RoyalBlu
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Posts posted by RoyalBlu
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34 minutes ago, RowdyZip said:
Silly. You don't understand statistical analysis then. If Q1 and Q2 teams stood equal chances of being selected, then you would be right. As Kreed said, with the expansion of D1 conferences, there's a very limited amount of at-large bids available. A team, regardless of conference, needs to be top 40 to be in the discussion. As always, some P5 teams that get hot late in the season can sneak in with rankings >50.
2019's NCAA Tournament was probably the MAC's best chance to gain a second bid, as UB finished the season ranked in both polls. Had they lost in the tournament, they very likely would've received an at-large (but again, no guarantee). Clemson and NC State were both left out of that tournament with NET rankings in the 30s.
We're talking about two different things --- First, among over 350 schools, being Top 60 is far from mediocre. If that's where the Zips wind up it is a major accomplishment in my eyes. Second, - and this is the universal problem - 60 is the bottom for any inkling of at-large possibility into a 68-team tournament. It would likely require a late-season return of a quality starter from injury, along with some early non-con success before said player was injured. A longshot but it has happened. And the MAC has had several teams over the years in the 30s-40s not get an at-large. Does it suck for the NCAAs, yes. But it does not diminish the fact Akron, with a Net 60-something, would have to be considered one of the top teams in the country.
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23 minutes ago, RowdyZip said:
Exactly. The MAC is currently 15th in the NET rankings (between Patriot League and CAA). Drake, out of the 11th ranked MVC is 16-1 with a low-30s NET and is widely considered to be very bubble-ish, but nowhere near a lock. The sad fact is that in college basketball today, fans love to see the "Cinderallas" in the tournament, but the powers that be continue to move the goalposts, making it harder for teams outside the P5 to get in without winning their conference tournaments.
That being said, absolutely right the MAC sucks this year. 7 teams in the bottom half of the NET rankings and only 4 in the top 100, paced by Toledo's mediocre 61 ranking.
The Zips have a maximum of 8 remaining regular season games. Winning out would put them at 17-4 headed into the MAC tournament with a likely ceiling of upper 50s, low 60s NET rankings. Probably a 13 or 14 seed if we get the MAC bid.
Calling a NET ranking in the 60s 'mediocre' out of over 350 means someone needs a math class. If Akron or any MAC team ranks in the 60s you are in the conversation for a bubble team 'with the right credentials.' In the 40s/50s almost definitely on the board, and in the 30s should be in. If you want to say 60s is the outside edge I would agree. But it is far from 'mediocre.'
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1 hour ago, NWAkron said:
yeah, during half time, the CBS guys talked about the MAC and how Toledo and Akron were the class of the conference. One guy said Akron was the top team with the backcourt of Trimble and Jackson. And after watching, Rootstown A&T and BG fall over themselves all night I have to agree. Not sure where Canada and Nelsonville C.C. fit into the equation.
The problem for Akron and Toledo, shy of losing to each other in the MAC Tournament, any loss either team suffers in the MAC Tournament will be a major upset and doom whatever minimal chances the MAC might have had at an at-large. Had Kent not lost Nuga and Hamilton? and kept climbing in the various rankings (even w/losses to UT and Akron) that would have propped up both the Zips and Rockets, as both teams swept Kent. But Portage County don't look like the same team now.
Injury wise, same could be said for Ohio, when they lost Preston for several games. The Bobcats national profile (not to mention rankings) dropped like a rock. Even if they win out, doubt if they can make up much ground in the rankings. Long story short (if your are a MAC fan as well as a Zips fan) injuries even to the opposition ultimately impact everybody in the league. Puts a lot of pressure o UT and Akron to win out, which really isn't fair, as Zips fans know from past experience.
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1 hour ago, LoyalZIP said:
I'm very curious to see what the MAC has in regards to tie-breaking procedures as I think it's both pretty obvious and not surprising that not all games will end up being played. With that said, those losses to EMU and NIU really mask how much better than the pack Akron and Toledo are. I know Kent isn't at full strength, but remember they were when Akron came back to beat them and that was with significantly fewer games under the belt and Trimble on an off shooting night, which is worth at least 10 points itself.
I'm also glad that they Zips got that game at RMF in earlier this year. They're somewhat familiar to playing in an empty NBA arena which could be a slight advantage for things like creating energy and sight lines.
I really don't know what to expect, I wouldn't even be surprised if at the last second the MAC decided to play the games at campus sights or something like that. Wait to see.
Since the Cavs are playing with (limited) people in the stands, would guess the MAC Tournament will have at least family and administrators in the stands.
For argument sake, the seedings will be interesting, but in the grand scheme of things not that big of a deal. Just guessing, Miami and Ball State are tracking to be the last two teams. Akron and Toledo are at the top of the totem pole. Good (easy/winnable) games for both (discount BSU Saturday upset).
Good thing for Akron, in terms of wildcard (semifinal) opponents who could pull upsets, they will likely play both Ohio and Buffalo twice. Toledo only plays them each once. Toledo's best MAC wins are Kent twice (at full strength) and Akron. Same for Akron.
2 UB and OU games for Akron are a plus in my mind. There has to be a ??? for Toledo about playing both of those teams in the tournament, especially OU a team they played and beat very early in the season but seems to be on the rise right now.
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1 hour ago, 72 Roo said:
What a game. So much to comment on.
- My new hero is Willie Coleman of our Alumni office for taking Dan Dakich to task for seemingly only talking about his time at BG while analyzing the Akron-Kent game. Well done Willie!
- I thought it was crude of Dakich to call out Pippen repeatedly for poor play. He made it personal and college kids don't deserve that. Be objective and let his play speak for itself.
