wadszip

GoZips, Again, thanks for the info. Hopefully you continue to post more about the schedule. But I 100 percent disagree that Akron taking $60,000 over $95,000 is whoring themselves out, it's reality. And maybe that is the reason KD is having so much trouble finding those types of games. Like I said in the "banquet" thread, of course a school like North Carolina is going to choose a school like Radford (or Fairfield, when sticking to a team UNC hosted last year) over Akron, if both want $95,000. That's a no-brainer, it's an easier win and the crowd will still be 18,000-20,000 either way. To get those games, Akron, probably has to undercut the competition. It's the price you pay when you are dangerous enough to make schools think twice, but not elite enough where the benefits of a win is greater than the risk of a loss (though in a school like UNC's case, a loss to Akron means little in the grand scheme of things). Maybe going $35,000 lower won't cut it. And there does come a point where you have to say we aren't a charity. But it sounds like KD isn't budging on his asking price. And maybe KD's unwillingness to go below the pay rate schools are paying the middling mid-majors and the low majors is catching up with him when he tries to reach out to those schools. Maybe that is why schools are simply not responding? At some point, if a school like UNC has told Akron in the past, we'll play you for $50-60, but not $95 and you keep calling demanding the $95, you get ignored. I'm not saying that is the case, but I think there has to be some reason why Akron is striking out left and right despite making 50-60 calls. Again, there comes a point where you don't want to be a charity for a school like UNC to make a million dollars off of one game. But if $50,000-$60,000 covers: 1. The expenses for travel ... which it would, doesn't Akron essentially cover the expenses for a school like North Carolina A&T to come up here. Akron isn't paying them nearly that amount of cash to come up here. So why would it be that much more for Akron to go down to North Carolina? 2. Makes up the lost revenue of losing out on a home game against a North Carolina A&T ... which I'm guessing it would at least be break even since those games are essentially just season ticket holders (who aren't buying their packages because, "Holy crap, we got North Carolina A&T on the schedule!") and maybe a couple hundred students who are paying nothing to get in. So, what is to gain by "whoring" yourself for lower than the asking price? Exposure ... since every major team has their TV rights controlled by one of the networks, and those networks aren't going to let a say UNC game go to waste. UNC, specifically, it wouldn't shock me if ESPN (which controls all of the ACC rights) wouldn't try to squeeze that game on one of its two main channels (ESPN, or ESPN2). The exposure aspect doesn't appear in the budget, but it's probably worth the $35,000 Akron would be giving up in its asking price for the game (though that would go down if a game would be on a more regionalized "national" channel ... BTN, SECN, etc.). But there is also the chance that Akron wins the game. If so, not only does it make an at-large more of a possibility, but it will be covered by all the websites and ESPN would be showing highlights on all their shows the next day. That type of exposure would be worth six figures. Hypothetically, lets say Akron approached ESPN and said how much would it cost to talk about us for two minutes on all your shows throughout the day? Since that would be like buying 50, 30 second commercial spots, the amount is pretty astronomical. I think KD gets the TV angle, which is why he is willing to take the neutral tourney games since they are TV involved. But you can take it a step further and play a true road game against an elite school (even at a discount) and still come out above. Worst case, you get drilled by UNC (or pick your elite HM). No shame, and you still get some money and some TV time, and you lose out on a gimme home game against NC A&T that nobody cares about anyway (and a 30-point win over NC A&T vs. a 30-point loss to UNC would mean the exact same thing, nothing). It's not like NC A&T will ever be the team that decides Akron's MAC or tourney fate. ... man, they only won 24 games, if they had just beat NC A&T and gotten to 25, they would be in the tourney, said nobody ever. Best case: You win (see above) I'll briefly touch on the ACC stuff, since if Akron is trying to stay in the conversation, I commend KD (and the athletic department). But lets be fair. That ACC Akron "could" potentially join would be the ACC in name only. The ACC is on very shaky grounds since the reason they stuck together a couple of years ago was mainly due to the promise of having their own network by 2016. Well, it's 2016 and an ACC Network is not anywhere on the horizon ... ESPN (which owns all the ACC content has decided against starting a conference-specific network.) You could realistically see the Big Ten (which is negotiating a new TV deal) come in and swipe Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Florida State (and create a Southern pod); the SEC swipe Virginia Tech and North Carolina State (to get into those states); the Big 12 swiping Miami, Duke, Notre Dame, Clemson, Louisville and Pitt. What does that leave the ACC with? Wake Forest, Boston College and maybe Syracuse (though I think Cuse and Connecticut end up somewhere, hell maybe the SEC goes North if the Big Ten dips South). So anyway, the ACC would pretty much be Wake Forest, Boston College, the AAC and then a couple other schools located in major markets operating under the guise of the ACC (since it's the more recognized league brand, which Wake Forest would hold the rights to since it's an original member). Still, that would be a big jump up from the MAC, but lets not think for a second that Akron would ever join an "ACC" with the likes of UNC, Duke, Louisville, Clemson, FSU, etc. Plus, even Akron getting into a bastardized ACC is hardly a given. Akron has a shot due to being in a large market without another, now P4, directly in competition. But there will be about 15-20 schools gunning for maybe 8-10 spots.

