GJGood

I agree with KD that the NIT hasn't really treated us right yet. This year is probably the closest to correct although I do think we are underseeded again. All the instances cited in the article as well as the complete omission of the 26-7 Zips after the miracle shot loss to Miami in Cleveland are what have created my feelings about the NIT committee more than anything else. I am not saying we'd rather be on the road than at home but that maybe we'd rather be in Houston than in Provo, Salt lake City, or Athens, Georgia. The point I was trying to make is that it seems awfully coincidental that we would be sent to Houston. It seems that the cited article infers that too. But it’s unrealistic to think, per standard operating procedure, that economics didn’t come into play for the NIT selection committee. With a significant presence of Houston-area players on both rosters, there could be plenty of interest in the Houston area. The Zips have three players — Antino Jackson, Daniel Utomi and Emmanuel Olojakpoke — from the Houston area who contributed significantly this year.

Only saying that once they decided we'd be a 7 seed that maybe they sought our input as to which 2 seed we'd feel best travelling to or maybe they just looked at our roster and put it together themselves. When it comes to the NIT committee it is hard for me to believe much in random coincidences. Still, this one may be good for us.

Keep in mind, though, that Monmouth is a New York area school which is where the NIT is based and that Illinois State was not seeded by the NIT committee. ISU was named first four out by the NCAA committee so the NIT was contractually obligated to make them a 1 seed.

I am wondering if someone gave us a choice of a few places to play and we chose Houston due to our roster and recruiting. Playing there just seems coincidental and certainly not geographic.

The problem I have with a 7 seed is simply that it would seem to mean we would not have been selected without the auto bid. We were still the outright regular seaon champs of the 12th ranked conference by three full games. Compared to last season I agree we should not be seeded as well this season. Last season's seeding though was criminal. Last year we deserved a 2 or 3 seed. This year should have been the year we got a 5 or 6. Still not nearly as disappointed with how they viewed us this year as I was about how we were treated in 2016, just thought we deserved an NIT at large had the auto bid not been in our back pocket.

They are not supposed to consider storylines when formulating brackets but it sure seems coincidental that we are heading to Houston where three of our players are from even when the Cougars own arena is undergoing renovations. At least Antino, Olajapoke, and Utomi should be less complacent playing in front of friends and family at Texas Southern's gym.. Houston is a pretty darn good team. It will clearly be an upset if we win. 7:30pm Wednesday ESPNU

I don't think scheduling had nearly as much to do with a 7 seed as not being a "major conference" team did. This is the NIT committee we are talking about.

That is just about guaranteed. As much complaining as there is about the NCAA selection committee year in and year out the NIT committee is usually far worse.

I am wondering if that guy at NYC Buckets has some inside information. I have traded messages with him a few times in the past and he has expressed to me how the pairings are always about keeping the bigger schools at home and regional first round matchups yet this morning he has Akron going to Iowa instead of Indiana and both UT-Arlington and Monmouth as 4 seeds just barely getting a home game. That seems to go against his own beliefs in the NIT committee. I guess I can see them sending the Zips to Iowa City but I doubt Monmouth gets a home game and will be absolutely stunned if Arlington does.

As wrong as it is mid-majors need to NOT look at the "other" postseason tournaments as negatives. Sure they are not the ideal destination but the NIT, CBI, CiT, and now Vegas 16 are realities for any mid-major without a huge national name because even the most deserving mid-majors are going to be frowned upon by the NCAA selection commitee in favor of very pedestrian "major" schools. As far as the NIT specifically goes, every year there are 32 teams in their bracket and almost none of them are overjoyed about being there. That said teams are still able to play well and become motivated to advance and play as long as possible. If they can do it why can't we? I have never understood those that have tje NCAA or nothing at all mentality. I get that attitude if you honestly believe you can make a run at a national title but did anybody really think that could happen? Yes, ithe NCAA is the prize we want first and foremost but it is not the only prize or opportunity on the landscape. I still remember attending my first Akron game as a student and saying that my dream was to see this program make a sweet 16 someday. That was back in the last year of the Coleman Crawford era but it is still the dream for me today. That is about rhe realistic ceiling for 95% of all mid-majors the way it is now. Last noght means it won't happen yet again this year. It felt like a punch in the stomach and it really has me bummed out. Still, though, there is an opportunity for this team to keep playing and maybe even get a win over a 'name' program or make a postseason run. I believe those are chances that, as a mid-major, you have to be thankful for and try to take advantage of.

