2026 MAC Tournament

[Westie]

14 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Tod fails to realize that teams make their own luck and that composure, which comes in part from team culture, plays a huge role at the end of games.

29% from 3 and 3/9 from the line and found a way to win. That’s not a charmed life or luck. That’s showing more grit than your opponent. Sorry Tod. 

[clarkwgriswold]

Not that there was ever any doubt, but last night was further proof that Groce is without question the best coach in the MAC.

 

The halftime adjustments and productive second half timeouts were outstanding.

[LZIp]

Last night was insane. Cannot believe I’ve been able to witness not only winning the tournament 3 years in a row, but the manner in which we won each of them is just incredible. Told my wife for a second I felt lucky,  but then I remembered I’m a big Browns and Zips football fan, so I deserve a little bit of happiness rooting for my teams lol.

[zipsrule]

2026 MAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team

Leonardo Bettiol, UMass
Sean Craig, Toledo
Leroy Blyden Jr., Toledo
Amani Lyles, Akron
Tavari Johnson, Akron - MVP

[kreed5120]

Kowalchoke talking about how Toledo is positioned to do well next year is going to going to be in for a rude awakening. He has 4 things working against him.

 

1) He couldn't even retain Simmons last year. What makes him think he will be able to keep this team together?

 

2) Miami has a better returning roster (assuming they return).

 

3) Akron reloads, it doesn't rebuild.

 

4) He's the coach of the team and has consistently underachieved in March for a quarter of a century now. I will say this Toledo was built better for March compared to his softer, more finesse teams of years past. I still feel he plays his starters too many minutes and his teams typically lack depth.

Edited 1 hour ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Kowalchoke talking about how Toledo is positioned to do well next year is going to going to be in for a rude awakening. He has 4 things working against him.

 

1) He couldn't even retain Simmons last year. What makes him think he will be able to keep this team together?

 

2) Miami has a better returning roster (assuming they return).

 

3) Akron reloads, it doesn't rebuild.

 

4) He's the coach of the team and has consistently underachieved in March for a quarter of a century now. I will say this Toledo was built better for March compared to his softer, more finesse teams of years past. I still feel he plays his starters too many minutes and his teams typically lack depth.

 

I don't think he wanted to retain Simmons based his comments about last year's team. 

 

Until Steele signs the extension offer, I refuse to believe Miami OH will sustain this success. 

 

400+ wins in his career and 0 NCAA Tourneys. He's the problem. 

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

I don't think he wanted to retain Simmons based his comments about last year's team. 

 

Seems to be another flaw with his coaching then. They didn't really have an answer for Lyles in the 2nd half when he started playing closer to the rim. I would have to imagine Simmons at least would have held Lyles to fewer than 16 rebounds.

[LZIp]

I give Kowalchoke credit for always being able to find players and put together talented teams, but listened to his post game presser and he just seems like such an unlikable person.

[Let'sGoZips94]

13 minutes ago, LZIp said:

I give Kowalchoke credit for always being able to find players and put together talented teams, but listened to his post game presser and he just seems like such an unlikable person.

 

The irony after calling his team last year "unlikeable."

[clarkwgriswold]

53 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Kowalchoke talking about how Toledo is positioned to do well next year is going to going to be in for a rude awakening. He has 4 things working against him.

 

1) He couldn't even retain Simmons last year. What makes him think he will be able to keep this team together?

 

2) Miami has a better returning roster (assuming they return).

 

3) Akron reloads, it doesn't rebuild.

 

4) He's the coach of the team and has consistently underachieved in March for a quarter of a century now. I will say this Toledo was built better for March compared to his softer, more finesse teams of years past. I still feel he plays his starters too many minutes and his teams typically lack depth.

5.  And his team is burdened by a head coach that gets caught watching the game instead of coaching it when the pressure is on.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Wow.

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

11,072 announced attendance. One of the largest crowds I can recall for a MAC Tourney Final, and ~9000 of those had to be Zips fans. 

[LZIp]

2 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

11,072 announced attendance. One of the largest crowds I can recall for a MAC Tourney Final, and ~9000 of those had to be Zips fans. 

Definitely felt like an 80/20 fan split. Honestly surprised Toledo didn’t have more fans there.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just now, LZIp said:

Definitely felt like an 80/20 fan split. Honestly surprised Toledo didn’t have more fans there.

 

2 teams in the finals in the same day to boot. For what is considered to be the class of the MAC athletically, really poor showing from the Rocket faithful. Probably says more about their confidence in Kowalchoke than anything. 

[Blue & Gold]

Can someone repost the tweet where Tod calls Shammah's shot "lucky" I can't find it.

 

[Zippy87]

1 minute ago, Blue & Gold said:

Can someone repost the tweet where Tod calls Shammah's shot "lucky" I can't find it.

 

 

 

[Zippy87]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but Akron's 7 MAC Championships now tie them with Ohio, Kent State, and Ball State for the most all-time among MAC schools. 

[Blue & Gold]

9 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

 

Thank you. I wanted to post this 👇

 

Edited 4 minutes ago by Blue & Gold

[zippy5]

Any video out there of Groce's press conference? Haven't really seen any yet

[Illini Zip]

 

[Illini Zip]

 

[zippy5]

Gracias