Thanks for the info. Very informative as you definitely have more inner knowledge than 95 percent of the people (definitely include myself in that) who post on here. I'm interested in hearing the names of schools that didn't even respond. Was Louisville one? Did Akron reach out to Louisville? If so, I'll never bring that topic up again (since it's something I've brought up several times on here). If Akron hasn't reach out to Louisville, I'm just curious as to why not? I am a bit perplexed that KD wouldn't take $60,000 for a game. It may be demeaning when a low-major is getting $95,000 for the same game, but when you think about it, that is actually a complement. I don't want to claim to know for sure, but I imagine even $60,000 covers the cost of travel, plus partially some of the costs of losing a home game. Even if it doesn't, I'm still sticking to that whatever financial losses are, could be made up just in terms of exposure (on top of the ultimate benefit of actually winning the game). If it's a home game for a major conference team, it's going to be on "national" TV. Would accepting $60,000 to travel to a blue blood (where the game is on national TV, albeit maybe a conference network ... though ESPN seems to like Akron so maybe a chance it gets on one of its two major channels) really be more detrimental than paying whatever amount it is to have North Carolina A&T come to Akron, and the game being on a grainy/lagging video feed, in front of maybe 2,000 people in the stands? I don't doubt that Akron's success has made it somewhat poisonous to the high majors (especially if Akron is demanding the same amount of money as the cupcakes ... and no doubt some schools simply don't want anything to do with them), but IMO, there are still avenues Akron to pursue. Is KD bringing up the exposure aspect Akron brings to these schools in NEO (see my post about the amount of local talent out there in the banquet thread)? KD has a tough job, but he's also getting paid what 700,000 a year? He and Larry Williams (who is also bringing in a fat paycheck), should be pursuing all avenues to make Akron basketball the best it can be. Overall, I think KD has been doing a good job in boosting the OOC schedule. But I think he still is resting too much on the "21 win" card against, solid but not tourney teams, too much, and not enough on the maybe we win 19 (or in a perfect world still 21) and not have to rely solely on Cleveland. It's been 10-plus years now, UA should be beyond resting on that streak as a reason why Akron is "good." It's delicate, but we've seen that the current win 21 (or even 24) and not winning three in Cleveland means going to OSU in the NIT. Maybe try to add a couple of more marquee games (even if it means the 21 streak is in jeopardy), and see what that does? Maybe nothing. But I'm a firm believer in scared money doesn't make money. KD has adjusted his recruiting philosophy into taking more risks. I think now is the time for it to take some more risks in scheduling to boost this program to what everybody who posts on here thinks it could be... And, if nothing else, there is always "three in Cleveland".

