MAC 2025-26 SZN

[MDZip]

I'm Happy all these analytic charts use the Z. AD Goodrich, you need to put your stamp on the programs without spending a bunch of money. I think I know a waaaay. 

[kreed5120]

Just now, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

NIU lost by 35. To Lindenwood. The Horizon is going to love them.

 

If only they could take the rest of the formerly MAC West schools with them. If you look at the 6 MAC East schools we're pretty much on par with the Atlantic 10 this season. Granted sample size is still small.

[Let'sGoZips94]

45 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

If only they could take the rest of the formerly MAC West schools with them. If you look at the 6 MAC East schools we're pretty much on par with the Atlantic 10 this season. Granted sample size is still small.

 

The MAC West needs to be challenging for CFB Playoff spots to justice their membership in the MAC with how bad their basketball is (EMU looks halfway decent). Balls is one of the worst teams in the country and NIU isn't much better. I'm surprised more MAC West schools haven't look to separate their basketball and football programs like NIU is doing, actually. Balls, CMU, EMU, WMU would be perfect for the Horizon League. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:53 AM by Let'sGoZips94

[Let'sGoZips94]

CMU with a horrendous loss to Loyola Chicago. In any other year, this is respectable; Loyola Chicago was 355 in NET coming into that game. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:35 PM by Let'sGoZips94

[Blue & Gold]

I watched the BUGS vs. K-State and the EMU vs. Cincy games yesterday & both MAC teams controlled the action from tip to final buzzer. On the road. Cincy & K-State's fans were getting excited when each respective team would be trying to claw back into the game, but neither game was particularly close - especially BUGS.  BUGS & EMU are tough down low & compliment that with 3-point shooting. Add KSUck's Gillespie to the mix & Amani's gotta bring his A-game on a regular basis in the MAC 👀👀

 

Edited Wednesday at 04:14 PM by Blue & Gold

[clarkwgriswold]

7 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I watched the BUGS vs. K-State and the EMU vs. Cincy games yesterday & both MAC teams controlled the action from tip to final buzzer. On the road. Cincy & K-State's fans were getting excited when each respective team would be trying to claw back into the game, but neither game was particularly close - especially BUGS.  BUGS & EMU are tough down low & compliment that with 3-point shooting. Add KSUck's Gillespie to the mix & Amani's gotta bring his A-game on a regular basis in the MAC 👀👀

 

 

PCCC also now has Gillespie's cousin, 6'7", 290 pound, Rob Whaley, who's contributing down low. 

[csims0917]

Amani needs to lock in cause the bigs in the conference are game changers rn

Edited Wednesday at 07:34 PM by csims0917

[Captain Kangaroo]

3 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

PCCC also now has Gillespie's cousin, 6'7", 290 pound, Rob Whaley, who's contributing down low. 

Good luck to 290 lb Rob hauling his butt up and down the court chasing the Zips gazelles. 

[MDZip]

Don't like seeing things like this though.

[RoyalBlu]

Listen....

 

For Groce to leave Akron quite a few dominoes have to fall. Will he be on short lists? Absolutely, he's a known coach with a Big Ten resume. He didn't completely bomb at Illinois. He just wasn't great. Schools looking to stabilize their programs will like Groce (but will he like them). Schools looking for the next Nate Oats will probably be a bit more hesitant.

 

That said, he is not a 'sexy' name meaning it would likely take a NCAA Sweet 16 run to boost his profile. THEN ... it will have to be a job where Groce can see some success. Unless he's looking for a retirement contract (and that's possible) the fit will truly have to be to his liking. 

 

As a university, Akron is not the most financially stable, so there is a limit to be factored in here. But all in all, it seems it will take a lot from both sides of the fence to see Groce leaving Akron, even after another successful season.

 

Edited yesterday at 04:39 AM by RoyalBlu

[csims0917]

Not sure if Connor can walk on a P4 roster the same way he does for Akron also. 

8 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

Listen....

 

For Groce to leave Akron quite a few dominoes have to fall. Will he be on short lists? Absolutely, he's a known coach with a Big Ten resume. He didn't completely bomb at Illinois. He just wasn't great. Schools looking to stabilize their programs will like Groce (but will he like them). Schools looking for the next Nate Oats will probably be a bit more hesitant.

 

That said, he is not a 'sexy' name meaning it would likely take a NCAA Sweet 16 run to boost his profile. THEN ... it will have to be a job where Groce can see some success. Unless he's looking for a retirement contract (and that's possible) the fit will truly have to be to his liking. 

 

As a university, Akron is not the most financially stable, so there is a limit to be factored in here. But all in all, it seems it will take a lot from both sides of the fence to see Groce leaving Akron, even after another successful season.

 

 

[zippy5]

9 hours ago, MDZip said:

Don't like seeing things like this though.

I went into this season assuming it's his last one here. If he's going to leave, it'll be this offseason imo since this should be our best year. Hoping he just wants to stay for the long haul and turn us into a real mid major power though. It's possible, he was on the verge at OU with a sweet sixteen run and Caris Levert committed..

[Let'sGoZips94]

Bowling Green has surpassed Ohio State for the #2 team in Ohio NET wise.

 

UMass has cracked the top 200, giving the MAC 8 top 200 teams.

 

The next closed to UMass (196) is Ohio at 262. WMU, CMU, NIU, and Balls bring up the rear (Balls lost to Evansville and dropped to 346 out of 365). 

