Miami’s Championship tussle against nemesis Akron takes center stage tonight at Rocket Arena in the Mid American Conference Men’s basketball final. The Redhawks, celebrating their 120th year, have a chance to awaken some magic the last time they were in the final. That would be the 2007 Miami climactic buzzer-beater over LeBron James’ childhood friend’s Akron team! All thanks to Doug Penno and his banked-three at the buzzer!

 

2007 Final Miami bests Akron

 

 

 

Miami finished 3rd that year in the MAC East behind Akron and Kent State. So in the semis Miami knocked off top ranked Toledo while Akron again defeated their crosstown rival to make the final game. People forget that it took almost 10 minutes for referees to add 0.6 seconds to the clock and allow Akron a final shot. Penno saved his best revenge for the MAC final and send Miami dancing.

 

A bit of a backstory follows this game. Doug Penno, who hit the winning trey, had played against LeBron since the 5th grade in AAU. Dru Joyce III and Romeo Travis were with LeBron all those years. Joyce and Travis were two starting players on Akron’s 2006-07 squad facing Miami that evening. Doug’s AAU teams had never beaten LeBron and his crew.

 

In the state final in 2003, Penno’s Archbishop Alter’s boys team nearly defeated LeBron and Akron-St. Vincent/St. Mary’s, losing 40-36. Doug and LeBron were the top scorers. Legend has it Charlie Coles, sitting behind the Alter bench, mentioned to Joe Petrocelli, Alter’s long-time coach, that he wanted Doug at Miami during that game. Penno played four years for Coles and brought him a MAC Championship in his senior year.

 

Miami Drought

 

But since the 2007 season, Miami’s basketball has been in a freefall. Never could they get the coaching situation addressed after Charlie Coles passed. And it’s been a nightmare for Redhawk players and fans. John Cooper. Jack Owens. Oof, poor choices for this storied program. Never let anyone tell you the coach does not matter in NCAA basketball. It does. Enter Travis Steele.

 

Travis Steele

 

Steele worked with Ohio State, Indiana, and most recently Xavier. He was a long-time assistant with Xavier under Chris Mack and became the head coach in 2018. In four underwhelming years at Xavier he was fired and signed on after as Miami’s 28th basketball coach.

 

Each year under his command, Miami has increased their win totals. Twelve in 2022-23, fifteen last year, and twenty-five in ‘25, with a hope for more! He recently signed a six year extension to stay at the Oxford school. He was grateful in his quote after signing the contract.

 

“I am blessed to be able to work at such a great place. We are going to continue to build the men’s basketball program so that we are competing for championships both on and off the court.”

 

Travis’ brother, John Groce, is no stranger to NCAA and MAC basketball. He will reside on the opposing bench as Akron’s head coach. John is 3-1 against his half-brother. Akron destroyed Miami in January, 102-75, as they both battled for first place in the new MAC conference alignment. Akron couldn’t miss a three while Miami couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if they were in FRONT of said barn!

 

But tonight’s showdown has the potential to be an amazing game. Miami’s forward, Kam Craft, mentioned how the Redhawks have improved since that last Akron loss.

 

I think when we played them last time, we were not playing like ourselves. I think right now we’re planning as the best version of ourselves. Although we give a lot of credit to Akron for the season they’ve had, they’re a really good team, but I think we’ll be a different version than the last time we played them. (From the postgame interview)

 

Can Miami win one for Steele in his quest to outduel his brother? Can Craft or Pete Suder muster some Miami magic on this Saturday night? If they need some motivation, they could watch Doug Penno’s buzzer-beater. I have. About 100 times! It’s lining up as a crazy night in downtown Cleveland. And it’s not 2007, it’s 2025!