Since the NIT starts out with regional hubs, who will the matchups in this region or the ohio region be? Remember this can include ANY school in the state of ohio, nearby michigan or indiana. How do you think Akron and Kent can fare in this tournament if they can get past the first round? The NIT will be quite interesting as the MAC teams will be playing against non conference teams for the first time since early January.
First off, Akron ain't makin' the NIT.
Second, they would lose badly in the first round of they did make it.
Third, all MAC teams played Non-MAC games in February - the ESPN Bracketbuster games.
I dont know if akron will get in the NIT.... but they wont win it... doubt they go past the second round... there will be a couple of very good large conf teams in it this year.. Look out for Miami of fla.
Irwin M. Fletcher Wrote:First off, Akron ain't makin' the NIT.
Second, they would lose badly in the first round of they did make it.
Third, all MAC teams played Non-MAC games in February - the ESPN Bracketbuster games.
Quote:First off, Akron ain't makin' the NIT.
Give me one reason why.
Quote: Second, they would lose badly in the first round of they did make it.
Are you sure this Akron squad can't compete?
Quote: Third, all MAC teams played Non-MAC games in February - the ESPN Bracketbuster games.
You're right I missed that part. But if any of the MAC teams advances past the first round, they will be playing a stretch of non-MAC teams.
Irwin feels so strongly about how bad the Zips play because the Flashes beat the Zips in two games by a whopping 8 points.
Whopping 8 points to a team who had to play with Matt Futch as its starting center. Matt Futch is good, but Jeremiah Wood would have provided alot needed inside scoring for the team as well as lots of rebounds and created opportunities.
Man, a NCAA At-Large Bubble team, not eligible for the NIT.................haven't heard of that before.
Hate me al you want but what I write us unimpeachable and truly honest about Akron and postseason chances.
The Zip team is not attractive as a postseason team in 2004-05 because...
- They lost 3 of their last 4 games
- Have no postseason history, or not since the 1980's
- Have no marquee players that would make for a good story for TV or an opposing crowd draw in the first round
- Cannot draw a crowd at home games and will not travel anyone on the road - 1,500 at the opening round MAC game spoke volumes about basketball being "back" at Akron U. No one goes unless they get a free ticket.
Most of all, Akron will not get a postseason bid over any of the other realistic MAC teams...
Miami... Regular Season MAC Champ, they will play in the postseason - probably the NCAA's is Buffalo wins the tournament but in the NIT if Ohio snags the title.
Kent State... Swept Akron this season and has a 6-year postseason resume, and drew well for the NIT two years ago at home.
Ohio... Made it to tonight's MAC Finals and even through they got swept by Akron, the Bobcats have the hot hand now, at the most important part of the season. ESPN likes Ohio more than Akron because they went their for the first round MAC game with ESPNU.
WMU... Swept Akron this season and went to the NCAA's last year as the MAC Champ and they have a marketable player in Ben Reed who will play in the NBA.
Buffalo... Split with Akron but has won 10 of their last 11 games. The darling of the MAC and ESPN will not be left out.
Now even IF the MAC gets 2 in the NCAA Tournament Akron will not bounce one of the above mentioned teams from the NIT, which with 3 bids would be a record for the MAC. Just like in football, Akron will be one of the best teams in the nation with 19 wins and a top 50 RPI sitting at home for the postseason.
The 2004-05 season is over Zips fans - know it, believe it, accept it.
Ben Reed marketable? I am an NBA fan first, he isn't a prospect, nor is he known. Akron was a more interesting story last year , although they lost the explosive scorers they had in Tarver and Hollingsworth, and the Hipsher family on the sidelines on the bench. But why wouldn't the year that Akron had this year be interesting? When Keith Dambrot was hired, it was on ESPN news "Akron taps Lebron's former coach." Something of significance. He changed the face of the Akron basketball system. He took a team projected to be near the bottom of the MAC, to At-Large contention. Romeo Travis is just as marketable as any player in this conference. Akron's record is just as good as any of the other At-Large contenders. Any losses they had in the late long stretch was excusable, it was quite remarkable to see Akron even pull off the wins they did with the huge rebounding deficits. And Oh, did I mention a guy, named Lebron James, 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year, that will be sitting at the sidelines of their games?
3 MAC teams may be a record, but for the MAC this year.......sky was the limit. Don't get blinded by your usual perceptions. Know it, believe it.........get over it.
Ya uh, Sorry bud but I don't think Akron is playing in the post-season!
I think Buffalo or Miami could win the whole NIT. The roadblock would be their collective mental hurdle of being disappointed of missing out of the Big Dance by a hair. If they get over that, they can seriously go to NYC.
Motown Bronco Wrote:I think Buffalo or Miami could win the whole NIT. The roadblock would be their collective mental hurdle of being disappointed of missing out of the Big Dance by a hair. If they get over that, they can seriously go to NYC.
You're totally right! Buffalo is a really great team, they have a good future in front of them and they could really far in the NIT as for Miami, well they could maybe go far but I don't think they could win it! :rolleyes:
Akron's season ended on Thursday. I'm already on spring football. Please ignore this thread. Thank's for stopping.
:crying:
There are too many teams ahead of Akron that will get in before they have any chance. My projections:
NCAA
Ohio
Buffalo
NIT
Miami
WMU
Kent State
Thats not very fair if Akron gets snubbed, if they do, its probably because of the money they can generate. Their is no limit to how many teams in a conference can make it. If 6 teams are that good, then they should make it.
Akron and Kent State may get left out if WMU got a bid early. You know Buffalo and Miami are going and the MAC has never gotten three bids so a fourth could be asking for something special and a fifth would be out of the question.
True. KSU and Akron's slim chances are now done for the season. Miami and Buffalo should be joining us in the NIT ranks. Hopefully one of them will draw Notre Dame and take their frustrations out on them.
Based on the RPI's for Kent, Miami, Buffalo and Akron it would be a crime if any of them does not get a chance to keep playing. That having been said, the WMU playing Marquette game makes me think that Akron and Kent deserve NIT bids even moreso (Miami and Buffalo are given IMO).
IBleedOhioGreen Wrote:Based on the RPI's for Kent, Miami, Buffalo and Akron it would be a crime if any of them does not get a chance to keep playing. That having been said, the WMU playing Marquette game makes me think that Akron and Kent deserve NIT bids even moreso (Miami and Buffalo are given IMO).
RPIs notwithstanding, WMU was 1-0 vs. Kent and 2-0 vs. Akron this season.
With Buffalo not getting into the NCAA, Kent will probably be left out. Expect WMU, Buffalo, and Miami to go to the NIT.
rocketfootball Wrote:With Buffalo not getting into the NCAA, Kent will probably be left out. Expect WMU, Buffalo, and Miami to go to the NIT.
totally dude