MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Had some time to kill.... and a lot of it. I listed all 32 conferences that compete in D-1 Men's Basketball along with 2-3 notable teams from that conference and then how many schools that play Basketball in the conference. Obviously, a lot of transitioning is happening with the Big East and C-USA. And note the Atlantic 10 has the most members with 16 schools. The Great West will probably cease to exist after this year since you need at least 6 teams in a conference to be viable. So, how does the MAC rank among these conferences? Could Akron legitimately go anywhere worthwhile? C-USA / Big East / Atlantic 10 seem pretty full as of now. Maybe we could join the Ivy League America East Vermont / Stony Brook (8 Schools) Atlantic 10 Xavier / Butler / VCU (16 Schools) ACC Duke / UNC (14 Schools in 2013) Atlantic Sun Stetson / Kennesaw St. (10 Schools) Big 12 Oklahoma / Texas (10 Schools) Big East UCONN / Pitt (15 Schools, Currently) Big South Campbell / Winthrop (12 Schools) Big Sky Montana / Weber St. (11 Schools) Big 10 Ohio St / Michigan (14 Schools in 2014) Big West Hawaii & many Cal Teams (9 Schools in 2013) Colonial Athletic George Mason / Drexel (10 Schools in 2013) C-USA UAB / UTEP (14 Schools in 2013 - a lot of conference jumping happening here) Great West NJIT (Will only have 1 member after July 2013 and no Automatic Bid) Horizon League Cleveland St / Valpo (9 Schools) Ivy League Yale / Princeton (8 Schools) MAAC Manhattan / Iona (10 Schools) MAC Akron (12 Schools) MEAC Florida A&M / Hampton (13 Schools) Missouri Valley Creighton / Witchita St. (10 Schools) Mountain West UNLV / Boise St. (9 Schools) Northeast Long Island / Robert Morris (12 Schools) Ohio Valley Belmont / Murray St. (12 Schools) Pac-12 USC /Oregon / Arizona (12 Schools) Patriot League Navy / Army / Colgate (8 Schools) Southeastern Florida / Vanderbilt (14 Schools) Southern Davidson / Elon / Citadel (12 Schools) Southland Oral Roberts / Lamar (10 Schools) SWAC Alcorn St. / Jackson St. (10 Schools) Sun Belt W. Kentucky / Troy (10 Schools in 2013) Summit League N. Dakota St / Oakland, MI (9 Schools) West Coast Gonzaga / BYU (10 Schools in 2013 w/ Pacific joining) WAC New Mex St. / Seattle (7 Schools leaving in 2013 / 8 Schools in 2014) Only Independents right now are U of New Orleans & Cal State Bakersfield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odhgibo Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Had some time to kill.... and a lot of it. I listed all 32 conferences that compete in D-1 Men's Basketball along with 2-3 notable teams from that conference and then how many schools that play Basketball in the conference. Obviously, a lot of transitioning is happening with the Big East and C-USA. And note the Atlantic 10 has the most members with 16 schools. The Great West will probably cease to exist after this year since you need at least 6 teams in a conference to be viable. So, how does the MAC rank among these conferences? Could Akron legitimately go anywhere worthwhile? C-USA / Big East / Atlantic 10 seem pretty full as of now. There is not much talk here because football drives this particular train; viz. the Big East split between the Catholic basketball only schools and the mish mash of what's left in that conference. As a hoops fan, I'd love to see A10 teams coming here to play, but the football "engine" won't let that happen. For any conference that plays FBS football, Akron is not, and will not be for some time, particularly attractive. If the improvement occurs, it will be after this most recent round of realignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 There is not much talk here because football drives this particular train; viz. the Big East split between the Catholic basketball only schools and the mish mash of what's left in that conference. As a hoops fan, I'd love to see A10 teams coming here to play, but the football "engine" won't let that happen. For any conference that plays FBS football, Akron is not, and will not be for some time, particularly attractive. If the improvement occurs, it will be after this most recent round of realignment. I would agree, I think Akron missed their chance to jump ship this time. Well I guess if the football program disbands... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 We are in a strange situation. I could see the MAC kicking us out because football is not playing at a DI level. I could also see the MAC kicking us out because our hoops team is too good! Only OU is really competitive with us in the MAC, and it is not just Zeke - we went to three straight championship games before Zeke got here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 We are in a strange situation. I could see the MAC kicking us out because football is not playing at a DI level. I could also see the MAC kicking us out because our hoops team is too good! Only OU is really competitive with us in the MAC, and it is not just Zeke - we went to three straight championship games before Zeke got here. You think there is a possibility of us getting kicked out because we are the best? Seems logical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 You think there is a possibility of us getting kicked out because we are the best? Seems logical When a team becomes dominant, the other teams may decide to get you out so they can have a shot at the dance or NIT. We are at the point of assuming we will be in the championship game every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 When a team becomes dominant, the other teams may decide to get you out so they can have a shot at the dance or NIT. We are at the point of assuming we will be in the championship game every year. NOBODY has ever been kicked out of a conference for the sole reason of being too "good". Wouldnt it have happened to our soccer team by now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Why couldn't the football team stay in the MAC and the basketball team move elsewhere? Villanova football is in the Colonial League while basketball is in the Big East Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Why couldn't the football team stay in the MAC and the basketball team move elsewhere? It would depend on what the contracts say, but I think this is a great idea. The problem is the league I would like the Zips to play BB in already has 16 members (A-10) so maybe there isn't a fit there. The A-10 is a fun league and I think you guys would love the competition. CK posted