NWAkron

I have a John Groce head with no body.

When did they take over sole possession of first place?

My view was that he had to prove himself and that it would take a few years. I never bought into that "Groce's teams peak in March" meme. I didn't have any interest in seeing average basketball all year "knowing" that he will turn it around in March. Akron is now paying his full salary and now he must produce. I thought it was well-planned by the AD to have Illinois essentially subsidize the Zips rebuild. He and Owens at Miami came in at same time with vastly different results. However, not sure Miami ever recruited a JUCO. Also, under Hipsher the JUCOs were usually bad news. Groce and team appear to be learning from mistakes and are vetting them well. I think the reason they succeed on the road is that the team is cohesive unit and play within themselves and the team.

And in Ravenna, they are "seeking answers." https://www.beaconjournal.com/sports/20200123/kent-state-basketball-team-seeking-answers-for-three-game-skid

https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/college/2020/01/23/briggs-toledo-bg-and-their-golden-opportunity-in-a-wide-open-mac/stories/20200123155 This made my blood boil.

That's an amazing article. How nice it would be if ABJ wrote stuff like that. There are some fascinating insights about recruiting and the contacts Groce has. Groce, as an asst, coached Archie Miller at NC State and called Archie for a reference on X. Pridgen tried to recruit him at Robert Morris. These guys have quite a roladex. I wonder who else recruited him for his senior year. This is also a good article...https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/where-are-they-now-update-three-dayton-flyers-who-left-program/HgDjVWIAtGZo7t9QVlDjSO/ . X ended up the best of the 3 UD transfers.

What's that saying about counting chickens??

To meet you at Wal Mart?

I think the top 2 double bye came a few years after ending that east/west seeding. The double bye was horrible and insulting to the league. That was something the Horizon or Southland would do to protect their best team. Screwed over Akron won year when they faced a rested Western in the Semis. I mean like Akron NEVER loses to WMU in the tournament... until they did. 2015 Akron had impressive run but were in their 4th game in 5 days when they met Buffalo in finals who hadnt played in a week. I think that was year Noah got hurt against Miami and Antonio was full time guard. Buffalo pressed him entire game.

Yes. There's a debate on the division issue in a separate thread.

Top4 teams in conference get byes to Cleveland. Bottom 8 teams play at campus sites. Top 4 of those host the games. Not necessarily bad thing to play on Monday in first round...keeps the team fresh.

"You can't go home again." Thomas Wolfe

I did enjoy watching KD chew out TDM after the refs T'd him up for taunting after he made a 3. Looks like URI was holding back a bit in the first half. They are definitely big.

I may be biased, but I will take the Zips over either of these two teams. URI not impressive.

I think there was some criticism of previous coaches that they recruited one for one instead of for a "team"

I was thinking Dailey for Williams. But it probably doesn't work quite like that.

"Akron (15-4, 5-1) – which was picked in a preseason MAC coaches’ poll to finish fifth in the division, one rung behind Miami – went into the game leading the MAC in overall made 3-point shots, 3-point shooting percentage and free throw shooting percentage. The Zips also were holding opposing teams to MAC’s lowest overall 3-point shooting percentage." Still can't understand how anyone picked Miami to finish better than Akron, considering Akron beat them by 29 points in the tournament last year. But maybe the guys who thought X should be left open from the 3 point line had a vote.

We got Eastern Michigan twice this year and Kent and BG have to play Toledo twice. I've never had a problem with it nor have I seen an unjust result. In 2009 Akron should have been the 4th seed because they had much better record than 2nd seed Ball State. Akron's dismal showing against Ohio at home last year sent them to the 8th seed and into a QF clash with the unstoppable Canada.

Isn't there a tiebreaker for seeding that tabulates record against division opponents? Or is that only is like Miami is tied with Buffalo?

Toledo is #24. There's a video on Jimond Iveys Twitter showing Utomi swishing a 3 for USC. Of course, he is perfectly squared with the basket in the exact position he likes to the upper right of the key. Having 4 guys who can hit from 3 puts all opponents in a bind. Toledo had 3 guys who were hot from 3 and one who was on fire which equalized that game and gave Toledo the advantage. On another note, Riaks two bricks from the charity stripe last night didn't help our stat in that category. We will need Tribble and Dawson to make up for Banks and Cheese next year

As long as the MAC tournament is in Cleveland and not Detroit they can do what they want

So why do you think they have two divisions?

Save me some googling, were Groce and Boals assistant coaches together at Ohio St?

Jackson like the BG coach is doing a rebuild. Probably going to take a other year or two. Jackson seems like a cool lady. Really hope she finds success. From.what I've seen, seems like.the women don't have a top 3 point.shooter.

I think that was a typo/mistake. But thanks for pointing that out.