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I do think a strong UMass would be good for the MAC. As a fan of the game, the more compelling match-ups the better. If the MAC consistently had 3 or 4 top 100 programs it would make the season feel more must see. I just saw Miami @ WMU was selected as one of the ESPNU games. Akron/Kent was the other game selected that week. I see why they picked Miami since they're ranked, but on the surface that looks like a terrible game. At the same time I guess the only other possible game they could have picked over it would have been Toledo @ Ohio, but who wwould want to watch that?

All the program building talk aside, relative to this game, UMass would be a very nice, relatively big name program to get a win against, even if they are in the MAC.

I don't mind those dance teams and other things you mention. I actually think its great marketing to introduce potential new fans. In fact, when @Hilltopper gave me his seats for the EMU game, my fiancé stayed out at half-time because she wanted to watch the dance team perform instead of going into the Tommy Evans Lounge. Edit: I also wasn't hinting at spending money, at least nothing material, on the half-time entertainment. There are things that can be done that cost little to nothing.

Nearly the entire point of the halftime entertainment, high five tunnel, tip off kid, national anthem singers, etc. Is to get people to buy group tickets to see their kids and friends performing. That's why we see these gigantic adult dance groups during the games against Concord in December. They don't really need to sell a lot of group tickets for the kent game. If we were to spend money on a halftime entertainer that would be taking money away from something else, like maybe fixing the seats. Was that frat boy basketball stupid, yes, but I don't blame them for having it at the kent game

Everything about his attitude and comments indicated that the non-conference schedule didn't matter. It stymied any opportunity of building community excitement towards larger crowds and program momentum that could progressively build towards larger OOC wins and maybe at-large bids in future years. How would St. Mary's or Gonzaga fare if their coaches were perpetually saying that the OOC didn't matter? Or conversely, how would their programs nosedive if they started saying this going into next season? With a losing mentality you get losing. That's what KD's team had in the OOC and the non-MAC post-season. I give KD credit for elevating the program to sustained success in the MAC, but it was his time to move on.

I don't think he ever meant non-conference didn't matter, I think it was always more of knowing the realities that face MAC schools in getting an at-large.

Solid perspective.

I think you're mistaken about what I was talking about. I'm not talking about just the flagship schools of those states. Dayton and Xavier (even before Big East) have drawn well historically. WKU and Murray State draw well in Kentucky. There is a long list of mid-majors in Indiana/Illinois area that are all well represented, particularly in the MVC. Heck, even Ball State last I saw draws fairly well compared to other MAC teams despite being irrelevant for several decades. Some regions of the country basketball is a big deal. Other parts of the country not so much. Edit: Not just at the collegiate level either. If I went to a McKinley basketball game, which has had a ton of basketball success, it will feel small time compared to those high school powerhouses in Indiana and Kentucky.

The difference is that IU and UK have won many national championships and always make deep post-season runs AND they have traditionally been poor in football. Meanwhile, an Ohio school has not won a national championship in 60+ years and Ohio State sucks up all the interest for dominant football. Cleveland State, Can't, and Ohio all garnered national attention when they made NCAAT runs. Apathy is expected when we lose every major OOC game and post-season game outside of the MAC. To Joe Akron, we are a good team in a terrible conference, and that is supported every time we play external to the MAC. KD always said that all that mattered was winning the MAC. I think he had it completely backwards. Win outside the MAC, then people will start to care.

You can love and appreciate a program while also wanting it to push itself to be better. Over the last 12 months, I believe we have seen that play out with Akron Basketball. It is a different program than it was a year ago in terms of investment in fans and the gameday experience. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that we had our starting lineup introduced in the dark. Wanting that momentum to keep going doesn't mean you don't deserve the team or coach.

This is absolutely a thing. I am not this way, but I have friends who are. Especially at the high school level.

My point about focusing on event management earlier this week might not draw that many more people on a given night, but you want them to leave thinking that they want to come back again. Growing your fan base can be done incrementally.

Good rant @NWAkron I do think most criticisms are coming from a place of sincerely wanting to see this program continue to flourish (Some just want to see Akron win an NCAA game before they die), but it’s right to be reminded that we should be thankful for what we have. And the Zips absolutely deserve to be supported by the Akron community and play in front of a packed house.

Some of the things have more merit than others. Expecting Red Panda is too much considering she has made it big time. Expecting something more than a random 3vs3 pickup game for the biggest game of the year is reasonable. Expecting a new arena or $20+ million renovation unreasonable. Wanting to simply replace some of the bleachers with more chair backs much more feasible. Either way I don't think any of the things that get complained about would get an extra 2k people to games on a nightly basis. Edit: Maybe a new arena would, at least in the short term, but that would be the most costly option and the University would never see a ROI. The new car smell would wear off after a season or two anyway.

I am definitely guilty of complaining about most of this stuff, but this does make everything we complain about sound so silly. This team has great players led by a great coach who has built something here when most coaches would just take another job offer after having this much success this decade. The Zips deserve people to show up for them and not everything else

We could fix all the things people here mostly complain about and attendance would probably go from 3,000 to maybe 3,200 over the long run. Apathy surrounding the program is very real. College basketball has never really seemed to be a big deal in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. At least not compared to hot beds like the northeast or Kentucky/SW Ohio/Indiana. It has further been hurt by a generation of fans being taught by ESPN and other outlets that if you aren't first you're last. There used to be a lot more community in sports.

Frankly, the people of this community and some on here don't deserve this team or coach. Deflating loss? Seriously? Isn't there a 28 home winning streak? All anyone does is complain. We don't have good concessions, no halftime entertainment (which they wouldn't be able to see if they are in line for those good hot dogs), oh wait, we need more concession stands, so I can get my hot dog quickly and get back to my very uncomfortable seat to watch the halftime show which I can't see because of the glass railing, and every game should be at 7pm but not on certain Saturdays and not opposite an Ohio State game or the Olympic pairs free skate and don't expect people to come to an Akron game after they lose on the road unless the game is against Kent. And one more thing they lose every important game other than those pesky 3 games in March when all the players run out on the floor and hug each other and cut down the nets.

Probably not much worse than the 6PM start time we had for Kent. If someone works an 8-5 it's a nightmare or even logistically impossible to drive home from work, gather the family, and then make it to the JAR before tipoff. The 9PM tipoff is kind of only bad for those with kids ~<10. That's a much smaller amount of people impacted. Heck, even my fiancé who works a 10 hour shift this Saturday and has to be up at 6AM is planning to make the game. I don't think the JAR will be packed, especially coming off a deflating loss. I don't think it's as much about the start time and more about the casual fans who are the difference between 3k in attendance vs. 5k really only get excited about Kent and the MAC tourney.

I feel bad for Big Dog that they moved his jersey retirement to 9:00. I've been looking forward to this game but if I come to this one I'm going to be flying solo 😕

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

Speaking of tickets, does anyone need a ticket? I won't be able to make this one.

You can't be serious. I criticize them for choosing to not challenge themselves wirh their non-conference schedule. Nobody ever said it was easy to do what they've done. It's impressive even with a cupcake schedule. My main point is that they wouldn't have beat any of Purdue, Murray State, or Yale. (Being favored means nothing, especially when it's by 3-4 points)

I also saw they're doing $28 lower level tickets for the 28 game home winning streak.

The MAC won the first round 9-4 when they were all home games. They go 3-10 when the games are all on the road and the matchups were probably closer. Not that surprising.