Thoughts on the MAC

[zipboy]

Pre season is almost over, the board is a little slow, here are my thoughts so far.

MAC East

1. Can't - Grudingly, I have to admit these guys are the flagship program for MAC basketball. Christian has turned out to be an upper level coach in the league. Good OOC wins, the sum of the parts is always better than the individual. They have to be considered the East favorite heading into conference play.

2. Miami - They always play D so you know that they are going to compete. Looks like they have a little more firepower this year. I was never a big fan of Juby. They are better off running their offense through Horace. Should get a 3 or 4 seed.

3. Buffalo - Started out a little shaky, but a nice win over Penn State a few days ago. Turner Battle is my favorite player to watch in the league right now. Nice guy down low, the big challenge will be if they can handle the lofty expectations. In glancing through box scores, they have been getting some nice crowds. Good to see enthusiasim is still high in Buffalo.

4. Akron - And I think we are a darn good 4th place team. Zips have been a pleasant surprise. I like how KD matches up differently vs who we are playing. As KD said, we are the most inconsistent team in the league. Given the quality of the league this year, 9-9 with a 7 seed would be just fine and let's roll the dice at tourney time. We still need a couple more scorers.

5. Ohio - A darn good 5th place team. A young team that will defend home court well but struggle on the road. O'Shea had to show something this year. It looks like he brought in some players.

6. Marshall - Worst team in the league? Always known for long on talent, short on wins. I wonder about their talent this year. Best thing for them will be the move to a watered down CUSA. They should become competitive again in an easier conference.

West

1. WMU - Definitely more consistent than Toledo. Ben Reed is my 2nd favorite player to watch. A nice win over Va Tech last night. I don't think they have enough firepower to win the tourney, but they will be strong.

2. Toledo - The biggest disappointment so far but won a nice won over Auburn last night and blew out Delaware 2 nights ago. If they put it together, and I think they will, they are the most talented in the league. Their 1-2-3 punch is the best in the league. It would be nice to see Joplin win if Akron can't. Maybe my pick to win the the tourney.

3. BG - Flying under everyone's radar, they are tough. I see them as a notch below the big dogs, but the separation isn't much. Is it just me, or does it seem like Reimold just received a waiver for his 7th year of eligibility?

4. Ball - Is Buckley in trouble? Still a decent team, but they have fallen back to mediocrity. I see another 16-12 season with a 2nd round tourney exit. Boy, wouldn't that be great when we can be disappointed with losing in the 2nd round?

5. NIU - A toss up between them and Ball. Judson is a better coach but Ball has more talent. A poor man Miami team.

6. EMU - Hard to tell, they haven't played anyone yet. I think this is their best team in 5 years, and I am surprised they are ranked 6th. Although 6th and 3rd will probably be separated by 2 games.

7. CMU - No last to first to last first to last to first for them this year. A decent team but the league just looks stacked this year. Even the last place team will probably win 5-6 conference games this year.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Pre season is almost over, the board is a little slow, here are my thoughts so far.

MAC East

1. Can't - Grudingly, I have to admit these guys are the flagship program for MAC basketball.  Christian has turned out to be an upper level coach in the league.  Good OOC wins, the sum of the parts is always better than the individual.  They have to be considered the East favorite heading into conference play.

2. Miami - They always play D so you know that they are going to compete.  Looks like they have a little more firepower this year.  I was never a big fan of Juby.  They are better off running their offense through Horace.  Should get a 3 or 4 seed.

3.  Buffalo - Started out a little shaky, but a nice win over Penn State a few days ago.  Turner Battle is my favorite player to watch in the league right now.  Nice guy down low, the big challenge will be if they can handle the lofty expectations.  In glancing through box scores, they have been getting some nice crowds.  Good to see enthusiasim is still high in Buffalo.

4.  Akron - And I think we are a darn good 4th place team.  Zips have been a pleasant surprise.  I like how KD matches up differently vs who we are playing.  As KD said, we are the most inconsistent team in the league.  Given the quality of the league this year, 9-9 with a 7 seed would be just fine and let's roll the dice at tourney time.  We still need a couple more scorers.

5.  Ohio - A darn good 5th place team.  A young team that will defend home court well but struggle on the road.  O'Shea had to show something this year.  It looks like he brought in some players.

