Around the MAC

[kreed5120]

11 minutes ago, zipsrule said:

At the half, it was DePaul 51, Northern Illinois 15.   DePaul's leading scorer had 16 points.

I'm not sure if I should leave a laughing or crying emote lol

[Z.I.P.]

On 11/22/2024 at 7:18 PM, Reslife4Life said:

Our schedule is a joke! North Carolina is playing on the road at an unranked Big West team, why can’t we schedule that!!!!!

 

 

Just don’t look at what team they are playing 

Next time you're conferring with the Big Guy with the "G" on his sweater vest be sure to let him know there are still open spots for the tournament hosted by a Big West school which Akron has participated in in 2011 and 2017.  There is no "home team" in the tournament so a trip of over 5000 miles still can get the Zips seated at the Rainbow Warriors' usual seats.  Jus' sayin' an' all da kine!  🏀🌴🍹

[RoyalBlu]

Another week is now in the books. Looking around the MAC, it is hard not to pick Akron as the No. 1 team in the league, particularly the way the Zips are scoring points. So here is one  Thanksgiving view of the league.

 

1. Akron

2. Central Michigan

3. Toledo

4. Kent

(dropoff)

5. Ohio

6. Bowling Green

7. Miami

8. Eastern Michigan

(dropoff)

9.Western Michigan

10. Ball State

11. NIU

12. Buffalo

 

No. 6 BG is the wildcard at the moment considering their roster talent level can match any in the league and the 6-7, 260-pound Johnson is a nightly mismatch on the wing.

 

No. 10 Ball State is the head scratcher as the Cardinals should be much, much better than they are.

 

No. 7 Miami is still my sleeper in terms of MAC play. While still young, they will improve and be a tough out.

 

Thoughts...

 

 

[egregiousbob]

Agree with your assessment of Ohio. That team is fatally flawed. Further, as long as Akron has Bud Wentz to write checks to acquire the players Groce wants, Akron will be the frontrunner. Perhaps other programs should be rooting for a stock market collapse.

Edited November 25 by egregiousbob

[Let'sGoZips94]

CMU is in the middle of a gauntlet. They're coming off a win vs Central State and play Minnesota tonight. As if that isn't tough enough, their next two games are against Purdue Calumet and Aquinas. We'll know what they are after this stretch. 

 

Toledo has played a decent mid major schedule so far highlighted by their 35 pt loss to UC San Diego two days ago. 

 

Kent State has only played four DI games, which is probably smart - more time for their players to focus on their school work to meet their bare-minimum-NCAA-requirement academic standards.

 

Bobcat Attack is talking about firing Boals. 

 

Bowling Green's version of DJ Burns has been a nice story and BUGS has been somewhat competitive, although they only have one DI win (Niagara). 

 

Miami OH opened the season with a nice win at App State, but haven't been impressive since. 

 

 

Right now, it's Akron, then CMU/Toledo/Kent, then everyone else. There's a chance the gap between Akron and the rest of the conference is even larger than it appears, but we won't know for sure for a few weeks. NKU, Milwaukee, Yale, Jackson St/UTEP, and Princeton will provide the best barometer for where the Zips are heading into MAC play.

[RoyalBlu]

32 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

CMU is in the middle of a gauntlet. They're coming off a win vs Central State and play Minnesota tonight. As if that isn't tough enough, their next two games are against Purdue Calumet and Aquinas. We'll know what they are after this stretch. 

 

Toledo has played a decent mid major schedule so far highlighted by their 35 pt loss to UC San Diego two days ago. 

 

Kent State has only played four DI games, which is probably smart - more time for their players to focus on their school work to meet their bare-minimum-NCAA-requirement academic standards.

 

Bobcat Attack is talking about firing Boals. 

 

Bowling Green's version of DJ Burns has been a nice story and BUGS has been somewhat competitive, although they only have one DI win (Niagara). 

 

Miami OH opened the season with a nice win at App State, but haven't been impressive since. 

 

 

Right now, it's Akron, then CMU/Toledo/Kent, then everyone else. There's a chance the gap between Akron and the rest of the conference is even larger than it appears, but we won't know for sure for a few weeks. NKU, Milwaukee, Yale, Jackson St/UTEP, and Princeton will provide the best barometer for where the Zips are heading into MAC play.

 

What you say is true re: CMU, but don't sleep on that Minnesota game. I would venture to say any of the top 4 MAC teams would have a solid chance at an upset against the Gophers, even on the road. They are not very good.

