Actor and former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar John Cena sent a special message to former Taft High School standout and current Miami RedHawks guard Eian Elmer ahead of the RedHawks’ NCAA Tournament First Four game March 18 against the SMU Mustangs at University of Dayton Arena.
CBS Sports shared the video message from Cena to Elmer, inspired by the RedHawks’ tradition of giving out a title belt at practice. The video included Elmer’s reaction.
From CBS Sports via Twitter/X:
“The belt definitely symbolizes just our competitive nature as a team… It’s not gonna be pretty. It’s gonna be gritty.”
The @MiamiOH_BBall team shows its love for pro wrestling by giving out a title belt after practice.
Ahead of the Redhawks’ opener in the NCAA Tournament, WWE… pic.twitter.com/A67koMMnkB
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 18, 2026
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley said the RedHawks shouldn’t have had to be the first Mid-American Conference team to play in the First Four because “it’s not their fault everybody in their conference sucks.”
SMU head coach Andy Enfield said earlier in the week that Miami deserved its first at-large bid since Wally Szczerbiak‘s 1999 Sweet 16 team, and critics of the RedHawks should shut up.
Former North Carolina Tar Heels standout Tyler Hansbrough was among those suggesting that the RedHawks didn’t deserve an at-large bid.
Szczerbiak said during the network’s “NCAA March Madness bracket breakdown” that he was “very surprised” the RedHawks were sent to Dayton.
During CBS’ Selection Sunday show, analyst Seth Davis said Miami received the final at-large bid available. Chairman Keith Gill clarified a short time later that North Carolina State, Texas and SMU were ranked lower than Miami by the selection committee.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Watch: John Cena inspires Miami-Ohio RedHawks before First Four vs SMU