2025-26 season in process

[dirtyolcrowe]

On 10/17/2025 at 3:39 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Come on CBS/ESPN - get your crap together regarding the JMU game. 

Whew!!!   Princeton game is at noon!!   Can go to this and Blackberry Smoke that evening in Akron.  

[clarkwgriswold]

14 minutes ago, dirtyolcrowe said:

Whew!!!   Princeton game is at noon!!   Can go to this and Blackberry Smoke that evening in Akron.  

 

I'm just happy we get a full day to tailgate before Penn State- Shenango!

[mrelegazna]

Hello!

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 hours ago, mrelegazna said:

Hello!

 

 

Putting Kent ahead of Miami OH makes me question everything about this list. 

[RoyalBlu]

4 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Putting Kent ahead of Miami OH makes me question everything about this list. 

Went through this last season ... Miami vs. Kent hed-to-hed , Miami is/was better. 

 

However, Kent vs. the Field is/was better than Miami by 2024-25 metrics, and justified by NIT run. Could Miami have done the same? I would guess so. But the fact Kent did it on the court says ... while the metrics may have been wrong about Miami, they were NOT wrong about Kent.

 

I don't have to like it, to recognize it. 

 

Such is life as a mid-major. One-bid league. 

 

Would I pick Kent over Miami in the MAC this year? Not based on what I saw last season, or based on what each team has coming back. But if it comes down to SOS again for the NIT, and the overall W/L records are much the same as 24-25, I would not be surprised if Kent got the nod again. Miami's non-con schedule (like last season) is woefully weak.

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, RoyalBlu said:

Went through this last season ... Miami vs. Kent hed-to-hed , Miami is/was better. 

 

However, Kent vs. the Field is/was better than Miami by 2024-25 metrics, and justified by NIT run. Could Miami have done the same? I would guess so. But the fact Kent did it on the court says ... while the metrics may have been wrong about Miami, they were NOT wrong about Kent.

 

I don't have to like it, to recognize it. 

 

Such is life as a mid-major. One-bid league. 

 

Would I pick Kent over Miami in the MAC this year? Not based on what I saw last season, or based on what each team has coming back. But if it comes down to SOS again for the NIT, and the overall W/L records are much the same as 24-25, I would not be surprised if Kent got the nod again. Miami's non-con schedule (like last season) is woefully weak.

 

 

This is where people need to shut the laptops, turn off their phones, and watch the game(s).

 

Miami OH was objectively better than Kent. Their undefeated head to head vs Kent proved that, along with every single possible eye test. I don't know if I've ever seen a more offensively inept group of guys at Kent than last year's squad. Kent was propped up by playing tougher opponents, which gamed the system designed to reward P4s for their conference play and early season tournaments. Kent's run in the NIT was fueled by matchups with teams that didn't care. As soon as they played a team that cared, they lost. Senderoff knew his team was thrown a bone and he tried to parlay that into a new opportunity elsewhere. Going to be fascinating to see where Kent and Miami OH are this year. 

[kreed5120]

11 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

Went through this last season ... Miami vs. Kent hed-to-hed , Miami is/was better. 

 

However, Kent vs. the Field is/was better than Miami by 2024-25 metrics, and justified by NIT run. Could Miami have done the same? I would guess so. But the fact Kent did it on the court says ... while the metrics may have been wrong about Miami, they were NOT wrong about Kent.

 

I don't have to like it, to recognize it. 

 

Such is life as a mid-major. One-bid league. 

 

Would I pick Kent over Miami in the MAC this year? Not based on what I saw last season, or based on what each team has coming back. But if it comes down to SOS again for the NIT, and the overall W/L records are much the same as 24-25, I would not be surprised if Kent got the nod again. Miami's non-con schedule (like last season) is woefully weak.

 

I don't think bringing up last season is that useful for these rankings. What matters is what each team has returning and what new pieces were brought in. Based off of that Miami looks like the better team on paper. That said, there is a reason they play the games so who knows how things play out.

