INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee issued a clarifying statement Friday evening, confirming that Miami (OH)'s recently concluded “fabulous season” was primarily a designation of financial resilience rather than on-court prowess. The clarification came after the RedHawks suffered a 78-56 defeat to sixth-seeded Tennessee, ending their tournament run in the first round.

“When we say a team had a ‘fabulous season,’ especially one from a mid-major conference, we’re often commending their administrative staff for keeping the lights on,” explained NCAA spokesperson Dr. Evelyn Reed, speaking from a luxury skybox. “It’s about balancing the books, securing adequate travel arrangements, and ensuring the players had enough Gatorade. The actual win-loss record is, frankly, secondary to operational success.”

Sources close to the committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of defining 'fabulous,' indicated that Miami (OH)'s 22-10 record was indeed respectable. However, the true measure of their 'fabulousness' was their ability to fund a competitive athletic program without resorting to a bake sale to cover bus rentals.

“Look, these schools are doing incredible work just to exist in this ecosystem,” added Dr. Reed. “Making it to the tournament means they successfully navigated a gauntlet of budget cuts, booster club luncheons, and the ever-present threat of a leaky gymnasium roof. That’s fabulous. The 22-point loss? That’s just basketball.”

Moving forward, the NCAA plans to introduce a new metric, the 'Fiscal Fabulosity Index,' to more accurately reflect the true achievements of smaller athletic programs, ensuring that future 'fabulous seasons' are properly understood as triumphs of accounting.