Or we could strive to become Wichita State. I don't see a problem with that being a goal, or it being unrealistic. (As I've readily admitted) I grew up a Cleveland State fan (didn't start rooting for Akron until I became a UA student in 2002). Anyway, I remember a game in the late 90s where Wichita State came to the Convocation Center. That Wichita State was nothing like the Wichita State team you see now. It was a team that people from Northeast Ohio would expect a team from BF Kansas to look like. I remember they had a big 6-10, floppy bowl-cut haired stiff who had legs that looked like tree trunks lumbering up and down the court. Cleveland State (which was very mediocre that year, but it was Rollie Massimino's first year which created some buzz locally) beat them. Fast forward 15-20 years, and now Wichita State is taking a guy like Anton Grady (who is a Cleveland kid) who was statistically one of the best players in CSU history, as a grad transfer to be a mid-tier starter at a mid-major power. Akron, actually has been under a similar rise as Wichita State, IMO, for the past 10 or so years. Just that Wichita was able to make that leap within the last 5 or so years (and it did help that the MVC was much better than the MAC when WSU made the move) to high-mid-major status. Say what you want, and while it's still not like the MVC of 5-6 years ago, the MAC is improving. It's time for Akron to step up and make a WSU type move. The 21-win streak obviously isn't as cracked up as KD and company want to make it out to be. Part of making that move is winning three in Cleveland (then another, or two, in the tourney). Another part of that is beating teams outside of MAC play that could still put you in the NCAA tournament if you "win 21" but only win two in Cleveland. And, even if you schedule more marquee teams and lose them all, you still have the three in Cleveland (see Buffalo, which actually was beaten even worse in almost all of their top-tier games than Villanova beat Akron). To be fair, though, the Arkansas game should've been a second marquee game for Akron. It just so happened that Arkansas lost two players early to the NBA and then had two more starters booted over the summer. I actually didn't mind Akron's schedule from last year. It was solid if not spectacular. My thing would be if you are willing to give up two home dates, let's not do it to play Iona and Santa Barbara in Las Vegas (even if they are solid teams). Play a true road game against a marquee school, and then try to get a marquee game in NEO (at the Q). Tough, yeah. Impossible, I don't believe so. I'm not talking going all Charlie Coles and playing your first 10 games on the road against high-caliber teams (like, seemingly, some of those Miami teams). But 3-4 of those games can only help (again, see Buffalo). And, if possible, try to get one of them at the Q. Akron is name enough, and NEO is churning out enough talent, where a marquee team could agree to it if properly pitched. And yes, Akron is now the most high-profile of the four NEO D1 teams. And if you doubt the amount of talent coming out of this area. Just take a look at 247sports' rankings for 2016. Ohio: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings?State=OH You'll notice 8 of the top 13 and 10 of the 19 listed were from either Cleveland or Akron (all 10 recruited by high majors). How does that stack up with the entire states of: Illinois: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings?State=IL That's 10 total kids (not just Chicago, but the entire state of Illinois, and that list is essentially nothing but mid-majors). How about the mecca of basketball ... New York: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=highschool&State=NY That's 14 total kids (from the entire state, and most are also mainly mid-majors). Yeah, it's one year, but Cleveland/Akron has as many high majors as NYC and Chicago combined. Think about that. And the NEO talent isn't going away. There are a handful of 2017 high majors from the region. Beyond that, there is a boatload of talent coming up. I'll call it the LeBron James effect on HS basketball in NEO. These are kids who know nothing but LeBron (mainly with the Cleveland Cavaliers). He has turned this area into a national hotbed. Akron is the closest thing to being a "marquee" local program, and Akron has the backing of LeBron. How do you turn these kids into Akron recruits? IMO, the best way is to go out and play (and hopefully beat) other high-profile teams. True, the best of the best will still go to Villanova, Syracuse, Michigan State, Michigan, Louisville and (I hate to say it Ohio State). But you could conceivably get the next-tier ... Willie Jackson (remember him, Missouri), Frankie Hughes (who also looks like he will be at Missouri since Louisville had to drop him ... he had an Akron offer). Or even more likely, not losing Akron's own Henry Baddley (I'm guessing Akron offer?) to Butler. ... Or Maishe Dailey (another Akron offer to Rutgers).

