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Just a correction. That was MTSU's conference, 2 conferences ago. They are in Conference USA. Before that, they were in the Sun Belt. But they were indeed in the OVC back in my student days. Maybe that's what you remember. The OVC's participant this year is Jacksonville St., a #15 seed.

The only ranked team I recall was Nevada. That was a great one to get here. And I recall having a final possession to beat them but didn't score. That could have been the big boost that got us over the hump 10 years ago. We're still looking for that big win today. Aren't we missing Austin Peay? I'm almost certain that was a bracket buster game.

Just one of the many benefits to playing a more difficult OOC.

It as least confirms just how badly the Selection Committee likes to downgrade teams like this. They were a 12 playing a 5, and Vegas still had them as a 1.5 point favorite. If they had not made it, they would have been the first school with 28 or more wins to ever be left out of the tournament. Makes me sick.

I remember that.

Yep, she was into it. You couldn't help but to notice her in every camera shot when we came down to that end of the floor. Credit for the effort to get the capacity 1,000 crowd into the game. That's a tough job.

Does that support the need to give the #1 seed more of an advantage? Or, are you saying you're fine with that? The #1 has actually only WON 2 of the last 9 titles. That's surprising. To clarify where Akron was in all title games: Akron has won as a #5, #6 and #1 Akron has lost as a #2, #3, #3, #1, #1 and #1 Akron was eliminated in Semi-Finals as a #4 and #7

Here's a few thoughts: 1) If you only have to play 1 extra game, 3 days before the Quarterfinal games, that's not much of a penalty for being outperformed by the top teams in your league throughout the season. 2) No league champ, especially ones who dominated (2016 and 2017 Zips, for example), should suffer all-or-nothing consequences by losing the 21st conference game of the season, when the first 20 games demonstrated superiority over the rest of the league. 3) There's a reason why they play a SERIES in the NBA. It'll never happen in college basketball, but I think anyone can agree that one designated game can't possibly be a true indication of the difference between 2 teams.

By the way, Kudos to the old gray-haired lady in the first row at Houston who was on her feet the entire 2nd half waving to everyone to stand up. We could use a few of those at our home games.

Great post. And it's not a new problem. Just look back at our first NIT win in 2006 (when Quade had to start at Center), playing the storied Temple program in Philadelphia in front of a whopping 1,017 attendees. http://www.espn.com.au/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=260730218 And Temple's leading scorer that night has this to say: "That's embarrassing, losing in the first round to Akron," I wonder if Houston felt the same way last night? They both should be embarrassed about their turnout.

They became only the 3rd team to NOT get an NCAA bid with 27 wins. So, we can't deny that we know the magic historical number. And NO TEAM with 28 wins has ever been left out. So, the formula seems pretty straightforward: Unless there is a change in scheduling philosophy, just win 28 games (easily attainable this year with any combination of bad performances at home, and/or the road game at BG going the other way). There's no guarantee with these committees. But, I'd sure prefer to put ourselves in a situation where we'd be a historical omission, rather than throw my hands in the air and claim that we don't know how to get there. And I'm not crying today if I am Illinois State. They have 3 home games and a ticket to MSG waiting for them as their "consolation prize" for being recognized as missing the NCAA by a razor-thin margin. I'd love to be in their position right now.

Those Top 5 Seeds on our side were 53,54,62,65, and 66 in RPI. They had the justification to sort our side much differently, if they had chosen to do so. In fact, I think Arlington should have the biggest bitch of all sitting at #45. But, who would give them a justifiably higher seed with "names" like Cal, Houston and BYU in there?

One seeding spot away from playing a home game in the 2nd round. That sucks. I think that would be great for Akron to get an NIT game in Rhodes Arena. Actually, I'm not pissed at all that UT-Arlington was seeded higher that us, but some of the others on our side were treated quite generously, including Houston. And the results have shown it.

Damn. I wish we would know the result of that game before we played. I thought that was probably unlikely with that game being played out West. Now I wonder if that's possible to start flying, and change our flight plan mid-flight? I'd think we might just stay in Texas until Tuesday morning and fly one direction or the other.

If Cal-Bakersfield wins, the game would be at Akron. If Colorado State wins, we'll be flying from Texas to Ft. Collins, CO for a road game.

It takes all of the pressure off of that first shot. No doubt.

Winning ANY games against ANY prominent basketball program is what we need. NIT, NCAA, Regular Season or Holiday Tournament. It doesn't matter. We just need to beat some people. Our side of the bracket is looking so sweet right now. The 2nd round games are #6 vs. #7 and #4 vs. #8. And still a chance that we can get a 3rd round home game?? That would be incredible. Does anyone know yet if #8 Cal Bakersfield will play their game before us on Monday? Wow. If they pull off another upset, that would sure light a fire under our a$$es to win and get the home game.

I wonder if that is going to provide some extra incentive for him to give us 100% and be unselfish from here on out? Lay it all on the line for Akron, Kwan. We need you.

Whoa there Zippy. Like I said yesterday, it seems that we're all pretty equal in our bracket at this point. But we'll still have 2 road games and 2 MSG games. Long way to go. I think the spread between games is a real blessing for us. Especially for the Big Dog. Shouldn't have any fatigue problems now. Gosh, what a difference in energy between last year's NIT game and this year. HUGE difference between playing on Wednesday this year, and Tuesday last year.

I don't think you're going to notice much of a difference in quality between any of these NIT opponents and Akron, regardless of the Seeding. Akron's RPI - 58 Houston - 54 Potential 2nd Round Opponent BYU - 65 Potential 2nd Round Opponent UT-Arlington - 45 We're all pretty much the same. You just have to want to win the games.

That's correct. That's the only way we can get a home game is if the #8 Seed in our bracket wins their 2nd round game. I'm just glad the season isn't over!!

........and the CMU Chippewas have been mathematically eliminated from contention for a MAC title in 2018.

Happy to see that. But he'll surely get honored before the first home game next year.

I thought that was a brilliant move by the coaches to use a forward with some ball handling skills in the MAC tournament that year, when we had almost no PGs left. But that was a bad situation for him against a team that pressures like that.

Yes, He was on IV right before the game. I'm not sure about Walsh. I was just commenting only about the depleted Guards, since that had such an enormous impact on the game because of VCU's pressure.