originalrowdy

We look tired in the early going. Other than Tree, we appear slow.

Nardone, Senior Writer for Rant Sports, lobbying hard... http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/...t-at-large-bid/

I'd normally be more on board with the "hangover" or "let-down" theory following a big win, but the team is so close to the end of the season and they can see the light at the end. If we were earlier on in the year, I'd say yeah it's a concern. But with three games left, finishing strong is a mentality probably stronger than anything else.

My dark horse pick is BG should the above mentioned seedings hold up. They smacked up NIU, Ball, and K ent once each already. I could easily see us playing them in the semi.

Word to the Doctor in the house! We have achieved an all time new level of success when C-bus townies feel the need to write an article that OSU would still win in a matchup b/w in state schools. Loving the attention.

I take it we lock up the #1 seed either by: (1) Winning one more game; or (2) OU loses one more game. And yes, Can't, then OUt is just what the doctor would order in route to a 2013MACC! #won'tstopthere

Thanks for checking into that. I only asked because http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_basketba...ess#cite_note-3 indicates, in part, that there were multiple (or at least suggested by the plural use of the sentences. Quoted, in relevant part: "Most teams in the Top 25 in the national polls or RPI are essentially guaranteed at-large berths even if they do not win their respective conference tournament. However, teams that have been ranked heading into Selection Sunday, but didn't win their conference tournament, have been left out (or "snubbed") by the selection committee despite what the polls and pundits may say. The Missouri Valley Conference has received the most snubs (5 RPI top 40 teams excluded), with Missouri State left out each of the last 9 years, despite RPI's of 21, 34, and 36). Another famous snub was in 2004, when Utah State completed the regular season with a record of 25-2 but was snubbed after losing in its conference tournament, even though it was ranked in the polls at the time."

I've always been interested in seeing a list of all the teams who, going into selection sunday, were ranked in the T25 and snubbed from the dance. I remember they made a big deal about the 2003-04 Utah State team because they were the first that had happened to. I've never been able to find a complete list though. DiG???

If I recall, Zeke had a rough go at things (and by rough, I mean scoring/rebounding) at home v. Buff. We need him to step up esp at their house. That, and control Jarryn Skeete this time and we have this in the bag. Go Zips!

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballn...in-a-good-place ... 3. Akron might not have the profile to be a lock as an at-large NCAA team, but it would be a shame if the Zips don't get a bid if they can’t win the Mid-American Conference tournament. Akron won in overtime at rival Ohio on Wednesday to go to 13-0, 23-4 overall with three games remaining. The Zips haven’t lost since Dec. 15 at Detroit, winning 19 in a row. This is a team I want to see in the Dance -- and probably one many coaches don’t. Akron can win games in mid-March. The committee doesn’t need to change its prescription to see that this team passes the eye test quite well. IMO, Akron is now a lock, assuming we don't screw the pooch the last few games. As for the above, strong National COY Dambrot, an Akron team w/ 19 consecutive Ws and counting, what the hell else do they have to do??? Seriously, I posted last night tweets about them being a lock. I'm sick of this back and forth stuff. PUT 'EM IN!!!

Eamonn Brennan on Twitter: RT @dandakich: Akron goes into Ohio and wins..locks up an at large no question..my national COY?? Keith Dambrot of Akron..no question I'M BUYING I'M BUYING!!!

Akron [22-4 (12-0), RPI: 47, SOS: 152] Akron's last loss came Dec. 15. That's not really an official selection committee criterion, but it is incredibly impressive. Unfortunately many of those wins have come over the MAC, which is not particularly good at basketball this season; only five of the Zips' 21 Division I victories came against teams ranked higher than 150 in the RPI. New ESPN Bubble Watch in. I can't help but get the feeling that our chances of an at-large bid decrease with every meaningless MAC win (other than, hopefully, OU).

As if we needed another reason to want to win tomorrow, holding the longest streak in the nation on our own adds to the fun!

Not a problem brotha. Heck, you've done a lot for ZN and, the way I figure it, if I can get you the stats easier, you can make heads or tails of stuff better than a lot of us. Glad to help!

http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm That is a matrix, with links to each ranker in blue at the top, of every major poll known to mankind. Teamrankings even has the Zips at a #10 seed. Most are in the #12-13 though. Just thought this was a nice little go-to source for this thread.

It only hurts us insofar as when we play OU, their RPI and other numbers will be worse. As far as "hurting us" from an at-large standpoint, the selection committee isn't going to look at Akron hard enough to think "Well, they beat Ohio twice (hopefully), but Ohio got killed by Belmont so Akron is out." What I do know is this: Hate him or not, DJ Cooper is NOT going to have two games in a row like that. Players of his caliber typically turn it around 180 in the game after. I say prepare and be ready.

Does anyone know if this game is being televised (sorry if this has already been discussed)? So tired of online streaming and feeling like I'm going blind.

Convincing win on national television. Instead of criticizing, I will for once be positive - we easily beat a team at home that we should've beat by double digits. Great crowd. Great showing. BRING ON THE BOB KITTIES!!!

I'm afraid the article is right. I think our chances of at-large glory is less a matter of who we have lost to and more of who we have beaten. As the article mentions, weak MAC foes of the likes of BG and Buffalo do not help. WMU has fallen off the map. No real quality away wins, which the committee looks for. Detroit was that opportunity for Akron.

Agreed. Remind me again how a team that is getting T25 votes in both AP and Coaches isn't on the bubble watch? Clearly the weak SOS and bad loss to CC isn't enough for T25 consideration.

Call us Arby's cuz we got plenty of turnovers! booyah! No? Nobody? Eh, gotta make light of something when we're playing this awful.

I would normally agree with this, but I still have hesitation. While we are getting some talk nationally out there, the MAC is still looked at on balance as a one team dance conference. For instance, Joe Lunardi (and yes, the guy is a goof) looks at Ohio losing to us as a "most damaging loss," i.e., no respect for Akron. We've been talking a lot about at-large when there is PR like that? Eh. Let's just take Cleveland. Reference: http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-ba...lege-basketball

Excellent point. I'd respond with the question of whether true Akron fans having paid for said tickets would be willing to forgo those tickets, or as PP said, get refunded, in order to give us that better matchup.

Agreed. IMO, a win at home against a 75+ RPI team does nothing for us and a loss, God forbid, kills us. Go on the road, play a quality opponent, and, win or lose, it's only beneficial. In addition to the above quoted teams, I'd take Indiana St.

Your basketball team can win 20-some games year after year and not get in the dance unless you win your conference tourney.