Games 5, 6 & 7- The Paradise Jam

[NWAkron]

22 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Too much divided attention with this and the Hoban/Walsh game!

scouting our next head coach!

[NWAkron]

odd scheduling.  don't remember a 48 hour break between games in prior tournaments.  but maybe Zips always lost first game.

Edited 14 hours ago by NWAkron

[Let'sGoZips94]

Oregon State needs to get their crap together. I do not want 281 KenPom Evansville on the schedule (Oregon State is 136 for comparison). 

[Blue & Gold]

2 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

@Blue & Gold, you watched Eric Mahaffey in high school. Did you see this coming? I mean, 20 pts tonight as a freshman?

Only through my blue-n-gold-colored glasses.😅  But no, not really.... certainly not as a freshman. I was surprised when word on the street was he might be starting last season prior to his injury.

He played PG as a senior in HS, so has handles & high IQ. But he's grown a few inches & hasn't lost a step! 🤯

[kreed5120]

Evansville is giving this game away.

[Let'sGoZips94]

6 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Oregon State needs to get their crap together. I do not want 281 KenPom Evansville on the schedule (Oregon State is 136 for comparison). 

 

Oregon State within 2 with 4 minutes to go. 

[clarkwgriswold]

36 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

scouting our next head coach!

He's now available.

[Let'sGoZips94]

14 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Evansville is giving this game away.

 

Oregon State didn't want it.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Evansville wins by 4. I will forever hate Oregon State. 

 

See y'all Monday night vs. either Yale or Charleston. 

[Illini Zip]

Does Barre finally get playing time against Evansville? They are taller. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

From someone on Iona's board...

 

"Akron is better than anyone we'll see this season not named St John's. They would destroy anyone in the MAAC."

 

MAC, MAAC - we own it all. 😉

[Captain Kangaroo]

This Zips team can be as good or better than the Cheese/Banks/LCJ/Williams team. We’re small in the paint, but who can keep up with us? 
 

Eric Mahaffey is half Ali Ali, half Scottie Pippin. In a year or two I don’t know that Bud will be able to afford him. 

[1981 grad]

I know the Zips have never one an NCAA game.  I do know they have won an NIT game and I believe their first NIT win was against Temple in Philly when their long  time coach was retiring.  However, I know in recent times they have not won a preseason tourney even though they have played in some beatable fields.  I did a quick search and AI indicated they have never won a major preseason tourney.  But I do have a vague memory of them winning a preseseason tourney in the past. (wishful thinking?) Does anyone with a better memory than me and a more in depth knowledge of this team (Capt Kangaroo?) know if I am correct and if they did win a preseason tourney with the year and location?

[Zips1991]

2 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

I know the Zips have never one an NCAA game.  I do know they have won an NIT game and I believe their first NIT win was against Temple in Philly when their long  time coach was retiring.  However, I know in recent times they have not won a preseason tourney even though they have played in some beatable fields.  I did a quick search and AI indicated they have never won a major preseason tourney.  But I do have a vague memory of them winning a preseseason tourney in the past. (wishful thinking?) Does anyone with a better memory than me and a more in depth knowledge of this team (Capt Kangaroo?) know if I am correct and if they did win a preseason tourney with the year and location?

Akron won the Sun Bowl Invitational in 2016. But I think it might have only been 4 teams. 

[kreed5120]

I'm not trying to take away from this thread as this is actually one of the more solid mid-major tournaments. That said the GW coach went on a rant about how in recent years you no longer see power conference schools play mid-majors in these tournaments. It's really a shame because it was one of the few realistic opportunities for top mid-majors to secure resume building wins. 

 

https://x.com/jjgottschalk/status/1991507432703685037?t=XYpFnUcuzaziuwb0QSBYkw&s=09

[Illini Zip]

11 hours ago, NWAkron said:

odd scheduling.  don't remember a 48 hour break between games in prior tournaments.  but maybe Zips always lost first game.

