Around the MAC

[Z.I.P.]

9 hours 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

Russell Turner.  That's the coach's name.  And had he not turned down the then UA Prez in 2017 he would be the Zips' coach, according to reports at the time.  He's the best coach in the Big West, though all other coaches and fans hate him.  He's belligerent and arrogant to refs and opposing coaches.  Just not as bad I suppose as coach Pinky.

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, Z.I.P. said:

Russell Turner.  That's the coach's name.  And had he not turned down the then UA Prez in 2017 he would be the Zips' coach, according to reports at the time.  He's the best coach in the Big West, though all other coaches and fans hate him.  He's belligerent and arrogant to refs and opposing coaches.  Just not as bad I suppose as coach Pinky.

 

Where the hell did this nugget of knowledge come from?

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Where the hell did this nugget of knowledge come from?

 

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2017/04/akron_mens_basketball_job_draw.html

 

This article mentions Turner as a candidate leading up to Groce's hiring.

[Z.I.P.]

3 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2017/04/akron_mens_basketball_job_draw.html

 

This article mentions Turner as a candidate leading up to Groce's hiring.

There was one pub (wish I could remember, maybe from SoCal) said that he was offered the job.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[Let'sGoZips94]

After losing 80-45 to UC San Diego, Toledo lost to Oakland 85-52. 

 

Rumor has it Kowalchoke is trying some reverse jinx strategy - sucking in November instead of March. It's a bold strategy cotton; let's see if it pays off for him.

[NWAkron]

10 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

There was one pub (wish I could remember, maybe from SoCal) said that he was offered the job.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Looking at the group allegedly in consideration, Zips landed a grand slam and dodged some bullets with Groce

[RoyalBlu]

FWIW ... (12/2/24).

 

1st NCAA NET was released today and the MAC does not look very good at all.

 

95 Kent

113 CMU

146 Miami

151 Akron

179 Ohio

197 Toledo

 

The rest of the league is below 200 with UB, Ball St. and NIU under 300. Note the 100 pt difference between No. 1 MAC and No. 6 MAC. Just bad. I believe Akron is way better than 151, but I understand why the Zips sit where they do. Upcoming games should change that significantly.

 

As for the rest of the MAC, other than CMU, I really can't see any other team rising much above their current spot, with the possible exception of Toledo. But losing their last two games by 30-40 points to mid-majors does not look like upward movement for the Rockets.

 

Last few years Ohio has started slow and come on late, so perhaps there is hope there as well. With the league so bad, perhaps Miami's youthful talent will help them move up a few notches.

 

But what in the world is wrong with Ball State???

 

Not a betting man, but based on current results on paper, and the eye test, CMU looks like the team to beat. We'll know more about Akron in a couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

Not a betting man, but based on current results on paper, and the eye test, CMU looks like the team to beat. We'll know more about Akron in a couple of weeks.

 

 

ok. thanks.

[Zipmeister]

On 12/2/2024 at 7:03 PM, RoyalBlu said:

FWIW ... (12/2/24).

 

1st NCAA NET was released today and the MAC does not look very good at all.

 

95 Kent

113 CMU

146 Miami

151 Akron

179 Ohio

197 Toledo

 

The rest of the league is below 200 with UB, Ball St. and NIU under 300. Note the 100 pt difference between No. 1 MAC and No. 6 MAC. Just bad. I believe Akron is way better than 151, but I understand why the Zips sit where they do. Upcoming games should change that significantly.

 

As for the rest of the MAC, other than CMU, I really can't see any other team rising much above their current spot, with the possible exception of Toledo. But losing their last two games by 30-40 points to mid-majors does not look like upward movement for the Rockets.

 

Last few years Ohio has started slow and come on late, so perhaps there is hope there as well. With the league so bad, perhaps Miami's youthful talent will help them move up a few notches.

 

But what in the world is wrong with Ball State???

 

Not a betting man, but based on current results on paper, and the eye test, CMU looks like the team to beat. We'll know more about Akron in a couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watched WMU play at Dayton. Think they might surprise some folks. They looked pretty good; even led by 3 at the half.

[RoyalBlu]

On 12/2/2024 at 7:03 PM, RoyalBlu said:

FWIW ... (12/2/24).

 

1st NCAA NET was released today and the MAC does not look very good at all.

 

95 Kent

113 CMU

146 Miami

151 Akron

179 Ohio

197 Toledo

 

The rest of the league is below 200 with UB, Ball St. and NIU under 300. Note the 100 pt difference between No. 1 MAC and No. 6 MAC. Just bad. I believe Akron is way better than 151, but I understand why the Zips sit where they do. Upcoming games should change that significantly.

 

As for the rest of the MAC, other than CMU, I really can't see any other team rising much above their current spot, with the possible exception of Toledo. But losing their last two games by 30-40 points to mid-majors does not look like upward movement for the Rockets.

 

Last few years Ohio has started slow and come on late, so perhaps there is hope there as well. With the league so bad, perhaps Miami's youthful talent will help them move up a few notches.

 

But what in the world is wrong with Ball State???

 

Not a betting man, but based on current results on paper, and the eye test, CMU looks like the team to beat. We'll know more about Akron in a couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having second thoughts about CMU. Note the play a whopping 4 non-D1 teams - balanced by Marquette, Minnesota, Arizona and Mississippi State. CMU hung tight w/Minny but still lost. And likely to lose vs. Arizona and Mississippi State, meaning the bulk of their wins coming into MAC play will be non-D1s.

 

Makes you wonder what the metrics are for the NCAA Net to rank them so high.

 

[kreed5120]

19 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

Having second thoughts about CMU. Note the play a whopping 4 non-D1 teams - balanced by Marquette, Minnesota, Arizona and Mississippi State. CMU hung tight w/Minny but still lost. And likely to lose vs. Arizona and Mississippi State, meaning the bulk of their wins coming into MAC play will be non-D1s.

