There’s a different kind of pressure that comes with February basketball.

Every possession matters. Every road trip feels heavier. And for one team, every game carries the weight of perfection.

The Miami (OH) RedHawks are 26-0.

Not tied for first. Not “one of the best stories.” Not just riding a hot streak.

They are the last unbeaten team in college basketball.

And somehow, they keep rolling.

26-0 is no longer a surprise

At first, it was a fun stat. A mid-major quietly stacking wins while the blue bloods stumbled.

Now it’s something else entirely.

Every arena is packed. Every opponent treats it like a championship opportunity. The scouting reports are detailed. The energy is hostile.

On Tuesday night, the UMass Minutemen gave them everything they had in front of a season-high home crowd in Amherst. UMass erased an eight-point deficit and tied the game midway through the second half. The building believed the streak might finally crack.

Miami did not flinch.

Five straight points. Defensive stops. Clean execution in the closing minutes.

That’s what undefeated teams do. They absorb the punch and throw one right back.

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Travis Steele isn’t hiding from the streak

Head coach Travis Steele understands what this is.

He’s not pretending 26-0 isn’t sitting in the middle of the locker room.

“It’s the elephant in the room,” Steele admitted recently.

But instead of running from it, he tells his players to embrace it. Enjoy it. Understand how rare this moment is.

Because it is rare.

There are 350-plus Division I programs. Only one of them hasn’t lost.

That kind of spotlight can either tighten you up or sharpen you.

So far, it has sharpened Miami.

Miami (OH) is now 26-0 after tonight’s win at UMass.

Next 5:

Bowling Green
At Eastern Michigan
At Western Michigan
Toledo
At Ohio

Only one of those teams has a better than .500 record.

31-0 is very much in reach for the Redhawks.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 18, 2026

They’ve learned how to win uncomfortable

The most impressive part of this run isn’t blowouts or highlight plays.

It’s composure.

The RedHawks have won tight games. They’ve won ugly games. They’ve won on the road in loud environments where communication breaks down and momentum swings feel permanent.

They’ve developed a toughness that doesn’t show up in the box score.

When UMass tied the game at 68, Miami didn’t panic. They didn’t rush shots. They didn’t force hero plays.

They trusted their system. They trusted each other.

That’s the sign of a mature team.

The target only gets bigger from here

The road ahead isn’t quiet.

Conference opponents like Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Ohio will treat Miami’s visit like a Super Bowl. Cutting down the last unbeaten team would be the kind of win that defines a season.

That’s the reality now.

When you’re 26-0, you don’t sneak up on anyone.

You walk into every gym as the headline.

Perfection in February brings a new level of belief

It’s easy to talk about March in hypotheticals.

But when you’re undefeated this late in the season, belief becomes real. It’s not about Cinderella narratives or underdog charm anymore.

It’s about identity.

Miami (Ohio) isn’t just surviving games.

They’re controlling them.

They’re responding to pressure with poise.

They’re playing like a team that understands exactly what’s at stake, and isn’t afraid of it.

There will be close calls ahead. There will be hostile crowds. There will be moments where the streak hangs in the balance.

But for now, perfection remains.

And 26-0 is no longer a surprise.

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It’s a statement.