I'm confused

[Zipsrifle]

Being a relative newbie to MAC BB, I am a bit confused. From what I’ve read so far this year, this was pretty much the preseason rankings.Can't StateMiamiOUAkronMiami did pretty good in a very tough OOC schedule. Can't played UNC and Xavier. OU played Kansas and Temple. Akron played a weak schedule, beat Temple and took Dayton to 2OT.So, after the first week or so of MAC play here’s where we stand:Can't squeaks out a win against Buffalo.Miami get pummeled in AkronOU loses to BGAnd then the PD posts this: http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/01/m..._insider_2.htmlSo, this is where I’m confused. In my mind, Akron has GOT to be considered as strong as any team in the MAC right now. Despite crushing Miami, we don’t move up in the Mid-Major poll, and still don’t seem to get any respect. I mean, I think this Miami win was HUGE, but apparently nobody else feels this way. So what am I missing here? There is a LOT of MAC BB left, and by the time it’s over, we’ll know who the best team is, but I would like a little insight.

[Zip Watcher]

A home win in conference is a minimum, no matter who it is against. The conference is won and lost by going on the road to get some wins.My opinion is that there is a hangover of sorts as it relates to the media and UA. They voted Romeo Travis the POY last year, and he's now gone. Joyce started pretty much for 4 seasons, and he is gone. So logically .. take a good team, subtract a POY and a 4 year point guard, and they should take a step back. I think that's the reasoning.The other factor here is the incessant brow beating about UA's OOC schedule. Admittedly it wasn't among the best in the MAC, according to the numbers. It may have been what's right for this team, but it isn't what Toledo or Miami did .. therefore "Akron is the reason the MAC's RPI is low" is the mantra you'll find in the media and on other boards.Really it was a great win .. and convincing. But they need to validate it with a win at UB and vs. OU at home. If they drop both OU and MU and pick up a (typically tough) roadie against the Bulls, you'll hear more. Do a search for "MAC Golf Standings" at macbbs or miamihawktalk.com and you'll find an interesting way of looking at the standings. Generally, the Zips held serve .. most would have expected Miami to take a loss @ Akron.The OU @ BG thing is another story .. that one is either TOS's usual underperformance, Louis Orr making an impact, the Bubba Walther factor, or a combination of those. That was the big surprise of the week I think. The margin and manner of UA's win was noteworthy, but not the fact that they won.Rifle, I think you'll figure this out for yourself, you're a smart guy: The teams that the media & other fans drool over each December & heading into the conference season almost NEVER end up at the top of the heap in March. Witness the fact that OU is perennially one of the favorites before their lack of discipline and depth do them in during January & February. It's almost an SI jinx of sorts .. you pretty much never want to be a unanimous conference pick .. that spells doom. Remember last year?The Zips are in the conversation, as they deserve. They'll show in the next 4 games how much they should or shouldn't be dominating that conversation.Personally, I think this thing has the potential to evolve into a two horse race in a really big hurry, but I'll discuss that later.

[Valpo Zip]

For the last 3 years, we've been beating MAC teams at the JAR. Not to take anything away from last saturday's game but poll voters will not change their minds after one single MAC win at home.We have to beat Miami, Ohio and Can't both home and away to become the MAC dominant team.

[Quickzips]

The conference season has just started. Everyone is still on a kick about OOC performances which you can't tell jack from. IMO we are right where we want to be. Despite showing that we are still just as good a team as last year if not better we are still being rated behind at least 3 teams in the conference. I don't wanna be the front runner right now. I wanna be the underdog with the chip on our shoulder. I like it better that way.Give it a few weeks and a few more convincing wins and the Zip train will start rolling.

[jeaglet1]

The OU @ BG thing is another story .. that one is either TOS's usual underperformance, Louis Orr making an impact, the Bubba Walther factor, or a combination of those. That was the big surprise of the week I think. The margin and manner of UA's win was noteworthy, but not the fact that they won.

