MAC Sports topics that include Hoops

[bobolink]

It'll be interesting to see if 1-seed Akron holds serve and wins it. If they get upset in the final, not sure their NET (98 as of today) would be good enough to get 'em an at large into the NCAAs. They might get bumped to the NIT. They'd almost certainly get bumped to the NIT if they don't reach the final.

They have no chance of an at large bid, but I think the new NIT rules put them in automatically. I wonder which A10 teams will be in the NIT.

[MikeUMA]

Chalk continued in the semis
1 Akron 100 - 4 Toledo 90
2 Miami 72 - 3 KSU 64

Akron/Miami at 7:30 PM on ESPN2.

In their one head-to-head, Akron won at home over Miami, 102-75.

[MikeUMA]

How awkward is this? Miami coach Travis Steele and Akron coach John Groce are half-brothers. Same mother, 10 years apart.

Edit: ESPN has certainly milked this storyline for all it's worth. They've mentioned it at least four times.

[kd68]

I hope they do ok in the MAC. I have been watching SEC games and Big 12. Because o f NIL wonder if in the future the NCAA will do away with the automatic bid. Those leagues play at a different level.

[wmmmfan]

I hope they do ok in the MAC. I have been watching SEC games and Big 12. Because o f NIL wonder if in the future the NCAA will do away with the automatic bid. Those leagues play at a different level.

As they intended it

[Sheck]

MAC title game going down to the wire. Tied with :35 left.

[MikeUMA]

After being down 18 early, 1-seed Akron fights back and wins. Second-best NET in the MAC is Kent State at 128. No way that's a multi-bid league, but also not a surprise.

[Steve81]

After being down 18 early, 1-seed Akron fights back and wins. Second-best NET in the MAC is Kent State at 128. No way that's a multi-bid league, but also not a surprise.

The place looked packed and while loving the Miami story and effort. Think Akron is a more complete and deep team that can win in the dance. Depends on the matchup. Wonder about the attendances, but the atmosphere sounded great. I like to see UMass not only make a deep run, but to win the MAC. Don't expect it next year, but will be fun watching UMass get their mojo back. The sad thing about the MAC, which gives them such a poor conference ranking is their are so many bad teams. Losing the worst team of NIU and inserting UMass should help the MAC start clawing back to the conference pre covid norm in the low teens. The new NET was created to make the power conferences look better but stinks as a true metric.

Remember, players come to a university for the coach, university and competing in the big dance and a winning history. Time to get our mojo back! It's up to us to perform

BeatWestern has this. Official attendance for tonight's MAC Championship game was 7,099.

[Juice Stand]

The new NET was created to make the power conferences look better but stinks as a true metric.

The NET is a horrible metric. Akron, who won all year is 91, decent but not great. A few spots ahead at 87 is South Carolina, who only won 12 games all year, and only 2 in conference. The fact that they play in the SEC, a league they couldn't remotely compete in, artificially inflates their numbers to an extraordinary degree. Even higher at 74 is Arizona St, who finished 13-19, and has a better NET ranking than a 22-win St. Joes A10 team. NET is a garbage ranking system that rewards conference affiliation over performance.

[Bob1975]

MAC championship was a fun game to watch in front of a packed and engaged arena. Both Miami and Akron had kids who could shoot and hit foul shots. They both would have beaten UMASS this season.

Just find some kids who can shoot, can't win in today's basketball without being able to hit a 3.

[bobolink]

fan support was big. many of the MAC schools are an easy drive to Cleveland. 3 of their top 4 (Akron, Kent State and Toledo) are close, and none would scream "it's too far we have to fly". also, Akron has so much recent success that they must have a good fan base. and all those midwestern MAC schools must have lots of alums nearby. UMass not a good fit

[MikeUMA]

NET is a garbage ranking system that rewards conference affiliation over performance.

It rewards conference affiliation as a byproduct of playing a much tougher schedule. It's not rewarding for conference status alone.

[Juice Stand]

Mike, how do you explain South Carolina being a top 100 school? They won 2 conference games. Seems to me that their ranking was 100% a byproduct of conference affiliation and not remotely performance related. Play a tough schedule, lose nearly all the games, "earn" a decent ranking. That's trash.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

UMass not a good fit

UMass fans on their way to the tournament next season:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeNfw6XLI10

[MikeUMA]

Mike, how do you explain South Carolina being a top 100 school? They won 2 conference games. Seems to me that their ranking was 100% a byproduct of conference affiliation and not remotely performance related. Play a tough schedule, lose nearly all the games, "earn" a decent ranking. That's trash.

Fair. I see what you're saying. Strength of Schedule seems to be weighted too highly. SC had a NET SOS of 14, but a 2-16 conf record is still stinko.