It is different. But I like it. It gives the top teams a rest day so they don’t have to play 3 games in 3 days. Something the MAC should avoid as well. Reward the top conference teams with a shorter road to the title. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I'm not trying to take away from this thread as this is actually one of the more solid mid-major tournaments. That said the GW coach went on a rant about how in recent years you no longer see power conference schools play mid-majors in these tournaments. It's really a shame because it was one of the few realistic opportunities for top mid-majors to secure resume building wins. 

 

https://x.com/jjgottschalk/status/1991507432703685037?t=XYpFnUcuzaziuwb0QSBYkw&s=09

 

I find it funny that an A10 coach is complaining about being frozen out of competitive opportunities. 

 

When's the last time an upper echelon A10 school made the trip to a MAC gym?

[kreed5120]

35 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

I find it funny that an A10 coach is complaining about being frozen out of competitive opportunities. 

 

When's the last time an upper echelon A10 school made the trip to a MAC gym?

 

George Washington just last year played at both Old Dominion and at American, which is in the Patriot League. The coach speaking has gone into other mid-major arenas and played road games.

 

Besides, the point he was making was mainly about MTE. Big schools long quit going to mid-majors to play regular season games. That happened 20 years ago, maybe longer. Its only been in the last ~5 years that you're seeing MTE fields that segregated power schools from mid-majors.

Edited 2 hours ago by kreed5120

[Captain Kangaroo]

4 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

 Does anyone with a better memory than me and a more in depth knowledge of this team (Capt Kangaroo?) know if I am correct and if they did win a preseason tourney with the year and location?

Damn…now I’m the “old guy.” 😫

 

The Zips won a tournament in 1990 (year after Huggins departed). I believe it was at Drake. Zips were led by two Duquesne transfers - Kevin McCarthy and Pete Freeman. Both had sat out the previous season as transfers and expected to play for Huggins. Instead they got Coleman Crawford. I still feel bad for them.

[Let'sGoZips94]

51 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

George Washington just last year played at both Old Dominion and at American, which is in the Patriot League. The coach speaking has gone into other mid-major arenas and played road games.

 

Besides, the point he was making was mainly about MTE. Big schools long quit going to mid-majors to play regular season games. That happened 20 years ago, maybe longer. Its only been in the last ~5 years that you're seeing MTE fields that segregated power schools from mid-majors.

 

The American game was also in DC, so hardly a road game. ODU is more respectable. 

 

My point is these coaches act like they're being blindsided by this segregation in college athletics. It has been happening for nearly 4 decades, ever since tv media deals became a thing. It has been accelerated with conference realignment and COVID, but nobody should be shocked. Consolidation of power & money is a tale as old as time in society and sports are not immune without legitimate guardrails (NFL is the best example). Yes, big schools quit going to mid-majors to play regular season games years ago; however, it's not like the A10 is lining up to play at Akron, Miami OH, Ohio, Kent, etc., despite being geographically appropriate. There are 0 A10 @ MAC games this season, and very very few in the last 5 years despite nearly half the A10 having MAC schools right in their backyard. Is that not similar to the trend we've seen with the power conferences? Treat others the way you want to be treated; it's the golden rule and is the only bulletproof method to avoid hypocrisy. In 5-10 years, whose to say the A10 won't be only participating in MTEs with schools from the AAC, Big East, and PAC12? 

 

I get the GW coach's point, but it's hard for me to take him seriously when, if he could have it his way, he'd only play power conference schools anyways. 

 

Revenue sports in college athletics need OOC scheduling rules to fix this, but the powers that be aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Let'sGoZips94

[1981 grad]

2 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

Akron won the Sun Bowl Invitational in 2016. But I think it might have only been 4 teams. 

Thanks to the Capt and Zips 1991.  I just had a vague snapshot in my head of the Zips holding up trophys of some kind in a preseason tourney and it must have been the Sun Bowl in 2016.  https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2016/12/23/akron-wins-sun-bowl-basketball-invitational/95760162/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114120d00----v114120b0041xxd004165&gca-ft=136&gca-ds=sophi  

[Illini Zip]

9 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

This Zips team can be as good or better than the Cheese/Banks/LCJ/Williams team. We’re small in the paint, but who can keep up with us? 
 

