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I have been a member of this board for years and in the past we would always have discussions about whether Akron could get an at large bid. We would then lose on the road to a terrible MAC team and end of discussion. But this week Akron had been mentioned numerous times in relationship to March madness in the national media. Why, because the discussion revolves around whether Miami, the only undefeated team in the nation, should get an at large bid if they do not win the conference championship. And the argument set forth by national commentators is that they are not even the best team in the MAC because the Zips had a better schedule and have been blowing out teams in the MAC. Lets enjoy the national attention!!!

I think this is great. I hope they go undefeated and we take them out for 2 bids. I hope they keep Steele and we keep progressing, and UMass joins that tier with Kent, Toledo and OU right behind. The wheels are in place for a very good mid major conference with multiple bids, if the schools invest and keep these coaches..

Let's get the excitement building for this very (not at all) meaningful game! In all seriousness though, looking forward to the senior day ceremony as we have a great class playing their last game at the JAR.

Mr. Joe Dunn.

This is the most interesting season the MAC has had in years and Miami and Akron are the reasons why.

The seniors are going to be overshadowed by the celebration of this being our last ever conference game vs. NIU!

Regardless of how earnest Miami's efforts were in creating a challenging schedule, they've clearly benefited from the eventual result. To their credit, it's tough to go undefeated even against a weak schedule as there are always down nights. The Zips have certainly told us how difficult it is to find quality opponents over the years. Another aspect of their schedule that many seem to overlook is how it prepared them for the month of March. Facing tough competition steels you for high pressure tournament games. They have not had that experience and it may well come back to bite them.

Had Akron beat Yale and Miami we would probably be in a similar spot to where Belmont is at currently. Solidly on the bubble line.

A rising tide lifts all ships.

Not George Thomas

Announcer on radio Tuesday said he is still trying to get the extra year and will be recognized tomorrow.

Was about to post about this. Looks like Hardman is gearing up to graduate. Maybe the waiver decision will come later or it already has, but they're going to make sure he won't miss his moment to be celebrated.

Who do we think gets hardware next week for individual awards? I think Tavari gets Player of the Year. I don't think there's been a more complete player or anyone more valuable to his team than TJ. He'll obviously be 1st Team All-MAC. Amani probably gets All-MAC 2nd or 3rd Team. Shammah may get 3rd or Honorable Mention. Shammah may win 6th Man of the Year again. Evan should be in consideration for Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Defense. I would think Eric would get 1st Team All-Freshman. Alrhough Groce is the best coach in the MAC, Steele will get Coach of the Year.

I think I might have the perfect guy for the Hawks to hire though - Cal State Bakersfield's assistant basketball coach faces a hefty rap sheet of 11 criminal and misdemeanor charges, including felonies such as pimping. 😳

Nice find on this one. Five Akron players in the top 12 in the MAC, they also have an offensive adjustment metric where Akron still has five players in the top. And Tavari is listed at number 34 in the entire country in that metric.

And the Zips would not be getting nearly the attention if they were having the season they were having and Miami was just having an average season. I would think the MAC would be happy to have Miami lose the final and potentially get two teams in. Historic seasons fir conferences like the MAC don't come along all that often. BTW, no matter what happens on Friday the Zips conference record over the last 2 years will be better than Miami's.

Captain Kangaroo.

Lots and lots of attention being focused on the MAC right now. I love it, especially because everybody is talking about Akron really being the team people should be paying attention to. CBS Sports discussion on Miami's at large chances since they think Akron will win the tournament. And an article on bid stealers since they make the argument if Akron beats Miami, Miami might still be an at-large team so that would be a bid stealer. Although that's not a huge upset because Akron's pretty damn close to being tournament worthy on their own. Zips are the face of the article.

Honestly, a win might save Boals job. It would be that big of a win for OU.

I'd think the 2003 BGSU (#23) vs. NIU (#12) football game, complete with ESPN Game Day, was probably the biggest MAC sports tilt of all time? Certainly the most-hyped.

