The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Then they hardly called any in the second half. I wonder if somebody told them we were going to have a 3 hour game if they didn’t stop.

Well, there goes Toledo's chance for an at-large bid. if they ever had a chance.

They were never in the running for an at-large bid.

I don't believe Toledo was, either, barrndog, even though I heard them mentioned. It's moot now.

Maybe NIU vs. Ball St. in the semis. That arena will be a morgue after the Buffalo vs. CMU game if that happens.

It kind of already is burden. The crowds this year are the worst since the tournament moved there.

The NIU crowd was excellent: he stood the whole game.

I haven’t seen any numbers but the afternoon session I thought was average. With Kent, Akron and Buffalo playing I suppose there should have been more. I was actually surprised they didn’t make that the evening session as they have done in the past.

The evening session was very poorly attended. If I lived in DeKalb or Muncie I’m sure I’d be happy watching on television too.

Personally I think the tournament has run its course in Cleveland. We will know for sure after the semis. If they don’t draw at least 8000 that will not be good. Once the arena remodel is done I’m sure they might want to find another use for it in early March.

(03-15-2019 07:26 AM)burden Wrote:  I haven’t seen any numbers but the afternoon session I thought was average. With Kent, Akron and Buffalo playing I suppose there should have been more. I was actually surprised they didn’t make that the evening session as they have done in the past.

The evening session was very poorly attended. If I lived in DeKalb or Muncie I’m sure I’d be happy watching on television too.

Personally I think the tournament has run its course in Cleveland. We will know for sure after the semis. If they don’t draw at least 8000 that will not be good. Once the arena remodel is done I’m sure they might want to find another use for it in early March.

Don't think it has run its course. But it does need a new infusion of energy. Cleveland is still by far most suitable for the bulk of the league to get to as a neutral court site.

And while the numbers will likely be down, it's nowhere near as bad as the Horizon League, for example, which moved to Detroit a few years ago and has already decided it is moving again.

Cleveland is actually the second longest permanent tournament site to the Missouri Valley, and that league is also experiencing down numbers in St. Louis.

MAC hoops is getting better. The key is for fans to embrace that (and the league to start getting 2-more NCAA teams) with a big end of season party in Cleveland.

The thing just isnt marketed whatsoever.

One big advantage of it being in Cleveland is it's a pro arena. The OVC plays their tournament in Evansville's arena which is far from a professional production. This year players kept slipping on the big dumb OVC decals they put over half of the key. At one point Ja Morant from Murray St (likely the #2 or #3 pick in this year's draft) had his feet slip out from under him on a drive. Luckily he wasn't hurt but he easily could've been. I don't see that level of amateurism happening at the Q.

CMU gave UB all they could handle. No same in losing to either of these teams except that we are accustomed to winning. Hope we get back on track. Nate Oats just got an extension on his contract at UB. Now the highest paid coach in the MAC. Do not know the amount.

(03-15-2019 07:50 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  One big advantage of it being in Cleveland is it's a pro arena. The OVC plays their tournament in Evansville's arena which is far from a professional production. This year players kept slipping on the big dumb OVC decals they put over half of the key. At one point Ja Morant from Murray St (likely the #2 or #3 pick in this year's draft) had his feet slip out from under him on a drive. Luckily he wasn't hurt but he easily could've been. I don't see that level of amateurism happening at the Q.

Same thing happened a few years ago in the FedEx Forum where the Grizzlies and Tigers play. They pulled the logos off the floor for a couple of games until they could figure it out. Can happen anywhere.

Actually the crowd was ok tonight. I didn’t hear the number but I’ve seen worse Friday nights. Buffalo filled three plus sections. CMU one and BGSU was not all there yet but they looked like they were headed for one plus. I didn’t stick around for that game. The NIU fan even brought 10 or so friends.

(03-15-2019 08:07 PM)GFlash68 Wrote:  CMU gave UB all they could handle. No same in losing to either of these teams except that we are accustomed to winning. Hope we get back on track. Nate Oats just got an extension on his contract at UB. Now the highest paid coach in the MAC. Do not know the amount.

That was a great game but those were two exhausted teams by games end. I wonder what Buffalo will have left in the tank tomorrow.

Buffalo won both tournament championships, 77-61 in the women's final against Ohio and 87-73 in the men's title game against Bowling Green.

More on the women's and their NCAA tournament chances in the "women's basketball" thread." Three teams have a good shot. Four is not impossible.

The men's final was a strange game. Buffalo took as 15-point lead in the first half, then BG ended the half on a 25-11 run to cut the halftime lead to 39-38.

The second half was within three points for 14 minutes and was still a six-point game with four minutes to go. The Bulls ended on an 16-2 run.

Jeremy Harris scored 31 points for Buffalo.

Buffalo also took a double championships three years ago. The last time before that was two wins by Kent State in 2002.

Based on the 16-2 run to end the game I guess Buffalo wasn’t very tired.

If Arizona St. wins their play in game they will play #6 Buffalo. Now that could be an interesting match up. Also Toledo got the MAC bid to the NIT. They are a 6 seed. Not our best representative in my opinion.

(03-17-2019 07:58 PM)burden Wrote:  If Arizona St. wins their play in game they will play #6 Buffalo. Now that could be an interesting match up. Also Toledo got the MAC bid to the NIT. They are a 6 seed. Not our best representative in my opinion.

Toledo... NIT???? No way. Bowling Green and CM both got screwed.

More interesting.. where will Oates end up next year. I can't see him staying at Buffalo.