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25-5 is akron's best start to a season ever.

That's not as many as you would expect for Miami. I have it on good authority that Toledo fouls every time down the court.

Really enjoyed watching this game and how the Zips responded after Central Michigan took the lead. There is no quit in this team. We were the much more physical team and quicker to the ball. We controlled the glass. And Tavari scored 8 straight points after having a miserable night shooting the ball. Groce has really built a great team. Lets finish the regular season on a high note Friday.

Sharron Young coming along this late in the season is big.

The least of our problems.

Only games that matter to determine our 1st Round opponent are: CMU at Ball State BGSU at EMU Buffalo at Toledo Scenario 1: Ball State, EMU, UT all win Result: #7 Buffalo, #8 UMass Scenario 2: Ball State, EMU, UB all win Result: #7 BGSU, #8 UMass Scenario 3: Ball State, BGSU, UT all win Result: #7 Buffalo, #8 UMass Scenario 4: Ball State, BGSU, UB all win Result: #7 Buffalo, #8 UMass Scenario 5: CMU, EMU, UT all win Result: #7 UMass, #8 CMU Scenario 6: CMU, EMU, UB Result: #7 BGSU, #8 UMass Scenario 7: CMU, BGSU, UT all win Result: #7 UMass, #8 CMU Scenario 8: CMU, BGSU, UB all win Result: #7 Buffalo, #8 UMass (Feel free to check my work!)

UMass is going to beat OU, meaning I believe it's down to Buffalo and UMass for the 7/8 seeds. 1 through 4 is set. 1. Miami OH 2. Akron 3. Kent 4. Toledo Here are the main scenarios for 5 through 8 CMU will be the 8 seed if they beat Balls and Buffalo loses to Toledo. That is their only path to Cleveland. Akron only plays UMass if Balls and Buffalo lose. Otherwise, we get either BG or Buffalo. BG is either the 5, 6, or the 7 seed depending on their result and a combination of others. I'm sure I'm leaving out some scenarios, but it's utter chaos to figure out haha. Long story short... Akron's possible opponents: UMass, Buffalo, BG Miami's possible opponents: UMass, Buffalo, CMU

I want Miami to finish undefeated now. When there was still a chance for the Zips to get the first seed, I was hoping for two losses. Now that there is no chance I want them to finish undefeated so that MAC Championship will be that much sweeter.

I'm enjoying this halftime show. It's not Red Panda but it's something different. Nice to see them do it since they use the Chippewa name.

It is. Tuesday night in Mount Pleasant 3 days following a Kent game? We've gotta come out ready to go.

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

This is the "Google" write up about the college that Buchanan came from: The Western Mustangs football team competes in Ontario University Athletics (OUA), which is part of the U Sports organization in Canada, not the NCAA. They play at the highest level of Canadian university football (formerly known as CIAU). Wikipedia Conference: OUA (Ontario University Athletics) National Organization: U Sports Location: London, Ontario, Canada They are historically one of the most successful programs in Canadian university football. I don't know anything about the level of competition he faced but to compare: Buchanan 6'1 245 lbs in 11 games 30 solo tackles 34 assisted Cooper 6'2 225 lbs in 11 games 27 solo tackles 39 assisted Summers 6' 225 lbs in 10 games 24 solo tackles 30 assisted Can't really complain about Tibs success with LBs though..

Here is the article and here is the part on the MAC. Mid-American Conference Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m., ESPN2 Borzello: Akron Lunardi: Akron Medcalf: Miami (Ohio) Why Akron will win: It feels morally wrong to pick against Miami becoming just the fourth team since 1991 to enter the NCAA tournament with an unbeaten record, but Akron took the RedHawks to the wire on the road on Jan. 3 and hasn't lost a league game since. Zips coach John Groce has won three of the past four MAC tournaments, and Tavari Johnson is a star in the backcourt. -- Borzello Why Miami will win: The only undefeated team in America just keeps winning. There are debates in the bracketology world about what the RedHawks would have to do to get into the field of 68 if they suffer a loss in the MAC tournament. Yet, they've won conference games by a landslide as well as games by a hair, making them equipped for whatever predicament they'll face in Cleveland. -- Medcalf My take: Yeah they've won some games by a lot in conference. Have you seen the bottom of our conference?

