Around the MAC 2026-2027

[Illini Zip]

I like the Sun Belt challenge. It’s good, comparable level of competition for the players. Fans get to see other quality competition in their building. And the home cooking is quite strong (both ways) so home fans are likely to go away happy with a win. The MAC might be stronger at the top and weaker on the bottom. Something along those lines. 

[kreed5120]

5 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

I like the Sun Belt challenge. It’s good, comparable level of competition for the players. Fans get to see other quality competition in their building. And the home cooking is quite strong (both ways) so home fans are likely to go away happy with a win. The MAC might be stronger at the top and weaker on the bottom. Something along those lines. 

 

Yeah, we've played 7 games in this challenge and are 4-3 in those games. Picked up our first road win of the challenge last week. It's an odd take to say the SB is beneath us when we're not exactly dominating, even at the top.

 

If we were sitting at 6-1 or something like that then yes that argument might carry some weight. If we go on to win our second match-up and sweep next year bringing our record to 7-3 then sure it's a discussion worth having.

 

Even then though it takes two to tango. The conferences most here would want us to play aren't interested in a challenge with the MAC.

Edited Saturday at 09:13 PM by kreed5120

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Yeah, we've played 7 games in this challenge and are 4-3 in those games. Picked up our first road win of the challenge last week. It's an odd take to say the SB is beneath us when we're not exactly dominating, even at the top.

 

If we were sitting at 6-1 or something like that then yes that argument might carry some weight. If we go on to win our second match-up and sweep next year bringing out record to 7-3 then sure it's a discussion worth having.

 

Even then though it takes two to tango. The conferences most here would want us to play aren't interested in a challenge with the MAC.

I’ll just add that Akron is likely a top MAC team this year which just played a middle of the pack Sun Belt team for some reason.

 

Also, it’s a shame we didn’t get a chance to play that JMU team a few years ago straight up on a neutral court. I’m confident, win or lose Akron would have had a much better showing.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 05:00 PM by Illini Zip

[csims0917]

JMU just gave a good fight to Kentucky yesterday 

[kreed5120]

Toledo wins at Marshall 81-76.

[Zippy87]

Miami struggling against Bellarmine at home. 

Edited Saturday at 11:59 PM by Zippy87

[kreed5120]

26 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Miami struggling against Bellarmine at home. 

 

Miami won 80-73. They were fortunate Bellarmine shot 13% from 3. Had they even shot 30% it would have been a loss. 

 

It should be noted Skaljac didn't play. Someone on Miami's board alluded to a concussion, but they said to expect him to return by next game.

[kreed5120]

No longer in the MAC, but not sure where else to put it. NIU and Dayton going to OT tied 67-67.

 

Edit: NIU wins 81-76

Edited Sunday at 02:42 AM by kreed5120

[csims0917]

3-0 day in the mac at least 

[zippy5]

47 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

No longer in the MAC, but not sure where else to put it. NIU and Dayton going to OT tied 67-67.

 

Edit: NIU wins 81-76

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Miami won 80-73. They were fortunate Bellarmine shot 13% from 3. Had they even shot 30% it would have been a loss. 

 

It should be noted Skaljac didn't play. Someone on Miami's board alluded to a concussion, but they said to expect him to return by next game.

 

Are we sure he could get to the game with his car potentially booted due to more parking tickets? Also, little bro continuing to whine - this time about attendance. 

 

 

47 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

No longer in the MAC, but not sure where else to put it. NIU and Dayton going to OT tied 67-67.

 

Edit: NIU wins 81-76

 

Dayton has to shutter its program. I don't make the rules. 

[kreed5120]

25 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

3-0 day in the mac at least 

It helps when the directional Michigan's aren't playing

[Zippy87]

37 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Are we sure he could get to the game with his car potentially booted due to more parking tickets? Also, little bro continuing to whine - this time about attendance. 

 

 

 

Dayton has to shutter its program. I don't make the rules. 

 

Learned this from John. 

[kreed5120]

Thought I’d put together the full MAC schedule for the upcoming week with KenPom rankings included for each team. If there’s interest, I’ll keep doing these throughout the non-conference season. If not, I’ll save everyone the extra post!

