RoyalBlu

Only getting one game vs. BG could be the difference in winning the league. Like Akron, they are loaded with Dudes. Also, only one game with Miami ... Zips get a big break, IMO, as those are the two teams (Miami/BG) most likely to be darkhorse contenders to win the MAC.

If I said this was a Keith Dambrot schedule would anybody argue.

By that I guess you mean the Zips will have to play Ohio, Toledo, Kent, Miami, BG, CMU twice.

You make my point. Yes, Akron's non-con SOS per last years KenPom was 45. But because the MAC was so weak, and the Zips lost to all but one of the Mid-Major teams it faced in the Top 100, that led to a No. 122 rank in KenPom a 206 SOS overall, and another low NCAA Tournament seed after winning MAC Tournament. Understand, the mid-major Top 100 KenPom teams Akron lost to also mostly had poor overall SOS by playing in their respective conferences. Drake 113, James Madison 261, St. Bonaventure 309. If you're going to play these teams - and you should - you have to beat them to get any value out of the game. Using last year's KenPom, here is what Toledo and Kent can expect to get from playing Houston No. 2/23 SOS; Purdue 3/2 SOS, Alabama 14/1 SOS, Auburn 4/60 SOS. Losing to those teams will greatly add to their overall SOS as well as their non-con SOS. And should either get a 'quality loss' (which I believe is 5 points or less) or heaven forbid an upset, a quality MAC season (w/no sub 200 losses) and strong MAC Tournament run should make them a viable 'bubble team.' Yes, lots of ifs and buts .... but still the best way to get into the post season conversation. Playing Utah State, Drake, James Madison, Bradley, UNLV, St. Bonaventure is admirable in and of itself. No question. But first you need to win at least half of those games (Zips won 1) to make your overall record stand up and even have a post season prayer, short of winning the MAC Tournament. I believe Akron has St. Mary's on the schedule this year, a No. 20 KenPom team ... but with a 103 overall SOS, even in a conference with Gonzaga. A game Akron could conceivably win ... but, will a loss really help the Zips in the metrics. Playing a few quality power conference teams bulks up your non-con and overall SOS, even with a loss, which is more valuable as the MAC overall gets weaker and weaker after the traditional top 4 (Akron, Ohio, Toledo, Kent). Whew!!! Maybe now I'm done. Still pick Zips to win the MAC.

Bud Wentz stated last year that Akron has attempted to schedule big time schools and they've said no. Listen. Unlike football, basketball coaches almost exclusively make their own schedules. Now ... Akron may have tried to tie in a BB game with a P5 FB contract, which I think should be mandatory. But overall, ALL MAC BB coaches make their own schedules (shy of the MAC-SunBelt Challenge).

My last word on this: Boals, Groce, Kowalczk and Senderoff are all proven successful coaches under no pressure to be fired. To a lesser extent the same can be said for Steele at Miami. At this point in their careers all of them should have solid coaching connections throughout the fraternity to get one or two quality power conference games a year if they want them. The end.

Just saying .... If Michigan, Purdue and Alabama can play Miami, Toledo and Kent, then Akron should be able to find a comparable opponent as well. Miami, Toledo, Kent won't win any of those games. But they are worth playing.

Not saying anyone is falling down on the job. Not at all. This has been a Zips schedule pattern going back to Hipsher. The Zips best schedules, IMO, were during the BracketBuster years when the Zips faced really good BBuster competition. But even that wasn't 2 or more power conference teams. I haven't looked, but I doubt there have been more than 3 or so years since the turn of the century Akron has played two non-con power conference teams in the same year. Yes, that means you have to play them on the road, unless you get lucky enough to catch one in a pre-season tournament. Understand, this is not unique to Akron. But you have to first, commit to playing these games. Then you have to lock them in. To have so many power conference transfers, but no power conference games, is a question that needs to be asked. I understand MAC teams are not going to win many of those games. But playing those games first, boost your overall strength of schedule. And second, prepare MAC teams for what they will face later in the NCAA Tournament. As MAC teams have constantly shown, losing these two games does not stop a team from overall 20 wins, or winning a MAC title. Like I said .. not matter what schedule ... Zips favored to win the MAC.

No, not yet. Still looking for games, but not many out there from the power conference ranks.

