As we have discussed all season, the only thing that matters is what happens those 3 days in Cleveland and not so much the regular season. But the regular season is important for seeding purposes so I listed the following remaining 6 games for the Top 4 teams which have separated themselves from the rest of the league:

*Toledo – Miami. @BG, Akron, Buffalo, @CMU, @Ball St, -
*Kent St - @WMU, EMU, @Ball St, @BG, OU, Akron
*Akron - @EMU. Buffalo, @Toledo, WMU, Ball St, @Kent St,
*Ball St. – Northern IL, @WMU, Kent St, @EMU, @Akron, Toledo

While there are no guarantees, based on the potential for land mines out there, I think both Toledo and Kent St have the easiest paths for top 2 seeds going into Cleveland. But who would have thought Kent would lose at NIU or WMU would take Ball St to the buzzer, so we will just have to see how things play out.

Akron has lost 2 in a row and it looks like Santiago is out. I don't know his status. They didn't look good the last game.

(02-12-2023 12:33 PM)Screwball Wrote:  Akron has lost 2 in a row and it looks like Santiago is out. I don't know his status. They didn't look good the last game.

What a bizarre state line that Akron-OU. Akron shot 50 and 47%, only one less RB, balanced of O and D, a couple more TOs. The game flow looks like they fell behind a little and didn't have the giddyup and go to get back into it. Tired frm the Toledo game?

Maybe. I watched part of it and they just didn't look very good. I forgot who it was, but one of the Friday night games (maybe last week) went OT, which I liked because the starters had to play the extra minutes.

I hope they all have tired legs come Cleveland - except us of course. :-)

(02-12-2023 12:19 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  As we have discussed all season, the only thing that matters is what happens those 3 days in Cleveland and not so much the regular season. But the regular season is important for seeding purposes so I listed the following remaining 6 games for the Top 4 teams which have separated themselves from the rest of the league:

*Toledo – Miami. @BG, Akron, Buffalo, @CMU, @Ball St, -
*Kent St - @WMU, EMU, @Ball St, @BG, OU, Akron
*Akron - @EMU. Buffalo, @Toledo, WMU, Ball St, @Kent St,
*Ball St. – Northern IL, @WMU, Kent St, @EMU, @Akron, Toledo

While there are no guarantees, based on the potential for land mines out there, I think both Toledo and Kent St have the easiest paths for top 2 seeds going into Cleveland. But who would have thought Kent would lose at NIU or WMU would take Ball St to the buzzer, so we will just have to see how things play out.

It looks like Toledo's title to me -- If they get Akron at home, that gives them the tiebreaker over the Zips. So even if Zips sweep Kent (last game) UT wears the crown. I guess at Ball State is a ??? to end the season, but if a title is on the line I'd look for the Rockets to win that one.

Kent has Akron at home, Ohio at home, Eastern at home and Ball St. on the road. Probably favored in all of those, but I wouldn't bet on any of them.

Akron has games left against UT, Ball State and Kent State plus a road game at EMU which they have to be careful with.

EMU is going to clip someone.

(02-12-2023 03:47 PM)Screwball Wrote:  EMU is going to clip someone.

I smell a regular season title and EMU outing us in game 1. At least history says something along those lines. They're the 2nd scariest team to me.

Will come down to UT and Kent for the regular season title. As BBallJones says they have by far the best schedules and a one game lead. A regular season title is important. It's a championship and 3 straight has never happened at UT I believe. I watch to cheer and see the games, not just hope for a tourney birth, so it all matters to me.

Cleveland as we know could go any direction. Right now UT is playing the best of anyone and I'd like to see us turn it up a notch over the next couple weeks and get better. I think if we don't have a slump the rest of regular season we win in Cleveland. EMU scares everyone but might not make the tourney. They need to win close games. Yeah, Bates was off and we only won by 7, but we also shot 20% on threes which is very unlikely to happen again. Would prefer BG or CMU first in Cleveland as neither has enough fire power to beat us even on a good night. All we know seeding wise is 1-4 is UT, Kent, Akron, BSU. 5-7 is probably NIU, Buffalo, Ohio in any order. Best thing about the #1 seed is earlier games and a little more sleep and recovery time. If you can manage a blowout in the quarters that really helps your legs as your top guys have less minutes on their legs and more rest. UT has had the #1 seed last couple years but epic round 1 battles including an OT game. Both years we came into the semis playing a little drained. If we can come out sharp, build a lead, use the full bench and be fairly fresh for the semis I like our chances.

Looking back in 2021 OU cruised by 22 in the quarters and got Toledo (semis) and Buffalo (final) coming off of OT games. Like OU, Akron in 2022 got UT coming off a struggle in the quarters, won, and got the extra rest for the final by playing the early semi game.