Around the MAC

[UAZipster0305]

It's 10:30 PM, and ...

[Let'sGoZips94]

12 minutes ago, zipsrule said:

That's the result, not the how.

 

As sarcastic as my reply was, that is also the how. They are one of the best 3P shooting teams in the country. 

[zipsrule]

1 minute ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

They are one of the best 3P shooting teams in the country. 

That's a much better answer.  😉

[Let'sGoZips94]

This is such an odd matchup. Miami is a high IQ, quality shooting team that lacks athleticism and strength. Kent is an athletic, strong team that is low IQ and not a great shooting team. 

 

Low IQ is proving to be the fatal flaw. 

[zipsrule]

As bad as Miami looked in the stretch that I mentioned, Kent followed it up with an equally bad stretch of play to close out the game.

Edited 23 hours ago by zipsrule

[Illini Zip]

Always a good day when Kent State loses. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 minute ago, Illini Zip said:

Always a good day when Kent State loses. 

 

It's almost like you grew up in Akron. 😉

[zipsrule]

4 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

Always a good day when Kent State loses. 

They folded like a cheap chair.

[Zippy87]

Who is going to win MAC POY? 

 

The top five scorers right now are all on mediocre teams. There's no Enrique-type this year.

 

Does Nate have a shot if he finishes strong?

[Zippy87]

5 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Who is going to win MAC POY? 

 

The top five scorers right now are all on mediocre teams. There's no Enrique-type this year.

 

Does Nate have a shot if he finishes strong?

 

To add to this, Da'Sean Nelson (3) and AJ Clayton (2) are the only players who have been awarded the MAC Player of the Week more than once this season. It's wide open. 

 

2024-25 MAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 11 -- Tyson Dunn, Guard, Buffalo
Nov. 18 -- Sonny Wilson, Guard, Toledo
Nov. 25 -- AJ Clayton, F, Ohio // Nate Johnson, G, Akron
Dec. 2 -- Jermahri Hill, G, Ball State // Da'Sean Nelson, F, Eastern Michigan
Dec. 9 -- Derrick Butler, G, Bowling Green // Peter Suder, G, Miami
Dec. 16 -- Juanse Gorosito, Guard, Ball State
Dec. 23 -- Da'Sean Nelson, Forward, Eastern Michigan
Dec. 30 -- Javontae Campbell, Guard, Bowling Green
Jan. 6 -- Da'Sean Nelson, Forward, Eastern Michigan
Jan. 13 -- AJ Clayton, Forward, Ohio
Jan. 20 -- Amani Lyles, Forward, Akron
Jan. 28 -- Tavari Johnson, Guard, Akron
Feb. 3 -- Payton Sparks, Center, Ball State
Feb. 10 -- Sam Lewis, Guard, Toledo

[Illini Zip]

By Akron not having an obvious Player of the Year candidate doesn’t that just strengthen the argument for Groce being Coach of the Year?

[NWAkron]

9 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

This is such an odd matchup. Miami is a high IQ, quality shooting team that lacks athleticism and strength. Kent is an athletic, strong team that is low IQ and not a great shooting team. 

 

Low IQ is proving to be the fatal flaw. 

What do u mean low IQ?

[clarkwgriswold]

Weird year for the MAC, across the board.  There's no single player who is dominating the conference.  Heck, the leading scorer (Jones from NIU) is averaging only 17 a game.  Nate is 16th in the MAC in scoring, 24th in rebounding, 7th in assists and 3rd in steals.  Solid and multi-dimensional but nothing that jumps out.  If the voters look at who's the best player on the best team he probably has a chance.

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

What do u mean low IQ?

 

Kent is a dumb team. They don't really run an offense, they miss tons of ball movement, take stupid shots, and make stupid mistakes.

 

Exhibit A: That game went OT because they fouled Miami 30 ft from the basket while up by 1 with 12 seconds left (sound familiar?). 

 

Exhibit B: There was a play late in regulation or in OT where they had a mismatch in the post and essentially waited until Potter go back in position before throwing the lob down low. Spoiler alert: Potter stole the pass with ease. 

[kreed5120]

11 hours ago, zipsrule said:

Watching the last few minutes of this game, how does Miami have 10 conference wins?

