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If you're talking about the last few games specifically, those teams had the athletic ability to get into those potential passing lanes. I've always believed that this has a lot to do with why major upsets in basketball, at any level, are so often a result of teams simply getting hot with the long range jumpers.

Dave, I was trying as nicely as possible to state how crazy it is to think that the kind words of a broadcaster during a blowout are somehow going to impact opinion, against the overwhelming data provided by the performances on the basketball court. Trust me. I share your frustration. I wanted to pull my hair out every time they flashed that "Record of 0-35 against ranked teams" graphic.

Come on Dave. The "they can beat MAC-level teams, but flop against teams at a higher level" perception will linger as long as this pattern continues. Nothing anyone says is going to change that right now. Heck, even people right here in AKRON that don't follow Akron basketball as closely as you and I feel this way. So, you can only imagine the perception among those who only see us during an occasional national broadcast. And that perception is the only thing that matters to the basketball fans, writers, coaches, selection committees, etc., outside of Akron, who are the people that will ultimately matter if we want to elevate our national stature.

They beat us physically, just like the first time. The only difference is that they hit a few more shots this time. Had they hit shots in the first game, that game would have been a 30+ blowout also. Going back several games now, I think the effort the guts and the focus, which have been trademarks of so many of Dambrot's Akron teams, is not there right now. This team needs to find a Dials or a Linhart very soon.

Romeo is the only MAC MVP Until someone equals that, that's my vote. There were just too many "good" players during this era, but none that truly stand out against the others.

Absolutely.

Geez. What a tough week!! Pray for them all !!

Looking back, I don't think too many people on this board seemed too concerned when I harped and harped about how we played so lazy for most of the Bethune-Cookman game, including nearly the entire 2nd half. Even when I pointed out how disgusted Keith looked. There is a method to his madness. Don't ever forget that.

Neutral court with hardly anyone in the stands? Can't get a better opportunity than that to beat these teams. Those teams were all thousands of miles from home also. And none of them are coming to Akron. So, what situation would have been better? And two of those three teams were in the bottom level of their conference.

You should have read before you posted. I think I already saw it. And it ticks me off just as much. This basketball program is not growing. Disappointing. And some people seem to be fine with that and satisfied to wait until March and forget about the last two games of this tournament, and the MTSU and St. Marys games. Not me. I want a team that's hungry to do more.

Two different nights...two different ways to wear a team down. That's the way I saw it. Iowa State ran us to death in the 2nd half. South Carolina pounded us in the paint in the 2nd half. End of story.

True. It's not gonna happen. And as much as I'd love to see it, that would mean that they'd be beating us too, wouldn't it? One interesting things will be to see where they stand going into the Kansas game. They are already getting Top 25 votes.

I think that goes without saying that 19-0 would capture much more attention than 22-5 Then add a win over a ranked Kansas team.

On your first point.....Absolutely. On your second point.....Yes, that would be a great breakthrough for the conference. Unfortunately, none of those teams are anywhere close to where they need to be to even get a sniff at an at-large. As always, you need to be looking at about that #30 RPI range. And once any of those teams lose a couple of conference games, it will be very difficult to get to that number. I think the real question we should be asking as MAC fans right now is: How high can Toledo get if they stay unbeaten for a few more weeks, which would include a win over a ranked Kansas team? That should serve as a gauge for rest of us in the future.

We've been there, trust me. You folks obviously have some of the same problems with the idiot fans of that team in Iowa City as we have with some college in Cowlumbus.

I know how it came about, I just posted that I am baffled as to why we did it. Don't get me wrong. I love the opportunity to play power conference teams. I just don't think anyone would think it makes sense to play two games against the same non-conference team in 3 days. Lets just hope it all works out for the best.

I'd go with an 0-1 record. Detroit, St. Mary's and MTSU wouldn't be on too many people's lists of wins that would elevate a D-1 program. But still, a win against SMU or MTSU would have meant something.

I'm upset because I think it really takes away form the excitement of playing them on Saturday, especially if we lose the first meeting on a neutral court. Frankly, I'm still a little baffled as to why we scheduled this game in SC when there was a chance we'd play them in Hawaii.

We will absolutely move on, and we'll get better, and we'll win plenty of games. Everyone knows that. It just takes the wind out of the fans' sails a bit whenever we miss another opportunity to do something of real significance. As you can see, even the Iowa State fans are amazed that we've never won one of these kinds of games, ever.

Bottom Line: Iowa State's players moved REALLY well WITHOUT the ball. Made it very difficult to defend them. They just had great quickness cutting to the basket. Not a lot you can do about that. But, the part that pissed me off was that we had a TOTAL LAPSE when it came to blocking out when they did miss from close range. That's mental. It doesn't take a great deal of talent to remember to get a body on someone when the ball is in the air.

I think you'll find that Big Dog has tremendous foot speed for his size. I think you need to watch him a little more. I agree that Cheatum is going to be a needed commodity. I've been harping about this for awhile. I think he just had a few mental errors last night.

So, there's a chance now that we could play South Carolina twice in one week?

Both good points. The height advantage/disadvantage: With this particular Zips team, I'd be most afraid of a team that has a significant size advantage. A team that has great talent at guard and wing would appear to be a much easier team to handle.

I hope so, but I don't see some sudden emergence of an all-around productive Center. I know I've been a little rough on Pat through some bad performances this year, but I said this among friends last night: Give me GREAT hard-nosed effort defensively, attack the rim a few times, and pull down 5 rebounds a game consistently, and I think we get all we need out of him. He may never be much of an offensive weapon, and with the talent we are putting on the floor, we probably don't ever need him to be. Big Dog appears to have far more potential as a point scorer, and the two of them rotating should do the job.

Unfortunately, Ibitayo can't play the guard position that Betancourt plays.