I agree. Ok, Houston turned down Akron. Move on to the next. Texas A&M (90 something miles away) is out there if you want to give Antino and the other Houston guys a "home game." Did Akron approach Texas A&M (a legit top 50 program)? I know KD doesn't want to play Shaka Smart, but Texas is also within driving distance from Houston. I'm sure if KD got over the not wanting to go up against his good friend, I'm guessing Shaka would do KD a solid if Akron was striking out left and right trying to get a game in the state of Texas. It's not like KD and Shaka are recruiting the same players. I've said this one before, and I'll continue to bring it up. Has Akron tried to get something together with Louisville? Play a game (2016) in Cleveland and then make a return (if Louisville wants one) in 2017. Why Louisville? For one, Rick Pitino has recruited the Cleveland/Akron area hard in recent years ... Zach Price (St. Edward), Terry Rozier (Shaker Heights), Trey Lewis (Garfield Heights, grad transfer from CSU) ... and 5-star freshman V.J. King (SVSM) is going to be a freshman (and potential one-and-done) this coming season. While King left SVSM to go to a school in Virginia, he grew up most of his life in the Akron area and most of his immediate family is from the Cleveland/Akron area. A game in Cleveland would be a homecoming for King, and King is the type of player Pitino, I'd imagine, would be open to granting a "homecoming". Plus, Louisville is recruiting 2017 (Cleveland) East Tech PG Markell Johnson hard (Johnson has Louisville in his top 5). A game in Cleveland could give Pitino a chance to just happen to "bump" into Johnson. On the Akron end, the biggest ally the school has is the guy who fills Quicken Loans arena 50 times a year (LeBron). KD obviously has a close relationship with LeBron, and LeBron has a close (and now a financial stake) in the University of Akron. I'd imagine if you get LeBron involved (and Louisville would definitely benefit off being apart of something that has LeBron's name attached to it) there is, IMO, a possibility of something coming together if properly pitched/marketed. How many people do you think would attend Akron-Louisville at the Q? I'm saying at least 15,000. Akron would bring 5,000; Louisville has a huge national following and I think would be well-represented; and Louisville is a brand that would get a large number of unaffiliated local college basketball fans buzzing. 15,000 should make that type of game financially feasible, as long as Akron doesn't expect it to be a "home" game for its bottom line. Hell, even if Louisville is the "home team" and gets whatever gate share that is out there, it's still a win for Akron, just getting a program like Louisvillle to come and play in NEO is a win regardless. And Akron has given up home gates (see the Vegas tourney this year against Santa Barbara and Iona) for less. Even if you aren't making money off of this type of game, the fact that you could potentially play the No. 1 brand in all of college basketball (if you believe the WSJ's recent valuations) in your backyard is every reason in the world to try to make it a possibility. And Akron could sweeten the pot, and make up money on the back end, by saying it will take half the amount Louisville usually pays an opponent to come to the Yum Center the following year. Basically, what you would have: Akron: Overall, still makes money off a 2017 game in Louisville, even if going down there is at a discount and not getting a share of the gate in Cleveland. And you get a premier team to come to your backyard. And since Akron has given up gates for less recently (see last year's Vegas tournament), just being able to get two games against a program like Louisville is a huge win from a marketing standpoint (and imagine if Akron actually wins one of the games?). Let's just say Akron gets $50,000 off of two games against Louisville (one being as close of a home game as you can ever come close to getting), is that worth losing two home games against Arkansas Pine-Bluff? Louisville: Could actually make some money (though not nearly as much as a true home game) on a neutral game in Cleveland if it acts as the "home" team. But could make up some of those losses if Akron comes down next year and "only" demands $50,000 (I think Louisville averages about $100,000 for visiting teams). Louisville's main incentive would be giving up one true home gate to get the chance to play a game in an area that it has heavily emphasized in recruiting recently (remember Louisville, to go along with the names above, also had a commitment from 2016 Garfield Heights guard Frankie Hughes, but had to part with him due to the NCAA situation they are in). Dan Gilbert (Quicken Loans Arena): Let's say Louisville gets 100 percent of the ticket sales (throwing out 15,000 at $20 a pop for $300,000), still potentially money to be made for Dan Gilbert if he takes all the concessions. I'm guessing concessions would net at least another $300,000. Maybe that isn't worth it in a vacuum for Gilbert (who would have to pay workers and other costs of having the venue open for a day), but the guy is a multi-billionaire, so even if it happens to be a $100,000 loss, that isn't a big deal, especially since Akron could have the ace in the hole of making something like this happen. LeBron (with no financial stake) could easily approach Gilbert and say, look I've made you a billion dollars, eat this $100,000 or $200,000, if that would be what is holding a game like this up. This is pretty basic, and I guess a blueprint for what KD and UA could use to at least reach out to Louisville. Who knows, maybe Louisville won't be interested. If that's the case, oh well. At least you tried (and trying to get two games against Louisville >>>>> trying to get one game against Houston). BTW, I'm sure somebody will bring up the potential NCAA sanctions against Louisville. I'll eat crow on this if I'm wrong, but nothing is going to happen to slow that train down (they make too much money). Louisville already gave up the tourney this year (a year they legitimately had a chance at a national title) and have self-imposed two scholarship reductions (one this year which cost them Frankie Hughes) and one in 2017. That will be enough to satisfy the NCAA. With the talent they have already and coming in (led by Akron's V.J. King), those sanctions will merely be a speed bump for that program. I continue to bring up Louisville because that is the most realistic school that could come to Cleveland ... though maybe Kansas is also an option because they have 5-star sophomore Carlton Bragg (Cleveland VASJ), but Kansas hasn't traditionally recruited Cleveland/Akron like Louisville. But overall, Akron could, IMO, get ONE game AT any marquee program if it wants. But that would mean taking a discount (like I alluded to above) to make it happen. For example, I'm sure Akron could go up to North Carolina and say, we'll play you at the Dean Dome for $50,000. North Carolina would take that, since they, like Louisville, probably average $100,000 paydays to mid-majors to come in. UNC doesn't care about a potential home loss to Akron (it's not like that would affect their overall tourney chances). They would look at it as: We can pay Radford (just a vague example) for $100,000, or we can pay Akron $50,000. Yeah, we'll go with Akron. I think all this talk about "nobody" wanting to play Akron is bogus. Of course UNC is going to pick Radford over Akron if the money is equal. Those marquee programs are selling out either way and "Radford" is the much easier win. But if Akron comes in at half the cost, yeah, UNC is going to listen. True, that means Akron is kind of whoring itself to get that kind of game, but that comes with the territory of being a successful mid-major who still needs those kinds of games (gaining even $50,000 at UNC>losing out on a home game against North Carolina A&T). I think Akron "missing" out on those types of games is them thinking they deserve Radford type money to go there, even though (and this is a good thing) they aren't a "Radford" type program.

