MAC Sports topics that include Hoops

[Mike0473]

I can't wait for the "Around the MAC, 2025-2026" thread on this board.

It will be a bittersweet moment that's for sure.

Just remember, the faster we achieve success in the MAC, the faster we can get out of the MAC.

[inthescoop]

I can't wait for the "Around the MAC, 2025-2026" thread on this board.

It will be a bittersweet moment that's for sure.

Just remember, the faster we achieve success in the MAC, the faster we can get out of the MAC.

Those are facts.

[Steve81]

Enrique Freeman from Akron was selected as the 50th pick to the Indiana Pacers.
Quoting from csnbbs

I watched the whole thing, both days. The draft is kind of fascinating these days because of where the players are coming from. There were 12 foreign players in this draft out of 58 selections and 3 from the NBA G-League Ignite team. There are more and more players coming from around the world. You don't have to go to college to get drafted. This was the draft by college conference:

Pac-12 – 9
ACC - 7
Big East – 7
Big 12 – 6
SEC - 4
Big Ten – 4
WCC – 2
Big Sky -1
A10 – 1
Big West - 1
MAC – 1
Foreign – 12
G-league Ignite team - 3

The MAC was the only G5 school with a draft pick. There were none from the AAC or MWC, which is kind of surprising. The MWC had six teams make the tournament and zero players drafted.

Other news is the Big East got their new contract at 80M or 7.3M per team. The A10 deal is 7M or 467K per team. The MAC is in negotiations and is being reported by Connor Pignatello of the Daily Hampshire Gazette to be around 2-2.5M per team.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Part-2-How-i ... l-55495331

[PreecherJenkins]

Enrique Freeman from Akron was selected as the 50th pick to the Indiana Pacers.
Quoting from csnbbs

I watched the whole thing, both days. The draft is kind of fascinating these days because of where the players are coming from. There were 12 foreign players in this draft out of 58 selections and 3 from the NBA G-League Ignite team. There are more and more players coming from around the world. You don't have to go to college to get drafted. This was the draft by college conference:

Pac-12 – 9
ACC - 7
Big East – 7
Big 12 – 6
SEC - 4
Big Ten – 4
WCC – 2
Big Sky -1
A10 – 1
Big West - 1
MAC – 1
Foreign – 12
G-league Ignite team - 3

The MAC was the only G5 school with a draft pick. There were none from the AAC or MWC, which is kind of surprising. The MWC had six teams make the tournament and zero players drafted.

Other news is the Big East got their new contract at 80M or 7.3M per team. The A10 deal is 7M or 467K per team. The MAC is in negotiations and is being reported by Connor Pignatello of the Daily Hampshire Gazette to be around 2-2.5M per team.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Part-2-How-i ... l-55495331

Steve, the horse is dead, UMass is going to mac, no one cares anymore...

[Steve81]

You care enough to respond. That makes it worth posting.
But seriously, sticking your head in the sand and being less inform where we are going is your choice.

Since it is not basketball related, will not add a separate post but like the following:
Both Temple and Delaware are joining the MAC as affiliates in Women's Rowing.

[Steve81]

Several universities are discussed as #14 for the MAC and one of them appeared in the Top 144 Preseason Count down.

Looking at the Top 144 preview is up to #104 Akron, second in the MAC

#104 Akron 2nd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23016
#118 UMass 8th in the A10 https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22976
#119 Kent State 3rd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22975
#134 North Dakota State 1st in Summit https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22944
#140 Toledo 4th in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22935

Included NDSU and UMass for reference.

[eldonabe]

Several universities are discussed as #14 for the MAC and one of them appeared in the Top 144 Preseason Count down.

Looking at the Top 144 preview is up to #104 Akron, second in the MAC

#104 Akron 2nd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23016
#118 UMass 8th in the A10 https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22976
#119 Kent State 3rd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22975
#134 North Dakota State 1st in Summit https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22944
#140 Toledo 4th in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22935

Included NDSU and UMass for reference.

