MAC Championship game (3/14)

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MikeUMA
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MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by MikeUMA » Fri Mar 13, 2026 10:03 am

I DO NOT mean to get ahead of myself here. Winning again today will be no easy task.

But in the planning mindset, if we win today, I'm thinking of driving out to Cleveland for tomorrow night's championship game.

Anyone else might be there?

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by TruBluMaroon » Fri Mar 13, 2026 10:50 am

MikeUMA wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 10:03 am I DO NOT mean to get ahead of myself here. Winning again today will be no easy task.

But in the planning mindset, if we win today, I'm thinking of driving out to Cleveland for tomorrow night's championship game.

Anyone else might be there?
Not to steal the topic, but……drove down to Atlantic City with my sons and nephew a few years ago for an A10 Semi that ended with a loss and drove back after the game. Bought great seats at a great price out on the Boardwalk from GWU people looking to dump and run. Made the drive to Buffalo , just the wife and nephews’ family, for the National Championship game in hockey and was able to get very discounted tickets and one of the rooms that Providence was vacating.
Great to have the ability and desire to make these spur of the moment trips ! Good Luck - hope you pull it off!!

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by MikeUMA » Fri Mar 13, 2026 6:23 pm

Well at least I'll save a couple of tanks full of gas.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by Juice Stand » Sat Mar 14, 2026 6:55 am

I'll be rooting for Akron to win today. They've had a great season but because Miami went undefeated (until we beat them), they went totally under the radar nationally. This is a very good Akron team that actually grades out better in the computer rankings and metrics. Higher in KenPom and NET (64 to 93 KP, 54 to 64 NET), better in Evan Miya's offensive and defensive ratings, and when they played head-to-head Miami only beat them by 3 at Miami. Very likely would have been a different result if it was at Akron.

Miami is very good, don't get me wrong, but I think Akron is slightly better and more well rounded, and I'll be excited to see what they can do in the big dance. It's the MAC though, so both teams will probably get bad seeds and terrible matchups.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by LS71 » Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:41 am

I’ll be honest, I could not care less about this game. If that makes me a bad fan, so be it.
"Win without boasting, lose without crying." -- Julius Erving

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by stevemaz » Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:44 am

Miami is definitely getting a bid using the new WAB ranking. Wins above bubble.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by Juice Stand » Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:56 am

LS71 wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:41 am I’ll be honest, I could not care less about this game. If that makes me a bad fan, so be it.
It does not. I'm a March Madness junkie, so I'll be interested but I don't blame any UMass fan that's tuned out.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Sat Mar 14, 2026 8:03 am

Hope it is a good and competitive game... I'm going to root for Toledo.
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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by inthescoop » Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:50 pm

Toledo up 12 at half!

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by inthescoop » Sat Mar 14, 2026 9:05 pm

Wow what a final.. came down to the final possession. Akron hit a dagger 3 with 6 seconds left to win it

Gotta feel for Toledo, lead the whole game until the end

3 in a row for Akron.. big time accomplishment for the program

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by Juice Stand » Sun Mar 15, 2026 7:03 am

What a shot from that kid. Looked like a great atmosphere as well, over 11,000 according to the box score. We've got a lot of work to do if we want to compete at the same level as Akron.

Leo Bettiol was named to the all-tournament team. He had an outstanding final collegiate season. Had a tough time staying on the floor with foul trouble, but he far exceeded my expectations, was a joy to watch, and seemed like he really cared about being part of this UMass team and being with his teammates.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by m626t » Sun Mar 15, 2026 8:01 am

Juice Stand wrote: Sun Mar 15, 2026 7:03 am What a shot from that kid. Looked like a great atmosphere as well, over 11,000 according to the box score. We've got a lot of work to do if we want to compete at the same level as Akron.

I never thought I would read this on this board.
All due respect, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart, I'm gonna pass.

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by vanmeter » Sun Mar 15, 2026 9:29 am

Bettoil was very very good all year. He made 2nd team all conference (in addition to first team in tournament) .

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Re: MAC Championship game (3/14)

Post by Juice Stand » Sun Mar 15, 2026 10:26 am

m626t wrote: Sun Mar 15, 2026 8:01 am
Juice Stand wrote: Sun Mar 15, 2026 7:03 am What a shot from that kid. Looked like a great atmosphere as well, over 11,000 according to the box score. We've got a lot of work to do if we want to compete at the same level as Akron.

I never thought I would read this on this board.
Yeah, I know. But the truth is that Akron is damn good. 27-5, 17-1 conference record, back-to-back-to-back tournament champs, and ranked 54 in the NET. If you're comparing to the A10, that's higher than everyone except SLU (30) and VCU (43). Credit where credit is due. They've been really good for a while.

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