope. So I know you've got a one o'clock
tip off tomorrow, so a lot on your plate. I am.
I'm root like heck for you, man. I have said
this at the top of our show. You have always
been so good to our show in circumstances that at
times haven't been awesome. So I'm rooting for you. I
hope you get a win tomorrow. I want to see
you guys ranked. Best of luck the rest of the season.
(08:31):
And I can't thank you enough for doing this means
a lot. Thanks so much. Thanks Moe, you got it.
Travis Steel, head coach of the Miami RedHawks, tomorrow one
o'clock against Buffalo, you know, one of three undefeated teams
in the sport. The longer it continues, the sillier the
voters are going to look for not putting him in
the AP Top twenty five. And I look, Travis is right.
(08:54):
You can't blame Power five coaches for not wanting to
schedule them. And everybody's going to do what's right by there,
and they've they've got to operate within the parameters that
the metrics say you should operate within. But holy hell,
at some point you want to see him get a
chance to play quote high major competition. They can if
they get to the NCAA tournament. It's fun ride. And
(09:15):
you know that program, We've talked about it a lot here,
largely and I hate to say this, largely dormant relative
to the nineties for much of this century. It's it's
fun to see that program back. It's fun to see
that program in the conversation for a regular season championship.
They were this close after losing by two in the
(09:36):
MAC Tournament title game to Acron last year. It would
be awesome to see the RedHawks not only finish off
a great regular season, but have Miami on the screen
on Selection Sunday after winning the MAC Tournament. And hopefully
that happens. And I mean and Travis Steele, you know,
has been on our show a bunch of times and
(09:57):
it came on during some some some stretches when he
was coaching Xavier where it wasn't going great and has
always been kind to us, and so I'm rooting like
hell for him. It's fun that Miami is good and hopefully,
hopefully interest continues, hopefully, you know, I know, getting folks
to come to Mallett Hall has been a quandary for
(10:19):
a lot of coaches of that program. Hopefully as excitement builds,
attendance grows. And hope that for Travis, hope that for
the school, hope that for a lumps, and hope that
for his players.
H twenty seven away from five o'clock. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty on Oleger. The Miami University RedHawks look for
a nineteenth consecutive victory to open up the season tomorrow
at Malette Hall against Buffalo. That game is going to
tip off at one o'clock. Travis Steels team just on
the outside looking into the AP Top twenty five Men's
(00:22):
College Basketball poll, and perhaps with a victory they can
find themselves with a number next to their name. On Monday,
the head coach of the RedHawks kind enough on the
afternoon before a game to join us coach Steele, It's
always awesome to have you. Good afternoon. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm doing well, mo, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Always love having you. We talked a year ago. You
guys were on your way to a season and you know,
we know how it ended. You came within an eyelash
of making the NCAA tournament. But you win twenty fives
this offseason. You're going to start the season by bringing
back ten players from last year's team. So I'm guessing
you thought you had a chance a good squad. What
about this team this year has surprised you?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Though?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah? Mo you said it, and I think how we
lost last year. You know, we won twenty five games,
had a great year singles season record at Miami for
wins the season, but we did we came an I
lash away from from the Numbla Tournament. I think how
we lost really impacted our offseason in a great way.
You know, we've used the slogan unfinished business a lot
(01:27):
with our guys, and I think our guys had a
purpose right right from the jump in the spring, the
summer to the fall, where I knew we had a
chance to be a really, really really good team, especially
as you know, like in this landscape, the retention is
hard to find at times, and we only had to
bring in one guy out of the transfer portal. We
(01:48):
still recruit a lot of high school We do have
five freshmen, but we were able to retain a good
bulk of our roster from last year's team, which has
been huge in our success this year.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
How old school does that field? I mean, it's it's
such an outlier, right, Like I feel like I'm following
a program from from another lifetime ago with all those
guys coming back from one year to the next.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, it's unique. You know, you don't see it very
often in today's landscape, but I you know, I'm still
holding on to that, you know, in a lot of ways,
and you have to address Listen, We'll go to the
portal if we need to, But I think it's still
we really believe in player development and personal development, and
that's our mission here in our program. And you look
at a guy like Ian Elmer, Evan Ipsar or two
(02:30):
Cincinnati guys that are now juniors, and they're so much
better than they were when they walked in, and I'm
so proud of them. But they have a true love
for each other too, because they're not just with each
other for one year, and they've been with each other
for multiple years. So they really have that those deep
seated relationships, which I think really shows that how we
play on both ends of the floor.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It feels to me. And you know, you talk about
how last season ended, and so I think it's human
nature to always have an on march on the mac tournament, right,
because that's ultimately going to define whether or not you
play in the NCAA tournament. Right. And then in the
middle of all that, you're undefeated. So there's a lot
swirling around your program. How do you keep these guys focused?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
You know, we just focus on the process. Mo Like
it's you know, I've told our guys I could care
less about our record. I really don't care. I mean,
I'm glad that we're winning. We want to win every game,
but it's about are we going to play our best
in March? Can we peak at the right time. We're
obsessed with trajectory, and our guys know, we use a
lot of analytical data to be able to showcase, Hey,
are we growing in the right direction? Are we not?
(03:37):
And our guys process day to day is so elite.
So we haven't had one bad practice all year, which
is amazing, and I think that speaks always to the
character we have in our locker room and just the
player leadership that we have. Man, it's elite and it
just guides us in the right direction. Every day.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You're asked a lot about your schedule. Well, you do
not have to defend it. You play who's willing to
play you. Have you thought, though, like with your success
this year, those phone calls to other programs about finding
games are going to be even more difficult this offseason.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yeah, it's probably gonna be hard, you know, like it
is what it is, you know, and listen. And I
don't blame some of the Power five schools for not playings.
