MAC Standings

[Dr Z]

For those of you who like to look ahead and speculate.Conference StandingsEast Remaining Schedules

[tpsjugglerdude]

You know your in a bad conference when you are 1-8 and thats only 4 games back. :blink:

[skip-zip]

I had thought about this last night, and posted a comment.As long as Ohio wins their next game, there will be 5 teams within a game of each other for the #3 and #4 seeds in the MAC tournament. Any advantage anywhere? Yes. Akron and Can't State both have 3 home games when we get back to the East part of the schedule. Ohio, BG, and Miami only have 2 homes games each. Any disadvantages? Yes. Akron, BG and Miami all have to play Buffalo on the road. This might just be a wild finish to the regular season. And Buffalo has nothing locked up quite yet, although they had to be celebrating that Miami loss....and a little bit of breathing room.

[Quickzips]

All this means to me is that we need to keep winning. Honestly, last nights results were the best thing that could have happened for us (would have been a little better if Can't had lost) and not just because we hopefully gain a game on Miami, but also because any temptation to take the West for granted should have vanished after those two games. You better believe that when we go up against NIU this weekend that KD will be pointing out that that team just took Can't to double overtime on Tuesday night. Right now I'm not THAT concerned about seeding for the tournament. Only that we end up with a bye. I think we need to go at least 5-2 down the stretch in MAC play to assure that.

[skip-zip]

Quickzips....since you are looking at the possibility of a 5-2 conference finish, I am assuming that you're hoping that we win these last two games against the West, and then win our home games, and lose our road games in our 2nd round of games against the East.If we can accomplish that, and everyone else in the East does the same 3 things....1) Wins their remaining games against the West2) Wins their home games against the East3) Loses their road games against the EastThen...Akron is the #3 seed.......And Miami, Can't, and BG tie for the #4 seed (not sure how the tiebreaker would work there).As I stated earlier, Akron and Can't have 3 home games left when we get back to our East schedule, and BG, Miami, and Ohio only have 2 each. That could be the difference maker. This also probably means that either Miami, Can't or BG would also be our quarter-final opponent...since the #4 and the #5 and the #6 seeds are likely to be distributed among the 3 of them, and we would play whichever one is #6 in the quarters.

[tpsjugglerdude]

If both Ball State and Western MI both pick it up and play against the cupcakes in the west one of them could sneak in and steal the 4 spot while the East is beating itself up.

[skip-zip]

TPS....assuming that Ball State is the West winner, they automatically get the #2 Seed. And, I had already been thinking about the idea of another West team still getting the number 3 or 4 seed since they close the season with 5 games against their own division. But, the West teams still have to play 2 more games against the East teams before they get back to their division games, so I am hoping that they eliminate themselves by then.

[Bull_In_Exile]

This might just be a wild finish to the regular season. And Buffalo has nothing locked up quite yet, although they had to be celebrating that Miami loss....and a little bit of breathing room.

Not locked up but last night sure helped *allot* If Buffalo can manage the '150 foot par 7' that is EMU they have a nice pad. Like you say though Buffalo could easily lose to Akron, Ohio, Miami, BGU, or for that matter Can't in the latter part of the schedule. But as each of those teams also has to play each other there will be some cannibalism among the other teams fighting for a BYE. I think anyone, Buffalo included, running the table is pretty unlikely at this point.

[zen]

I know it's fun to turn the standings into a chess board and consider the possibilities, but I don't see much pressure. Just getting into the tourney with a bye would be great.If they focus on playing one game at a time and let the chips fall where they may, the real fun and pressure will hit at the Q(blatant cliches in italics)

[skip-zip]

zen...just don't fool yourself. Yes, the "lose and go home" pressure of the tourney will be there. But, all of these teams will be fighting, scratching, and clawing for as high of a seed as they can get.

[Quickzips]

I just want the bye for the tournament. With our 10 deep roster, the way we play defense and a first round bye we would be damn tough in the tournament.