I heard the announcers in Miami's win Tuesday declare them conference champions. I have also had people on this board indicate they are rooting for Miami because the Zips have nothing to gain from a loss since they own the tiebreaker against us. However, if Miami loses on Friday and we win Friday we would both be conference champions. Under the MAC rules the tiebreaker is only for seeding purposes only. And tradition dictates that the Zips would cut down the nets as conference champions as we did last year. It is a well deserved reward for our players after a great season. Normally, if Akron wins friday they would cut down the nets in front of a home crowd if Miami loses. However, because of the TV schedule, Akron plays at 6 and Miami plays at 9. Therefore, we will not know till 11:30 whether the Zips won the conference championship. It is senior night and it is terrible that the Zips could lose this opportunity to cut down the nets in front of their fans because of the TV schedule. But that would be the reality. On Friday night: Go Zips!! Go OU!!

Akron definitely can play at a higher ceiling. Miami is still very good. Probably the best MAC team we faced in the tournament since the Oats UB team. If we bring our B game and they play their A game they can and likely win. If we match their level of play we should come out on top IMO.

Adam is the "voice of CMU".

If the MAC is going to go as far as giving Miami OH every advantage this year (officiating, schedule, etc.), they might as well cancel the first 2 rounds of the tourney and just put these two teams in the title game to protect their interests.

I understand, and I'm saying they would still be in. The committee can't set that precedent. To me, Miami OH is exactly who the Dayton games should be for. If you're going to money grab, use those games as a "prove it" round for teams that otherwise haven't had the opportunity to do so.

It's a weak schedule but it's not like they're playing in the NEC. An undefeated MAC team should be in with no doubt about it imo.

I LOVED the defensive intensity yesterday. Best I have seen this year. We need all of this and more in the MAC tourney!

Flashes are built for March as seen tonight.

Regardless of strength of schedule, no team that goes undefeated in the regular season can miss March Madness. It would set a horrendous precedent. However, rewarding a weak schedule is equally disturbing, so the happy medium is to send them to Dayton as a "prove yourself" deal vs the middling P6s. A close loss to Akron and they may escape Dayton as a legitimate at large. However, a double digit loss, and their fans can quickly start buying tickets for Dayton. I also believe they may not make it to Saturday but we will see.

Additional notes: - Buffalo and Toledo have not played each other this season - BGSU defeated EMU at home, 85-79 - Ball State defeated CMU on the road, 68-67 - If Toledo or Central Michigan lose, UMass is the #8 seed

For some reason, I didn't realize that we could still play BG. I think we'd be fine but I'd still rather play Buffalo than BG. My order of preference is: Buffalo BG UMass

Let's send them packing with a 30+ point beat down!

Good riddance

So odds are very high that in their last season in the MAC, NIU is going to finish last in basketball and only didn't finish last in football due to the grace of UMass.

The 2025-26 season comes to a close Friday night as Northern Illinois comes into the JAR for senior night for a 6:00 contest. Make sure to get there to honor this outstanding group of seniors who have given us so many great Zips memories. The Huskies are 9-19 going into its game against Brimfield tonight.

Yes, lost one somewhere and no one figured it out until now!

Yes, agreed. It will be that much sweeter when we beat them, and then they have to go on the road to play in the NIT. 😁😆

More fun reading on Bobcat Attack tonight. I wonder if OU will send Hadaway to the post-game presser tonight.

Good win. That was strictly a survive & advance game.

I’m guessing anyone they announce is on scholarship.

They need to wake up and get going as CMU is starting to feel it and believe in themselves.

Not liking how close this game is at the moment. I wonder how much the line ups change without Eric.

We should win tonight and again in the MACT, if we play them again, BUT I feel that this is a program on the rise and that they will be very tough next year and the following. Their coach seems solid.

Halligan missed 2 wide open threes at Kent and missed one tonight. I hope he can find his shooting touch. We will need him in cleveland to hit those open threes.

The biggest evolution to his game from last year to this year.

And his defense has been outstanding.

Might want to get out on Whitaker. Just a thought.

If Sharron decides he's a shooter again, look out. 😊

MMK with a dribble drive layup!

I think Evan guarded five different players on the last possession. 😊

I want UMass in over Buffalo as the 8 seed unless Buffalo can guarantee that Freitag will be back for the tourney. Buffalo is atrocious without him.

Steve Urkel would be a more believable pimp than me.

OMW in the morning!

The word from Mount Pleasant is that Eric hurt his ankle in the Brimfield game and was in a boot until today.

No Eric in uniform tonight.