MDZip

RowdyZip mentioned this on the MAC Catch all thread but thought it was appropriate to include here. We and the Bobkittens certainly do monitor each others boards perhaps in a little bit of schadenfreude (I included that word because a Bobkittens poster said most of our posts appears as though they were done by five year olds 🤣). Anyway I really do enjoy the rivalry with them but it really hasn't been that much of a rivalry for the past two decades. One of their other posters said "If I didn't know any better, I'd read their message board and actually think they've done something significant in their basketball history like win an NCAA tournament game. You know, just one." RowdyZip mostly correctly pointed out "Saw this on their message board and laughed, but then realized you gotta dig deep when your team has finished above Akron in the MAC standings exactly TWICE in the last EIGHTEEN YEARS". I say mostly because it actually has only been ONCE, Groce's first year when the Zips finished 6-12 (and the Kittens were a mighty 7-11). That's it. They have also tied 4 other times including the fantastic 2012-2013 season when they were both 14-2. Zips have gone 211--114 in that span - including this year - while the Kittens have gone 169-153. Zips has finished in first six times and the Kittens ONCE (the year they tied the Zips). Zips average finish 3.75, Kittens 6.5. The Kitten tournament runs (which yes I absolutely wish we had) are now a decade old. And unless you pull a major upset or make the sweet sixteen your upset tends to get forgotten. So my point here (and I do have one :-)) would you rather have the kind of conference success the Zips have been in now year after year after year or win a couple of tournament games? While I'd love a win in the tournament the Zips success has kept me interested in what happens to them in almost every game over the last two decades as opposed to finshing sixth ever year. Making almost every season meaningful means a lot more to me than the occasional tournament victory (but be very clear I still want that :-)).

Off off shooting night for LCJ but he's still having a great game.

Ali Ali on 🔥 18 points so far

You are correct - which is why I was discussing the Buffalo game as they would be a high ranked team that Akron and Toledo would still have to get through - and that could be the determining factor if the two are still tied at the end of the year. I just did it in a much more long winded way 🙂 Bobcats have already beaten the Bulls so they could own the tiebreaker against them and move up in the rankings (but they also still have a game against each other).

Right that's why I was unraveling what games are most important as far as those tie-breakers go. But it doesn't say anything about an unequal number of games which they should include there. And there also a need to update it since there are no longer divisions

So with the Zips and Rockets now scheduled to play an even number of games 🤞 what happens if they tie? Since they have each won a game against each other, The Zips actually have the upper hand in most cases (beaten Ball St and BGSU while Toledo has lost to both since both are much higher in the standings than who the Zips have lost to) with the upcoming exception of Buffalo. Both Akron and Toledo go to Buffalo. If one team wins there and one loses the winner almost certainly gets the higher seed). There is still a possibility of the sort same thing occurring with Ohio (since Toledo will only play them once - and beat them) but with both teams going to Buffalo that seems to be the most critical one to decide the top seed should a tie occur. And also its even possible with Buffalo and Ohio playing fewer games a 12-4 Buffalo or Ohio team would leapfrog either a 14-5 Akron or Toledo team so both still have the #1 seed in play. Not even to mention Ravenna Auto and Cosmetology Tech lurking right there too, although they only have four losses and all of them are to the Zips and Rockets.

So according to the MAC web site these are the currently scheduled remaining number of games for each team. This is of course assuming that these all actually get played. This also depends on how much you trust the MAC web site since they currently have a final score listed for a non-existent CMU-WMU game on this coming Saturday. So anyway max number of games looks like 19 (several) , minimum number 14 (EMU, NIU). Toledo 12-3 - 4 games remaining Akron 11-3 - 5 games remaining Kent State 10-4 - 5 games remaining Ohio 7-4 - 5 games remaining Buffalo 7-4 - 6 games remaining Bowling Green 8-7 - 4 games remaining Miami 5-7 - 6 games remaining Ball State 5-7 - 6 games remaining Western Michigan 3-9 - 5 games remaining Central Michigan 2-9 - 5 games remaining Eastern Michigan 1-7 - 6 games remaining Northern Illinois 1-8 - 5 games remaining

Interestingly Toledo is not included in the makeup games which I think means the Zips have a chance to have an even number of games with them. If the Zips win out (I know a tall order) I believe that would give them the #1 seed.