I expect a Conner Groce sighting tomorrow. I'll settle for nothing less.

Crazy how long 15 years ago really was.

I'd rather CMU and EMU go ahead of WMU, but I will gladly go the efficiency route and vote to exile all Directional Michigans. Banish them all to the Horizon League.

And if somehow they end up in the NIT, they won't be on the road.

Along with Frietag's status (if Buffalo makes it), this is going to be a storyline to watch next week. He obviously came back in, but he is seemingly playing less than 100%. It's one thing to play through an injury with a few days rest in between, it's another to play through an injury 3 straight nights.

Straight up, I have zero source material. Totally a gut feeling.

Bruce Pearl name drops Akron. I had a Miami OH honk on X get his sweater in a tizzy because he set up a GoFundMe to cover Steele's fine and I said it was an absurd thing to do. Very early in the exchange, he said that Akron wishes they were getting half the publicity that Miami OH's getting. I told him that almost every single conversation regarding Miami OH typically involves someone mentioning that Akron is probably the best team in the MAC, so thanks for the free publicity lol.

This is literally the MAC SZN thread meaning this would be where we would talk about Miami and other MAC schools. If you don't want to discuss other MAC teams that's fine, but you probably should just stay out of this thread.

Serious question - what non-Akron MAC topic is as interesting as Miami right now that you expect people to be discussing in this thread instead?

I agree Miami has received special treatment this year, but here is my question. If it is Akron vs Miami in the Final, wouldn't it be better for the MAC to favor Akron in that game, knowing Miami almost certainly gets in as well?

redhawks living rent free in most of Zips Nations head.

And before that they bragged about attendance numbers. When you haven't made it to the Big Dance in nearly half a century you have to find something to boast about.

Was curious after seeing the Miami OH/Toledo game last night. Here are the Free Throw Attempts for all of Miami OH's MAC home games... Akron: 10 M-OH: 30 M-OH Margin of Victory: 3 WMU: 22 M-OH: 34 M-OH Margin of Victory: 11 CMU: 12 M-OH: 28 M-OH Margin of Victory: 39 Buffalo: 23 M-OH: 26 M-OH Margin of Victory: 3 (OT) UMass: 17 M-OH: 38 M-OH Margin of Victory: 2 NIU: 17 M-OH: 20 M-OH Margin of Victory: 24 Ohio: 20 M-OH: 28 M-OH Margin of Victory: 16 BG: 15 M-OH: 27 M-OH Margin of Victory: 14 Toledo: 2 M-OH: 14 M-OH Margin of Victory: 2 Total Home FTA Advantage: +107 Average Home FTA Advantage: +11.88 * Zero MAC home games with less FTA than opponent Here are their MAC road games... M-OH: 22 Balls: 18 M-OH Margin of Victory: 9 M-OH: 24 BG: 23 M-OH Margin of Victory: 10 M-OH: 8 Toledo: 20 M-OH Margin of Victory: 14 M-OH: 34 Kent: 31 M-OH Margin of Victory: 6 (OT) M-OH: 6 Buffalo: 18 M-OH Margin of Victory: 2 M-OH: 33 UMass: 16 M-OH Margin of Victory: 9 M-OH: 19 EMU: 23 M-OH Margin of Victory: 10 M-OH: 25 WMU: 20 M-OH Margin of Victory: 2 Total Road FTA Advantage: +2 Average Road FTA Advantage: +.25 Total MAC FTA Advantage: +109 Average MAC FTA Advantage: +6.41

We've received a waiver to be eligible for postseason next year. https://www.espn.com/contributor/pete-thamel/b9ef17c2cb182

Have you been in Polsky? I'd say this is a much-needed renovation.

As far as I know, this is the most championships won by Akron athletics in a single year. MBB Regular and Tournament MSOC Regular Men’s Indoor T&F Swimming & Diving WLaX Regular and Tournament Men’s Outdoor T&F Also the best finishes by Softball and Baseball in years Best finish by Football In 6 years

True, but just ask him about Alderaan.