Unfortunately, you may be right. I'm not going to name names because it wouldn't be fair because the guys coming in/or who redshirted haven't had an opportunity to prove themselves. But from the little that I've seen (and also heard from talking to some other people), it looks like there is a lot of marginal, or redundant, players that will be on this roster, especially in the front-court. Hudson is a high-major talent. Pierce has an elite attribute (his 7-foot, 245 pound frame). If both would happen to say they want to go to Akron, but get turned down to being out of scholarships, it's a massive failure on KD's part. I know he's in a tough spot, but he's making $700,000 a year to put the best team he can out there. As of right now, 2017 and beyond looks pretty meh, especially with the rest of the MAC improving. I'm willing to see how things play out, but as of right now, it looks like we better enjoy 2016-17, and the only reason I'm really optimistic about next year is due to Big Dog's emergence. I think he is going to establish himself as the best player in the KD era, and probably his first NBA draftee (though almost 100 percent will be second-round due to age and not being the athlete NBA teams covet, but somebody will take him). We'll have solid guard play after Big Dog (and Kwan) leaves, though those guards will continue to be undersized and defensively challenged. And unless this team can get somebody who can somewhat do what Big Dog will do next year (cough, cough, Pierce... or a take-over wing talent ... cough, cough, Hudson), our undersized guards, countered with undersized and unproven big men, probably equals a mediocre MAC team. I've said what can be said. I guess we'll just see where Pierce (and Hudson) end up. If both end up at other high majors, all of this is moot. But if one (or both) end up at a program on the same level of Akron, I think it's reasonable to question why KD didn't land them (whether that is due to scholarship issues, or flat-out whiffing).

I hope so. Part of the reason Pierce is transferring is because he wants more playing time (meaning he is probably looking toward a Mid Major program). Akron fits the bill there and it's the hometown team, who will just so happen to have an opening at center when he would be eligible in 2017. Getting to go up against Big Dog in practice in his sit-out year could also be huge for his development, since Big Dog is going to be one of the top college big men in the nation next season. This team is going to severely lack any sort of height once Big Dog and Kwan leave after next season. Pierce could come in and at least give Forsythe-type production, which would be needed as the other big men so far in the fold are in the 6-6 to 6-8 range, with absolutely zero college experience, collectively. That could get you by in the MAC, but I thought this program was looking "bigger" than that. Plus, Pierce seems like a guy who also could've been a developmental player at an ACC school. He did shoot 51 percent (51/100) and 67 percent from the line (29/43) in his limited playing time as a freshman/sophomore at Va. Tech. Looking at his game log from this past year, I'm not sure why he didn't see more time. But he saw a decent amount of minutes in six games: (five against high majors .. Northwestern, West Virginia, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Syracuse). The other game he saw double-digit minutes was against our personal favorite Arkansas Cream-Puff. So, it doesn't appear that his albeit limited stats, were the product of feasting upon the low-to-mid-majors on VT's schedule then not playing at all against the better teams. His freshman numbers are far more encouraging: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/3147502/year/2015/satchel-pierce Not sure what happened this year, other than VT wanting to play smaller, that meant such a decrease in minutes. His freshman, ACC-only numbers looked like this: Games played: 20 Minutes: 319 (15.95 per game) Points: 68 (3.4 per game) Rebounds: 51 (2.6 per game) Assists: 11 (.6 per game) Blocks: 16 (.8 per game) Turnovers: 29 (1.5 per game) FG%: .509 (28/55) FT%: .600 (12/20) That looks like pretty solid production for a freshman playing in arguably the best conference in college basketball (7 of those 20 games against top 20 teams). I know you can't extrapolate stats in a vacuum, but for shits and gigs, I'll do it here. Per 30 minutes, as a freshman, in only ACC games, here is how Pierce's per game production looked: PPG: 6.4 RPG: 4.9 APG: 1.1 BPG: 1.5 TPG: 2.8 To me, seems like the kid can play in the ACC. So, he can definitely play in the MAC. Hopefully, KD can sell him on not just coming home, but going up against a potential NBA big-man prospect in Big Dog for a year in practice, then putting him in the lineup after that and letting him see what he can do in 25-30 minutes per game in the MAC, with what will be a very experienced backcourt by that time (including playing with another Barberton/SVSM guy in Josh Williams). Maybe we should rename this thread "Jalen Hudson/Satchel Pierce". ... Since both guys are ex-Virginia Tech guys (with some Akron ties) who are looking for new homes. To bring it back to Hudson, if he wants to come here, you make room for him, for sure, just don't see that happening. But if somehow Akron is able to get both, man, would the 2017-18 season look promising, even with the losses of Big Dog and Kwan.