Not that it is any big surprise but the Zips and Rockets have both clinched berths to Cleveland. And a few new schedule updates - as we guessed Feb 23rd is going to be used for some makeups. Sunday, February 21 Western Michigan at Ball State -- From Tuesday, January 5 to Sunday, February 21 at 7 PM (ET) Tuesday, February 23 Miami at Central Michigan – From Saturday, January 2 to Tuesday, February 23 at 5 PM (ET) Buffalo at Northern Illinois -- From Saturday, January 23 to Tuesday, February 23 at 7 PM (ET) Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan -- From Tuesday, February 2 to Tuesday, February 23 at 7 PM (ET) Akron at Ohio -- From Tuesday, February 9 to Tuesday, February 23 at TBD Wednesday, February 24 Kent State at Ball State – From Tuesday, January 26 to Wednesday, February 24 at 2 PM (ET) Thursday, February 25 Miami at Western Michigan – From Saturday, January 16 to Thursday, February 25 at Noon Central Michigan at Buffalo – From Tuesday, January 26 to Thursday, February 25 at 2 PM (ET) Eastern Michigan at Ohio – From Saturday, February 6 to Thursday, February 25 at TBD Friday, March 5 Ohio at Bowling Green – From Saturday, February 20 to Friday, March 5 at 7 PM (ET)

Jackson is back in he's fine.

So I've been searching for anything that would tell me what the MAC will do with all of the games to be made up. There is no way to make them all up with some teams still sitting at nine games played and others at 14. Everyone has Feb 23rd open so they could make up one game but would it make sense not to match up the teams that have played the most games, in other words should the Zips, BGSU, Toledo and Kent sit it out to let everyone else get another game in. It is pretty apparent they are just going to go with best win percentage at this point for the standings/seeding. I've not seen anything out of the MAC office on their plan. And also one nit on eliminating divisions. If you're going to do it don't still have all of the East teams play each East team twice and all West teams play each West team twice. With a 20 game schedule you play only two teams only once. Make that random as to who those two teams are since it matters almost zero in the standings any more.

Come on RedHawks you can take down the Rockets! Zips have now beaten every team in the league except Da Bulls. And hopefully they go by the wayside here soon.

Must be working some - only 1-3 on threes in this half

Three and a half minutes and only one point has been scored by either side. But with the Zips up by 8 now I'm ok if that continues

Our brief 50-49 lead has been our only lead of the game

Then I hope we don't get the top seed - that would be a noon start ?

Zool Kueth (wasn't he one of the evil spirits in Ghostbusters? ;-)) is 4-4 on threes. Need a bit more defense on him I'd just be guessing.

NIU up 45-41. They have been up by as many as 11

Wow I can't imagine Groce will be too pleased at the half. Good news is since NIU only averages 59 a game they are due for a 14 point second half. Sheez

If I was home I'd be able to watch this. But here its just Gamecast. Damn 2:00 start times. At least back to back Wynn and Trimble threes has made it close.

And it went straight in It didn't ricochet off the backboard. #stillbitter ??

Since the MVP of that game intercepted two passes and did not return both for touchdowns Dwight absolutely should have been MVP. Damn early voting!

Fun to be up by more points than Kent has scored. ?

This is going to sound weird but I'm disappointed by this. First for the kid, sucks to miss a season but also for the Zips it's much more fun to beat Kent when they are at full strength. ? Nuga is a good player. Heck of a rebounding guard too.

Somebody needs to get on man bun apparently.