It is really hard to compare Apples and Steak. Sure we rate 118 this year, that simply does not assimilate to what we may look like as a MAC member.

Is the roster the same if we are in MAC? I cannot answer that, nor can you.

I cannot guarantee this, but I would bet a chunk of change on this roster getting gutted if they have a reasonably successful year in the 24-25 campaign.

If that happens, they don't sniff the top 140 as they enter the MAC year 1.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

It is really hard to compare Apples and Steak. Sure we rate 118 this year, that simply does not assimilate to what we may look like as a MAC member.

Is the roster the same if we are in MAC? I cannot answer that, nor can you.

I cannot guarantee this, but I would bet a chunk of change on this roster getting gutted if they have a reasonably successful year in the 24-25 campaign.

If that happens, they don't sniff the top 140 as they enter the MAC year 1.

Correct on pretty much all of this... and that's ok. It's the nature of the situation. We'll find out just how good of a leader/recruiter/coach Frank and the staff are.

I'll say this... they NEED to have a fantastic season this year finishing up with the A10... the staff will need some leverage in the next offseason when speaking with recruits/transfers. And, probably more importantly, they NEED to have a fantastic 1st year in the MAC to show we mean business there.

[Steve81]

Several universities are discussed as #14 for the MAC and one of them appeared in the Top 144 Preseason Count down.

Looking at the Top 144 preview is up to #104 Akron, second in the MAC

#104 Akron 2nd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23016
#118 UMass 8th in the A10 https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22976
#119 Kent State 3rd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22975
#134 North Dakota State 1st in Summit https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22944
#140 Toledo 4th in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22935

Included NDSU and UMass for reference.

It is really hard to compare Apples and Steak. Sure we rate 118 this year, that simply does not assimilate to what we may look like as a MAC member.

Is the roster the same if we are in MAC? I cannot answer that, nor can you.

I cannot guarantee this, but I would bet a chunk of change on this roster getting gutted if they have a reasonably successful year in the 24-25 campaign.

If that happens, they don't sniff the top 140 as they enter the MAC year 1.

Your lack of faith in Coach Frank Martin surprises me. Most players, #1 come to a university because the connection with the coaching staff. Their feelings from the visit, potential personal and team success, the university and to some extent the conference matters. But you put conference affiliation as the prime reason. Now the roster getting gutted is a bit misplaced. Every year with the change in the transfer/portal rules, there has been a lot of movement.

[minutefanjsf]

Several universities are discussed as #14 for the MAC and one of them appeared in the Top 144 Preseason Count down.

Looking at the Top 144 preview is up to #104 Akron, second in the MAC

#104 Akron 2nd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23016
#118 UMass 8th in the A10 https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22976
#119 Kent State 3rd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22975
#134 North Dakota State 1st in Summit https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22944
#140 Toledo 4th in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22935

Included NDSU and UMass for reference.

It is really hard to compare Apples and Steak. Sure we rate 118 this year, that simply does not assimilate to what we may look like as a MAC member.

Is the roster the same if we are in MAC? I cannot answer that, nor can you.

I cannot guarantee this, but I would bet a chunk of change on this roster getting gutted if they have a reasonably successful year in the 24-25 campaign.

If that happens, they don't sniff the top 140 as they enter the MAC year 1.

Your lack of faith in Coach Frank Martin surprises me. Most players, #1 come to a university because the connection with the coaching staff. Their feelings from the visit, potential personal and team success, the university and to some extent the conference matters. But you put conference affiliation as the prime reason. Now the roster getting gutted is a bit misplaced. Every year with the change in the transfer/portal rules, there has been a lot of movement.

Also, UMass wasn’t sniffing the top 140 last year and ended up top 100. It’s not where you start, it’s where you end.

[eldonabe]

Several universities are discussed as #14 for the MAC and one of them appeared in the Top 144 Preseason Count down.

Looking at the Top 144 preview is up to #104 Akron, second in the MAC

#104 Akron 2nd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23016
#118 UMass 8th in the A10 https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22976
#119 Kent State 3rd in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22975
#134 North Dakota State 1st in Summit https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22944
#140 Toledo 4th in the MAC https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22935

Included NDSU and UMass for reference.