Bowden has done a remarkable job in general with keeping players out of trouble. The only incident I can recall was the McDonalds situation a couple years ago, and the players involved were all Ianello recruits, and it wasn't that big of a situation either when compared to the stuff most football programs have had to deal with. Hopefully, this string of good fortune continues.

No idea where he will end up, but he is from Richmond, Va., and transferred into SVSM as a junior, so its not like going to Akron would be going home, which is why it was no shock he ended up at Va. Tech to begin with. With that being said, his Va. Tech bio does say he was born in Akron, and he has a history of transferring from a Virginia school to an Akron school after his sophomore season ... With that being said, I imagine he will end up at another high major. He isn't leaving an ACC school because it's above his head. He'll have plenty of options. However, fellow Va. Tech teammate Satchel Pierce is also transferring. He is from Barberton (also played at SVSM). He's a 7 footer, who put up OK numbers as a freshman ... 3.2 ppg, 2.4. rpg, .5 apg and .7 bpg in 13.8 minutes a game. Last year, he seemed to fall out of the rotation for whatever reason. He would be a solid replacement for Big Dog in 2017, and would have two years remaining. I'd take them both for sure, but of the two Pierce seems more realistic, IMO, if there is even room for him scholarship wise.

Clayton has definitely taken the torch from Shawn Barber and ran with it (bad pun and all). Even without Barber, I look forward to seeing what this team (men's and women) can do outdoor, nationally. Akron is blessed with some high quality coaches (Embrick, Dambrot and Bowden), but Dennis Mitchell quietly may be the best of them all. He built the program to national respectability even before Stiles was built. Since then, it has become a national level program in both men and women. Crazy to think that this summer, two Zips (one being Barber, who if he wasn't so good, would still be with the program) could be competing in Brazil on the sport's biggest stage, while both being college aged... And both with a legit shot to medal, obviously Barber having more than just a shot. Talking gold with him.

I'm just popping in here, like I do from time to time. I'm hardly a soccer guy, but have started to get into the sport some more (thanks to the Akron program). Is the kid from Medina expected to be a Zip?

Hopefully he is as accurate as this lefty, who also happens to be from California. http://nesn.com/2015/07/remember-that-time-randy-johnson-killed-a-bird-with-a-fastball-video/

Fitting way to end one of the most frustrating seasons in Akron history.

This shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. ESPN, a couple years ago, paid a huge amount of money to air the NIT. The games are based on what brings in the most money (attendance/TV audience). Akron@OSU accomplishes that from ESPN's perspective. I don't see an issue with that, either. This is a consolation tournament. If ESPN wants to make the tournament economically viable, then ESPN has the right to set it up so it's also economically viable for them.

NIT!! I'm so pumped!

Buffalo is clearly the better team tonight. This is ugly.

Sadly, GoZips is right, we don't win tonight and it's @OSU in the NIT (which isn't diplomatic, they set up matchups based on what makes the most money). Let's just beat Buffalo and lock up, at worst, a 12 seed.

While I do agree that the bench antics have made them the media darling, and the resume doesn't scream at large, can't with a straight face say the Zips get in over them. The wins against ND and USC are way better than any the Zips have. Then, they have two wins (UCLA and Georgetown) that are equal to the Arkansas game. After that, the Zips resume is much better, but it doesn't matter after that. If Akron loses in the MAC final, it's 26-8. Monmouth also lost in the final and will be 27-7. Hopefully, Monmouth does get squeezed... Wichita State and the loser of St. Mary's/Gonzaga is in. If three mid majors get at larges, Monmouth, unfortunately, has that spot. Valpo is assurdedly NIT bound, along with schools like Akron, Little Rock or San Diego State, if any also falter. With all that said, might as well now root for teams like Little Rock and San Diego State to lose. It only helps a MAC champ Akron's seeding. That Monmouth loss really only hurts those aforementioned schools if a third mid major would get an at large. But I doubt Akron would've been next in line anyway. San Diego State is probably there with Akron fighting Little Rock and Valpo for mid major spots 5-7. And since nothing past three matters, it's moot.

