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Great article from the Beacon Journal previewing Saturday's match and drawing some similarities to the 2018 Zips team. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/soccer/2025/12/04/akron-zips-soccer-saint-louis-ncaa-tournament-college-cup-jared-embick/87558472007/

I view last few years as the new standard for the MAC due to poor vision and leadership. What has the MAC done to make anyone believe they are anything more than a bottom half mid major conference? Probably a conversation for a different thread, though.

Rowdies should be expanded to include alumni.

Two reasons: He would have taken a large pay cut and a family event that he didn't want to disrupt.

Then root for Indiana football at 8.

And probably the model arena for a MAC school, one that we would probably like to have. But as we are aware, facilities are just one piece of the puzzle.

I have a request for the moderator. Can we move all the discussions about Groce leaving into its own thread like we have in football, "Coach Joe Rumor Page" I have no problems with people posting about rumors 4 weeks into the season but this thread is about Mac basketball 2025-2026, not about decisons Groce will makes 4 months from now.

But could he be a serviceable backup big? 😉

Honestly, no thanks. He can't get up and down the court like we need in Groce's style of play. Nor is he good enough, like a Freeman, to work our offense around to work through.

Hmmm. Do you think he enjoyed his visit to Akron? (other than losing the game)

The MAC was a bit of an anomaly as well for the past several seasons. Prior to covid it was pretty consistently in or around the top 15 conferences. Last year in particular the bottom fell out.

Correct, although right now is an anomaly with Memphis, Wichita St., etc. struggling. Last year, the AAC finished as the 11th best conference in NET (the MAC was 23rd for comparison). It is still closer to that Next 5 tier than it is a bottom half/one-bid conference.

It's easier to win in the American now, but it's also very much a mid-major. Before it was in an awkward position where it wasn't a power conference school, but still clearly a step above the rest. If you actually look at the top 2/3 of both conferences they're pretty much the same now. Those top 8 teams in AAC have an average NET of 122.5 while the top 8 in the MAC are 122. The only thing that separates the 2 conferences is the handful of teams at the bottom of the conference. The MAC has more dead weight.

Friday 12/5 at 7pm EST. Rematch of last year's 5A title game where Semaj's team was a runner up.

Try this

Big time, which is a little surprising considering a few of the OGs are still involved with the University.

He has had 2 winning seasons in his first 6 years at the helm. Now, Tulane was an absolute train wreck under their previous HC, Mike Dunleavy, and they did not have much success prior to him, either. Tough spot to win it looks like and I'm sure the fan base is tired of seeing the program struggle to get over any sort of consistently successful hump. Also a tough conference to win in with Memphis, Wichita St., etc., but it's much easier than it used to be with Cincy, Houston, and others departing in recent years.

Pretty sad how far the rowdies have fallen off, used to be a ruthless environment, even the first few years out of covid.

Hmm. Tulane is 6-2 with wins over Samford, Texas State, Louisiana, and Boston College. They did, however, get run off the court by New Orleans (85-63), so that has to rub the Tulane alumni the wrong way.

I'm sure they heard things said by the Rowdies about their son that still haunt them today lol. That was around the time when the Rowdies were still doing Facebook deep dives and NSFW goalie introductions.

This is the plan but it's only a great Saturday if they both win!

Still something me and my friend talk about. We were students at the time and sitting in the GA seats behind the hill. As the match went to PKs, we realized that we were sitting right behind the family of the Cal goalkeeper.

If you'd like to watch future Zips QB Semaj Beals in the PA 5-A (2nd largest division) state title game, here is a link to the NFHS Network for online streaming. Unfortunately it does require a monthly subscription for $11.99. So if you watch Semaj don't forget to cancel afterwards!

If history repeats itself these freshmen won't see the field this year, they will develop and possibly see the field next year or the next similar to what Dall did. At some point a program is going to have to develop from within. A program is going to have to develop and bring in players from the portal as well... They only brought in seven players, there are still plenty of roster spots

2nd coldest Zips sporting event I've ever been to, right behind the 2005 Snow Bowl Wagon Wheel game. Such a fun win, though. Beat Saint Louis - Go Zips!