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2025 NCAA Tournament


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5 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

That is good but doesn't answer the host question. Generally the host can't play at their venue. It's why a St Joe's would host in Philly and not Nova. Curious if we're excluded because the MAC is the host 

I think it’s all a moot point because we’ll be a 13 seed, but are we sure the MAC is the host? For some reason I thought Cleveland St/The Horizon League was in the past. 

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13 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

That is good but doesn't answer the host question. Generally the host can't play at their venue. It's why a St Joe's would host in Philly and not Nova. Curious if we're excluded because the MAC is the host 

 

Conference Host Nuance: When a conference (like the MAC) is a co-host, the rules don’t automatically bar its member teams from playing there unless the site is their regular home venue or exceeds the three-game limit. The NCAA prioritizes competitive balance and logistics over conference affiliation.

 

 

NCAA Rules on Hosting and Team Placement

The NCAA’s bracketing principles (from the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Principles and Procedures) include specific guidelines about host sites:

Host Institution Conflict: A team cannot play at a site where its home institution is the host if it’s considered a "home game" environment. For example, if Cleveland State were in the tournament, they’d likely be reassigned elsewhere because Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is just two miles from their campus and they’ve played home games there (e.g., against Robert Morris in 2023-24).

Three-Game Rule: As discussed earlier, a team cannot play at a site where it has played more than three regular-season games in that season, regardless of who hosts. This rule applies independently of host status.

Conference Host Nuance: When a conference (like the MAC) is a co-host, the rules don’t automatically bar its member teams from playing there unless the site is their regular home venue or exceeds the three-game limit. The NCAA prioritizes competitive balance and logistics over conference affiliation.

Does This Affect Akron?

Akron, as a MAC member, isn’t inherently disqualified from playing in Cleveland just because the MAC is a co-host. Here’s why:

Not Akron’s Home Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse isn’t Akron’s home court—that’s James A. Rhodes Arena, 40 miles away in Akron. While Akron played the MAC Tournament final there on March 15, 2025, that’s a postseason event, and the regular-season three-game rule still governs. As noted previously, Akron likely didn’t play four or more regular-season games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2024-25, given their typical schedule and the arena’s primary use for NBA games.

MAC as Co-Host vs. Cleveland State: The NCAA’s host conflict rule focuses on the institutional host (Cleveland State) rather than the conference (MAC). Akron has no direct tie to Cleveland State beyond both being Ohio schools, and their campuses are distinct. The MAC’s co-hosting role doesn’t equate to Akron having a "home advantage" beyond geographic proximity, which the NCAA often allows for lower seeds.

Precedent: Conference co-hosting hasn’t historically barred member teams from playing at a site. For instance, in 2019, the Big 12 co-hosted in Kansas City, and teams like Kansas State (a Big 12 member) weren’t excluded from playing there, as it wasn’t their home venue. Similarly, Akron’s connection to the MAC doesn’t trigger a hosting conflict at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Edited by Let'sGoZips94
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Just now, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Wally World gave a massive shoutout to Akron before sending it to the official reveal show. Awesome.

Came here to post this.  Unbidden, too.  He wasn't asked, "who are some dark horses to look out for?" He was just riffing in general.  👍

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2 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:


One more question. Say we swept this years OOC schedule including St. Mary’s are we an 11 or 12th seed?

That would mean only one loss all year, right?  Even as much as the committee hates mid-majors, I think that would get us all the way to an 8 or a 9.

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7 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

Interesting, thanks guys. Thinking ahead to next year and what might be possible. 

in 2019, Buffalo made it all the way up to a #6 seed from the MAC with THREE regular season losses, although their OOC resume included beating two high majors, including to-be-#9 seed Syracuse.

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15 minutes ago, mrelegazna said:

Came here to post this.  Unbidden, too.  He wasn't asked, "who are some dark horses to look out for?" He was just riffing in general.  👍

Also a shot of the Zips winning the tournament as they went to commercial. 

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According to ESPN, their 7'2" C hasn't played since December. 

 

They have a 7' sophomore that averages 9.5 ppg. Otherwise, they're heavily guard dominant.

 

They are 247th in the country in 3P%. 

Edited by Let'sGoZips94
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