OZoner

If anyone goes up to Bowling Green, the Stroh has a really nice team shop with good stuff inside.

Point of clarification: Buffalo was doing that chant before Akron. It's why I always call this game "The Battle of 'I Believe.'"

Further complicating matters, there are a lot of teams that eschew offensive rebounding in favor of getting back on defense and preventing breaks.

Local Buffalo channel, I believe.

Indeed. The statistic exists, but not to the public... at least not yet, for college.

That would be some of the worst bulletin board material I've ever heard of.

I wish I had access to stats like rebounding percentage plus/minus. That would tell us how much of an impact he's making on the boards even if he's not getting them himself.

Despite a 2-0 week, the Zips didn't win in impressive fashion and move down in the rankings. Just kidding. They're still #1. http://t.co/sowmDDky

I don't think this is true. Offutt has nobody to blame but himself for how few shots he took. The ball is in his hands often, but he'll pass open looks. Kellogg would get more looks if he fought harder to get open, but sometimes he's content to stay in a spot for a few seconds. Cooper doesn't have great shot selection, but watch how many times they just dump the ball back to him over and over in a possession and then when the shot clock is under 10. His teammates are not accepting enough of the load, and it shows. Baltic, however, has the tendency to be a black hole. I would collapse on him every time he touches it... or just let him try and post up Marshall for the 35th time.

Ohio seems determined to foul everyone out.

Hope you like defense.

Thanks!

Hey everyone. I wish I could break this matchup down in the way it deserves, as Ohio-Akron is my favorite MAC rivalry. Unfortunately, most of my time and energy is going into this. But I do have a few thoughts. - Alex vs DJ. AA has taken the requisite step forward last year, but for whatever reason, the sight of him puts Cooper into overdrive. Can he keep up? - Jon Smith. He can be foul prone, but he has improved as the year has gone on, providing valuable rebounding and interior defense. He was a big part of the win against Buffalo, can he handle it again on the road? - Free throw shooting. Neither team is good at it. The Zips may be better off fouling Ivo Baltic and letting him brick half his attempts. - Size. Akron clearly has the size advantage. Will Groce counter by going small? Offutt, Taylor, and Cooper on the floor together is a lot of speed. - Three point shooting. OU is 27th in the nation in defending the three, Akron is 16th in the nation in shooting it. - Zeke Marshall has yet to be a gamechanger in a good way against Ohio. If he can make an impact, that's huge. Should be fun!

Due to some technical difficulties, the rankings, normally published on Tuesday, didn't get up until last night. They were written before Wednesday's games, but those results tended to make me look good, so I won't complain too much. http://t.co/LAGvGNgS

I want to offer my apologies! This team is for real NOW! They beat a TOUGH team by 8 points! I'm surprised Kennishaw State isn't ranked yet with those 3 wins!!! Final Four match-up in March baby! Dude, didn't OU blast Akron twice last year?

Louisville, Marshall, Oakland, Northern Iowa... 92 SOS. And if someone thinks Miami is going to tear anyone apart, you haven't seen the RedHawks play this year.

Awesome.

Ohio has played a tougher schedule than Akron. So has Western Michigan, though nobody is confusing them for contenders.

An opportunity for enterprising Zips parents!

False equivalency. Wayne State doesn't compete with Akron in any way. Has your head been in the sand for the last 24 hours? We just competed for a head coach and they won. Not really what I meant, but I asked for it with the "any way" comment. But Akron and Wayne don't play each other, don't recruit against each other, don't even play on the same level. This very well may be the last time the two schools encounter one another.

False equivalency. Wayne State doesn't compete with Akron in any way.

Wood was awesome. It's a real shame he couldn't stay completely healthy.

From that site's board: "If only the local media would realize it. I get that the MAC is based in Cleveland, but covering MAC teams that are based outside of Cleveland at CSU's expense is a joke."

What a strange list. That's one way to put it. Demetrick Shaw not on the list? At all? He was the guy that really made everything work @ Can't. This is some NBA fan's view of the MAC .. after he go through the top 8 or 10, he was out of ideas? That's how it looks, doesn't it? No Andrew Mitchell, either. Battle behind Triplett? Samarco? I could tear that thing apart if I had half a mind to.

What a strange list.