jeaglet1

First off, using "retarded" as a derogatory slam in very poor taste. I know people who have mentally challenged friends and relatives who would find that very offensive, not to mention it sounds extremely sophomoric. Sorry, it's become a pet peeve of mine. Second, I always laugh when this topic of fan base vs fan base comes up (not necessarily these two specifically, but just in general). In this thread alone someone tells the troll to stop acting like his school is so much better, then others turn around and do the same thing in reverse. I have met just as many bad fans from Akron as Ohio, Buffalo, BG, etc... I'll admit, my first few experiences at Akron games were not enjoyable ones due to some boneheaded fans. If I had let the minority speak for the majority, I'd have never come to the JAR again, even if my wife is an alum. Let's just all agree trolls are everywhere and they shouldn't be fed. (This isn't directed at anyone specifically, just a general observation.) On the topic of this thread, I think as of right now it would be Eastern Kentucky. Maybe one of the Dakotas or Iona. After Creighton (repeat match up), the selection is pretty thin for road teams. Simply looking at the numbers its a much better year to be a road team as they will almost certainly get to play a team with a higher RPI. They way things worked out have really hurt Wichita St. and Akron. The next grouping of road teams all have higher RPIs than Akron, hovering between 66 and 85. Two wins this week would probably vault Akron to the #3 home team (behind Belmont and Wichita St.). Unfortunetly, that would mean a match up from the same group of teams. Top Road Teams (RPI from RPIforecast.com): Creighton (29) - Pretty much locked into a game @ Belmont on ESPN, plus they've already played Akron. Two 200+ games before the match ups are announced. North Dakota St. (59) - Coming off back to back losses to Western Illinois (133) and SD St. (60). Plays #278 & 240 this week, with no top 100 RPI games remaining and only 2 in the top 200. Have to wonder what their RPI will end up being with so many bad teams left, especially if they slip and lose just once. South Dakota St. (60) - Also play #240 and #278 this week, with no top 100 RPI games remaining and only 2 in the top 200. Same concerns as ND St. At least they did win at New Mexico and I believe have Nate Wolters who had a good tourney a few years ago. Eastern Kentucky (76) - They play #309 and #243 this week. They already played Belmont twice, and have 1 top 100 game (Tennessee St.) and two more top 200 games left. They did win their only game against Murray St. this year (on the road). Stephen F Austin (77) - Play 250 and 321 this week. They have 2 top 100 and 8 250 + games left. Not much room for improvement. Detroit (86) - They play 142 & 169 this week. Only 2 games outside the top 200 remaining. This should help them maintain / improve their RPI from where they currently sit. A good match up for a team who hasn't played them yet. Iona (95) - They play 120 and 137 this week. Only 3 games outside the top 150 left. Also in first place in their league. Could be a good opponent if their RPI keeps climbing. The only other road team currently under 100 in the RPI is Ohio. I would be pretty ticked if Akron didn't play one of the teams above. This event is really suffering without the CAA this year.

It also says some games will be announced on Jan 28th on the same page, way to go ESPN

I say they go with the Baseketball tie breaker and just have two-man sack races... Dan Patrick: With the first nine months of the Baseketball postseason out of the way, the playoff picture is starting to emerge. Kenny Mayne: So, with last night's victory over Boston, next week the Milwaukee Beers must beat Indianapolis in order to advance to Charlotte. That's in an effort to reduce their magic number to three. Dan Patrick: Right, and then the Beers can advance to the National Eastern Division North to play Tampa. Kenny Mayne: So, if the Beers beat Detroit and Denver beats Atlanta in the American Southwestern Division East Northern, then Milwaukee goes to the Denslow Cup, unless Baltimore can upset Buffalo and Charlotte ties Toronto, then Oakland would play LA and Pittsburgh in a blind choice round robin. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131857/quotes

I probbably just missed this (working 3rd shifts this week will do that) but what's the latest on Abreu?

I'm hoping he meant run the able as in [being picked to] win the regular season and tourny. Even the Elite 8 Can't team didn't go undefeated. Wonder if any team ever has. (I'm too lazy to look it up)

I saw Buffalo converted a 4th and 10 with a fake punt and one of their TDs came on a reverse pass from the WR. Two very nicely designed and executed plays.

I'm glad I don't base my opinion of all Ohio fans on those who post here. (Just like I'm glad I didn't use a small sample of Akron fans to gauge Zips fans before I started posting here) I see Ohio wearing down the Zips defense. I was surprised to see the Bobcats are down 7 players for the year (including 3 starting DBs) plus at least another 3 players for this Saturday.