6.  Marshall - Worst team in the league?  Always known for long on talent, short on wins.  I wonder about their talent this year.  Best thing for them will be the move to a watered down CUSA.  They should become competitive again in an easier conference.

West

1.  WMU - Definitely more consistent than Toledo.  Ben Reed is my 2nd favorite player to watch.  A nice win over Va Tech last night.  I don't think they have enough firepower to win the tourney, but they will be strong.

2.  Toledo - The biggest disappointment so far but won a nice won over Auburn last night and blew out Delaware 2 nights ago.  If they put it together, and I think they will, they are the most talented in the league.  Their 1-2-3 punch is the best in the league.  It would be nice to see Joplin win if Akron can't.  Maybe my pick to win the the tourney.

3.  BG - Flying under everyone's radar, they are tough.  I see them as a notch below the big dogs, but the separation isn't much.  Is it just me, or does it seem like Reimold just received a waiver for his 7th year of eligibility?

4. Ball - Is Buckley in trouble?  Still a decent team, but they have fallen back to mediocrity.  I see another 16-12 season with a 2nd round tourney exit.  Boy, wouldn't that be great when we can be disappointed with losing in the 2nd round?

5.  NIU - A toss up between them and Ball.  Judson is a better coach but Ball has more talent.  A poor man Miami team. 

6. EMU - Hard to tell, they haven't played anyone yet.  I think this is their best team in 5 years, and I am surprised they are ranked 6th. Although 6th and 3rd will probably be separated by 2 games. 

7. CMU - No last to first to last first to last to first for them this year.  A decent team but the league just looks stacked this year.  Even the last place team will probably win 5-6 conference games this year.

I agree with just about everything you've written. I'll add the following:

I am so DAMN frustrated with our cake-walk, sorry ass pre-MAC schedule. MAC teams thusfar have wins vs Virginia Tech, Florida State, Creighton, Purdue, Xavier, Depaul, Penn State, Auburn, etc. and we're too afraid to schedule those types of games. What a crime. In the semi-storied HISTORY of Akron Basketball we've NEVER won a game vs. a "name" team. That's an amazing statistic, when you consider that other MAC teams need both their fingers and toes to count how many "name" teams they've beaten in the past decade. You can count our "name" wins on the number of hairs on Dennis Helsel's head.

Miami looks to have snapped out of their post-Wally slump (slump, by Miami standards). They will be extra tough in tourney time.

I'm still not a believer in Buffalo. It will be interesting to see how Dambrot matches up with Buffalo. Hipsher's schackled motion offense always had fits vs even the worst Buffalo squads.

OU looks tough at home, but their youth makes them somewhat easy pickings on the road. They WAAAY overspent on their coach.

Marshall may go 5-23 this year.

WMU's pre-MAC schedule has got to have them ready for conference play. That, plus their tourney experience from 2004 makes them the favorite to meet Can't in the finals. Oh yeah, they're talented too.

I like BG more than Toledo at the moment. BTW, I believe Reimold did receive the "Steve Esterkamp" 7th year exemption. Or is it 8th?

Ball State is in a Miami-esque slump (again, by their standards). They've done nothing special since that NIT run of a couple years ago.

I don't believe in EMU yet. They've gotten fat on cupcakes thusfar.

CMU. Misses Kaman.

[fan37]

Let's go easy on the Zips schedule, KD has to teach the team how to win, how to be mentally tough and physically tough. The past 15 years has bee a disaster in both fb and bb. Hey BGSU played Bluffton, there are pussys on all schedules.

[Zipster]

Let's not forget that KD did not make this schedule. I'll bet next year KD willl schedule a couple big names. He is playing the hand he was dealt. At this point, I am excited to have every "W" we can get!

[Captain Kangaroo]

Let's go easy on the Zips schedule, KD has to teach the team how to win, how to be mentally tough and physically tough. The past 15 years has bee a disaster in both fb and bb. Hey BGSU played Bluffton, there are pussys on all schedules.

I realize Dambrot didn't make the schedule...and I realize everyone schedules their share of cupcakes...but we aren't scheduling ANYONE of note. Dayton is about as good as it gets. They're good...but beating Dayton doesn't carry the national weight of beating, say Penn State...even if Dayton's program is better (and it is).