[kreed5120]

The MAC released it's preseason poll and All-MAC teams. Akron was picked first getting 11 out of the 13 first place votes. Miami received the other 2.

 

Tavari was given first team honors. Evan Mahaffey and Shammah Scott were picked for 2nd team.

 

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2025/10/21/mac-announces-2025-26-mens-basketball-preseason-poll-all-mac-teams.aspx

 

Edit: I believe coaches aren't allowed to vote for their team to win so Akron received 11 out of a possible 12 1st place votes.

Edited October 21 by kreed5120

[LZIp]

9 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

The MAC released it's preseason poll and All-MAC teams. Akron was picked first getting 11 out of the 13 first place votes. Miami received the other 2.

 

Tavari was given first team honors. Evan Mahaffey and Shammah Scott were picked for 2nd team.

 

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2025/10/21/mac-announces-2025-26-mens-basketball-preseason-poll-all-mac-teams.aspx

 

Edit: I believe coaches aren't allowed to vote for their team to win so Akron received 11 out of a possible 12 1st place votes.

Wonder who the other coach was that picked Miami.

[RoyalBlu]

19 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

This is where people need to shut the laptops, turn off their phones, and watch the game(s).

 

Miami OH was objectively better than Kent. Their undefeated head to head vs Kent proved that, along with every single possible eye test. I don't know if I've ever seen a more offensively inept group of guys at Kent than last year's squad. Kent was propped up by playing tougher opponents, which gamed the system designed to reward P4s for their conference play and early season tournaments. Kent's run in the NIT was fueled by matchups with teams that didn't care. As soon as they played a team that cared, they lost. Senderoff knew his team was thrown a bone and he tried to parlay that into a new opportunity elsewhere. Going to be fascinating to see where Kent and Miami OH are this year. 

 

 I get your point but with one disclaimer ... Kent (or Akron or any other MAC team) is not 'gaming' the system by playing a tougher schedule. That's what we all want to see. The residue of that - regardless of how good/bad any MAC team is - is a boost in the metrics. I agree by on the court matchups and the 'eye' test Miami was last year and probably this year a better MAC team than Kent.

 

I agree Kent is often a eyesore to watch offensively, no matter what year it is. But they usually hang their hat on the other end of the court. That's them, not most teams in the MAC, and they have to live and die by that.

 

But the simple fact is, particularly late in the season (Akron aside) most teams just don't like to play them because of their style ... not because they can't beat them. That's their 'edge.' You got to be a team like Akron - more offense, comparable defense - to consistently take them out. Or a team like Miami that has so much offense it overcomes their defense/physicality.

 

The way Akron and Miami play is much more pleasing to the eye and entertaining. They effectively play mostly 6-2 baseball games and win, but can win 3-2 as well. As I watch Kent over the years, they play almost all 3-2, 2-1 games with winning or losing hanging on a bad pitch, giving up a home run, or getting a strike-out in the ninth.

 

To win games like that, IMO, you have to play a tough schedule. For the most part, that's what Akron does and that's what Kent does. There is value in that. Miami, since the late Charlie Coles, has not done that and nationally, it has cost them.

 

 

 

[RoyalBlu]

7 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Wonder who the other coach was that picked Miami.

I would say Groce and Ohio picked Miami.

[Illini Zip]

My guess is Groce and Tod K. I can't see Tod giving Groce much credit for anything. Their post-game hand shakes are quite brief.

 

 

Edited October 21 by Illini Zip

[MDZip]

23 hours ago, LZIp said:

Wonder who the other coach was that picked Miami.

Pinky - just out of spite. 😊

[clarkwgriswold]

Zipped Up's season preview-

 

https://akronzippedup.substack.com/p/akron-zips-mens-basketball-2025-2026?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2970576&post_id=175211323&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=52p862&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Zipped Up's season preview-

 

https://akronzippedup.substack.com/p/akron-zips-mens-basketball-2025-2026?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2970576&post_id=175211323&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=52p862&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

As for "expectations," difficult to surpass 17-1.  2 recruits from different schools in Westerville?