That's good news for Akron, who will have a decided home-court crowd advantage on Thursday. Even when you consider that whatever BG and CMU fans show up Thursday will be rooting for EMU, the Zips crowd alone should be bigger than EMU, CMU and BG combined. Though, I'm guessing it's gonna be a small crowd regardless. Maybe 2,000 Zips fans and combined 1,500 for EMU, BG and CMU. Then, if we get to Friday, the Zips will even have a bigger crowd advantage. Probably 4,000 to 1,000. A title game vs. Ohio would save overall attendance. Could see 12,000-plus for that one, split roughly 5,000 between Akron and OU, with 2,000 general fans. I'm not saying the Zips should get favorable calls, but with no Kent in Cleveland, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a little home-cooking. Not even OU could save what will be the worst attendence since the tourney has moved to Cleveland if both Akron and Kent are both gone before Friday, and you know Steinbrecher is secretly rooting for that Akron-OU title game, which has become this league's biggest draw. Obviously, if the Zips show up, the refs shouldn't matter, but its one of those little things to keep in mind. And for any other conspiracy theorists, I'd imagine that with the Valpo and Monmouth losses ending any hopes of the MAC being a two-bid league, the league may try to protect its best team. Who knows, though, this is the MAC. Watch Big Dog get straddled with two ticky tack fouls in four minutes of the first half against EMU. That also wouldn't surprise me.

Yeah, Miami is horrible on the road. Ball State should win. Count me in as rather playing EMU over Toledo on Thursday. I think all the home teams will win. WMU over NIU, on a neutral court, would be interesting, but since NIU is 17-1 at home, think they survive.

Im guessing since its a noon tip, it's probably going to be ESPN3.

This was the road I was hoping the Zips could avoid, while Toledo, EMU and CMU all are inconsistent, they are among the three most talented teams in the league, and all (especially Toledo and CMU) present some mismatches against us due to having some good athletic guards. Whatever, can't complain about the 1 seed and playing the tourney in our backyard. Plus, this draw potentially sets up a road where the Zips can knock out Kent in the semis and Ohio (or Buffalo) in the finals. That would be a satisfying road to the title.

From the way I see it, if the Zips win out, they are probably straddling that 12/13 line if you use a mix of RPI (which still favors the Zips) and KenPom (which pretty much hates us, due to a low defensive ranking) as a rough estimate of where teams will be slotted. IMO, a win against Kent and the MAC tourney puts the Zips squarley on the 12 line (looking at a mid 30s RPI and mid 60s KenPom ranking). A loss to Kent and the MAC title puts them squarley on the 13 line, though maybe as low as a 14 if KenPom is more heavily factored. So tonight's game is huge if you consider the odds of advancing as a 12 vs. 13/14 As for the MAC tournament, it's gonna shake out how it shakes out, but looking ahead to the final games around the league, there is a scenario that looks real good for Akron (thanks to the simulator that was posted in the OU thread). IMO, this is what we have to root for this weekend: 1. Akron over Kent (that's a given regardless of how it affects seedings) 2. Buffalo over BG: likely a given, even if it's at BG. 3.Ohio over Miami: see above 4. CMU over WMU: At CMU, so a good bet. 5. Toledo over EMU: It's at Toledo, but who knows with those two teams. A lot of talent, crap shoot results. 6. Ball State over NIU: This one is the most important, but probably the toughest to happen since NIU is 16-1 at home. On the bright side, BSU is a good road team. If those play out, here is the MAC seedings: Top half: 1. Akron vs. 8. NIU or 9. EMU. You'd think NIU would be a favorite at home over EMU, and NIU is a good matchup for Akron in Cleveland. But even if EMU wins, while I think would pose more of a challenge, they would be going from Chicago on a Tuesday night to Cleveland to play a noon game on Thursday. Tough turnaround for either. 4. Ball State vs. 5. Buffalo or 12. BG: let's pencil in Buffalo. Either way, the Zips match up with any of the three, though would be rooting for BSU to knock off Buffalo on Thursday. Don't see BSU beating us. Buffalo, though, is a different story, though they would be doing it in 3 games in four days. While it was 4 in 4 for Akrom last year, we saw how that much play took out of the Zips in the second half of last year's semi against Buffalo. Really, can't ask for a better draw than that. On the bottom: 2. CMU vs. 7. Toledo or 10. Miami. You figure Toledo will get past Miami (who is horrible on the road). That sets up a quarterfinal (on the opposite side) of what you can argue are the two most talented teams in the league, outside of Akron. No. 3 Ohio vs. No. 6 Kent or 11. WMU. Kent is 2-0 against WMU, but neither were easy. Still, you have to love the fact that either OU or Kent (maybe both) would be gone before the semis. I like OU down here, and against either CMU or Toledo. What does that set up... Akron vs. Ohio for the NCAA on the line. As much as well all hate Kent, this is probably the biggest current rivaly in MAC hoops. If this happens, it would be the fourth time in seven years the two would meet in the MAC title game. You talk about a big-time atmosphere, I would bet anything that this game draws 12,000-plus. And when you factor in the pregame bar scene, it will be a rowdy 12,000. It always is when you have two of three between Akron/Ohio/Kent in the finals. Really makes the MAC title game one of the best conference tourney atmospheres in CBK, including any of the power leagues. That's just best case. Hopefully, the Zips are prepared to play their best basketball regardless, since there is no shot at an at-large and an NIT bid (especially since it will likely be a road game, probably at OSU, thanks to ESPN) would be a colossal disappointment.

