MAC 2025-26 SZN

[csims0917]

Bumping a new thread for the fresh season. So pumped for tomorrow 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Kent's fan forum has 9 posts in the Troy game thread.  

 

That game ended a half hour ago.  

[csims0917]

I think that thread is in its last days. They must’ve moved to something else 

[csims0917]

Ohio beat Illinois St at home. Might not sound impressive Illinois St. was ranked 122 in KenPom so that gives them the highest ranked win of the year so far. Great win for the MAC 

[csims0917]

WMU lost to northwood😭😭😭. Ban the directionals 

[Zips1991]

15 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

WMU lost to northwood😭😭😭. Ban the directionals 

Looks like they're in mid-season form already. 😂

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, csims0917 said:

Ohio beat Illinois St at home. Might not sound impressive Illinois St. was ranked 122 in KenPom so that gives them the highest ranked win of the year so far. Great win for the MAC 

 

 

 

[csims0917]

Kent state and Cornell are shooting 3s like it’s the NBA 58-55 Kent at half

[roopride]

22 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

 

I watched and neither team seemed that strong

[csims0917]

The MAC went 4-0 today against Mid major or under competition. NIU is losing to wisconsin 

[Let'sGoZips94]

4 hours ago, csims0917 said:

Kent state and Cornell are shooting 3s like it’s the NBA 58-55 Kent at half

 

Both finished shooting 47% from 3 and 52%+ from the field. Must've been a handshake agreement to not play defense the entire game. 

[csims0917]

The pace of play was ridiculous lol. Second straight game for Kent like that. Can’t get a true read on them yet 

[Let'sGoZips94]

24 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

The pace of play was ridiculous lol. Second straight game for Kent like that. Can’t get a true read on them yet 

 

What you're seeing is Pinky realizing his slow grind, ugly style won't work vs Akron, Miami, etc. He is adopting the run and gun style, but it remains to be seen if he has the horses in the barn to play a complete game on both sides of the ball. Relying on hot shooting is risky to say the least. 

[kreed5120]

It looks like March has come early for Toledo. They blew a double digit half-time lead and currently trail Marshall by 10 with under a minute left to play.

[csims0917]

Might be the end of the road for Todd if this gets ugly 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Toledo tried to fight back but too little too late. Was tied/1 possession game around the 9-10 minute mark in the 2nd half. Marshall quickly pushed it out to a ~20 pt game before Toledo clawed back a few points. 

 

Poor Kowalchoke. 

[Illini Zip]

Ahhh, it feels like just yesterday that Groce broke ol’ Todd. 
 

By the way, have I mentioned that I hate Toledo?

[clarkwgriswold]

I heard Todd's kid committed to Bradley.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Speaking of Bradley, they are taking CMU to the woodshed right now. CMU is bad. 

[Blue & Gold]

15 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

Ahhh, it feels like just yesterday that Groce broke ol’ Todd. 
 

Can you elaborate on that? I've noticed Kowalchoke doesn't seem to like Groce much.

[Illini Zip]

1 minute ago, Blue & Gold said:

Can you elaborate on that? I've noticed Kowalchoke doesn't seem to like Groce much.

Oh, for me it’s the fact that Groce beat Toledo in the MAC Tournament one year and it seems like our Zips have been rolling ever since. Where as Toledo has good conference records, but can’t get past Groce (or Miami, Ohio, Kent). But because he does seem to despise Groce, I like to give Groce credit for breaking him. Just having fun and I’m biased of course. 

[egregiousbob]

Let's be clear: Without Bud Wentz, John Groce is just another MAC coach. Remember, he never finished higher than 3rd in the MAC regular season at Ohio. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

Let's be clear: Without Bud Wentz, John Groce is just another MAC coach. Remember, he never finished higher than 3rd in the MAC regular season at Ohio. 

 

Lol what an absurd statement. Egregious is a fitting name.  

Edited 1 hour ago by Let'sGoZips94

[Illini Zip]

6 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

Let's be clear: Without Bud Wentz, John Groce is just another MAC coach. Remember, he never finished higher than 3rd in the MAC regular season at Ohio. 

Yeah, I respectfully disagree. 

[kreed5120]

51 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

Let's be clear: Without Bud Wentz, John Groce is just another MAC coach. Remember, he never finished higher than 3rd in the MAC regular season at Ohio. 

 

Remember he won 3 NCAA tournament games in a span of 4 years at OU. 

 

I also think you forget having NIL money is only part of the puzzle. UMass has significantly more money than Akron, but from what I've watched they look pretty mid. A coach still has to be able to identify talent, develop players, and get them to fit in their system.

 

Tod meanwhile is in his 24th year as a D1 coach, 16th at Toledo, and has never made the Big Dance. NIL has only been a factor for 2-3 years so that can't be an excuse. Even if you exclude his Akron tenure, Groce had more success in 4 years at OU than Tod has had in his 24 years as a D1 coach.

Edited 52 minutes ago by kreed5120