[zippy5]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

As for "expectations," difficult to surpass 17-1.  2 recruits from different schools in Westerville?

Tough to predict a record because I think this team could beat last year's team, but I think it's a tougher OOC schedule and the MAC is up a bit from last year.

Edited 11 hours ago by zippy5

[Z.I.P.]

3 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Zipped Up's season preview-

 

https://akronzippedup.substack.com/p/akron-zips-mens-basketball-2025-2026?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2970576&post_id=175211323&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=52p862&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Oggi is really 6'9"??  Can't wait!!!  😁

[clarkwgriswold]

Tomorrow night is the Tip-off Reception.  Every year, one player is on the stage with Groce.  The last couple have been Nate and Enrique.  Who will it be this year?  My bet is Tavari.

[Illini Zip]

I will say Groce goes with 2 players this year. Tavari and Amani. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Tomorrow night is the Tip-off Reception.  Every year, one player is on the stage with Groce.  The last couple have been Nate and Enrique.  Who will it be this year?  My bet is Tavari.

Oh no...a prop bet on college sports. Guys in FBI windbreakers are racing towards Clarke's house as we speak!

[ZipsFan31]

Great article by Zipped up. I totally agree. I think this team is on paper better than last year but the MAC seems to be much better than last season. its going to be tough. Is it just me or does it feel like we have enough good games to get an at large if we win 25 games? 

[lance99]

11 minutes ago, ZipsFan31 said:

Great article by Zipped up. I totally agree. I think this team is on paper better than last year but the MAC seems to be much better than last season. its going to be tough. Is it just me or does it feel like we have enough good games to get an at large if we win 25 games? 

Honestly no.

 

We would have to run the Table and Lose in the MAC Championship Game to a ranked team(and be ranked ourselves)to even have a shot at a At Large. I honestly believe that the MAC is somewhere Between the Atlantic Sun and the NEC in stature as far as the Committee is concerned.....

Edited 4 hours ago by lance99

[kreed5120]

Just now, ZipsFan31 said:

Is it just me or does it feel like we have enough good games to get an at large if we win 25 games? 

 

It's just you. Purdue will probably be the only Q1 win opportunity. There might be another 2-3 Q2 win opportunities on the schedule. Most of these games that we feel are quality matchups will likely be Q3 games, which the committee doesn't care about (unless you lose) when picking at-large teams.

 

Akron would have to go something absurd like 30-3 IMO to get an at-large. That would pretty much be 1 loss to Purdue and another in the MAC tournament. That would leave just 1 other hiccup the rest of the way.

[lance99]

8 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

It's just you. Purdue will probably be the only Q1 win opportunity. There might be another 2-3 Q2 win opportunities on the schedule. Most of these games that we feel are quality matchups will likely be Q3 games, which the committee doesn't care about (unless you lose) when picking at-large teams.

 

Akron would have to go something absurd like 30-3 IMO to get an at-large. That would pretty much be 1 loss to Purdue and another in the MAC tournament. That would leave just 1 other hiccup the rest of the way.

They would have to win the Perdue Game AND hope they go deep in the Big Ten(being Ranked at the time) Torment AND The Zips make it to the Title Game AND run the table being ranked in the process getting there.....

Edited 4 hours ago by lance99

[ZipsFan31]

I know the system does not favor us as there is a circular loop with the Net system. But we have tough games besides Purdue. 
 

Road games:

Miami,Ohio,Kent state,Tulane, SB challenge 

Neutral games: Murray state, Iona, Oregon State, Yale

 

Here is what qualifies as a Q2 win 

neutral court: RPI 50-100 

Road games: RPI 76-135 

 

I could see some of these games play into a Q2 game.