You know, I know that they're supposed to stay away
from quad two, Quad three games. They're supposed to only
do quad one and quad fours. That's what the net
that then Toba uses, right, that's what they want you
(04:36):
to play. That's at the advantage show school. So I
totally get it. I wish they would change that equation
to help was school like us out.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But I do.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I thought her I said the sign of respect. We
got to figure it out, and I think we'll be
in a better position next year, maybe schedule wise because
we are moving from eighteen to twenty two back conference games,
so that'll help alleviate our non conference schedule a little bit.
But I'm hoping. I mean, I got a couple of
calls in a couple of buddies. Am I trying to
(05:05):
plead with it to at least play us, you know,
at a pe BI just so we can give our
guys that experience, you.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Know, like I would love to do it.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I mean, I would love if we can or we're trying.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Well, I mean that's the thing, Like, you can only
be so creative. So does it come down to simply
like reaching out to people you know in the business
and go, look, man, uh, I've done this for a while.
My program deserves it. Give us a shot. Is it
just as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, because I know they're going to say, well, the
numbers say not to play you.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Guys, And and everybody's using analytical data. And I love
analytical data. But I don't like that analytical data right,
Like I don't like it for scheduling. And but I
like Kelvin Sampson, for example, Like I have a ton
of respect for him, and I work for him in Indiana,
and he'll play anybody I would.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I think he'll play us next year. I'm hoping, you know, again,
he's got a great program. They don't be there. They're
a top five program in the country, if not top three.
Maybe the consistency that they've had to see that there
has been incredible. But but we're trying. I know this,
We are calling everybody to see say we can get
it done.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine what those
conversations are, Like Travis Steel is with us Miami hosting
Buffalo tomorrow one o'clock at Mallett Hall. Uh. We've been
tracking the number of votes you guys have gotten since
you since you started getting them a few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And you know, I'm.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Watching Scott Van Pelt on Sports Center. I know you
saw it making the case for Miami to be ranked,
and you're focused on the basketball part of it. You're
you're focused on the opponent. You're guys having great practices.
But like for all of Miami's history, there have only
been seven weeks where the RedHawks have been ranked in
the AP top twenty five. So if you win tomorrow,
and if you keep winning, at some point, you're going
(06:53):
to be in the top twenty five. What will it
mean to have that number next to Miami in that poll?
If and when it happens, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Just think it shows the growth that we've made. You know,
when we took over here three and a half years ago,
we were really, really, really far away from being a reality.
And and to see us that we're that close, Man,
it's it's nice to get recognition. And I would love
it for our university, for our bench basketball program, for
(07:24):
all the former the alumni, the former players. But we
got to focus on the things we can control too,
right Like, we can't control that. We can only control
our day to day, our process. And uh, you know,
but it does because I will tell you this though,
I think you know. I'm always trying to find ways
to motivate your guys, right like, because it is in
the long season. It's a long journey.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
We have.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
We have a lot of guys in our locker room
that have that have a chip on their shoulders, a
massive chip, and uh, who were told that they weren't
good enough at one point for this or that and
all this stuff. Listen, we have a lot to proof,
we have a lot to prove, we have unfinished business
and that. And obviously I hope this is a ride
all the way through the market peak at the right time.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I hope. So I know you've got a one o'clock
tip off tomorrow, so a lot on your plate. I am.
I'm root like heck for you, man. I have said
this at the top of our show. You have always
been so good to our show in circumstances that at
times haven't been awesome. So I'm rooting for you. I
hope you get a win tomorrow. I want to see
you guys ranked. Best of luck the rest of the season.
(08:31):
And I can't thank you enough for doing this means
a lot. Thanks so much. Thanks Moe, you got it.
Travis Steel, head coach of the Miami RedHawks, tomorrow one
o'clock against Buffalo, you know, one of three undefeated teams
in the sport. The longer it continues, the sillier the
voters are going to look for not putting him in
the AP Top twenty five. And I look, Travis is right.
(08:54):
You can't blame Power five coaches for not wanting to
schedule them. And everybody's going to do what's right by there,
and they've they've got to operate within the parameters that
the metrics say you should operate within. But holy hell,
at some point you want to see him get a
chance to play quote high major competition. They can if
they get to the NCAA tournament. It's fun ride. And
(09:15):
you know that program, We've talked about it a lot here,
largely and I hate to say this, largely dormant relative
to the nineties for much of this century. It's it's
fun to see that program back. It's fun to see
that program in the conversation for a regular season championship.
They were this close after losing by two in the
(09:36):
MAC Tournament title game to Acron last year. It would
be awesome to see the RedHawks not only finish off
a great regular season, but have Miami on the screen
on Selection Sunday after winning the MAC Tournament. And hopefully
that happens. And I mean and Travis Steele, you know,
has been on our show a bunch of times and
(09:57):
it came on during some some some stretches when he
was coaching Xavier where it wasn't going great and has
always been kind to us, and so I'm rooting like
hell for him. It's fun that Miami is good and hopefully,
hopefully interest continues, hopefully, you know, I know, getting folks
to come to Mallett Hall has been a quandary for
(10:19):
a lot of coaches of that program. Hopefully as excitement builds,
attendance grows. And hope that for Travis, hope that for
the school, hope that for a lumps, and hope that
for his players.
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