I was actually at this game. It was more so the Bobcats annual TOS underperformance. The way they played would be similar to the Zips only giving Wood the ball 4 times against BG. The Bobcats went in expecting an easy win. No road game in the MAC is easy... <cough> @ UB <cough>On a related note, it was my first trip to Anderson Arena... Ive never been to an arena, College or High School, there the backboard were tethered to the ceiling with cables that were in play. A missed shot actually nipped one of them and was called out of bounds.As for the game @ UB, I think the Zips should have little trouble with UB if they actually show up. I dont think they have anyone who can gaurd Wood and expect a big game from him.

[Zip Watcher]

When (IF) it's full, I find Anderson Arena to be one of the best environments for basketball left. It's the definition of a bandbox. What a tremendous home court advantage it would be if they jammed the place night in and night out. Definitely old school.

[Zipsrifle]

So it appears that home court advantage means a LOT. Why is this? Is it simply the fact that it's a hostile crowd? This doesn't seem to make a huge difference in football, so why in BB? Is it the atmosphere? The home team is used to shooting the ball at that specific basket with the background, etc. and the away team needs to adjust? Finally, please describe a "bandbox"

[ZachTheZip]

Home court advantage is much bigger in basketball. At the JAR, the fans are only three feet away from the court, which means the players can hear individual taunts directed at them. Everything is magnified, including crowd noise because it is indoors.

[zipsbandman]

So it appears that home court advantage means a LOT. Why is this? Is it simply the fact that it's a hostile crowd? This doesn't seem to make a huge difference in football, so why in BB? Is it the atmosphere? The home team is used to shooting the ball at that specific basket with the background, etc. and the away team needs to adjust? Finally, please describe a "bandbox"

If you ask me, zips basketball games are way more fun than zips football games. They always have been. If you go to the Akon/Can't game at the JAR you will know what I mean.

[Zip Watcher]

So it appears that home court advantage means a LOT. Why is this? Is it simply the fact that it's a hostile crowd? This doesn't seem to make a huge difference in football, so why in BB? Is it the atmosphere? The home team is used to shooting the ball at that specific basket with the background, etc. and the away team needs to adjust? Finally, please describe a "bandbox"

You're on target with most of this:- Hostile crowd in close quarters can make calling sets and calling out picks difficult for the visitors- The shooting backgrounds are different on the road, so depth perceptions may be harder on the road- Atmosphere is a lot of it. Stop by the JAR on March 9th to get a flavor.Bandbox is just a really tight space with lots of people in it .. I suppose it stems from old time theatre / vaudeville or something, but it's (I suppose) a slang term to describe an arena where the fans are right on top of the court and close by the action.Rent Hoosiers sometime if you don't own a copy. Most of the HS gyms in the movie would probably qualify as "bandboxes"The great thing about Anderson @ BG is that there is no media table on the sideline opposite the benches. The students occupy that entire side, and stand a few feet from the sideline the whole length of the court. When they are there in large numbers it is very different than the JAR where there's a media table @ midcourt, and high priced alumn seats next to it. Lately, however, the support level at BG is a bit down .. due mostly to fan fatigue surrounding the recently departed head coach.I'm not a tOSU fan at all .. but I do think they gave away the best home court advantage in the Big11 when they moved out of St. John arena. The students surrounded the court, the upper deck was tight in .. it was awesome when it rocked. The new pro-style arena they have robs their team of a little advantage that Jimmy Jackson & Clark Kellong once had.

[ziptrumpet87]

Another take on home vs road games.

[UAZips]

This is a band box, courtesy of my old high school.

[ziptrumpet87]

This is a band box, courtesy of my old high school.

I wonder if the concept for the downtown Akron arena is a larger version of that (add seating in the ends and corners and a second level and upgrade the scoreboard, seating, concessions, etc.).

[ZachTheZip]

We will lose alot of our home-court advantage if a new downtown arena doesn't follow the bandbox design. Having the fans removed from the action kills their effectiveness.

[Agent Zero]

In my opinion, the 3 biggest homecourt advantages in the MAC are The JAR, Anderson (when it's filled), and The Convo in Athens (The O-Zone occupying the one side of the court lengthwise probably has a lot to do with that though).

[johnnyzip84]

This is a band box, courtesy of my old high school.

Sure looks like Mogadore to me! Excellent example.