Give me a win I can brag about, Zips!! (And regular season wins vs. Can't...while very nice, don't count)

[Captain Kangaroo]

Let's not forget that KD did not make this schedule. I'll bet next year KD willl schedule a couple big names. He is playing the hand he was dealt. At this point, I am excited to have every "W" we can get!

Beating Mount Union, Ashland, Duquesne, CSU etc. doesn't excite me. Hell...Hipsher could do that.

Beat a "name" opponent...PLEASE....win a tournament game...PLEASE...

[Guest ***GUEST_Z.I.P.]

First of all, anyone who thinks Eastern Michigan is a sixth place team, or won't be a factor in the West hasn't been paying attention.

They should win the West this year, but could dominate the league in the future (hopefully along with Akron). Their recruiting class is the MAC's best since the Braun-Waters days. Look out for the Eagles. Yes you better believe they're for real. Western Michigan has no post players -- anyone see them play USC?

Second, a basketball win over Penn State is equal to beating Kentucky in football. NOBODY cares. I'll believe in Buffalo when they beat Can't State -- anywhere. Akron actually has a chance to be better than expected -- maybe competing for third in the East. Miami should return to Earth once the league race sets in. 9-9 this year in the league would be great for the Zips.

[Captain Kangaroo]

First of all, anyone who thinks Eastern Michigan is a sixth place team, or won't be a factor in the West hasn't been paying attention.

They should win the West this year, but could dominate the league in the future (hopefully along with Akron). Their recruiting class is the MAC's best since the Braun-Waters days. Look out for the Eagles. Yes you better believe they're for real. Western Michigan has no post players -- anyone see them play USC?

Second, a basketball win over Penn State is equal to beating Kentucky in football. NOBODY cares. I'll believe in Buffalo when they beat Can't State -- anywhere. Akron actually has a chance to be better than expected -- maybe competing for third in the East. Miami should return to Earth once the league race sets in. 9-9 this year in the league would be great for the Zips.

1.) I've been paying attention. EMU is improved, but there's no way they win the West. No way. I repeat, no way.

2.) I saw WMU play USC. They were outclassed, but only lost by 7. WMU had a brutal non-conf schedule. If they had Akron's sorry schedule, they'd be 7-1.

3.) I care if we beat Penn State in Basketball. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE A FRIGGING BIG 10 TEAM!!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY NO ONE CARES IF THE ZIPS BEAT A BIG 10 TEAM? OUR LAST WIN AGAINST ANY BIG 10 TEAM IN FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL WAS WHEN JOHN HEISMAN WAS THE FOOTBALL COACH...BUFFALO DID IT THIS FRIGGING WEEK!!!!

4.) Why should Miami return to earth? They beat Purdue and Xavier in week one. Akron could have played those teams 3 times a year for the past decade and never beaten them ONCE!

5.) Since you're the same guy that wondered "Why isn't Derrick Tarver going to be drafted in the NBA?" I'll attribute your ponderings to being 8,000 miles away. The point of view from Hawai'i is far different than from ground zero.

[Z.I.P.]

Ohhhh. Ho, ho, ho! Sorry I can't put a red hat on that li'l guy.

I take it you've had a very merry Christmas, Cap'n Grinch'aroo? It seems after all, you've been imbibing (some might say over-imbibing) in the "holiday chutzpah".

I wish you and the rest of the Roo Family a hauoli makahiki hou (Happy New Year) from the land of 3-day old poi and the winning Hawai'i Bowl team.

1. The distance from Ohio doesn't prevent my reading and researching the MAC hoops season. Perhaps you should get out a little more. If you were paying attention you might have learned about Darrell Garrett and Rico Harris -- the MAC's best guard tandem recruits in a generation. They were two of Motown's top three players and two of the top three guards overall in Michigan last year at Detroit Denby HS. Garrett is headed toward MAC Frosh of the Year. If there's another freshman averaging near 20ppg and near double figures rebounds (not bad for a GUARD) let me know. Harris comes off the bench this year, but is a stud who can do it all from the PG spot -- was the #1 or #2 ranked PG in MI at Denby. Then on the inside the Eagles have John Bowler and Boo Jackson, two of the top post players in the league. Bowler at 6-8 260 is like Futch with foot speed. There's a reason why EMU is ranked #4 among MAC schools in the Mid-major poll (behind Can't State, BGSU and Miami). So when EMU places first this season, or even second, since there is NO WAY they win, will you remember this Christmas greeting?

