Illini Zip

That is a legit argument, but my counter argument would be that a coach might find it wise to rest all valuable players dealing with a nagging injury once they secure a trip to Cleveland. What are the team’s priorities? It might cost the player some stats and accolades, but it will put the team in a better position to win in Cleveland. Players play through a lot of pain at times to win the conference title and get the best seeding. The problem is the MAC sends only one team to the NCAAT and the seeding has proven to not be much of an advantage. Recently Kent State and UMass have both been dangerous as the 8 seed. So the whole season is about playing your best and being healthy come March. And if it means dropping a few spots so be it. Better to go into MAC Tournament at full strength than a top seed currently. Can you imagine showing up at a Kent State v. Akron rivalry game with top players on both sides sitting out? I could Todelo doing this. Winning the conference has only gained them mockery.

I think the MAC Tournament is one of the best run events in all of college basketball. I do like having the whole league participate with the lower seeds having play-in games on college campuses. Too often an 8th seed with a .500 record gets hot and healthy at the very end of the year. The current format gives them the same road as the teams carrying the weight of being the target all season long. Not fair. And because the MAC is usually a 1 bid league, I do favor giving the top seeds a bye. I agree that sometimes a bye will backfire because the opponent has the advantage of getting acclimated to the large arena. But more importantly, having to win 3 games in 3 days is just not ideal for anyone. You end up with the most resilient team, but not necessarily the best team. It would be nice if the MAC was given an at-large bid more often, when warranted.

Somebody might want to have a long talk with the equipment manager when he returns from his trip to Ibiza.

He looks strong and confident.

I have been curious all year how Shammah graded out defensively. So many times Shammah was the closest guy to an opponent hitting a three. That doesn’t necessarily mean he was at fault. But it has me wondering.

Zips add Buddy Hammer Jr.

What year is Hammer?

I’m going off the player card graphic @kreed5120 posted earlier.

Even though I find it amusing that a fellow Redbird is now an Akron Zip I have nothing to offer pertaining to Ty Pence. I have watched very little ISU basketball. I checked into a game and I remember thinking the pace was just so slow. I have become so accustomed to Akron’s fast pace. So the question I have is will Ty Pence adjust easily to the faster pace? Or is Ford not looking to continue the fast pace offense?

Zips add Ty Pence.

Zips add Colin White. Bowen Hardman, Rich Brisco, Ognjen Stankovic and Jashawn Ladd depart.

Oggie?

Good question. I have not heard anything on Brisco. Does anyone have a definitive answer. He got practically zero playing time this year.

I see the same thing.

I still find her performance to be more impressive than anything else I will see on a basketball court during the course of a game.