It really isn't. High school games in this area are gonna draw regardless, especially at the bigger schools, which are usually getting 2,000 for big games, and there are gonna be at least a half dozen of those on any given Tuesday or Friday. I'm not sure what the HS schedule is for other MAC states, but the *Tuesday-Saturday format, just to appease one (maybe two) Friday games (which due to the Zips' success, will have cost them four of their 5 slotted home Saturday games.) has hurt most of the Ohio teams, but especially Akron since we've had to bite the Tuesday-Friday bullet way more than any team. *The Tuesday games were implemented just so about two teams a week wouldn't have to play a second game in three days ... Since the Zips will be responsible for 5 of the league's 12 or so Friday appearances, I guess that is fair, instead of staying with the Wednesday-Saturday schedulem This probably deserves its own thread, since it is an interesting topic, but there really isn't anything the Zips can do to compete with the HS games. Your talking about community vs. community at the least. Then, your talking about an area with a ton of good teams. Hell, put OSU basketball on Tuesday-Friday and I gaurantee attendance would fall, mainly due to being in an area (Columbus) with a lot of good HS teams (who would also be playing a lot of times in rival games). And I agree, nothing can be done about the Cavs. Whatever day, just gotta hope they aren't also at home. This year, been pretty lucky. I remember years past the Zips going H2H against the Cavs, with home games for both, 3-4 times. That's just the breaks of being in an NBA market, going against a team that sells out every game (in one of the largest venues in the NBA). And one that has the highest local TV ratings in the league, thanks mostly due to a guy from Akron, and with the Cavs playing so many years in Summit County, the team (even without LeBron) is hugely popular in the Akron area. From my experiences, the Cavs seem to still be the pro team people from Akron really have latched onto because of the Richfield days, when it was more an Akron team than a Cleveland team, despite the "Cleveland" name.

Pretty close. I broke down the scenarios in the Tuesday enchilada thread ... maybe I'll hit up Casa Del Rio (good Mexican joint here in Wadsworth) and get an enchilada in anticipation for a title Tuesday afternoon. First tiebreaker is H2H, second is division record (which Akron owns with just one more win). Third tiebreaker is record vs. ranked team (or top to bottom standings), which won't come into play. There could be a three way tie that can hurt Akron, which I addressed. Oops, meant to quite GJGood.

While Tuesday is the absolute clincher for the MAC East title and No. 1 overall seed (and NIT bid), Ball State could still take a share of the overall title even if Akron beats OU, and BSU wins out and Akron then loses to Kent. Both would be 12-6, with Akron holding the tiebreaker. Conversely, Akron would still win the MAC title with a loss to Ohio, but a win against Kent (as long as BSU loses one of its final 2). Even if OU and Akron are tied at 12-6, Akron has the tie breaker as the Zips would be 7-3 in East play, where OU would be 6-4. Divisional record determines the tiebreaker if two teams are tied and 1-1 against each other. ... Again, technically a shared title. If the Zips win just one, the only way the can't win the No. 1 seed and the NIT bid is if Akron loses to OU and both OU and BSU win out. That makes a 3 team tie. Ohio would win in H2H play... 2-0 against BSU and 1-1 against Akron. ... Akron would be 1-0 and 1-1 in that situation. So despite three teams getting to claim the title, OU would get the one and the NIT bid. Akron would be the two and BSU the three. That's laying out all the scenarios for Akron (outside of going 0-2, and if it comes to that, does it really matter?). But 71 is absolutely correct in saying a win vs OU wraps up the 1 seed. It gives the Zips the tiebreaker over the only two teams that would still have a shot at 12-6. Hopefully, they make it real easy and just hold home court against the two biggest rivals. Do that and no sharing of anything is involved.