Latest Sagarin ratings

[zipboy]

With the non conference schedule about 2/3 done, the MAC is 15th out of 33 conferences. Usually the MAC is 10-13 range, so definitely a down year as we have seen. Zips are currently 86th, 2nd in the league after Miami (30). VCU, our next opponent is 68th. I don't expect that we will move much the rest of the way from 75-100, similar to where we have been in years past. A pleasant surprise is that in our rebuilding year, we still have a good chance to finish RPI top 100 which will help with scheduling, and we have a decent shot to finish the regular season top 4 in the league. Elton had an interesting blog in the summer which I can't find now. He took all 08-09 MAC schedules for OOC games and listed what the RPI strength of schedule would have been last year playing those teams. Akron came in 67th. Given that there are 300+ Div 1 teams, our OOC strength of schedule would put us in the top 25% of the country. Given the MAC schedule, we probably would have ended up near the top 100. Play a tougher schedule and lose those 2 tough games, or play easier schedules like those in the past and be 8-1 right now, you end up in the same spot. Personally, I like this schedule a little better, but it will make getting into the NIT a little tougher, 20 wins vs 18 wins and the same RPI, the 20 win team will be taken.

[skip-zip]

I think it's a foregone conclusion that we have to win well over 20 games to get an at-large to either tournament.

[ZipAlumn]

I think it's a foregone conclusion that we have to win well over 20 games to get an at-large to either tournament.

I think it is a foregone conclusion (based upon past hisotry) that even if we win well of 20 games we probably won't get an at-large bid to the "big dance" and maybe the "little dance". :nutkick:

[Deeustin89]

exactly...personally i think the NIT birth is questionable unless the zips get up above 22 wins or so.

[skip-zip]

I agree.....22 is probably about the right number for a chance at an NIT bid, if recent history means anything. We got in at 22 wins 3 seasons ago, and got in with 23 wins last year. However, how can we forget that 26 wins didn't get us in back in 2007.

[ZachTheZip]

I agree.....22 is probably about the right number for a chance at an NIT bid, if recent history means anything. We got in at 22 wins 3 seasons ago, and got in with 23 wins last year. However, how can we forget that 26 wins didn't get us in back in 2007.

Our schedule is infinitely better than it was in 2007.

[Zip Watcher]

If the Zips can pick up a win or 2 in the last 3 non-conf games on the road (VCU, Greensboro, URI) then I think they look pretty good for the NIT with a strong performance in the conference portion of the slate.The road Bracket Buster could help also if things continue to go well.The Zips have lost 3 games, and it's likely that all three will be playing either in the NIT or the NCAA. Dayton should break through and get to the big dance, barring a repeat of their injuries last season. Pitt will be dancing. EKU is the class of the OVC .. and just beat Ball St. in Muncie. There's no good losses .. but EKU is NOT a bottom feeder.My perspective at this point is that for such a young team, they've won the games they've been supposed to win (+1 with the Niagara Game), lost the 2 that were expected .. and lost one that was probably a tossup.A win in Richmond or Rhode Island would be big for this team heading into the conference.If you look around a bit, you'll see some wobbly wheels on some of the conference opponents. A commitment to defense and taking care of the ball could take this team right back to where it was last season at the end of the year.Go Zips!!

[skip-zip]

Hey Zipwatcher....we tend to not agree on some things, but I think your breakdown is pretty accurate here. Actually, Greensboro should be an easy win. Can we steal one at VCU or Rhode Island? Another plus. Yes, a wobbly MAC this year. But my concern is that we still face a conference schedule where most of the teams will be better than most of the teams we have beaten so far, and will be better preprared to play us. Not to bring up a bad era of Akron basketball, but I remember several of the Crawford years where we "looked" good with very young teams in non-conference play, and then floundered when we started facing the better, more experienced, and better prepared teams in our own conference. Regardless of how we feel about our possibilities right now, our own league will be focused on burying us early, considering our success over the last several years. That's the hurdle this team still needs to overcome. Can we get through our first 5 or so conference games, be in good shape, and have the confidence to make a run? Even with everyone gunning for us this year? Let's hope for the best. But again, regardless of what happens this year....I still want everyone to stay on board....and see where this program is headed. I really believe that 2010-2012 period is going to possibly be the years where we can make a run that's something comparable to the Can't State success of the earlier part of this decade.