RoyalBlu

Sad thing is ... a win here, combined with San Diego State likely puts Troy solidly in the at-large picture if they don't win the Sun Belt. Great game. Great performance. Brutal Loss.

Beating these three comparable mid-majors (Yes, OSU is now considered a hoops mid-major) only solidifies Akron as a top tier mid-major. It's not fair, but it is reality. Beating all three teams by double digits will not erase a 15-20-pt loss to Purdue in the eyes of the selection committee. And yes, the Zips looked very good even in that Purdue loss. I'm willing to bet there will be at least one B-10 team that loses to Purdue by the same margin, that gets an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Any takers!!! FWIW ... Oregon State (Kenpom 135) is ranked lower than Miami, Kent, Florida Atlantic, Illinois State and others. Iona (Kenpom 169) is ranked lower than at least four other MAC teams. Not saying these are bad teams. I'm saying winning these games do not move the needle toward an at-large bid.

This is why I drive in the slow lane 🤣

I thought Coit was at KAnsas ...

Indeed, that OU site is on the edge of revolt. But as one post noted, that team was essentially a MAC team. They compared them to Toledo and that BC roster does indeed have a couple of former MAC/CMU starters. But still should not be a loss at home.

Supposedly ... pairings in February are based on highest NET rankings by teams in both leagues. Hopefully that is indeed the case, vs. trying to pair teams that haven't yet played each other. Let's face it. For this to truly work and benefit teams for March, the February pairings, at the least, should be NET pairings. If that means some challenge games are with teams that have already played each other, so be it. The top 4-5 teams in each league may rotate position but overall haven't really changed that much. If that means two straight road games vs. the same team, so be it. The object, in my opinion, is to pair teams with an eye toward March. Otherwise, what's the use.

What a loss (Troy) by Kent ... in a game they should have won in regulation!! Their Kenpom would have really jumped if that had been the case. That said ... Troy needing OT to beat the No. 4 MAC team even on the road says something about the MAC. If zips draw Troy in next SB Challenge game on the road, it should be a big Kenpom boost with a win!!!

Yes, ... absolutely a joke. But this time last season much the same was said about Akron ... and while pi$$ poor, Kent's schedule is still lightyears ahead of Miami. It's the cross good midmajor teams have to bear. MAC has benefitted from the Sun Belt Challenge. I would suggest adding another 'challenge' with C-USA or MVC. Good teams in all four conferences are struggling to get even quality mid-major games.

Just for background ... my understanding is Kent and CSU got screwed in this as both were 'told' they would be playing ACC teams, but the ACC teams said they would back out of the tournament unless they were in an all P5 bracket. Look at the records for some of those teams and you can see why they wanted no part of decent mid-majors on a neutral court. Note: CSU and Kent already had a game scheduled (this Sat) so neither were pleased but could not back out due to $$$ penalty.

Just for the old-timers, here is the latest RPI (yes it's still around). Notice more (6) MAC teams in the Top 140, but also 3 MAC teams 297 or lower. https://www.teamrankings.com/ncb/rpi/ 1. Akron 68 2. Bowling Green 90 3. Miami 100 4. Kent 107 5. Ohio 123 6. Buffalo 140 7. Toledo 173 8. CMU 222 9. UMass 232 10. NIU 276 ---------------------------- Other teams of note: Youngstown State 33 Navy 34 Oakland 52 Kansas 151 Milwaukee 170

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.