I think the NCAA could have gotten ahead of this a long time ago. I am in favor of letting players get paid - there just need to be some guardrails added to get it under control.
A few ideas:
- A NIL cap for each team
- Contracts (with multi-year options)
- Limits on number of times a player can transfer in their college career
I think the NIT sealed its fate when it went away from giving AQ bids to regular season champions. They tried to cater to the P5 teams and missed that the P5 tournaments don't care about the NIT.
Rally House has the shirts the team wore up for sale
https://www.rallyhouse.com/Akron-Zips-White-2025-MAC-Mens-Basketball-Tournament-Champions-Short-Sleeve-T-Shirt-20770075?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7dm-BhCoARIsALFk4v8fZD982CkUchLcVAGrgc1tQTEVQ93sufmTDOu_xpRFWBKEwxqTFf0aAi8nEALw_wcB&variant_id=12635948
Groce mentioned at the Watch Party that their family moved to Fairlawn mid-season and joked they still hadn't unpacked everything. Doesn't sound like a coach planning to leave.
If we shoot like we did Thursday and Friday, we stand a good chance of winning. If we shoot like we did last night, we'll get run off the floor. I'll bet on us finding out shot again.
Most MAC Tournament Championships
7 - Ball State
7 - Kent State
7 - Ohio
6 - Akron
Coaches with Most MAC Championships
5 - John Groce
3 - Keith Dambrot
3 - Charlie Coles
3 - Nate Oats
3 - Ben Braun
Akron has now won 6 of the last 16 MAC Tournaments.
Here's the shirt, too
https://shop-mac-sports.com/collections/mid-american-conference-basketball-tournament/products/2025-official-mac-mens-champion-basketball-locker-room-hat