It is really hard to compare Apples and Steak. Sure we rate 118 this year, that simply does not assimilate to what we may look like as a MAC member.

Is the roster the same if we are in MAC? I cannot answer that, nor can you.

I cannot guarantee this, but I would bet a chunk of change on this roster getting gutted if they have a reasonably successful year in the 24-25 campaign.

If that happens, they don't sniff the top 140 as they enter the MAC year 1.

Your lack of faith in Coach Frank Martin surprises me. Most players, #1 come to a university because the connection with the coaching staff. Their feelings from the visit, potential personal and team success, the university and to some extent the conference matters. But you put conference affiliation as the prime reason. Now the roster getting gutted is a bit misplaced. Every year with the change in the transfer/portal rules, there has been a lot of movement.

Steve, times have changed significantly in the last 5 years. This has nothing to do with Frank. This has to do with the landscape as a whole.

I understand that they needed to go to the MAC for football. I am not a fan of the decision, but I completely understand it. They have sacrificed basketball for the good of football, plain and simple. This is the time of year where hope springs eternal and you are all trying to apply a heapin' helpin' of lipstick on a pig.

MAC basketball is good within it's own bubble, but in the national picture, it is nothing. They get the obligatory 1 team in the tourney, and they get very little TV exposure during the season (outside of some regional TV); and with the open transfer rules, it is virtually impossible to keep an impact player beyond the one season they proved they are good.

Umass was already a revolving door; do you really think that is going to improve by taking 8-10 steps backwards in conference exposure / strength / talent / tourney chances / an even weaker SOS....


I know, I know .... debbie downer - Whatever. Call it what you want, but that is what Umass basketball is walking directly in to. IDGAF if Cal comes back here at this point.... Umass Basketball is heading into Basketball purgatory.


I will take this one step further.... Football could save basketball by becoming halfway decent and raising the sports portfolio. Given the deep and rich history of Umass officials fucking up every wet dream possible over the last 30 years, I am not hopeful.

[69MG]

Eldon, your post can be summed up in one sentence, which I hope comes to pass. Football can save basketball if it becomes halfway decent. That will get us into a better conference. I do think that Frank can keep us competitive in the MAC and have us fighting for the 1 bid the MAC gets.

[Floyd]

Or how 'bout this. UMass football improves and Frank gets hoop to be the top dog in the league. The UMass name grows with the tourney bid, Frank builds an anywhere, anytime hoops program and football grows into a tough, competitive program. It's not a crazy scenario to make happen and then we may have more options. To me, it's all about having the right program builders in place, and for the 1st time in a while, I feel like we do. All the other stuff falls into place with success

[eldonabe]

Or how 'bout this. UMass football improves and Frank gets hoop to be the top dog in the league. The UMass name grows with the tourney bid, Frank builds an anywhere, anytime hoops program and football grows into a tough, competitive program. It's not a crazy scenario to make happen and then we may have more options. To me, it's all about having the right program builders in place, and for the 1st time in a while, I feel like we do. All the other stuff falls into place with success

Floyd, the only people who will give a shit about Top Dog in the MAC post here and it is not even all of the people who post here.

This Football move had better pay off or Umass will never be able to get out this spiral. They need Bowl Eligible seasons to start in MAC Year 2 or they are doneski....

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Floyd, the only people who will give a shit about Top Dog in the MAC post here and it is not even all of the people who post here.

This Football move had better pay off or Umass will never be able to get out this spiral. They need Bowl Eligible seasons to start in MAC Year 2 or they are doneski....

Re: the "Top Dog" comment.. if we're winning and it results in NCAA Tournament appearances, say, every other year, I think people more people will care than just the diehards here. Whether or not that happens is totally up for debate... but we know UMass fans show up when the team is winning.


Agreed with Football, they need to win quickly in the MAC, by at least Year 3 in my book... I think that is possible.