MIAMI NOTES

Finally!! Miami cracks AP Top 25 . . . 

. . . KSU preview, football transfer update

Fresh off a dramatic overtime win against Buffalo, the undefeated men's basketball team (19-0, 7-0 MAC) finally cracked the Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll Monday.
The RedHawks, ranked No. 25, were last ranked among the AP Top 25 in February of 1999 and are off to their best start in program history. Miami's next contest will be at Kent State on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
BEST MAC START
MU's 19 straight wins to open a season ties Western Michigan (1975-76) for the best start in MAC basketball history. 
BIG MATCHUP 
Miami will be facing a VERY stiff test on the road Tuesday. 
Kent State is 14-4 and . . . 

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. . . has just one MAC loss. That was an 87-86 upset at Central Michigan Jan. 10. The Flashes followed that with back-to-back wins over Buffalo and Toledo. KSU has also beaten Massachusetts, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green in MAC play.
•  Two of the key players in Tuesday's matchup will be Miami's Peter Suder and KSU's Delrecco Gillespe. The latter -- a senior forward -- edged Suder (37 points against Buffalo Saturday) for MAC Player of the Week honors. 
•  Gillespie extended his national lead in double-doubles to 16 after a pair of victories this week. Gillespie dropped 20 points while snagging 15 boards in Kent State's Jan. 13 win over Buffalo and scored 29 points while grabbing 13 rebounds in their Jan. 16 win over Toledo, helping the Flashes improve to 5-1 in conference play. Gillespie is also the national leader in rebounds with 227 total. For the week, the KSU senior averaged 24.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 20-of-30 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
•  The RedHawks will also be facing a familiar face in Morgan Safford. He played for Miami in 2022-23, averaging 15.4 ppg. He is currently averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg. 
•  Six Kent State players are averaging at least 9.4 ppg.
•  The Flashes are third among MAC teams in scoring (90.2 ppg) and 14th in scoring defense (81.9 ppg). They are fourth in scoring margin (6.3).

TRANSFER UPDATE

INCOMING
•  Miami running back Tito Glass Jr. (6-2, 238) was a late transfer portal addition. Coincidentally, MU appears to have gained former Wisconsin RB Cade Yacamelli (6-0, 219). 
Glass finished 2025 with nine carries totaling 47 yards. Yacamelli, a junior, logged 38 carries for 128 yards (3.4 ypg) and caught two passes (26 yards). 
•  Other recent Miami portal additions include: Devin Hyatt (6-2, WR, Arizona), Damarion Witten (6-3, WR, Ohio State), Blayne Myrick (6-3, 226, LB, South Alabama), David McComb (QB, 6-4, 220, Kansas), Rodney Nelson (RB, 5-8, 195, Monmouth), Marcus Moore Jr. (DL, 6-1, 310, Purdue), Brian Beidatsch Jr. (OT, 6-4, 285), Ben Minich (S, 5-0, 197, Notre Dame), Shaun Shahu (OT, 6-7, 305, Saginaw Valley State), Dillon Tatum (S, 5-11, 210, Northwestern), Evan Malcore (OT, Northern Illinois), Damarion Witten (OL, Ohio State)

RESIGNED
•  Mychael Yarbrough (Miami CB)

OUTGOING
•  Khory Moss (CB), Noahg Ehrlich (QB), Luke Evans (CB) Kennessaw State, Cole Weaver (WR), Syracuse), Adam Trick (EDGE, Texas Tech), Koy Beasley (S, Kansas State), Drew Terrill (OT, Houston), Hudson Powell (LS, Auburn), Kam Perry (WR, Colorado), Jameil Hamm (EDGE).

A RAGS TO OC STORY
According to multiple sources, Gus Ragland is being elevated to Miami's offensive coordinator.  The former RedHawks quarterback was an assistant at Notre Dame before joining Miami as a quarterbacks coach. He worked in that position through the 2023-2025 seasons.