2. Westerm Michigan, as you'll recall, fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and never seriously challenged USC in LA. Now USC is a decent team, perhaps in the top 100-150, but WMU was clearly outclassed. The Broncos put on a little push against the Trojans subs at the end to pull back within single digits, but SC barely broke a sweat, due to the lack of rebounding or inside scoring by WM. Here's my prediction for the West this year, if anyone is interested.

1. EMU

2. NIU

3. UT

4. BSU

5. WMU

6. BGSU

7. CMU

3. You should give consideration to a career in politics, as you are adept at changing the subject. I never even mentioned "Akron" in this subject. Please re-read my post. When OU defeated Kentucky did anyone think that made the Bobcats one of the "teams to beat" in MAC football? Did it save Knorr's job? Don't get me wrong, a win over a SEC fb team or a BT bb team is always "nice", but PSU bb is equal to Kentucky fb, hardly anyone outside the victor's house notices.

4. Since the departure of Wally Czerbiak, when has Miami ever NOT returned to Earth?

Uncle Charlie's teams play a style of game that allows just about everyone in the MAC to stay close to them. They may be a bit better withOUT Juby J., but I'l be surprised if the Hawks turn back recent history. They'll be a factor if they make it to Cleveland, as on any given night they can be a very dangerous team, but I wouldn't pick Coles from among MAC coaches. I like Keith better for the near or far term.

5. You may actually have a point here, as I never saw Derrick play. He WAS a JC all-America however, and Cal JC POY with a CCSF team that won like 36 straight games before losing in the finals to CCLA. Anyhow, I like the Ground Zero I'm sitting on right now. Ahhh, I gotta get to bed, so I can go surfing in the morning. Have a good one my Captain!

[Captain Kangaroo]

Ahhh, I gotta get to bed, so I can go surfing in the morning. Have a good one my Captain!

I need to go break the 8" thick ice slabs from my driveway.

Hope your Christmas was great and I wish you the best in the New Year.

[Zips Win!]

Beat a "name" opponent...PLEASE....win a tournament game...PLEASE...

I find it interesting in the different opinions that are posted relating to scheduling.

While I would like to play and beat a "name" opponent as well, I'm not sure how this is possible if we cannot beat Drake or UD. "Name" teams would kill us!

I understand we need to play these teams to make money ......I guess based on our history, I would rather play a Div 1 team that we have a chance to win at versus a team that we have no shot with.

At the end of the year, the reality is that a non-conference win, even versus a top ten team, would be meaningless on the national scene. (very meaningful to us, I realize)

The tournament committee would rather take 43 Big Ten schools than 3 MAC schools that are deserving. So again I ask, what is the big deal? Play schools that are beatable....and then win the MAC tourney.

Furthermore, after more than a decade in the league, we continue to spin our wheels and the comparisons to Miami are devastating. But I will add my take--I despise those SOB's and I'm tired of reading about them.......let's see, they have the most boring brand of hoops in Div. 1 and yet they find a way to get good players......and they will probably beat us 44-42, if they are fortunate enough to score that many.

[GoZips]

I can see by looking at the schedule and the past couple of years games why some folks think this year's schedule was made up prior to Coach KD getting the job. That is only partially correct. Some of the OOC games this year are indeed completion dates of previously scheduled contracts. BUT, and it is a very important "butt", KD had no reason to throw his young team into the pit of hell.

These kids need to learn his system/style. Getting your brains beat out by even mediocre "big name" schools will not help that goal. Better that the kids play against a level of competition where they have a chance to win. Come February few people other than selection committees look at who you beat or lost to. Most folk just look at your overall record.

Coach Dambrot stated in the beginning that his objective was to teach his system/style first. That wins would come later. Oh, I see, you all forgot that. A couple of early OOC wins and you are dreaming of the Final Four. Forget it. This team isn't ready.

Let's give Coach a couple of years to put his system/style in place. Then we can judge the results.