Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele has accused power conference teams of avoiding mid-major opponents to protect their NCAA Tournament resumes, a complaint echoed by other Mid-American Conference (MAC) programs as Miami (Ohio) contended for an at-large bid during the 2023-24 season.[1]

Purdue coach Matt Painter countered on February 27, 2024, after a Big Ten victory over Maryland, stating that his Boilermakers played five mid-major teams among their 11 non-conference games, including six against high-major opponents. "If he was in my position, you’re going to play 11 non-conference games. Next year, it’s going to go to 12," Painter said.[1]

Painter highlighted Purdue's history of facing MAC teams, including victories over Akron (75-57 on November 26, 2021) and Kent State (80-62 on November 24, 2017), as well as Oakland of the Horizon League.[1]

Alabama coach Nate Oats addressed the issue on March 2, 2024, following an SEC win over Florida, expressing a preference for quality mid-major buy games. "The only mid-major schools we turned down are ones that aren’t good enough," Oats said. He noted that some complaining programs had scheduled multiple non-Division I opponents.[2]

The NCAA selection committee evaluates tournament resumes using metrics such as the NET ranking, which factors in strength of schedule and efficiency.[3] Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season 20-12 overall and 13-7 in the MAC but lost in the conference tournament semifinals and missed the NCAA field announced on March 17, 2024.[4]

Division I teams typically schedule 11-13 non-conference games amid multi-team events and conference obligations, with buy games often used by power programs to provide financial support to smaller schools while bolstering metrics if opponents perform well.

Sources

1. CBS Sports
   Matt Painter has blunt response to Miami (Ohio) coach's claim that power conference teams 'duck' mid-majors
   February 28, 2024
   https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/matt-painter-has-blunt-response-to-miami-ohio-coachs-claim-that-power-conference-teams-duck-mid-majors/
2. AL.com
   Nate Oats on Miami-Ohio coach’s scheduling complaints: ‘The only mid-major schools we turned down are ones that aren’t good enough’
   March 3, 2024
   https://www.al.com/sec/2024/03/nate-oats-on-miami-ohio-coachs-scheduling-complaints-the-only-mid-major-schools-we-turned-down-are-ones-that-arent-good-enough.html
3. NCAA.com
   College basketball's NET rankings: What they are, how they are used
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2024-02-29/college-basketballs-net-rankings-explained
4. ESPN.com
   2024 NCAA Tournament bracket: Men's field announced
   March 17, 2024
   https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39742281/2024-ncaa-tournament-bracket-march-madness-men-field-announced