 

Makes you wonder what the metrics are for the NCAA Net to rank them so high.

 

NET rankings aren't necessarily about wins and losses. In the eyes of NET a 1 point loss on the road at Kentucky is going to be better than a 8 point win at home against some NET 300+ team.

[Blue & Gold]

Article from the ABJ concerning KSUck's depth. Sounds like Pinky is also playing 10 guys

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2024/12/10/kent-state-mens-basketball-roster-bench-unit-stats-wins/76854982007/

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Article from the ABJ concerning KSUck's depth. Sounds like Pinky is also playing 10 guys

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2024/12/10/kent-state-mens-basketball-roster-bench-unit-stats-wins/76854982007/

 

I wonder what kind of deal Pinky made with the ABJ to have the article written in this manner. Hopefully Kent has a NIL deal with a cosmetics company for all the lipstick needed for this pig (and Pinky's rosy cheeks/clown makeup). 

 

"They are third in the MAC in scoring"

• Based on what metric? They are currently 325th in the country in Points Per Game at 64.6. 
• Only NIU is lower from the MAC with 62.8 ppg (335th nationally).

"fourth in 3-point percentage"

• Again, what? They are shooting the 3 ball at a 28.4% clip, which is good for 317th in the nation.
• Only WMU is lower from the MAC at 28.1% (321st nationally).

In fact, coming at this article from a positive offensive standpoint at all is erroneous on all accounts (to quote the AK Rowdies). 

 

"How are the Golden Flashes doing it?"

• It ain't by offense, ABJ dumb butts.
• Offensive National Rankings...
  • Effective FG%: 343rd
  • Shooting %: 349th
  • Personal Fouls per Game: 305th

 

Lastly, citing bench production on offense as a key for Kent is incredibly disingenuous. Kent has failed to score 70 points in 4 out of their last 6 games (all vs G5, and all but 2 ranked 200 in NET), including a 39 point performance vs. UC Irvine. Their offense blows, and one of their main bench players is seemingly only coming off the bench as punishment for failing to stick at Furman (Jalen Sullinger), as he was their starting PG last year and an All MAC Tournament team member.

 

If the ABJ wanted to cite Kent's defense, this would've been an acceptably positive article as Kent's defensive metrics are quite good (albeit against lesser competition as most of their opponents are 200+ in NET). 

 

The ABJ can reference this source the next time they want to try to polish the turd that is Kent State. Also, they should think about changing their name to the KBJ - Kent... You fill in the rest.

 

z.i.P.S. Kent has a typo on their website under Jalen Sullinger's page. "2022-2024 season"

 

The epitome of "failure".

Edited yesterday at 05:13 PM by Let'sGoZips94

[ZZZips]

22 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

I wonder what kind of deal Pinky made with the ABJ to have the article written in this manner. Hopefully Kent has a NIL deal with a cosmetics company for all the lipstick needed for this pig (and Pinky's rosy cheeks/clown makeup). 

 

"They are third in the MAC in scoring"

• Based on what metric? They are currently 325th in the country in Points Per Game at 64.6. 
• Only NIU is lower from the MAC with 62.8 ppg (335th nationally).

"fourth in 3-point percentage"

• Again, what? They are shooting the 3 ball at a 28.4% clip, which is good for 317th in the nation.
• Only WMU is lower from the MAC at 28.1% (321st nationally).

In fact, coming at this article from a positive offensive standpoint at all is erroneous on all accounts (to quote the AK Rowdies). 

 

"How are the Golden Flashes doing it?"

• It ain't by offense, ABJ dumb butts.
• Offensive National Rankings...
  • Effective FG%: 343rd
  • Shooting %: 349th
  • Personal Fouls per Game: 305th

 

Lastly, citing bench production on offense as a key for Kent is incredibly disingenuous. Kent has failed to score 70 points in 4 out of their last 6 games (all vs G5, and all but 2 ranked 200 in NET), including a 39 point performance vs. UC Irvine. Their offense blows, and one of their main bench players is seemingly only coming off the bench as punishment for failing to stick at Furman (Jalen Sullinger), as he was their starting PG last year and an All MAC Tournament team member.

 

If the ABJ wanted to cite Kent's defense, this would've been an acceptably positive article as Kent's defensive metrics are quite good (albeit against lesser competition as most of their opponents are 200+ in NET). 

 

The ABJ can reference this source the next time they want to try to polish the turd that is Kent State. Also, they should think about changing their name to the KBJ - Kent... You fill in the rest.

 

z.i.P.S. Kent has a typo on their website under Jalen Sullinger's page. "2022-2024 season"

 

The epitome of "failure".

I applaud the student who wrote the article.  If an Akron student wrote a,similar article about Akron basketball you would cheer him on.  The kid is a stringer.  Congrats to him for having enough skill to make some money on a per article basis from Gannett Publishing. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

25 minutes ago, ZZZips said:

I applaud the student who wrote the article.  If an Akron student wrote a,similar article about Akron basketball you would cheer him on.  The kid is a stringer.  Congrats to him for having enough skill to make some money on a per article basis from Gannett Publishing. 

 

I would be embarrassed if an Akron student wrote an article with so many statistical/factual errors.

[Hilltopper]

27 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

I would be embarrassed if an Akron student wrote an article with so many statistical/factual errors.

Can't read, Can't write Can't State!

[Hilltopper]

55 minutes ago, ZZZips said:

I applaud the student who wrote the article.  If an Akron student wrote a,similar article about Akron basketball you would cheer him on.  The kid is a stringer.  Congrats to him for having enough skill to make some money on a per article basis from Gannett Publishing. 

They might have paid $10. It's all they can afford!