 

 

[kreed5120]

29 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

The next closed to UMass (196) is Ohio at 262. WMU, CMU, NIU, and Balls bring up the rear (Balls lost to Evansville and dropped to 346 out of 365). 

 

It's surprising Ball State isn't better. I know they are a middle to above average MAC team most years, but one would expect they should be one of the better ones. They play in a region of the country where high school and college basketball is a big deal and the last I looked I thought they drew decent crowds in Muncie so the fan support is there.

Edited yesterday at 02:03 PM by kreed5120

[Reslife4Life]

37 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

It's surprising Ball State isn't better. I know they are a middle to above average MAC team most years, but one would expect they should be one of the better ones. They play in a region of the country where high school and college basketball is a big deal and the last I looked I thought they drew decent crowds in Muncie so the fan support is there.

Ball State is so weird. Their first year with Lewis they were a solid team pushing to be a top seed, then they lose the last 3 games of the year, get a 4 seed and bow out on Thursday in Cleveland. The next year they lost almost everyone and didn't make it to Cleveland. Year 3 they get Payton Sparks back and they have the same record as the year prior. Just so weird. Just being in Indiana you think they'd be better as basketball

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

It's surprising Ball State isn't better. I know they are a middle to above average MAC team most years, but one would expect they should be one of the better ones. They play in a region of the country where high school and college basketball is a big deal and the last I looked I thought they drew decent crowds in Muncie so the fan support is there.

 

Someone tell Mr. UCLA that. 1 guy in their entire 9 man rotation is from Indiana, and he's their 8th best scorer. 

 

Also, relying on Ohio Bobcat rejects like Elmore James IV to be key contributors probably isn't the best roster building strategy. They're not particularly tall and they don't shoot the ball very well. Not a great recipe for success. 

[1981 grad]

I have a request for the moderator.  Can we move all the discussions about Groce leaving into its own thread like we have in football, "Coach Joe Rumor Page"   I have no problems with people posting about rumors 4 weeks into the season but this thread is about Mac basketball 2025-2026, not about decisons Groce will makes 4 months from now. 

Edited yesterday at 05:06 PM by 1981 grad

[ZippyRulz]

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

It's surprising Ball State isn't better. I know they are a middle to above average MAC team most years, but one would expect they should be one of the better ones. They play in a region of the country where high school and college basketball is a big deal and the last I looked I thought they drew decent crowds in Muncie so the fan support is there.

 

And probably the model arena for a MAC school, one that we would probably like to have. But as we are aware, facilities are just one piece of the puzzle.

 

[clarkwgriswold]

4 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

I have a request for the moderator.  Can we move all the discussions about Groce leaving into its own thread like we have in football, "Coach Joe Rumor Page"   I have no problems with people posting about rumors 4 weeks into the season but this thread is about Mac basketball 2025-2026, not about decisons Groce will makes 4 months from now. 

 

You don't need to be a moderator to start a thread.

[csims0917]

https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/s/kugeX7Z8kz

[Let'sGoZips94]

Updated conference NET as we head into the weekend slate...

 

44 Akron

62 BUGS

97 Toronto South Campus

113 Miami OH

142 PCCC

160 Toledo

171 EMU

197 UMass (they did it! top 200; insert Buddy the Elf congratulating them)

262 Ohio

290 WMU

308 CMU

313 NIU

346 Balls

 

Yes there will be the usual carnage in MAC play, but there is a clear separation between the top 8 Cleveland-bound teams and the rest. Seeing Ohio with "the rest" will always make me laugh. Imagining a world where "O clap clap clap H clap clap clap I clap clap clap O clap clap clap" isn't played during any of the games in March gives me hope. 

[kreed5120]

7 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Updated conference NET as we head into the weekend slate...

 

44 Akron

62 BUGS

97 Toronto South Campus

113 Miami OH

142 PCCC

160 Toledo

171 EMU

197 UMass (they did it! top 200; insert Buddy the Elf congratulating them)

262 Ohio

290 WMU

308 CMU

313 NIU

346 Balls

 

Yes there will be the usual carnage in MAC play, but there is a clear separation between the top 8 Cleveland-bound teams and the rest. Seeing Ohio with "the rest" will always make me laugh. Imagining a world where "O clap clap clap H clap clap clap I clap clap clap O clap clap clap" isn't played during any of the games in March gives me hope. 

 

I feel at least one of those bottom 5 teams will find their way to Cleveland. Not that they will be good, but that they will sneak in with a 7th or 8th seed.

 

Personally, I'd find it hilarious if it was at UMass expense given how their fanbase ragged on the MAC as if they were too good for it when it was announced they were leaving the A10. They really thought they were going to come in and buy their way to the top.

[Let'sGoZips94]

19 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I feel at least one of those bottom 5 teams will find their way to Cleveland. Not that they will be good, but that they will sneak in with a 7th or 8th seed.

 

Personally, I'd find it hilarious if it was at UMass expense given how their fanbase ragged on the MAC as if they were too good for it when it was announced they were leaving the A10. They really thought they were going to come in and buy their way to the top.

 

That would be fine by me. 

 

How nice will it be to shed the dead weight that is NIU next year? 

 

[kreed5120]

31 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

How nice will it be to shed the dead weight that is NIU next year? 

 

Can they take the directional Michigan's with them?