RoyalBlu

I would not expect any MAC-level commits for at leas a week to 10 days. The big $$$ dominoes have to fall first, then the solid/low tier P5 teams set the market, then mid-majors can scramble for the leftovers. IMO the key will be identifying those under-valued freshmen and sophomores who are - hopefully - better than their marginal stats. Signing a senior to be for being an elite starter is poison in my book, especially since they will demand top $$$. This is a dirty business at the moment. I would not like being a part of it.

I believe Marshall lost its PG ... Young could return home on a discount.

He did this last year and came back. ... Very few teams are going to put the ball in the hands of a 30-percent 3-point shooter, even if he is 6-3, plays great D and can get to the rim. Athletically he can play on a power conference team, but he has limitations at that level.

I'm always amazed at the fact 3-pt shooters - especially guards/wings - seem to be so coveted, when so few of them average much more than 11-12 ppg. I'd take a JCampbell (BG) type-guard in a heartbeat over a 3-pt shooter because he gives a team so much more ... and he barley made 20-percent on his 3-pointers.

The plus CofC is getting in Gross is a coach who has learned how important 'culture' is. along with talent ... and when to shy away from talent that does not mesh with culture. There are a lot of players at Ohio, Illinois and early on at Akron that taught Gross to shy away from as he career goes forward.

Actually ... I believe most of that talk came more from A-10 fans although some UMass fans were certainly in that mix. The more knowledgeable UMass fans had a clearer sense of MAC basketball from earlier yearws, when MAC teams played them as part of that FB package back in the day. Still, I do believe the majority of both UMass and A-10 fans both would be stunned if UMass does not make the MAC Tournament.

I remember when Ball State WAS more than a decent MAC program under Majerus, Hunsaker and MCCallum... I believe all 3 won MAC titles.

I think I read on the Toledo forum the MAC is going to a 22-game schedule next year. In fact, it's doubtful Miami's run would have happened if the league were still in divisions. That would guarantee Miami would have played Akron-Kent-Umass-Ohio Buffalo twice each. Then one game each vs. all MAC West teams except two, likely Ball State and Toledo. Credit Miami with weathering a perfect storm.

I wonder if folks truly understand how much $$$ is at stake for the MAC getting a second bid? It's not a 1-year payday, it's a 5-year payday, and higher if one or both MAC teams advance a round or two. Being a Top 12 league may have been enough to get Miami an at-large. Now, giving Miami an at-large only incentivizes other teams to play weak schedules, build gaudy records, then expect the NCAA to give them a pass into the tournament. Believe me, the NCAA is not going to open that can of worms by giving Miami an at-large bid.

All of this is fine and dandy. But the key is to take advantage of these games and win. The recent Sun Belt debacle shows what happens when (Akron included) teams seemingly snub their noses at these opportunities. Those Sun Belt games were tee-d up for the MAC to make hay and climb closer to being ranked among the Top 12 Conferences in the country -- instead of falling back down closer to near No. 20. Clearly MAC coaches/players looked at those games as a break in MAC play, not a chance to rise above. MAC only won 3 games but were favored in nearly all of them. I remember when 'MAC' teams pulled for all 'MAC' teams in these types of games, but not so much anymore. I remember when coaches took winning these games as a source of team/MAC pride. Now most privately and publicly bitch about playing them. Until the MAC, the players and the coaches all take winning thee games seriously again, they will never make a positive difference. Miami is undefeated. But you're only as tall as the shoulders you stand on. And right now MAC shoulders belong to midgets. If Miami fails to be an NCAA Tournament at-large team this season, every team in the MAC should look in the mirror, then call Miami and tell them 'we're sorry.' Folks will say they beat nobody. Using the Sun Belt Challenge as an example ... they would be right.

As things stand right now ... I feel the three teams to watch are Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Kent with regards to the MAC Tournament. BG's metrics are strong, even if their record is not. If they play to their metrics down the stretch, they could make a push toward the 3-seed. That makes Tuesday's BG-Kent game critical for them. Kent can probably lock up the 3-seed with a BG win as they hold tie-breakers over every other team behind them. At the same time, while they have a strong record, their metrics aren't really that strong. If they struggle down the stretch, they could fall a few spots. Central Michigan is on the outside looking in, but they have been playing well and are just one game out of the 8th spot with games vs. several teams that could be critical, including one vs. Buffalo, and one against Kent - a team they already beat. Keep an eye on CMU the next few weeks.

Seems he was here for a game when he was heavily recruiting a couple of Cleveland kids, but I can't recall when. I know he's been to several FB games in the suites, again when he was in the area recruiting. Haven't seen/heard much of him since he was let go at WVU. Hopefully all is well and his weight is down. Great guy. Great coach.

Actually, minus a couple of quality upsets, I don't see the Top 8 in order being different by the end of the season. That would put Miami vs. Buffalo, the Zips against UMass and Kent vs. BG in the opening round of the MAC Tournament. Considering Miami has had all it could handle vs. UB in two last second wins, and the same with Kent vs. BG with a road games between the two yet to play, Akron's game vs. UMass could be just as dicy, or the easiest of the three, depending on the game Friday. No matter what, would not surprise me to see an upset or two in the MAC Tournament -- and a surprise team in the MAC Final.

If I'm not mistake, all of Kent's NIT games last season were on the road: at St. Bonna, Stanford and Ill-Chicago. Which is actually a good thing, IMO. At the end of the season if guys are willing to play/win a tournament game, they'd rather do it on the road, than at home.

Personally I believe the NCAA should step in on non-conference basketball scheduling. Example: Dictate Top 50 NET/Kenpom teams over the previous 3 years (avg.) must play 8 of 10 non-con games vs. teams with avg. NET/Kenpom ranking no worse than 200 over the previous 3 years. It should crack the door open a little bit for those avg. 75-150 NET/Kenpom teams to get at least one or two P5 caliber games. Top 51-100 avg. NET/Kenpom (3 years) teams must play 8 of 10 non-con games vs. teams no worse than 250 (3 years). These P5 teams playing 6-8 SWAC/MEAC/Ivy/NEC games to avoid upsets and pad their records must be addressed - along with helping solid mid-majors get at least one or two quality games, even if they're on the road. While most of the Top 20 Kenpom have strong non-con SOS, of the 30 teams from 21-50, a whopping 15 of them have non-com SOS of 200 or higher. Those are the teams that need to play much tougher non-con schedules. Only 7 teams 21-50 had non-con SOS below 100.