I think the problem with OU is that they really arent a team that is built to sustain the same level of play game after game. They are a team who really doesnt have a consistent inside game (though Keely is a pretty good player). Batlic has taken a step back this year from what I have seen. They live by the 3, and die by the 3. I think it is important to note that they had an identical or nearly identical record this time last year, and have a better MAC record at this point in the year compared to last. They got hot when Akron came to Athens last year, they got hot and ended up beating them by 20+, and sustained it throughout the conference tourney as well as the NCAA tourney obviously.

They are still a team capable of beating anybody on any given night, IMO. That's why I think this game will make or break them. If they cant beat Akron at home after blowing them out last year, I see them tucking their tails the rest of the season. JMO. This game scares me a lot, as I see it is a chance to salvage their season and their psyche.

Any of you guys going to the game?

OU and Akron tied at 68

Ot Ohio with the tip in with .7 left. After they got a gift of a call on the earlier possession. The ball clearly hit off the Ohio player lol

Great win for the Zips. This solidifies them an at-large birth if they can win out and would happen to lose in the MAC-C. PSU knocking off scUM moves our RPI from 49 to 37.

Agree, the call at the end, along with Zeke's 5th foul was bogus, but a W is a W. On to the next (@Buffalo). This game is the scariest we have left, IMO.

Glad to see Akron pull it off. If the MAC is to get a 2nd bid, it has to be Akron. They had no shot if they lost this (or another till the MAC Title Game).

Pick6;1397486 wrote:Great win for the Zips. This solidifies them an at-large birth if they can win out and would happen to lose in the MAC-C. PSU knocking off scUM moves our RPI from 49 to 37.

Agree, the call at the end, along with Zeke's 5th foul was bogus, but a W is a W. On to the next (@Buffalo). This game is the scariest we have left, IMO.

Refs were bad all around tonight. Ohio definitely got a gift on that ball out of bounds with 12 seconds left, and it was basically a makeup call for the no call on the 3 where they drew the Akron guy off of his feet and followed it up with a BS block call at the other end.

There was a ton of shit calls balanced by make up calls both ways

ts1227;1397518 wrote:Refs were bad all around tonight. Ohio definitely got a gift on that ball out of bounds with 12 seconds left, and it was basically a makeup call for the no call on the 3 where they drew the Akron guy off of his feet and followed it up with a BS block call at the other end.

There was a ton of shit calls balanced by make up calls both ways

Fair enough. That'll happen when that joke of a ref (Bo Borowski) is in charge. To be fair, most of the MAC refs are a joke, IMO.

Here is that loser Bo getting into it with a commentator of all people the other night: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/st-louis-play-play-man-hilariously-tells-off-021506346--ncaab.html

Terry Wymer is worse, thank god he was nowhere near the Convo

Usually Gene Sterarore gets more MAC work once the NFL is done, and he does a damn good job

Akron and Ohio have clinched the semifinal byes. The only way Akron would not be the 1 and Ohio the 2 is if Akron loses out and Ohio wins out. So, Akron is the 1 seed and Ohio is the 2.

Buffalo up 4 on Akron late in the first half (on STO)

ts1227;1399119 wrote:Akron and Ohio have clinched the semifinal byes. The only way Akron would not be the 1 and Ohio the 2 is if Akron loses out and Ohio wins out. So, Akron is the 1 seed and Ohio is the 2.

Buffalo up 4 on Akron late in the first half (on STO)

Although the Bobcats have had another fine season, unless they can find a way to win the marquee games, this will be Akron's tourney to lose.

The 19 game win streak is snapped. Goodbye ranking and goodbye any chance of an at-large. All comes down to the MAC tourney.

believer;1399124 wrote:Although the Bobcats have had another fine season, unless they can find a way to win the marquee games, this will be Akron's tourney to lose.

Agreed. I wouldn't say Ohio has no chance, but obviously the Zips are favored.

Pick6;1399162 wrote:The 19 game win streak is snapped. Goodbye ranking and goodbye any chance of an at-large. All comes down to the MAC tourney.

