MAC Games 2015-2016

[Dr Z]

10/12 teams are now in the 100-200 range. Conference will be pretty mediocre this year.

Very unfortunate for Zips fans.

[Captain Kangaroo]

One thing for sure, the days of trotting over to Muncie and Dekalb for easy wins is over.

For the Zips, trotting into Dekalb has never been a party...regardless of the Huskies' ineptitude.

I remain astounded that programs like Ball State and Miami can be so bad for a decade. These were schools in the late 90's/early 2000's that were legit Top 35, with NBA-level talent. Then they dropped into the Cupcake Abyss.

[LZIp]

Watched bits and pieces of all the games on Weds...

Eastern was really impressive tonight in taking CMU down hard on the Chipps own floor. Raven Lee was on fire. Glad we don't have to go to their place this season but even here they will be a handful.

Maybe EA knew what he was talking about?

[skip-zip]

As the "target team" this year, we are going to have to be ready to play every night.

With their record, I even though that the Western game tomorrow might be a cakewalk, but I'm not so sure after the way they played earlier this week.

[ace]

A few teams sort of validated themselves last night. I was very skeptical of EMU, NIU, and Ball State and their inflated records after easy non conference schedules, but all three looked really good.

Ball State especially returns a really solid young core and i think they could be quite good. They've gotten to this point even with last year's freshman of the year Sean sellers not playing too well.

The titan that everyone thought CMU would be is clearly non existent. Even with fowler back they look bad. The mac is going to be very weird this year.

Edited January 7, 2016 by ace

[skip-zip]

With all of the preseason hype about CMU, I had pretty much counted them out already without Tava. But it looks like others have surprisingly improved.

It's interesting because on one hand, it's good for the conference to become stronger. But on the other hand, I think this is a season when Akron needs to come close to "winning out" from this point forward to get an At-Large and/or good seeding in the NCAA tournament. With that in mind, some easy games would really be helpful to us.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It's interesting because on one hand, it's good for the conference to become stronger. But on the other hand, I think this is a season when Akron needs to come close to "winning out" from this point forward to get an At-Large and/or good seeding in the NCAA tournament. With that in mind, some easy games would really be helpful to us.

So you want Akron to get an at-large by merit of a win/loss that's inflated by playing easy opponents?

I think we need tough competition during the MAC season if we're going to have any chance of winning an NCAA tourney game.

[MDZip]

With all of the preseason hype about CMU, I had pretty much counted them out already without Tava. But it looks like others have surprisingly improved.

Hey skip, Tava played for WMU. And they certainly do not look like a title contender any longer. We'll see tomorrow.

[zippy5]

I think he meant WMU by "them"

[skip-zip]

MD Zip...nice catch. Central...Western...Eastern...very confusing sometimes . And I believe I read that Tava has taken a redshirt for the entire year now.

Kangaroo: If we knew that beating tougher MAC competition was the great preparation that equals more tournament wins, I'd agree with you. But, that's not the case. O-H-I-O made their Sweet 16 run as the 9th best team in the MAC. Long term, I want the accolades that come with winning a tough conference race. But right now, the most important thing for us....by far...is just GETTING THERE. The conference might end up being a little better this year, but likely not enough to hold us in higher esteem with the selection committee if we have more losses. So YES, right now, I think that the win total increases our chances more than having a slightly higher conference SOS.

[The Hip Zip]

Actually, Eastern has played a pretty good schedule. Their SOS ranking is at 63rd from 351 teams. By comparison, a few MAC teams reside in the bottom 50. the Zips included at 301. Elton may have had this one right. At least from the current eye test, they seem to be our biggest threat.

[The Hip Zip]

For the Zips, trotting into Dekalb has never been a party...regardless of the Huskies' ineptitude.

I remain astounded that programs like Ball State and Miami can be so bad for a decade. These were schools in the late 90's/early 2000's that were legit Top 35, with NBA-level talent. Then they dropped into the Cupcake Abyss.