Maybe its just me but I think the NIT is better than nothing as ot can only help the young guys develop.

For what its worth my personal projection (and I am certainly no expert) is that Akron will be a 6 seed again in the NIT . If that were the case they would travel to a 3 seed in the first round. Knowing that the NIT likes somewhat regional games when possible and seeing who potential 3 seeds are I think there is a significant chance that the Zips will be heading to Bloomington to take on one of the bigger name programs in college basketball lore in the Indiana Hoosiers.

Largely because I want to shoft focus from the disappointment of falling a few points short in Cleveland as the top seed for a second straight year I wanted to start a post on what is next for this team. The Zips may still het a shot at a big name program or to make a postseason tourney run even if not on the biggest stage. I just hope the team is able to bounce back emotionally and play well.

I hope the good Zips show up today.

Hasn't Matta lost some key assistants in recent years? The head coach always gets the praise and the condemnations but often times it is the staff as a whole that determines who wins and loses both on the court and off of it. I feel like OSU's recruiting has been weaker lately and that could certainly be directly tied to changes in assistant coaches. I am not an OSU fan by any stretch of the imagination but I do think his past success has earned him the right to get a chance to turn things around, at least in the short-term.

In tonight's games I expect three of the four home teams to prevail. Just trying to pick one of the road teams to win is difficult. I guess I will go with chalk tonight except BG over Toledo.

It is one thing if Tuesday Night games guarantee you are on ESPN, ESPN2, or even ESPNU, but a weeknight on ESPN3 should never happen if the whole reason for weeknight games in the first place is for more eyes to be on the games.

This one is too tough to call. Which Zips team shows up? How will our opponent shoot the 3 ball and how will they handle the emotions associated with Senior Night? A lot of unknown and inconsistent variables in this one. I hope Akron just wants it more.

I don't mind the archrival game being the last one. You never know what the weather may do any given week in northeast Ohio. However, I do think it should be on a Saturday where attendance at least has a chance to be good.

Any chance all the seniors, including Noble and Anderson, start tonight?

Despite having the title in hand I don't think there would be any net cutting after the game if the unthinkable happens and the Redhawks pull off an upset. I'd imagine net cutting is still dependent on winning the game Tuesday.

Hoping there is no letdown after an emotional OU contest. I think this game will be close no matter who prevails. I seem to remember Josh Williams playing very well against the zone in the past but I may be mistaken. Still, I think he could have a bit of a breakout game tonight and went with "other" for Zips leading scorer because just when we think we have this team figured out somebody different seems to step up.

Being from West Virginia Tavian Dunn-Martin will likely know a few players on the Thundering Herd roster. http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/mu-basketball-notebook-ex-prep-stars-to-face-off/article_6fd2357f-3786-5638-b188-fc59491c16bf.html

To me part of the problem in both sports is that they leave much of the inclusion issue up to human committees which will always be biased or swayed by what the loudest and most prevalent talking heads have to say. The bias may not be intentional but whatever is most popular is what garners stronger consideration. In basketball I will never understand why a team that finishes 6th or 7th in its own league deserves a shot at finishing first in the entirety of D-I. In football you mentioned an 8 team playoff but it could be done by just adding two games and making it a 6 team playoff, The 5 P5 champs (or team put forward by their conference) and the highest ranked G5 champ. It would restore the one biggest piece of excitement the BCS had, the race for the top 2 as those teams would get a bye in the first round, assuming both of the top 2 won their conference.

Rooting for Navy to keep winning but keep winning close games, they aren't far back themselves.