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Yes, we shouldn't lose any games in the MAC but an 18 game win streak is most likely not going to happen. Even the 17-18 and 18-19 Buffalo teams didn't go 18-0, they lost at NIU back to back years. A tough loss can help a team get refocused. Its not like we got blown out, the execution on defense just wasn't there when it needed to be

We played like it was a 1pm game in Oxford, and Miami played like there were the hungry underdog trying to knock off the first place team. OU gave us the same effort...they were just on the road, with less talent. We can bank on Ali, Tribble and Enrique on any given night. The rest? Hit and miss. Our guard play has come a long way since November, but still has a ways to go.

And 2019 Buffalo shouldn't have lost at NIU or BG. Seriously, no team in 70 years or whatever has gone undefeated in MAC play, and I'm sure there have been a few other down years. Not this team nor any MAC team is getting an at large big or an NIT bid for that matter. The season for the high level MAC teams is about balancing: preparing for March and racking up wins to keep the administration, students, and fan base engaged with the team and the product on the floor. The MAC tournament is the post-season. A tournament win in Cleveland is never guaranteed. In 2020, Akron faced an Ohio U team with Preston and Van Der Platz. Was that first round a sure thing win? No. Win in Cleveland. Celebrate, and hope for a decent draw for March Madness. That's how this works. And I'm sure that Groce is as angry and disappointed as you are, but a team has to lose eventually. Loss by 2 on the road against a good coach. Suck it up. Move on. Don't take the loss personally.

Teams will continue to defend the paint lust as Miama did unless and until Zips prove that their guards and Hunter can hit outsides shots. Loss of Nate hurt much more than realized. Having watched every game, I'm convinced that Tribble and Tavari give us our best chance. Thornton and Dawson either won't shoot when open or can't hit when they do. Scott is more of a slasher but can't penetrate when middle is clogged up.

The greatest shortage in college basketball is in viable bigs. At the MAC level, they are even more rare. You'll certainly run into the 6'10" kid in the MAC but they're much more often a " Mark Kostelac" than they are "Enrique Freemans". I think Groce is likely trying to get more viable bigs but the market is what the market is.

Exactly. It's not like going to Amazon and searching for "serviceable big man" and then clicking "add to cart". If Groce couldn't get the player(s) he wanted, he might have just gone for what he considered the best players available - even if they were guards.

Hey guys.. what if.. Groce tried to bring in a big man and it didn't work out? Crazy thought, he can't just get anyone he wants to come.

When I see the recruiting whiffs I get frustrated, but then I have to remind myself that Groce also recruited Aziz Bandaogo and Jermain Marshall. They would have both looked terrific in blue & gold this year. It's crazy that we've got a former walk-on who's so good that two players like Aziz & Marshall both transferred out to find more PT.

It can happen. Generally though when the MAC produces an at-large caliber team that team wins the tournament making the point mute. Otherwise we would have had two bids a few years ago when Buffalo had that strong season.

You might be right, but I am keeping faith that it will happen one day.

JMU should be undefeated in the Sun Belt. Zips should be undefeated in the MAC. Game is irrelevant now 🙄

I know that many of you indicated that you were not upset about this loss but I am both angry and disappointed because a team with this much talent and experience should not lose to Miami or anyone else in the MAC. The MAC is having a down year and we are loaded with senior talent. Because of the transfer rule and the money in college basketball that will probably never happen again in our lifetime. The only positive that I saw in this game is that we came back from a 10 point deficit and tied the game. If I am Groce I show that tape when we were outscored 15-0 and tell our players we have too much talent for this to ever happen again. When we came back from the 10 point deficit it seemed like Ali, Freeman, Tribble and Tavari went to a higher gear and refused to lose. We need that intensity from the opening tap. When you look at the stats you see that Ali went 5 for 17 and Hunter went 1 for 6. We started out very hot from 3 and I sometimes think that is fools gold because players rely on the 3 and stop working for good shots. I do not think we made a 2 point shot in the first 8 minutes of the game. Looking forward to Tuesday's game and hope we play up to our talent.

I'd be curious to know if they thought Baker would play.

They need to be 9th or lower.

This is Akron. There's never going to be big NIL money involved. A little money to help a kid get by, sure, but they're never going to compete with the major conferences. As for Bronny and Duquesne, that would kill two birds with one stone for Lebron. It would give his kid a place to play where he could be the star and it would ensure his buddy Dru stays in line for the head coaching job.

PWO OL.

Zips women squeak by with a 61-59 much needed road win at NIU. Huskies had three shots to tie it on last possession with final close in attempt rolling around the rim and falling off. 🫣

When pigs fly, it will happen. The MAC prestige that was built up through the 90s/early 00s is gone as our commissioner clutches his "tradition" pearls.