That is very true . Miami was so tough for a long spell.. And even when they didn't have the greatest talent, they had tough kids like the Pollitz brothers that could frustrate the Hell out of a team. You had to keep the foot on the peddle for all 40 to take them out. I miss Charlie.

[feetg10]

MD Zip...nice catch. Central...Western...Eastern...very confusing sometimes . And I believe I read that Tava has taken a redshirt for the entire year now.

Kangaroo: If we knew that beating tougher MAC competition was the great preparation that equals more tournament wins, I'd agree with you. But, that's not the case. O-H-I-O made their Sweet 16 run as the 9th best team in the MAC. Long term, I want the accolades that come with winning a tough conference race. But right now, the most important thing for us....by far...is just GETTING THERE. The conference might end up being a little better this year, but likely not enough to hold us in higher esteem with the selection committee if we have more losses. So YES, right now, I think that the win total increases our chances more than having a slightly higher conference SOS.

[skip-zip]

Just the mention of the name POLITZ instantly takes me back to the 1997 MAC tournament. I refuse to relive that any longer. Please Stop

[feetg10]

OU was a 3 seed in the MAC when they made their sweet 16 run. Two years earlier they won the MAC tourney as a 9 seed and beat Georgetown in the first round

[skip-zip]

feetg...you're right.

Geez....3 tournament wins, they weren't even the best team in the conference, and both times they beat us in the title game to get there.

Now I remember why it was sooooo sweet to blow them out in Cleveland the following year.

[The Hip Zip]

Just the mention of the name POLITZ instantly takes me back to the 1997 MAC tournament. I refuse to relive that any longer. Please Stop

2004-2008. It's OK.

[skip-zip]

LOL...Sorry, 2007 MAC tournament.

[kreed5120]

The Hip Zip, please remember that non-D1 schools don't factor into SOS ratings. Eastern Michigan has played 4 such teams ~1/3 of their OOC schedule. Akron's SOS would appear better if they played Madonna, Marygrove College, or Rochester College instead of Bethune-Cookman, Charleston Southern, or North Carolina A&T, however, those teams EMU played would be cupcake games for Akron's opponents.

[LZIp]

The Hip Zip, please remember that non-D1 schools don't factor into SOS ratings. Eastern Michigan has played 4 such teams ~1/3 of their OOC schedule. Akron's SOS would appear better if they played Madonna, Marygrove College, or Rochester College instead of Bethune-Cookman, Charleston Southern, or North Carolina A&T, however, those teams EMU played would be cupcake games for Akron's opponents.

Isn't SOS taken into consideration for at-large bids? If so, maybe we should take note!

[The Hip Zip]

The Hip Zip, please remember that non-D1 schools don't factor into SOS ratings. Eastern Michigan has played 4 such teams ~1/3 of their OOC schedule. Akron's SOS would appear better if they played Madonna, Marygrove College, or Rochester College instead of Bethune-Cookman, Charleston Southern, or North Carolina A&T, however, those teams EMU played would be cupcake games for Akron's opponents.

You are very correct but don't let Marygrove's 1-16 record fool you. The Mustangs are a sleeping giant.

[Hilltopper]

LOL...Sorry, 2007 MAC tournament.

Doug Penno hit the shot that beat us in 2007.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The aging of ZipsNation is becoming very apparent in this thread.

[Hilltopper]

Saw Cedric Middleton at the Iona game out in Vegas. He still regrets not hitting one of those 2 free throws.

[The Hip Zip]

Saw Cedric Middleton at the Iona game out in Vegas. He still regrets not hitting one of those 2 free throws.

Ced was one of my all time favs. Maybe the fastest guy the Zips have ever had. He wasn't the most talented guard we've seen at the jar but he made up for it with hustle and grit every second he was on the floor. I never met him but he sure seemed to be a good guy. Hope he's doing well.