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Joe Lunardi now has Akron as a 14 seed playing 3 seed Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The 6-11 matchup would be #6 Texas vs #11 Miami(FL) https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-projecting-2022-march-madness-men-field

Bleacher Report Bracketology has Illinois as a 4 seed paired with 13 seed Chattanooga.

Bleacher Report has the Zips as a 14 seed paired up with 3 seed Wisconsin (with #6 Alabama vs #11 Virginia Tech in other game) https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2954122-ncaa-bracketology-2022-real-time-seed-and-region-projections-for-all-68-teams

https://twitter.com/tkhighcountry/status/1502841218870431744 Seems like that Gulf Coast Showcase was beneficial for some of the teams there.

I've seen the the past three MAC Tournament Championships for the Zips and this is the best one yet. Where this program was when Dambrot left and basically starting over to going to an NCAA tournament without any seniors, is incredible. And the path to that NCAA tournament automatic bid consisted of beating Buffalo, Toledo, and then Kent State. This was earned. Well done guys!

I get that. If the guys stay true to one possession at a time like Groce has been emphasizing, they should stay focused. But that's easier said than done. As a coach myself, it just hurts seeing this happen at the level above me. I have been told numerous times by one of my mentors that I look up to in the high school coaching ranks: "You are what you tolerate" and "it's not what you do, it's how you do what you do" Recruiting, Culture, etc. all is on the head coach over there at PCCC. I actually think if the MAC and Kent State is going to suspend players even for a half, there needs to be something for at least the head coach too (a sizeable fine). He has let those players down by the culture set in place there for years. The players are responsible for their behaviors, but they tolerate it. "The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate". I know this post isn't focused on the Zips and this will be the last I bring this situation up. Too much PCCC talk here for me. Off the soap box now. I hope the Zips win by 30 and Ali has 20+ tonight. #GetYourShoesReadyMartha #GoZips

I don't get this though. It isn't just four players. It's the entire locker room which obviously the coaches are allowing. I understand that some type of discipline was going to happen, but I don't see the point. If anything, all this could do is rally Kent even more for tonight...

I wouldn't yet, but a win tomorrow with a roster of no seniors? Then maybe 😂

FINAL Buffalo 82 Akron 43 Final Stats Shooting Overall Akron - 16 / 62 = 26% Buffalo - 32 / 63 = 51% 3 Pt Akron - 1 / 19 = 5% Buffalo - 7/14 = 50% Rebounds Akron - 33, 18 offensive rebounds, 8 second chance points Buffalo - 44, 15 offensive rebounds, 13 second chance points Turnovers Akron - 18 Turnovers, 10 points off Buffalo Turnovers Buffalo - 15 Turnovers, 22 points off Akron Turnovers Points in the Paint Akron - 16 Buffalo - 46

I thought Bass did okay as the secondary scorer (4/8 overall, 0/0 from 3, 4/4 from FT), but had some costly turnovers in that first quarter. If you take Dawson and Bass out, the team is shooting 5/31(16.1%) and 0-12 from 3. Woolley from Buffalo was just bigger for Buffalo than Bass was for Akron.

7:46 left in 4th quarter Buffalo - 63 Akron - 39 Buffalo shooting 50% from the three-point line. Akron shooting 7% from the three-point line.

The MAC usually gets 3-4 teams in the WNIT in a normal season.

The scary part about this Buffalo team? Only Adeyeye and Hemphill are seniors. Fair, Camp, and Christie are juniors and Woolley is a freshman. They've had a nice recruiting pipeline in Australia for a number of years now.

Unfortunately, it's tough to see Buffalo squandering this lead. You're not going to beat anyone shooting 30%(overall) and 9%(from 3), let alone when your opponent is shooting 47%(overall) and 50%(from 3). WNIT would still be quite an accomplishment for this group.

Kacie Cassell was my favorite player from that class with how she had complete control of that offense. That group and how they played was fun to watch and hope more and more teams attempt to play like that.

Akron only scored two points in the last eight minutes of the 2nd quarter. Considering how Buffalo can light up the scoreboard, only being down 11 is encouraging. Have to believe Buffalo will be even better in the 2nd half. Lady Zips have to start hitting shots. That simple. I like where they're at compared to where it could be right now. Last time Ball State made it to the MAC Championship (after beating the top seed), the Lady Zips were in the other semifinal and outscored Central Michigan (similar style to this Buffalo team) by 16 in the second half to win that game. Lady Zips need a second half like that again to have any shot.

Halftime Buffalo 32 Akron 21 Stats at the half Shooting Percentage Overall Akron - 28% (9/32) Buffalo - 42% (13/31) 3 Point Shooting Percentage Akron - 9% (1/11) Buffalo - 40% (4/10) Rebounds Akron - 16 (7 offensive boards), 2 second chance points Buffalo - 25 (9 offensive boards), 7 second chance points Turnovers Akron - 6 turnovers (8 points off Buffalo turnovers) Buffalo - 9 turnovers (7 points off Akron turnovers)

Buffalo starting to get more second chance points now and still shooting well while the Lady Zips haven't scored in over three minutes of game time now. Shooting percentages right now Overall Akron - 8/24 - 33% Buffalo - 11/25 - 44% 3 Pointers Akron - 1/9 - 11% Buffalo - 4/10 - 40% That's the biggest glaring difference right now. If Buffalo starts getting more second chance points and points off turnovers prior to the half, this might be over if the Lady Zips don't start making some shots.

Stat line is very similar on both sides others than two important areas. Akron is 0-7 from 3 Buffalo is 4-7 from 3

This is definitely a tall task for Lady Zips. Early on the youth of this team is showing.

Thanks. Maybe I thought Fair was on that team because she reminded me so much of Cierra Dillard when it was Dillard that I obviously was thinking about.

Big start to the game for Ferrell to keep the team afloat, Bass with a big 3rd quarter, and Dawson closing it out. That was a big team win in terms of postseason play. With this young team, if they don't win this tournament and get that automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, I think the WNIT is a real possibility now and that would be huge for this young team if they don't win this whole thing.

I know the Lady Zips still have to finish the second half against BG, but if they do that, Friday will be interesting. The last time Ball State won a MAC tourney game? They were the 5 seed and ended up beating top seed Bowling Green in semifinals. What was the other semifinal result? #3 Akron beat #2 Central Michigan (after losing to Central by 26 in the regular season) where Akron would go on to beat Ball State to win the MAC Tournament.

Halftime #3 Lady Zips 36 #6 Bowling Green 31

FINAL #2 Buffalo 63 #7 Western Michigan 49 Fair had 19 points, Camp had 10 points. Hemphill only had 5 points but had 13 rebounds.