Eric Mahaffey is half Ali Ali, half Scottie Pippin. In a year or two I don’t know that Bud will be able to afford him. 

I’m not making a prediction, but with his skills and maturity this early and for that size I could see him going pro after his junior year. I mean legit first rounder. So yes, precedent would be something like play at Akron for 2 years, then go to Duke for a year and then go pro. It would be nice if the Mahaffey clan gave Akron a family discount and he finished his college career at Akron. He would be like Larry Bird putting Indiana State on the map. 

 

That said, I want to make sure Evan gets his due. I especially like his defense and calm presence on the floor. He’s going to get fouled a lot so he needs to pick up his free throw shooting, but he’s been great so far. Great leadership. 

 

Just now, Captain Kangaroo said:

Damn…now I’m the “old guy.” 😫

 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 

[Let'sGoZips94]

17 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

I’m not making a prediction, but with his skills and maturity this early and for that size I could see him going pro after his junior year. I mean legit first rounder. So yes, precedent would be something like play at Akron for 2 years, then go to Duke for a year and then go pro. It would be nice if the Mahaffey clan gave Akron a family discount and he finished his college career at Akron. He would be like Larry Bird putting Indiana State on the map. 

 

That said, I want to make sure Evan gets his due. I especially like his defense and calm presence on the floor. He’s going to get fouled a lot so he needs to pick up his free throw shooting, but he’s been great so far. Great leadership. 
 

 

I think that injury to Eric last year was a blessing. I don't know if he and Evan are here this year if Eric plays last season, and Eric's talent would've been wasted on last year's team. He's a much better fit this year without Nate Johnson on the roster and has room to really showcase his athleticism and abilities. 

[kreed5120]

54 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

The American game was also in DC, so hardly a road game. ODU is more respectable. 

 

My point is these coaches act like they're being blindsided by this segregation in college athletics. It has been happening for nearly 4 decades, ever since tv media deals became a thing. It has been accelerated with conference realignment and COVID, but nobody should be shocked. Consolidation of power & money is a tale as old as time in society and sports are not immune without legitimate guardrails (NFL is the best example). Yes, big schools quit going to mid-majors to play regular season games years ago; however, it's not like the A10 is lining up to play at Akron, Miami OH, Ohio, Kent, etc., despite being geographically appropriate. There are 0 A10 @ MAC games this season, and very very few in the last 5 years despite nearly half the A10 having MAC schools right in their backyard. Is that not similar to the trend we've seen with the power conferences? Treat others the way you want to be treated; it's the golden rule and is the only bulletproof method to avoid hypocrisy. In 5-10 years, whose to say the A10 won't be only participating in MTEs with schools from the AAC, Big East, and PAC12? 

 

I get the GW coach's point, but it's hard for me to take him seriously when, if he could have it his way, he'd only play power conference schools anyways. 

 

I think it's a conversation worth having for the sake of having the conversation. I would have shared the same if it was a SunBelt, CAA, or Horizon League coach saying the same thing.

 

He has gone to play at other mid-majors so it's not like he's a hypocrite like you keep trying to make him out to be. He literally played at 2 last year. He didn't have to play @American or @ODU last year. He choose to, which goes against the point you made about him actively avoiding them.

 

It sounds like your issue is more with Dayton or Duquesne's of the world as those are the A10 programs in our backyard who don't actively schedule MAC schools. St. Bonaventure regularly schedules Buffalo, including @ Buffalo and has played MAC schools several times in Cleveland. Loyola Chicago I guess would be another culprit. They schedule MAC schools, but only if you play them at home, which beats not scheduling at all, but still not as good as St. Bonaventure going to Buffalo or playing Akron in Cleveland. With UMass in the league I feel you will see a few more A10-MAC battles as even though UMass doesn't have one on the schedule this year, I would expect 1, maybe 2 moving forward.

Edited 58 minutes ago by kreed5120

[Illini Zip]

Here’s an interesting Loyola Chicago Ramblers tidbit. They actually have a 1963 NCAA championship banner hanging in their gym. Now granted back then the NIT was the premier annual college tournament, but you can say it aged well to their benefit.