RoyalBlu

I believe Dakich and Senderoff have personal history back to Indiana, for better or worse ... Dakich talking about the old MAC days was his way of saying 'I used to coach here' ... as noted earlier, there was absolutely no mention of Freeman and the fact he limited Pippen's impact in BOTH games. Calling out Pippen w/o mentioning Freeman was a disservice to both players. Freeman's walk-on story to starter for a MAC title contender is a great one. Pippen's return from 3 knee surgeries in 3 years is another. Dakich didn't tell those story lines. There's a way to lift both players as opposed to calling out one. Not talking about Freeman made his rips on the other guy look insightful, but he was not telling the full story. In one breath Dakich wants to see a 'team' player, in the other he expects one player to carry the whole load. -- Just think if the game was reversed how he might have talked about LCJ? (BTW, didn't Pippen lead them in scoring, rebounding and assists, even with the stellar game from Freeman)? I know it's Covid, but this was going on even before the Pandemic. Announcers calling the game from their basements are no different than fans doing the same. Let's get some professionals back.

Good win ... on a night Zips should have won. Still think there's something missing in the overall scheme of things, but the 3-pointers cover up a lot of warts. Depending on how the rest of their season goes, not sure Zips want to see Kent again until the end. Even with their two guys out (Nuga-Hamilton combined 28 pts, 12 rebs) they still got some pieces if they can regroup. On a personal note, considering the state of our union these days, would think using derogatory terms to describe opposing players should be discontinued. Rivalries are great, but it seems sometimes those terms are used against the opposition more freely than they should be. (Off soapbox). Back to Akron, like many, thought Dailey would find his level in the MAC but that just has not been the case. Freeman has been a blessing in a league shy of quality bigs. Perhaps Groce should try to get a tad more offense out of him. On to the next one.

Here is the play... you make the call. Do I see a crossover? Yes. Does he cover a lot of territory from behind the 3-point line to the rim? Yes. Again, does he travel ....

Looking for a post player ... Jayden Sayles is having a Jimmy Conyers-type senior season at Stony Brook. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4279310/jaden-sayles

Listen ... most nights Akron's defense is more than good enough to keep the Zips in the game, if not winning, while LCJ tries to figure out if he has help or has to do it all alone. Unlike the rest of the MAC, Toledo has too much firepower in its starting five to shut them all down. Other than Akron, the only team to come close to beating them is Kent, and now that Nuga (ACL) is done it will be interesting to see if they have enough to stay with with Rockets should they meet (MAC Tournament) again. As for the Zips, the gameplan with LCJ has been good enough last season and this season to be as good or better than every team in the league. It would not be unrealistic to see No. 1 Toledo have to play No. 4 Kent in the semis, then play No.2 Akron for the MAC Tournament title. On a neutral court ... would you bet against the Zips.

Zips at least catch a break as Kent's Nuga - who has been a strong Robin to Pippen's Batman - is apparently out for the season with an injury. That's 18 points a game gone. DNP vs. Miami as Kent had several 4-5 minute stretches without scoring. Don't think any other guard at Kent is averaging more than 8-pts a game.

Interesting matchup to say the least ... usually in the past it has been Akron in the position of holding a lead over the field while others have to pull upsets behind them. As this season wears on it will be interesting to see how UT wears the target on its back. Problem is, with the bottom third of the league so bad - and UT playing all those former MAC West teams twice, (only playing OU-Buff once) it's tough seeing more than one UT stumble other than Akron. So, at most, three losses, but more likely two. Problem is, with the No. 1 seed as it sits right now, Rockets will play no better than Miami/Ohio before the MAC finals while some combination of Akron-BG-Kent-Buff battle it out to get to the title game against them.

Akron has the defense to make this happen, but road games in Canada, Toledo around the corner, and down in Athens make this a high hill to climb. The bigger question is this: quite likely have to play one of these same four in the semis in Cleveland on a neutral floor. Which one is the best/worst semi opponent. OR, which two would you rather play (semis/finals) ...

IIRC ... Carey was slated for either Akron/Kent as a walk-on as both were after him hard late in the spring, then KD came in w/a scholarship to up the ante. Not sure if Akron/Kent actually had one to give at that point, so the choice was Duquesne, where Carey's foster (??) parents also had some connections. Not sure what turned things sour w/KD, but Carey is not the first starting PG with injury issues (Robotham) to take an early exit.

Supposedly girlfriend goes there ...

Not to be a debbie downer, but Toledo looks to be the class of the MAC to this point ... and if Turner/LCJ balance each other out at BG (and neither team has a post presence of note) then it will be interesting to see which team has a true No. 2 and which does not. This season has a long way to go IMO.

LCJ is definitely an elite PG, and would have been an added plus on a number of past Akron teams. However, to date he has not had much consistent backcourt help and playing such huge minutes takes its toll by Feb/March. As for "so much better than ..." I think it's a little early in the season to make that claim. Historically, both of these teams get better as the season wears on. Freeman is a HUGE plus and will only get better. Also agree at least a couple of the power conference transfers have to start playing their part ... agree about Nuga and Pippen.