Belated NCAA tourney thoughts

[zipboy]

1. Seeing George Mason make it to the final 4 showed how close we can be to getting there. There was not one team in the tourney that I did not think Akron could play with. However, I could not see us playing at that consistently high level for 4 games in a row either. 2. The tourney showed you can win with a good 6 ft 9 in guy and a couple 6 ft 6 or 6 ft 7 guys. Maybe Bardon develops into that type of guy in 2 years.3. Stating the obvious, we need to get more athletic.4. It is no coincidence that the rise of the MVC coincided with the downfall of the Big 12. It is no secret that I am not a fan of the buckeyes. And I could care less who people root for. But if you think they don't affect us, you are kidding yourself. I doubt that people who live in Omaha see Nebraska basketball as a level above Creighton.5. What has happened to the MAC the last few years? Talent level is down. Some say splitting money between football and basketball. CSU and Wright St are giving out good salaries to 2 good coaches. Basketball leagues with no football are a dime a dozen. What will separate us is growing both football and basketball. I like the MAC, but 3 years from now if the Big East is looking to add, the front runners are going to be Toledo, Akron, Buffalo, Ohio, and Miami. I never thought of Toledo as the marquee program of the league. But given there 4 TV appearances on ESPN or ESPN2, I seem to be the only one to think that way. Akron would be a perfect fit if we continue to grow the program. The next 2 years will show how far we have come in attendance. The Big East would kill for Buffalo to get good in football. All 3, Toledo, Akron, and Buffalo fit demographically into what the Big East schools are like. OU has money and they actually care. Miami would be a longshot. For as good as they are, they will draw 3K to basketball and 15K for basketball forever.Kind of rambling, but to me, the tourney showed that we have the ability to become a national power. Infrastructure is getting there. Right people are in place.

[dialsfan11]

I doubt that people who live in Omaha see Nebraska basketball as a level above Creighton.

Maybe because Nebraska SUCKS at bastketball. Nice try though.

[bobbyake]

If not the Big East, at least Conference USA. More bowl games available and elite basketball programs.

[Captain Kangaroo]

If not the Big East, at least Conference USA. More bowl games available and elite basketball programs.

If we followed UCF and Marshall to C-USA, Mack Roades would eclipse the immortal Dennis Helsel in my book. No way such a move happens.It will be interesting to see what transpires when the Big East downsizes. I think that could/will affect the MAC pretty severely.

[zipsbandman]

If not the Big East, at least Conference USA. More bowl games available and elite basketball programs.

If we followed UCF and Marshall to C-USA, Mack Roades would eclipse the immortal Dennis Helsel in my book. No way such a move happens.It will be interesting to see what transpires when the Big East downsizes. I think that could/will affect the MAC pretty severely.

That's why you see all these MAC schools are in an athletic arms race. Everybody is jockeying for postition when the Big East comes calling. Although, I think a school like Memphis would go first. Akron needs to be ready, as I don't know if we can afford more BCS competition in Ohio if another school like Toledo moves up and not us.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Everybody is jockeying for postition when the Big East comes calling. Although, I think a school like Memphis would go first. Akron needs to be ready, as I don't know if we can afford more BCS competition in Ohio if another school like Toledo moves up and not us.

I think you misread me. I see no way in hell that the Big East comes calling ANYONE. It is already too big. The MAC-related fallout will be in the near future, when when teams depart the Big East and look to join...or most likely form...their own conference.

[Zips Win!]

I think you misread me. I see no way in hell that the Big East comes calling ANYONE. It is already too big. The MAC-related fallout will be in the near future, when when teams depart the Big East and look to join...or most likely form...their own conference.

I agree.I continue to be curious as to why the discussion of Akron moving from the MAC comes up. Do we really belong in the Big East or even CUSA? Hell no. And if you think so, please explain why. We have one championship in football and haven't been to the big dance in 21 years. Under the current D1 set up, the MAC is the perfect place for us. If and when the lansdscape of college football changes, i.e. how "national" revenue is shared, (via the bowl system)then we may want to talk about change.....This discussion can come back in 15 years..or maybe never.We need to continue to take care of business in the MAC. We need to continue our 2005 winning ways, which we hopefully lead to better overall attendance, more alumni involvement, and more tv coverage which will hopefully result in better streams of revenue. This, of course, will will allow for bigger and better faculities to attract better and better players and coaches. Unfortunately, this takes time....even decades, perhaps.

[zipsbandman]

I think you misread me. I see no way in hell that the Big East comes calling ANYONE. It is already too big. The MAC-related fallout will be in the near future, when when teams depart the Big East and look to join...or most likely form...their own conference.

I agree.I continue to be curious as to why the discussion of Akron moving from the MAC comes up. Do we really belong in the Big East or even CUSA? Hell no. And if you think so, please explain why. We have one championship in football and haven't been to the big dance in 21 years. Under the current D1 set up, the MAC is the perfect place for us. If and when the lansdscape of college football changes, i.e. how "national" revenue is shared, (via the bowl system)then we may want to talk about change.....This discussion can come back in 15 years..or maybe never.We need to continue to take care of business in the MAC. We need to continue our 2005 winning ways, which we hopefully lead to better overall attendance, more alumni involvement, and more tv coverage which will hopefully result in better streams of revenue. This, of course, will will allow for bigger and better faculities to attract better and better players and coaches. Unfortunately, this takes time....even decades, perhaps.

It probably comes up because a split in the Big East is inevitable, and it will affect us whether we remain in the MAC or not. I'd rather mantain the status quo, and build a great program in the MAC. It's a perfect fit for us

[Zip Watcher]

I think you misread me. I see no way in hell that the Big East comes calling ANYONE. It is already too big. The MAC-related fallout will be in the near future, when when teams depart the Big East and look to join...or most likely form...their own conference.

The reference to the Big East thing has to do with joining the 8 football schools after the hoops vs. football split happens. Eventually, you'd have to believe the Louisville and Cincy are going to get tired of the NIT and the revenue battle will lead to the 8 football schools splitting with the rest.Then those 8 will invariably go hunting for 4 new friends so they can get championship game revenue that doesn't exist until you have 12.That's my understanding of how & why a MAC school might be posturing or hoping for interest in the BE. It has nothing to do with the 16 team monster the league is now, it has to do with these 8 teams:CincyUConnPittSyracuseWVULouisvilleSouth FloridaRutgersWhen they decide they need 4 more friends, there are only so many places they can look.I can't say it's a likely thing for any MAC school, but I do like the motivation and effort to elevate the program(s) to a level where such a conference would consider the Zips. If UA is even in the discussion 5 years from now or if / when this all goes down, then it means that Rhoades kept the momentum, the teams were successful .. and the Zips are competing at the top level.IMHO, this is long range thinking (and I like that). But the men's soccer team would have won the BE this year, and UA is the only school outside the BE that has hosted a BE championship this year. That could be worth something down the road.The teams just need to keep improving .. that should be the goal. Whatever the motivation is in the dept., I'm not sure I care.