Looks like the MAC will get only one invite to the Big Dance this year.

Things OU and Akron are hoping for.

1. OU: Their semifinal opponent is anyone but Kent State. A blah team, but they've played OU super-tough in both games.
2. Akron: Their semifinal opponent is anyone but Buffalo. Their only conference loss AND they had to come back from 20 down to beat them in the other match-up.

In general, the conference is:

1. Akron

2. Ohio















3-12 The worthless 10 (or nine for the tournament, as Toledo isn't eligible).

But Kent and Buffalo are very dangerous match-ups for Ohio and Akron, respectively, where all bets are off.

Granted that it was Miami, the Zips looked good tonight coming off the loss to Buffalo.

Looks like OU barely survived against Buffalo. They are very dangerous with Watson and McCrea. The reason their record is so bad is because McCrea missed considerable time early in the season with injury.

Pick6;1400790 wrote:Granted that it was Miami, the Zips looked good tonight coming off the loss to Buffalo.

Looks like OU barely survived against Buffalo. They are very dangerous with Watson and McCrea. The reason their record is so bad is because McCrea missed considerable time early in the season with injury.

Yeah. I was glad OU escaped that one with a win. Looks like they fell behind big early, took the lead into the half, Buffalo came back and regained it late, but OU did enough down the stretch to pull it out.

I mean, they're locked into the #2 seed no matter what, but when your conference tournament is simply semis and (hopefully) finals, you want to have nothing but good momentum. No moments of self-doubt when you're taking the floor against a team that's played one or two straight games and is ready to go.

Yep, playing well at the end of the season is important. Two years ago, Akron had like the 6th seed and ended up winning it by beating Kent St because they were playing well going into it.

I havent checked out the seedings, but I am hoping that Akron an avoid Buffalo/Kent in the semi's. Those are the only two I am worried about at all (besides OU).

Well Jesus H Christ. I come back from working out and see that starting PG Alex Abreu has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree felonies in druge abuse and drug trafficking (marijuana).

So fucking pissed right now.

Ouch.

Pick6;1402290 wrote:Well Jesus H Christ. I come back from working out and see that starting PG Alex Abreu has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree felonies in druge abuse and drug trafficking (marijuana).

So fucking pissed right now.

Whoa! That's pretty fucking crazy. And huge for Akron.

Heretic;1402457 wrote:Whoa! That's pretty fucking crazy. And huge for Akron.

Probably even huger for OU.

It was on ESPN tonight. What a black eye for Akron basketball and the university... He better never wear a Zips uniform again or I will lose all respect for Dambrot.

Pick6;1402470 wrote:Probably even huger for OU.

It was on ESPN tonight. What a black eye for Akron basketball and the university... He better never wear a Zips uniform again or I will lose all respect for Dambrot.

Try as I might, I can't feel good about this. Because if I did, karma would dictate one of these three things would happen:

1. D.J. Cooper gets found with a needle sticking out of his arm in a back alley.

2. Ohio loses in the semifinals and the MAC NCAA rep is a team like Kent or Buffalo...who then goes on to get smoked 97-38 in their tournament game, leading to the MAC going from a league talking about two possible bids a few weeks ago to the laughingstock of the nation.

3. Akron finds the fortitude to move on; beats OU in the finals.

So, yeah, no gloating or bragging here.

Heretic;1402719 wrote:So, yeah, no gloating or bragging here.

Karma's a beautiful thing.

I guess I would have rather it happen now than a week from now. Gave the Zips a chance to play a game that was essentially meaningless, aside from it being a rivalry, and see what they have to work with and now have a week to work the kinks out. Obviously we arent as good without the weed dealer, but I still have confidence. We have depth. Harney, Walsh, McAdams, Ibitayo, and Betancourt all played the point some last night. I think I liked Harney the best.

I think Kent's win over Akron clinches it that the MAC will only get one team in the Big Dance. (That is, if it hadn't been clinched already.)

The way Kent started off this year, I didn't think we had a chance to win anything close to 20 games. This was not a great year for Kent, but at least we didn't smell up the place.