RoyalBlu

I think the Bulls might be turning things around. Because of their recent past, they have a pretty good schedule with teams that thought they were garbage. DePaul learned the hard way ... Vermont and St. Bonaventure are still to come. But unlike the preseason MAC favorites (Miami, Akron, Kent, Ohio) who rivalry aside only play each other once, Buffalo has two games each with Miami, Akron, Ohio and UMass, so they could still be a .500 team ... but also a very tough team to deal with if they make the MAC Tournament. Frankly, I think that's good for the MAC.

As we can see with this, only five of the games hit that 'sweet spot' for games vs. Kenpom teams 50-150, and two of those, thank goodness, came via the Sun Belt Challenge. Considering how it is becoming harder and harder for top end MAC programs to get those 50-150 Kenpom games, Groce and the more veteran MAC Coaches should try to get one more conference (C-USA, Mo-Valley, CAA) challenge on the books. It would make scheduling a lot easier, w/the caveat those second round games are Kenpom-based, even if they are repeat matchups from the previous season. Just a suggestion.

Don't know how many have noticed but Buffalo looks like it is turning the corner back to respectable ... Eastern seems to have found a quality post guy that was riding the bench at CMU (albeit behind a really god player who transferred) and is it me, or has Kent State abandoned defense for a chuk-n-duk offense.

This is interesting... MAC team picked as potential 30-game winner this season!!!! https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46775032/mens-ncaa-basketball-predicting-teams-win-30-games-2025-26

Proenza had a vision but absolutely no financial acumen to pull off any of his ideas that didn't go into the red.

I would say Groce and Ohio picked Miami.

I get your point but with one disclaimer ... Kent (or Akron or any other MAC team) is not 'gaming' the system by playing a tougher schedule. That's what we all want to see. The residue of that - regardless of how good/bad any MAC team is - is a boost in the metrics. I agree by on the court matchups and the 'eye' test Miami was last year and probably this year a better MAC team than Kent. I agree Kent is often a eyesore to watch offensively, no matter what year it is. But they usually hang their hat on the other end of the court. That's them, not most teams in the MAC, and they have to live and die by that. But the simple fact is, particularly late in the season (Akron aside) most teams just don't like to play them because of their style ... not because they can't beat them. That's their 'edge.' You got to be a team like Akron - more offense, comparable defense - to consistently take them out. Or a team like Miami that has so much offense it overcomes their defense/physicality. The way Akron and Miami play is much more pleasing to the eye and entertaining. They effectively play mostly 6-2 baseball games and win, but can win 3-2 as well. As I watch Kent over the years, they play almost all 3-2, 2-1 games with winning or losing hanging on a bad pitch, giving up a home run, or getting a strike-out in the ninth. To win games like that, IMO, you have to play a tough schedule. For the most part, that's what Akron does and that's what Kent does. There is value in that. Miami, since the late Charlie Coles, has not done that and nationally, it has cost them.

Went through this last season ... Miami vs. Kent hed-to-hed , Miami is/was better. However, Kent vs. the Field is/was better than Miami by 2024-25 metrics, and justified by NIT run. Could Miami have done the same? I would guess so. But the fact Kent did it on the court says ... while the metrics may have been wrong about Miami, they were NOT wrong about Kent. I don't have to like it, to recognize it. Such is life as a mid-major. One-bid league. Would I pick Kent over Miami in the MAC this year? Not based on what I saw last season, or based on what each team has coming back. But if it comes down to SOS again for the NIT, and the overall W/L records are much the same as 24-25, I would not be surprised if Kent got the nod again. Miami's non-con schedule (like last season) is woefully weak.

While your point is well taken and accurate ... Findlay has fared well over the years vs. D1 competition in exhibitions.

Fair enough ... I'll leave it be.

Sorry, still confused??? Oats (2018, 2019) and Boals (2021) are the only MAC coaches to win NCAA Tournament games since Groce (2012). Heath was a decade even before that. Am I missing something?

How did his name get into the conversation?????

I would say Boals and Oats (Buffalo) are the only coaches with any NCAA/March success for the MAC in the last 10 years while Groce has not won a March/NCAA game since 2013 (Illinois). Such is life in the MAC. Martin likely slots in the top third of the league, going into his first MAC season with a clear chance to climb a notch or two higher, pending initial MAC success. Until a MAC coach starts winning NCAA Tournament games, or even having consistent NIT success, I say there is no real clear No. 1 .... although we do have our favorites. Toledo's MAC titles (regular season) and Akron's titles (MAC Tournament) are great 'MAC' achievements. Until the MAC gets another true powerhouse program that steps up in March ... we (MAC) are who they say we are.

Personally, have no clue. But since the recruit is a PG perhaps Medley is the guy. Have to look at their roster to see who really is a PG now.. Sullinger and Bekelp (?) both graduated. Maybe it's the freshman G. from St. Ignatius. Again, don't really know.

Like most recruits, I would take that 6-3 with a grain of salt. As for need, there are rumblings on their board they have had some backcourt injuries that could be season-ending. They may just need bodies. As for eligibility, ask Ali Ali.