Maybe it was big because a lot of people were picking them AND they pulled it off (on national TV). How many MAC teams are trendy upset picks at lower level BCS schools only to choke for one reason or another. Yes Penn State was / is / and will be down but that's still a tough place to play. Plus, take into account how many times youve heard "Penn State loses its first game post Paterno to Ohio." how many times have the highlights lead sportscenter? Atleast for a day, everyone knew Ohio didn't mean that team in Columbus. Cant beat that publicity. Not nearly the same as beating a 3-9 Syracuse team no one cared or talked about. Especially since penn state has been relevant more than 50 years before the win. Did you see the schedule Boise state played in 2006 when they beat Oklahoma in the fiesta? OOC games against Sacramento St, Oregon St., @ Wyoming, and @ Utah. It's very unlikely (probably lose @ Marshall). But It could happen. Every athletic department in the MAC is rooting for a share of that BCS payout. Anyway, on to FIU

Coaching decisions at Akron and Ohio bode well for Mid-American Conference basketball Terry Pluto talks about Dambrot staying at Akron, and Christian coming back to the MAC. He also talks with / about Senderhoff and Waters. It was a good read. I found it interesting Christian and KD were talking during the Duquesne thing... I couldn't agree more with this quote from KD.

I think I read somewhere that the players meeting yesterday was to tell them what was happening (and Christian met with the AD). The players meeting with Christian is today I think. That would mean Cooper would be there for the initial meeting. Can't remember where I read that though. As an aside, I never thought I'd see the day when 5 of the top 9 threads (as of this post) on the ZN basketball board would be Ohio centric.

Yes please. Imagine all the fun that could be had during those games...

He's going to be busy, I would assume Ohio is calling him and Matta for a scounting report on UM as well.

Guess I just don't see it as classless to be concerned about losing a coach who took a team to 2 NCAA births in his first 4 years... I'd be protective too. Personally, I'd be surprised if Groce actually left considering he has all of his guys coming back. Some might consider one coach speculating about another coach in the same league leaving as a "classless" tactic to influence recruits. I don't think thats what Dambrot was doing, but there are multiple ways it could be taken. Edited to not sound quite so confrontational.

I hadn't notied that, but it's a good point. As for the All-MAC teams, I'd have swapped Marshall for McRae, and Pearson for Green. Can't really argue with the other 3.

I've heard more announcers through the live streaming from the home team than previous years. I'm surprised how bad some of them are. BG's guy had a bad game last night, especially when he thought he was off mic during a stoppage. Buffalo and NIU's announcers seemed pretty clueless as well. Steve Baker for Miami was good, but I havent heard his replacement yet (I think he retired). The guys for OU are solid too. But I agree about French, hes good. Steve Mix on the other hand...

BG plays like contenders at home (10-3 I think), but cant seem to win away from the Stroh Center. I'd still put my money on Akron, Ohio, Buffalo and Can't to be the final 4.

Two years ago, Ohio was 7-9 in conference, had 14 losses overall, and their oonly top 100 wins were Can't (47), Illinois St. (76), Wright St. (80), and Akron (89). They got a 14 seed. I would expect the MAC Tourny Champ (assuming its Akron, Can't, Buffalo, or Ohio) to at worst be a 14 seed.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/211819/45...ocision-Stadiumhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/foot...2/ohio.body.ap/The WKYC link has more details...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/2...ium-body-found/

I usually go this route. Teams like Eastern (poor fan base), Central (distance), and Northern Illinois (distance) are usually looking to try to get SOMETHING for the stack of tickets their obligated to buy as part of the tourney 'deal.' Have also considered trying one of the street vendors but haven't tried that yet. May be the year to try the vendor route. No EMU, CMU, NIU to buy tickets from this year. Ball State would probably be the best bet for the second session.

I usually just walk up to one of the tables for another school before the session. I got tickets from Eastern Michigan for something like $15. Of course they wont be in Cleveland this year....

Just checked the OU url, and they have a link up to "listen" to the game but not to "watch" the game. Hope this doesn't mean a radio feed only. The video feed usually comes up by game time. I'm sure it will be up. Video Link is up. Says it will begin at 7:00

All of Ohio's games are free on the web. Id expect a video link closer to game time. Wish more schools did this. http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ohio.portal#

Should be a good on in Athens. The two hotest teams in the MAc both looking to secure a bye. I know OU has free web casts, but the games not on TV is it?

Hawkins odds are as long a Charlie Coles-coached triple overtime game. Group all the MAC West coaches as Field Horses at 20-1. Witherspoon still has a legit chance. Miami 92 Ohio 88 in 3 OT in MAC Opener That sounded like a pretty long game haha