[Zip Watcher]

[tpsjugglerdude]

TPS....assuming that Ball State is the West winner, they automatically get the #2 Seed. And, I had already been thinking about the idea of another West team still getting the number 3 or 4 seed since they close the season with 5 games against their own division. But, the West teams still have to play 2 more games against the East teams before they get back to their division games, so I am hoping that they eliminate themselves by then.

Exactly what I was getting at. I know the West winner gets the #2 seed but its the runner up in the West that I am worried about stealing a bye. I'm glad I am not the only one who has already thought of that. Whoever in the East when they go back to East play goes 3-2 I think will get the bye.

[Dr Z]

Am I the only one that thinks that not getting the buy doesn't mean the end of the world? This year it might even "help" us. Wow did I just type that? If our team continues it's health the way it is, I think an an extra game this year might not be so bad since we are basically young and seem to be getting better as the season progresses. I'm not sure I really agree with me, but thought I would type it anyway.

[Zip Watcher]

With the day off between the First Round & Quarters .. it certainly has less of an impact than last year.With the overall suckitude of the conference .. the seeding probably doesn't matter a whole lot. Getting a draw loaded with western cupcakes (are those BBQ flavored?) wouldn't hurt though .. so generally the 3 might be a safer lot ..One game at a time though .. there's not a game left that the Zips can't win.

[skip-zip]

It's funny that we're talking about how we'll stand in the post season. Did anyone hear KDs post game interview tonight? He talked about something I hadn't even thought about myself....about the tendency of freshman to wear down as the season comes to a close, because they are playing so many more games than they play in high school. He even said that he's started to back off in practice because of it. That may indeed have a lot to do with how we played tonight. And I hope he continues to manage that situation well since the most important games are yet to come.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Am I the only one that thinks that not getting the bye doesn't mean the end of the world? This year it might even "help" us. Wow did I just type that? If our team continues it's health the way it is, I think an an extra game this year might not be so bad since we are basically young and seem to be getting better as the season progresses. I'm not sure I really agree with me, but thought I would type it anyway.

I think the worst part about not getting a bye is...it gives you one more opportunity for a loss than if you had a top 3 seed. Teams like Ball State and Western Michigan are dangerous opening round opponents. I'd rather not play them at all.EMU? Ok, that might be a nice tune-up.

[johnnyzip84]

With the day off between the Quarters & Semis .. it certainly has less of an impact than last year.With the overall suckitude of the conference .. the seeding probably doesn't matter a whole lot. Getting a draw loaded with western cupcakes (are those BBQ flavored?) wouldn't hurt though .. so generally the 3 might be a safer lot ..One game at a time though .. there's not a game left that the Zips can't win.

GoZips has the MAC tourney dates as Mar 10 (1st RD), Mar 12 (quarters), Mar 13 (semis), and Mar 14 (final). I don't see a day off between quarters and semis, at least not there.

[Zip Watcher]

With the day off between the Quarters & Semis .. it certainly has less of an impact than last year.With the overall suckitude of the conference .. the seeding probably doesn't matter a whole lot. Getting a draw loaded with western cupcakes (are those BBQ flavored?) wouldn't hurt though .. so generally the 3 might be a safer lot ..One game at a time though .. there's not a game left that the Zips can't win.

GoZips has the MAC tourney dates as Mar 10 (1st RD), Mar 12 (quarters), Mar 13 (semis), and Mar 14 (final). I don't see a day off between quarters and semis, at least not there.

Meant to say First Round and Quarters .. good catch .. I've corrected the original.

[skip-zip]

I don't want to have to play an extra game either, for more than just that reason. However, let me point out that if we end up being the #5, #6, or #7 seed, we wouldn't see either Ball State or Western. Our opening opponent would be one of the bottom teams in the West (10, 11, or 12). One interesting thing to think about is if you don't get a bye, the #7 spot is going to be a very, very lucky spot for someone. That spot could very well go to the bottom team in the East, who would have the good fortune of playing #2 Ball State in the quarterfinals, instead of facing one of the better East teams who will likely occupy the other bye positions.