Would MAC hoops be better off without divisions, i.e. one league race like the Big Ten?

Yes

You would have more travel.

(02-13-2011 11:44 AM)OZoner Wrote:  You would have more travel.

Not necessarily. We play East Division teams now (wouldn't be complete Round-Robin schedule either).

But it is a consideration.

In basketball? Maybe. Football? Absolutely not.

(02-13-2011 03:48 PM)bronco5 Wrote:  Football? Absolutely not.

Did you read the title of the thread and Post #1?

And this is a basketball forum, putz. Please go back under your rock (or behind it).

I'm surprised he commented on any thread without making it about himself, shocker.

I am not sure, but I think NCAA rules state that if you have 12 or more teams in a conference you have to split into two divisions. Thats why the Big Ten is going to split when Nebraska joins next year. Anyhow, I like the divisional split, having both a divisional champs and an overall champ is nice gives teams who maybe out of the overall picture something to play for late in the year. Of course it would be even better if winning your division got you something in basketball like an automatic invite to the NIT or something (I'm not saying it makes sence for the NIT to do this, just that it would be fun if they did).

(02-13-2011 04:46 PM)BroncoFaithful Wrote:  I am not sure, but I think NCAA rules state that if you have 12 or more teams in a conference you have to split into two divisions. Thats why the Big Ten is going to split when Nebraska joins next year.

Nope, or Big East (16 schools) would have divisions. Big 12 has divisions in football but not basketball.

Conference must have minimum 12 teams before it can sponsor a Football Championship game.

Not at all...it's a choice, not a rule.

(02-13-2011 04:51 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Nope, or Big East (16 schools) would have divisions. Big 12 has divisions in football but not basketball.

Conference must have minimum 12 teams before it can sponsor a Football Championship game.

Oh, good point, it must just be a football thing (Big East has fewer than twelve in football).

You also have to have divisions to have a football championship game. Can't just be 12 teams in one group.

Can we get off football and back to original question, please?

An idea I think could work is to have four, three team, 'pools' the teams in each pool would play each other and a rotating selection of another pool home and home each year and each team in the other two pools once. In effect the 'divisions' would change every year. Making the pools make sense geographically and maintaining rivalries would be difficult though. One pool would almost have to be the three Michigan teams, Akron/ Kent would be paired in another as would BG and Toledo. But filling those two with another team and still having the last pool work at all would be a challenge especially if balance between pools was a desired.

This would reduce the talk of a weak division, though certain pools would still be stronger than others the Akron/Kent pool could easily be rounded out with Buffalo which would make a very tough pool while the Michigan pool would be fairly soft.

(02-13-2011 09:32 PM)Tommyboy Wrote:  An idea I think could work is to have four, three team, 'pools' the teams in each pool would play each other and a rotating selection of another pool home and home each year and each team in the other two pools once.

Ouch, you hurt my wittle head. Let's keep it simple so the CMU graduates can understand

Like the current basketball setup. For a division race you play your side home-and-home, play everyone once in the opposite division. For a East or West Division crown at the end you can't say someone had a "softer" schedule, you played the same teams. OK there is a different mix of home/away games for the opposite division but at least you played the teams an equal amount.

But does basketball divisions really matter one way or another? In the current environment the MAC is getting the post-season tournament champ into the NCAAs, that's it. Are teams raising "Western Conference Champs" banners as a source of pride? Does it help in recruiting unless you see your university during March Madness?

Right now, I don't think messing with the current system is going to improve it. Kind of like the big dance.

(02-13-2011 07:24 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Can we get off football ?

OK. What do you think about squishing the basketball so it has two ends with points, then put some strings along a seem, and use that instead of the round ball used now? Passes might be crisper, and layups would be more challenging. What do you think; good idea?

(02-14-2011 04:07 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(02-13-2011 07:24 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Can we get off football ?

OK. What do you think about squishing the basketball so it has two ends with points, then put some strings along a seem, and use that instead of the round ball used now? Passes might be crisper, and layups would be more challenging. What do you think; good idea?

Sorry Hoople, since the only way your point was going to be discussed is by their referencing football, I thought this was fitting! LOL!