Have you seen how bad the rest of the MAC is?

[kreed5120]

2 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

By Akron not having an obvious Player of the Year candidate doesn’t that just strengthen the argument for Groce being Coach of the Year?

 

When Dambrot was at Akron I think Keith only won the award 2 or 3 times. The reasoning being the talent on the roster was held against him.

 

Voters seem to forget in collegiate athletics a coaches job is more than just X's and O's. He's also the GM. Recruiting is probably 60% of the job.

 

I think it would take Akron going 18-0 or 17-1 for Groce to win it. Unfairly as it might be.

[kreed5120]

9 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

Who is going to win MAC POY? 

 

The top five scorers right now are all on mediocre teams. There's no Enrique-type this year.

 

Does Nate have a shot if he finishes strong?

 

I think the All-MAC teams will also be interesting. On one end no Zips player looks particularly great in the counting stats voters often prefer. On the other hand the Zips are dog walking the conference so how can a voter not include them.

[zippy5]

8 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

When Dambrot was at Akron I think Keith only won the award 2 or 3 times. The reasoning being the talent on the roster was held against him.

 

Voters seem to forget in collegiate athletics a coaches job is more than just X's and O's. He's also the GM. Recruiting is probably 60% of the job.

 

I think it would take Akron going 18-0 or 17-1 for Groce to win it. Unfairly as it might be.

Groce has to be the favorite right now. Graduated everyone and then undefeated the next year? I guess Steele could get some consideration too but I think Groce would be a very heavy betting favorite as of today 

[egregiousbob]

16 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

When Dambrot was at Akron I think Keith only won the award 2 or 3 times. The reasoning being the talent on the roster was held against him.

 

Voters seem to forget in collegiate athletics a coaches job is more than just X's and O's. He's also the GM. Recruiting is probably 60% of the job.

 

I think it would take Akron going 18-0 or 17-1 for Groce to win it. Unfairly as it might be.

I think it depends on how much voters resent the influence of Bud Wentz's checkbook. I think some will resent it very much. 

[Illini Zip]

24 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Voters seem to forget in collegiate athletics a coaches job is more than just X's and O's. He's also the GM. Recruiting is probably 60% of the job.

And in the portal/NIL environment, retention is all the more challenging.

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Illini Zip

[NWAkron]

47 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Have you seen how bad the rest of the MAC is?

A man (not sure he was wise) once said, "The MAC blows."

Edited 11 hours ago by NWAkron

[clarkwgriswold]

19 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

I think it depends on how much voters resent the influence of Bud Wentz's checkbook. I think some will resent it very much. 

 

Good point.  Bud's checkbook is certainly an advantage, but that view (often voiced by residents of Brimfield and environs) fails to recognize their own failures in building their own programs.  It also doesn't recognize the other factors where the Zips have an advantage- better coaching...tradition of winning and championships...nice facilities (other than the JAR)...

[Illini Zip]

7 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Good point.  Bud's checkbook is certainly an advantage, but that view (often voiced by residents of Brimfield and environs) fails to recognize their own failures in building their own programs.  It also doesn't recognize the other factors where the Zips have an advantage- better coaching...tradition of winning and championships...nice facilities (other than the JAR)...

And may I boldly proclaim, the best fan forum in the MAC. 

[NWAkron]

13 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Good point.  Bud's checkbook is certainly an advantage, but that view (often voiced by residents of Brimfield and environs) fails to recognize their own failures in building their own programs.  It also doesn't recognize the other factors where the Zips have an advantage- better coaching...tradition of winning and championships...nice facilities (other than the JAR)...

as well as dollar dog nights.  Where is the t shirt cannon?  

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, zippy5 said:

Groce has to be the favorite right now. Graduated everyone and then undefeated the next year? I guess Steele could get some consideration too but I think Groce would be a very heavy betting favorite as of today 

Considering if the season ended right now the Zips would be the first undefeated MAC team since 1957-1958 Miami I'd agree. My comment was more that if the Zips don't run the table, it opens up the door for Steele. 

 

The best coach doesn't win as often as you might think. Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in college football history, only was named SEC COY 5 times. He has won more national championships than he has won SEC COY. The media voters aren't always the brightest.