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Kent gets MAC "One Chance to Dance" in NCAA.
Akron with 26 wins seems destined for NIT.

Sucks. Akron is a team that could win a game or two in the dance.

(03-12-2017 10:04 AM)okgc Wrote:  Kent gets MAC "One Chance to Dance" in NCAA.
Akron with 26 wins seems destined for NIT.

Could the MAC get two teams into the Dance? Probably not with the strength of the rest of the MAC this year. Tough for Akron to not get in with 26 wins.

(03-12-2017 12:08 PM)BrownandGoldforever Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 10:04 AM)okgc Wrote:  Kent gets MAC "One Chance to Dance" in NCAA.
Akron with 26 wins seems destined for NIT.

Could the MAC get two teams into the Dance? Probably not with the strength of the rest of the MAC this year. Tough for Akron to not get in with 26 wins.

No.

The P5 programs would not allow it.

The fewer mid-major teams, the better in their eyes.

Can't have the Middle Tennessees beating the Michigan States of the world...creates too much pressure on those high paid P5 coaches....

No shame losing to a mediocre, but well-known, fellow P5 program. But the ignorant P5 fan base is not amused when their team loses to a Cleveland State, Akron, or Middle Tennessee State, even if that mid-major is superior to the majority of their team's overrated P5 conference.

There's politic$ in everything...

I always hope every Pig10 team loses in the first round.

(03-12-2017 12:43 PM)GullLake Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 12:08 PM)BrownandGoldforever Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 10:04 AM)okgc Wrote:  Kent gets MAC "One Chance to Dance" in NCAA.
Akron with 26 wins seems destined for NIT.

Could the MAC get two teams into the Dance? Probably not with the strength of the rest of the MAC this year. Tough for Akron to not get in with 26 wins.

No.

The P5 programs would not allow it.

The fewer mid-major teams, the better in their eyes.

Can't have the Middle Tennessees beating the Michigan States of the world...creates too much pressure on those high paid P5 coaches....

No shame losing to a mediocre, but well-known, fellow P5 program. But the ignorant P5 fan base is not amused when their team loses to a Cleveland State, Akron, or Middle Tennessee State, even if that mid-major is superior to the majority of their team's overrated P5 conference.

There's politic$ in everything...

I always hope every Pig10 team loses in the first round.

It's all about money and maintaining it at the big Programs. Like it or not, the Big 10 schools generate a lot more of it than 'Cleveland State, Akron or Middle Tennessee State'. Ticket sales, selling apparel, concessions, TV marketing, logo marketing with retailers-lots of money involved. Fanbase for a big 10 school is much bigger than for a mid-major and that translates into TV audiences/viewership-which translates into Beer producers willing to pay big bucks for commercial slots.

The NCAA is largely about making money and, when they have time, about regulating sports to the benefit of all the schools. So, until schools like Western start drawing 100,000 fans to football games while charging $ 75/ticket, or 10,000 fans to a basketball game at $ 25/ticket, you are going to see conferences like the Big 10 getting 5-6 invites to the Big Dance while we get 1. Way it is.

I love that Akron lost.

(03-12-2017 12:08 PM)BrownandGoldforever Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 10:04 AM)okgc Wrote:  Kent gets MAC "One Chance to Dance" in NCAA.
Akron with 26 wins seems destined for NIT.

Could the MAC get two teams into the Dance? Probably not with the strength of the rest of the MAC this year. Tough for Akron to not get in with 26 wins.

Did Akron have ANY quality non-MAC wins. Without looking I expect not.

Will MAC have any players leaving early to be drafted by NBA (and don't say Marcus Keene - he's a 'D' league shooter at best)?

Did any MAC teams beat any teams in Top 25, 50?

(03-12-2017 03:52 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Will MAC have any players leaving early to be drafted by NBA (and don't say Marcus Keene - he's a 'D' league shooter at best)?

Did any MAC teams beat any teams in Top 25, 50?

Jack Moss would love how you back the "big guys". Is it ever a good day to be a bronco in your world ? If memory serves you got your degree W.M.U. has that always bothered you ? Walmart is full of big ten er 14 backers.
So some of us on this board will proudly back the MAC and aim for more. IF and that's a big IF the power 5 start playing a few more out of conference road games their "power" might be exposed a little esp at the bottom half of those leagues.

There are mid majors with a legit claim to an at large. Akron isn't one of them. I would rather see UT-Arlington, Illinois State, etc. than Syracuse or Illinois though.

The system in basketball is far more equitable than football so these complaints are a bit much. It would be nice to see some smaller conferences get rid of the tournaments though so the best mid majors actually make it in.

Kent draws UCLA. Brutal.

They should study our game tape. IIRC, we gave them a good game for the most part.

Kent State finished fourth in MAC-East division, has 13 losses.

How much higher than a 14 seed do they deserve?

Which 3-seed would they have better chance against?

If Akron didn't gag in MACC game Kent probably wouldn't even have gotten a home game in NIT.

Sorry, but MAC basketball gets the one automatic bid (only) for a reason.

I don't think its unfair. Just a tough draw.

(03-12-2017 05:09 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Kent State finished fourth in MAC-East division, has 13 losses.

How much higher than a 14 seed do they deserve?

Which 3-seed would they have better chance against?

If Akron didn't gag in MACC game Kent probably wouldn't even have gotten a home game in NIT.

Sorry, but MAC basketball gets the one automatic bid (only) for a reason.

Good point, but ANY D-I conference's regular season champ is more deserving of an NCAA bid then a P5 team that finished SEVENTH in its league.

If you finish seventh, regardless of how strong your league is, you have not accomplished much.

Regular season champions should be rewarded by the NCAA in addition to tournament champs.

(03-12-2017 03:22 PM)okgc Wrote:  Did Akron have ANY quality non-MAC wins. Without looking I expect not.

Not one. I contend that Dambrot schedules more to maintain the "20 win" seasons than to build a tournament resume. He figures he has a better shot than 80 % of the league to win the tournament autobid anyways, so why take chances.

The NCAA used to let conferences determine who got their automatic bid, regular season or tournament champion.

Of course they all went with tournament winner, or what would be the purpose of it - besides the money?

At least I know I'll get ONE pick right on my bracket.

(03-12-2017 09:42 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 03:22 PM)okgc Wrote:  Did Akron have ANY quality non-MAC wins. Without looking I expect not.

Not one. I contend that Dambrot schedules more to maintain the "20 win" seasons than to build a tournament resume. He figures he has a better shot than 80 % of the league to win the tournament autobid anyways, so why take chances.

If that's true about how Dambrot schedules, then Akron deserves what they got....the NIT. WMU had a rugged non-conference schedule with Villanova, UCLA, NC-Wilmington, and Washington. Those first three could go very deep in the tournament. Don't be surprised if Wilmington takes out Virginia in the first round.
Good luck to Kent St. They have to face UCLA....ouch.