- I did not join the chorus of concerns over LCJ's play against Toledo. Not because I didn't agree, but because there was too much angst. In the second half he reverted to his poor Toledo performance. He started looking only for himself and repeatedly drove the lane, with no openings, and turnovers resulted. When the team stops moving and looks to LCJ to do something we can be beat. When everyone is moving we are damn near unstoppable.
- Wynn has earned the right to start.
- Groce is a pleasure to watch. He is always prepared and rarely, if ever, outreached. If we have issues he will solve them.
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.
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4 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:
Was anybody else suprised to see Wynn bring the ball up the floor in the last 3 minutes. He threw an errant pass that led to a turnover. Not sure what the logic is on that move.
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.
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5 hours ago, RowdyZip said:
Dambrot's last year in '16-'17 we went 1-2 vs Kent, with the one win coming in the cave that is the MACC.
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 ....
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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
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23 minutes ago, Bigzip1 said:
Getting pretty obvious I’m not talking to former players or coaches in this thread so I’ll make this my last post on the matter. More touches and shots confuse casual fans and create a false narrative. You run everything thru one guy it’s going to look like he’s doing all the work or his teammates didn’t step up when in reality he’s not giving his teammates a fair shot to contribute equally. Most of the time they get the ball late in the shot clock and have to rush a move or a shot attempt. I’ve seen this a lot in college basketball, player falls into right situation with coach that trusts him and gives him the green light, he puts up big numbers.. fans end up thinking he’s better than what he is. Happens a lot
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.
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14 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:
Bleep Kent
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.
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24 minutes ago, zippy5 said:
I think we kinda beat them at their own run and gun game last time. I don't think we'll be as lucky if we get sucked into that again. Not that we're a slow paced team by any means.. but if we have the defensive effort and focus that we did against BSU, we'll come out on top imo.
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.
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34 minutes ago, akronzips71 said:
Not good at math, but I think we are in control of our own destiny once again.
If we win out, we would be tied with Toledo but have two wins over them, therefore MAC CHAMPS AGAIN.
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) ...
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3 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:
He's got MAC POY potential. He struggled with knee issues during his high school career & so I don't think he had any offers until toward the end of his senior season. But when his knees were finally back to 100% during his senior season he was absolutely amazing while leading Solon to the D-1 state championship game.
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.
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2 hours ago, LZIp said:
The Dookies lose perhaps their best player. Unfortunately he ends up in Portage Co
Supposedly girlfriend goes there ...
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57 minutes ago, ZippyforPresident said:
The prescience is strong in this one.
Normally we'd be warming up against a directional Carolina and not a directional Michigan six games into the season, so I'm not trying to read too much into this one.
It's always a grind against Murphy and EMU. It looks like they went from a 2-3 to a 3-2 zone to take away our 3 ball. It worked quite well for them, their length bothered our guards, took away passing lanes, and it exposed our lack of size in the post. I suspect that's why we saw Currie somewhat early on. No offense to Freeman, he works really hard out there.
Early on, I thought it looked like Dailey was starting to find his rhythm but they took him out of the game too. Sometimes you just don't have it and credit has to go to the EMU defense too, regardless, stinkers like this happen sometimes.
I think this team has the potential to make noise in the MAC Tournament, it's just a matter of getting all 5 cylinders to fire together. It has been a very strange start to the season, as it has been for a lot of programs.
I'm looking forward to the BG and Rockettes' games. If we get hammered in both of those games, then I'll be concerned. But I don't think that we will (especially not against toledo, because that "school" is a community college compared to Bowling Green).
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.
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16 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:
LCJ is the best player to ever wear an Akron uniform. None of those dudes from the 60s, not Romeo, not Dru, not Zeke Marshall, none of those dudes. The guy is 5'7 155lb., has every team game plan against him for the better part of a year now, and he's as masterful as can be every single game. It's mind-blowing. It's the kind of stuff you tell your grandkids about. I'll miss him tremendously when he's no longer here. A quality person and incredible baller. He is Akron!
Aside from LCJ, my favorite Zip this year is either Freeman or Dawson. Both are "glue guys" that play with fire and make plays when they are needed to step up. Dawson is going to be a star, as is Freeman.
When Reece turned it over after missing two open shooters on that offensive rebound with about 4 minutes to go up 10, my heart sank. That was nearly the difference maker if you ask me. Thank goodness for Groce defense down the stretch!
I think Marshall took Wynn's minutes in the second half which needed to happen. Also without Tribble his toughness and hustle was HUGE! Wish he would've buried one of those open threes.
Nuga is a great player, and Pippen whos like 45 years old and has no legs won't go down in Kent State history as he should, but man that dude is a baller and I respect the hell out of him. I loved to see Marshall get under his skin, that was a key.
The energy wasn't there early on and I think a lot of that has to do with the missed shots early. Trimble only forced one of them, but the rest were fine takes. Fire away brother.
Dailey was getting abused all first half by Nuga but stepped up to have an okay defensive performance. I don't understand his value on offense yet. Another nice game by Ali, I'd like to see him take more shots when driving though, he's long and can handle the ball, but seemed to just look to pass. That's all fine and good, but put one up there!
Clarke will be a nice player, I wish that half court would've counted!!! That wide open top of the key three will fall with time, I really like him.
All in all, that game should never be that close. Akron is so much better than Kent for the first time in a while if you ask me. But a win is a win is a win. On to the next one, Go Zips!
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.
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Game 16- Miami
in Akron Zips Basketball
Posted
This game epitomizes what makes MAC basketball so unlike most other leagues. Many of these mid-major conferences most of the good teams all play a similar style. In the MAC it's a box of chocolates up and down the ranks. A good matchup for one team is a bad matchup for another. Witness Akron-Miami (and it has been this way for a few years now). Miami is good enough to beat a good team on a given night. Akron 'could' lose to a team it should beat on any given night. MAC basketball.