Zippy87

Both. But winning three games when everyone has equal rest vs winning two games with one or two less games than your opponent is a pretty clear advantage for the higher seed.

It is a fact that during the double-bye era, the #1 and #2 seeds consistently made it to the championship game. If the goal of the MAC is to reward the top seeds for regular season performance and increase the odds of their champion being a top seed, that format absolutely accomplished that goal previously.

From 2012-2015, the 1 and 2 seeds received byes to the semifinals. The championship games each of those years were: 2012: #3 Ohio over #1 Akron 2013: #1 Akron over #2 Ohio 2014: #1 WMU over #2 Toledo 2015: #2 Buffalo over #1 CMU In six years of the current format, the #1 seed has only won the tournament once, and only reached the championship game one other time. The format certainly doesn't preclude the top seeds from winning the tournament, but there was a clear reward for the top two teams during the double-bye era, given the championship game was #1 vs #2 in 3 of the 4 seasons.

Why wouldn't you reward the top seeds? Again, the MAC is the only conference - to my knowledge- that doesn't reward the #1 seed at all. Right now, the only thing that matters in the MAC regular season is finishing top 8. If a conference wants to make the regular season matter more and reward teams for playing well in the regular season, you should absolutely build your tournament that way. My preferred option would be to take the top 6 teams and give 1/2 a first round bye. It's not as extreme as the double-bye, but it makes earning the 1 or 2 valuable. Thursday 5 PM - #3 vs #6 7:30 PM - #4 vs #5 Friday 5 PM - 4/5 winner vs #1 7:30 PM - 3/6 winner vs #2 Saturday 7:30 - Championship

I do not see it.

I actually think the format should change. I believe we are one of the few conferences that doesn't reward its 1 and 2 seeds at all. Regular season performance should earn you an advantage.

This was the email they sent out: Akron Zips Fans, now you have access to the same sideline gear as our teams! We have partnered with Nike and BSN to open our Zips Fan Shop, available until Monday, June 8th! Don’t wait, hit the button below to secure your official sideline gear today! Going forward, each of our sports will launch four (4) of their own fan shops throughout the course of the year, and we will launch this Fan Shop four (4) times each year too, so fans can rep team specific gear and exclusive Akron Zips gear! Be sure to keep an eye out as more information will follow! The prices seem to be pretty much in line with Nike team gear. At least it's another option for people to buy?

New gear! https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/GOZIPS2026

Some MAC players have or will be working out with NBA teams: Shammah Scott - Suns Nate Johnson - Pistons, Lakers, Thunder, Wizards Peter Suder - Hawks, Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers, Spurs, Wizards Eian Elmer - Hornets Jackson Paveletzke - Bucks and Knicks

They lost a ton, but retaining Skaljac, Atlason, Ipsaro, and Kirby will help them a ton. Stevie Elam is going to be good for them, too. They'll take a step back like us, but I think they'll be a contender again.

Absolutely screwed by whoever is running instant replay. Wow.

I'd be curious to know if he had any two-way offers aside from Minnesota last summer. It always seemed like a curious fit to me - a legitimate Finals contender with a deep, talented roster - instead of a rebuilding/tanking team where more opportunity may have been available. Before the Pacers drafted him, the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz were among teams he interviewed with. Maybe he can find his way to Utah or to the Clippers and have more opportunity.

How can you sell GA tickets without knowing the schedule though? I definitely understand what you're saying, I just think they're limited in what they can do.

I just locked in my seats the other day. I believe deposits were available the day after we won the MAC.

Worth noting just 71 players have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2026, the lowest total in over 20 years. With the player pool much smaller than usual, maybe there's a shot? I would think a summer camp invite, at least.

I don't have a negative outlook at all. It would be pretty hard to not take a step back from a 29-win team who went 17-1 in conference. I think we'll be good. I think we'll contend in the MAC. But I don't expect a team as good as last year, and that's OK.

Since joining the MAC, LCJ is the only guard who scored more points in a Zips uniform than Tavari. TJ is also 4th all-time in assists. Part of three MAC Champions, and last year doesn't happen if he follows Nate in the portal. I agree his last game was disappointing, but he had a major impact as a Zip.

My primary concern is that the majority of the roster was somewhere else last year. Two of the reasons we have been so successful are player development and a winning culture passed down from class to class. Freeman to Lyles. Castaneda to Tribble to Johnson. We don't really have any of that going into next year. The other thing we just don't know is how these guys will play in big games. I think we'll be OK, because I think every other MAC team took a step back and are dealing with the same issues. But I think it takes some blue and gold colored glasses to believe we'll be better than any of the previous three years. I'd love to be wrong, though.

I definitely expect a step back this season, but I expected one had Groce stayed, too. Tavari, Shammah, and Amani are all really tough to replace. With that said, I do think this team can be competitive in the conference, if for no other reason than I believe in Coach Ford.

Staveskie and Burton were the only players who started all year for the previous teams. Pence began the season as a starter, but came off the bench for the final 13 games (he did play well). Hammer Jr. (14.2 MPG) and White (8.7 MPG) played but not significant minutes. Wilson redshirted. We won't have many proven commodities to start the season, but there's plenty of talent and opportunity to show that talent.

White/Hammer Jr. Halligan/MMK Burton/Barre Pence/Head/Henderson Steveskie/Wilson/Perkins Obviously nothing set in stone and several guys who can play multiple spots. I have absolutely no idea how good they'll be, but there's talent on the roster for sure.