 

MAC Men’s Basketball Schedule | Nov. 8–14, 2026

SUNDAY, NOV. 8
2:00 PM | #269 Campbell at #215 Western Michigan | ESPN+

MONDAY, NOV. 9
6:30 PM | NR Penn State Schuylkill at #233 Buffalo | ESPN+
7:00 PM | NR Muskingum at #98 Akron | No stream scheduled
7:00 PM | NR Brescia at #227 Ball State | ESPN+
7:00 PM | #298 Cleveland State at #184 Bowling Green | ESPN+

TUESDAY, NOV. 10
7:00 PM | #190 Youngstown State at #271 Central Michigan | ESPN+
7:00 PM | #119 Wright State at #138 Toledo | ESPN+

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11
6:30 PM | NR Great Lakes Christian at #181 Eastern Michigan | ESPN+
7:00 PM | #145 Kent State at #113 UNC Wilmington | FloSports
7:00 PM | #276 UMass Lowell at #162 Massachusetts | ESPN+

THURSDAY, NOV. 12
7:00 PM | #337 Niagara at #184 Bowling Green | ESPN+
7:00 PM | #215 Western Michigan at #261 Purdue Fort Wayne | ESPN+

FRIDAY, NOV. 13
7:00 PM | #140 Ohio at #41 Purdue | B1G+
9:00 PM | #227 Ball State at #77 SMU | ACC Network

SATURDAY, NOV. 14
12:00 PM | #180 Tulane at #98 Akron | ESPN+
2:00 PM | #124 Miami (OH) at #262 Evansville | ESPN+
3:30 PM | #271 Central Michigan at #192 Northern Kentucky | ESPN+
4:00 PM | #138 Toledo at #307 Detroit Mercy | ESPN+

[csims0917]

Very helpful! I usually check my espn with the MAC filter on so this is a lot more concise lol

[Let'sGoZips94]

Big Wright State, UNCW, Evansville, and Detroit fan this week.

[tpsjugglerdude]

On 11/8/2026 at 11:11 AM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Big Wright State, UNCW, Evansville, and Detroit fan this week.

Loser mentality. If you actively root against the MAC OOO, you're not allowed to complain about how weak the MAC is the rest of the year.

[Let'sGoZips94]

6 minutes ago, tpsjugglerdude said:

Loser mentality. If you actively root against the MAC OOO, you're not allowed to complain about how weak the MAC is the rest of the year.

 

Kent/Miami OH/Toledo aren't why I or anyone complains about the MAC being weak. The boat anchors in the directional Michigans, previously NIU, and sometimes Balls have been my complaints about the MAC. 

 

Akron always controls its own destiny. Take care of business and the rest of the MAC is largely irrelevant. 

 

Rooting for success for rivals like Kent, Miami OH, Toledo, and Ohio is not something I'll ever do. Toledo's HC gave us our season war cry with the "lucky" comment. Miami OH has an incredibly unlikeable program and their fan base/athletic department thinks they're above us. Ohio is simply Ohio - lots of tough battles over the years and hearing OHIO spelled over and over again gets annoying. Society in general should root against Kent; humanity thrives when they fail.

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Ohio is simply Ohio - lots of tough battles over the years and hearing OHIO spelled over and over again gets annoying.

 

Outside of 2-3 years under Boals Ohio has been pretty mid the last decade. I read on their board they were 1-5 in the MAC-SB challenge entering this year. It doesn't even feel like much of a rivalry for me anymore.

[csims0917]

Winning in Athens will always feel difficult and the alums here always bring big away crowds but the quality on the court is definitely down and diehards are tired of it

[NWAkron]

someone, not me, said "the MAC blows"

[exit322]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Kent/Miami OH/Toledo aren't why I or anyone complains about the MAC being weak. The boat anchors in the directional Michigans, previously NIU, and sometimes Balls have been my complaints about the MAC. 

 

Akron always controls its own destiny. Take care of business and the rest of the MAC is largely irrelevant. 

 

Shoulda had Sac State be an all-sports member.  Mike Bibby's their head coach, for what it's worth.

 

They were 10-21 last year but let's just ignore that.

[Let'sGoZips94]

On 11/7/2026 at 11:49 PM, kreed5120 said:

7:00 PM | #298 Cleveland State at #184 Bowling Green | ESPN+

 

BUGS beat CSU by 16. Former Golden Flash Rayvon Griffith led all scorers with 26 for the Vikings. BUGS has 2-3 legit scoring threats. 

[csims0917]

Griffith must’ve had beef at Kent such a head scratcher why he left to me 

[csims0917]

Also the MAC is 8-0 the last 3 days lol