Got to go back and check, but have they even scored 70 points in a game yet this season?

 

[RoyalBlu]

2 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

What you say is true re: CMU, but don't sleep on that Minnesota game. I would venture to say any of the top 4 MAC teams would have a solid chance at an upset against the Gophers, even on the road. They are not very good.

Got to go back and check, but have they even scored 70 points in a game yet this season?

 

 

They have scored 68, 51, 59, 58 in their last 4 games. Lost one of those games and won 2 of 3 by 4 points or less. Other win (Cleveland State) was by nine. A hot night by the Chippewas could make this very interesting.

[Blue & Gold]

4 hours ago, egregiousbob said:

Agree with your assessment of Ohio. That team is fatally flawed. 

I haven't seen them play. What exactly do you see as their fatal flaw?

[clarkwgriswold]

39 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I haven't seen them play. What exactly do you see as their fatal flaw?

 

The word on the street is that they don't have a serviceable backup big and that they have a weak OOC schedule.  Also, the teams they have lost to have just wanted it more.

[Let'sGoZips94]

56 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I haven't seen them play. What exactly do you see as their fatal flaw?

 

They're short with a limited number of shooters and no Freeman-type player (at least yet) to make up for their height deficit down low. 

 

Boals very well may be fired if this doesn't improve. He had the injury excuse last year, but his recruiting has been lackluster since Mark Sears. 

[Blue & Gold]

I'm watching the replay of the KSUcks vs. Cleveland State game & KSUcks is blowing them off the floor. Hate to say it but they look good w/ Sullinger & Davis & then a couple guys who can hit 3's.  It's gonna be crazy w/ them again this year.

[Let'sGoZips94]

15 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I'm watching the replay of the KSUcks vs. Cleveland State game & KSUcks is blowing them off the floor. Hate to say it but they look good w/ Sullinger & Davis & then a couple guys who can hit 3's.  It's gonna be crazy w/ them again this year.

 

Cleveland State isn't very good from what I've gathered. They have 2 guys barely averaging double digits for scoring and are shooting the 3 ball at a 25% clip as a team so far. They've scored less than 60 PPG in half their games. 

 

Book is still out on what their ceiling may be. Same with us, for that matter. 

Edited November 26 by Let'sGoZips94

[RoyalBlu]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Cleveland State isn't very good from what I've gathered. They have 2 guys barely averaging double digits for scoring and are shooting the 3 ball at a 25% clip as a team so far. They've scored less than 60 PPG in half their games. 

 

Book is still out on what their ceiling may be. Same with us, for that matter. 

 

Same is true for all 3 NEO teams. Jury still out. Difference is, Kent/CSU annually get a hed-to-hed to kind of measure themselves. I don't believe Gross has ever played CSU/YSU since that 4-team Coaches for Cancer tipoff went away years ago. This weekend tournament was nice, but same tournament format with CSU/YSU in the mix would be a ton better.

Those two teams plus a wild card (Canisius, Niagara, Iona) would be a nice 3-day package.

 

That said, Akron looks to be the best of the bunch. Still, having a common opponent like CSU early in the season would be a nice baseline for team comparisons, and good for the box office.

 

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

Same is true for all 3 NEO teams. Jury still out. Difference is, Kent/CSU annually get a hed-to-hed to kind of measure themselves. I don't believe Gross has ever played CSU/YSU since that 4-team Coaches for Cancer tipoff went away years ago. This weekend tournament was nice, but same tournament format with CSU/YSU in the mix would be a ton better.

Those two teams plus a wild card (Canisius, Niagara, Iona) would be a nice 3-day package.

 

That said, Akron looks to be the best of the bunch. Still, having a common opponent like CSU early in the season would be a nice baseline for team comparisons, and good for the box office.

 

I agree. It’s a shame we don’t play YSU and CSU annually. Would think it would draw decent size crowds. And unlike it would be in football, not the end of the world if you lose.

[Hilltopper]

What happened to that beating a dead horse emoji?

[Let'sGoZips94]

On 11/25/2024 at 7:11 PM, Blue & Gold said:

I'm watching the replay of the KSUcks vs. Cleveland State game & KSUcks is blowing them off the floor. Hate to say it but they look good w/ Sullinger & Davis & then a couple guys who can hit 3's.  It's gonna be crazy w/ them again this year.