the other day about the teams that come and go from the MAC not really being part of the core group of teams. Historically, neither are we or Buffalo or NIU. Why not us? It wouldn't hurt to at least have some back room discussions about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odhgibo Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 When a team becomes dominant, the other teams may decide to get you out so they can have a shot at the dance or NIT. We are at the point of assuming we will be in the championship game every year. The Zips are making slight headway, while the rest of the league is sliding. Does that count as becoming dominant? The 2006-07 Zips had a final Sagarin ranking of 81.33, best in the MAC. (I like ratings like Sagarin because they take into account victory margin.) The final rankings slid for the following 2-3 seasons, then started a generally upward trend with Zeke's arrival. This year's team has ranking of 81.18, which hopefully will go up some after the team gets out of the early February doldrums. In other words, Akron is back to where it was when it had its best team in a very long time. Overall, however, the league has been on a generally downward trend. The last MAC team to have a final Sagarin rating of at least 82 (that I could find) was the 2003-04 WMU team. The last MAC team to have a final Sagarin rating of at least 85 was the 2001-02 Can't State squad, which finished just above 87. (An 85 rating this year, btw, would put you just inside the top 30, while an 87 would would put you in the top 20.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 @HS Stripes, I really appreciate your intelligent analysis. As I recall, you predicted here last March that Egner might end up reunited with his HS PG at Walsh. Good call. Like you, I value the more sophisticated ranking systems such as Sagarin and Pomeroy. Right now, the Zips are in the mid-50s in virtually all of the ranking systems. Their highest current ranking is #49 in BPI, which I like because BPI calculates for games where key players were missing, like the Zips' first 3 games minus Tree and Harney. I do disagree with you when you say (in another thread) that the Zips will not rise much in the rankings even if they keep winning against low-rated MAC teams. In the more sophisticated rankings that include offense and defense, the Zips have been falling a little because their offensive rating has been falling in recent games. They can rise again by elevating their level of play, scoring more points and holding their opponents to fewer points. And they can rise in all the rankings as teams ahead of them lose games. They just have to keep winning, and winning bigger, while other teams keep getting upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 When a team becomes dominant, the other teams may decide to get you out so they can have a shot at the dance or NIT. We are at the point of assuming we will be in the championship game every year. This happens all the time. Before Duke joined the SWAC they used to be in an east coast league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jupitertoo Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 This happens all the time. Before Duke joined the SWAC they used to be in an east coast league. Interesting that you only list Akron as a notable MAC team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Interesting that you only list Akron as a notable MAC team. That was a typo it was supposed to be Akron, Western Michigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 That was a typo it was supposed to be Akron, Western Michigan I suppose I have a bias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 I suppose I have a bias I knew you had a bias when you didn't complain about Oklahoma and Texas being listed as notable basketball teams in the Big 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 The MAC does contain the most Ohio teams out of every conference with the Horizon coming in behind with CSU, YSU and Wright State. Travel wise it does make it easy to go to away games because the teams are VERY regional unlike some bigger conferences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 And also a lot less fun in terms of road trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 The MAC does contain the most Ohio teams out of every conference with the Horizon coming in behind with CSU, YSU and Wright State. ..... Atlantic 10 Conference = Cincinnati + Dayton + Xavier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZipster0305 Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Atlantic 10 Conference = Cincinnati + Dayton + Xavier. Did Cincy switch conferences without my knowledge? I see the need, but thought they were still in the Big East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odhgibo Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Did Cincy switch conferences without my knowledge? I see the need, but thought they were still in the Big East. No, you're correct. Cincy is not an A10 member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 No, you're correct. Cincy is not an A10 member. Also, it's widely accepted that Xavier will be joining the "Catholic 7" very soon (Dayton is also a possibility). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Maybe I should think a little more carefully before making my last post of the night. Of course, Xavier is in Cincinnati, but Cincinnati is in the Big East. Who knows, with all the conference musical chairs, all the Ohio teams could end up in the same conference one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted February 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Maybe I should think a little more carefully before making my last post of the night. Of course, Xavier is in Cincinnati, but Cincinnati is in the Big East. Who knows, with all the conference musical chairs, all the Ohio teams could end up in the same conference one day. That would be awesome!! North Division Akron Can't St. Ohio Cleveland St. Ohio St. Bowling Green Toledo South Division Wright St. Cincinnati Dayton Xavier Miami Ohio Youngstown St. Any team missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Youngstown is a lot further north than Columbus, so you might want to switch divisions for the teams located in those two cities. (Note: I looked long and hard at a map before making this statement. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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