Based on what I've seen from around the league, the two projected MAC favorites, Akron and Ohio, look to have the weakest non-conference schedules. Miami, Toledo, Kent and several others have at least two games vs. teams from power conferences; Miami, Michigan-Indiana; Toledo, Houston-Purdue, Kent, Alabama-Auburn. Ohio and Akron, at least to this point - from what I've seen - don't have any power conference (B10, B12, SEC, ACC) teams on their schedules. Lots of solid mid-majors, however. Let's not fool ourselves. If Miami, UT and Kent can get those games the mantra - 'nobody wants to play us' - is a little weak. If you can go to St. Mary's for a buy game, you can go to B10, B12, ACC, SEC for a buy game. Just saying. Still pick Zips as MAC favorites.

Definitely have much more size/girth at every position. Should be able to bully a lot of teams, especially in the MAC. Next step is how Zips look against a true opponent. That's still months away. Lots of time to bring it all together.

I was very high on Young ... until Groce brought in the PG from Cornell. IMO He had some other nice major offers where he would have played but likely started on the bench. Doubt Groce got him to come to Akron to start on the bench, no matter how sweet the NIL. Still think Young is a stud, but likely not this year. Remember, it has taken most PGs in Groce's system at least a season before they truly started to shine.

Ditto on Bracketbusters ... Zips had some great BB matchups that were exciting games. A check back on the Kent-SM Bracketbuster ... it was the last (midnight) game (many Bracketbuster games were televised) of the night, and I believe (chk. me on this) Kent became nationally-ranked for the blink of an eye after the win. Still can't remember who was on that team. Can't find a box score.

KSU wins at St. Mary's came (1) in BracketBusters vs. Patty Mills (I think that was his name) ... which says how long ago that was ... and (2) the other was in the NIT against a team with former Cav Dellavadova at PG. Can't remember who played for Kent in those games. St. Mary's is clearly a better program now, but even then, they were second only to Gonzaga in their conference and clearly had NBA talent on their teams..

If I'm not mistaken, SM-Kent have played four times over the years and have split the games, 2-2. One of SM wins was at Kent. Both of Kent wins at SM. Definitely a road win the Zips can get.

Thanks for clarifying my 'word salad.' Pretty much what I was trying to say. Based on The Portal, the Zips are head and shoulders above the rest of the MAC. If this talent translates on the court, which is the clear objective, then the sky is the limit. Other MAC teams don't have this level of 'talent.' However, if whatever talent they have comes with better chemistry, then the playing field is leveled. That's all I'm saying.

This is based on 'quality' of portal recruits, almost all of which Akron had no real shot at coming out of high school, and maybe just one or two shy of having what is rumored to be the best NIL package in the league. That said, I distinctly remember the Marshall years when The Herd clearly had the best roster of talent overall in the league, but just could never put it all together. So you're right, one or more of Kent, Ohio, Toledo and Miami may well have enough talent to usurp Akron on the court. But I still say, based on ROSTER talent, the Zips are the Class of the MAC.

All of this is true, but ... You can click on any column and just scratch your head. Like 'talent.' Clearly Zips are head and shoulders above the rest of the league. But even a rabid Akron fan has to admit Central Michigan ranking a 0 for talent, and Kent ranking -0 is a bit much. Or the transfer column: Eastern, Ball State, Kent and Northern getting more production out their transfers than Akron??? So what does that say about Akron's 'talent' ranking, which is clearly anchored by the incoming transfers. I could go on. Just weird.

Know what I hate about analytics: When they are so clearly and obviously WRONG! https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php?conlimit=MAC&state=All&year=2024&sort Can't get link to open here, but copy it and try on your browser ... really wonder what these people use for logic.

Still see nothing for Akron ... Toledo has Purdue and Houston ... Kent has Alabama ...

Paladin ... "Have Gun, will Travel" Fits him well.

It's not uncommon for redshirt freshmen (like Baker) who hit the portal to spend a year at a JUCO. They get 30-35 games of experience, quite likely graduate, then have three years of D1 ahead of them. Frankly, I don't understand why mid-majors in particular don't recruit this gold mine more actively.

Surprise (at least to me) Baker ... exit stage left???

Dawson upgrade.

A big physical third guard ... perfect for this team. Defense will be key vs. best perimeter player the opposition has. Very good pickup. Also a good PG backup for inevitable down games from freshman PG, Sharon. (Tavari who?). Adds to the premise this team - w/so many experienced P5 transfers - should be strong right out the gate, capable of winning big (read: P5) games in November and December.