 

Cleveland State is currently down 48-51 to NJIT with 3 minutes to go in the game - at home. 

 

Update: CSU wins a thriller, 56-53. 

 

Congrats to Kent State in beating what looks to be an absolute powerhouse in the Vikings. 

Edited November 27 by Let'sGoZips94

[dirtyolcrowe]

On 11/25/2024 at 10:05 PM, LZIp said:

I agree. It’s a shame we don’t play YSU and CSU annually. Would think it would draw decent size crowds. And unlike it would be in football, not the end of the world if you lose.

Don’t we scrimmage YSU every year since Groce has been here?

[Illini Zip]

https://gozips.com/news/2024/11/25/mens-basketball-nate-johnson-named-mac-player-of-the-week

[GoZips88]

Why does 'Gotta hit it past the Ladies' tees or ...' come to mind?

 

 

UC Irvine schedule thus far ...

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

4 hours ago, GoZips88 said:

Why does 'Gotta hit it past the Ladies' tees or ...' come to mind?

 

 

UC Irvine schedule thus far ...

 

 

Kent State scored 10 pts in the first half of their NCAA Tourney game vs. UNLV in 2008 and still scored 58 pts in the game. 39 pts in a game vs. UC Irvine is pathetic. 

 

Pinky got pissed at UC Irvine's coach for their walk-on firing up a 3 with 5 seconds left to boot. 

 

Worth noting that Sullinger is coming off the bench for them, but playing 28 mpg. Must be his punishment for whatever happened with his Furman situation. 

Edited Saturday at 02:59 PM by Let'sGoZips94

[RoyalBlu]

58 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Kent State scored 10 pts in the first half of their NCAA Tourney game vs. UNLV in 2008 and still scored 58 pts in the game. 39 pts in a game vs. UC Irvine is pathetic. 

 

Pinky got pissed at UC Irvine's coach for their walk-on firing up a 3 with 5 seconds left to boot. 

 

Worth noting that Sullinger is coming off the bench for them, but playing 28 mpg. Must be his punishment for whatever happened with his Furman situation. 

 

Absolutely pathetic, 22-percent shooting for the game. Would guess if Kent went into the game knowing Irvine would only score 51 points, they would be thinking serious upset.

 

 

[zippy5]

UC Irvine is 7th nationally in defensive efficiency. Not that I don't enjoy making fun of Kent, but some credit to Irvine is deserved too

[Hilltopper]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Kent State scored 10 pts in the first half of their NCAA Tourney game vs. UNLV in 2008 and still scored 58 pts in the game. 39 pts in a game vs. UC Irvine is pathetic. 

 

Pinky got pissed at UC Irvine's coach for their walk-on firing up a 3 with 5 seconds left to boot. 

 

Worth noting that Sullinger is coming off the bench for them, but playing 28 mpg. Must be his punishment for whatever happened with his Furman situation. 

This totally sums up the KSU mentality.

 

jackattack108

•

6h ago

•

Am I the only one who’s a little disgusted by the actual near fight here? UC Irvine coach is getting crap talked by Kent State coaches while Kent state players come up and try to flex and look hard real close to the other team and the entire Kent state bench pushes forward. If this was 2 Kent states it’s a fight over nothing. UC Irvine meanwhile controlled all their players, let Kent state talk crap, backed up to give them their space. Not a good look for Kent state imo

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, zippy5 said:

UC Irvine is 7th nationally in defensive efficiency. Not that I don't enjoy making fun of Kent, but some credit to Irvine is deserved too

 

Their best win is against 109 UNI, who also hasn't been impressive, yet nobody else has scored less than 50. Kent has only scored 70 twice this year, one of the times being 70 exactly. Credit to UC Irvine for helping Kent State reaching embarrassing levels of suck (more so than they already do by just existing), but Kent is not a good offensive team. It's beautiful to see. 

[Zippy87]

8 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Kent State scored 10 pts in the first half of their NCAA Tourney game vs. UNLV in 2008 and still scored 58 pts in the game. 39 pts in a game vs. UC Irvine is pathetic. 

 

Pinky got pissed at UC Irvine's coach for their walk-on firing up a 3 with 5 seconds left to boot. 

 

Worth noting that Sullinger is coming off the bench for them, but playing 28 mpg. Must be his punishment for whatever happened with his Furman situation. 

 

Has Senderoff ever had control of his team? But, then again, he did seem to start it all.