MAC Basketball

[Pick6]

Ive watched Akron a couple times this year on TV. I think they finally have the size to make a tourney run, but they still don't have the guard play or the ability to shoot from long range to get it done.

They have time to turn around their shot selection, but without a guard that can take a game over, I just don't see Akron making a run.

The inside is definitely the strength. They have the outside shooters, but arent always consistent, and two of them are true freshman. I agree that guard play is the weak spot. I think they really miss Diggs as a lock down defender in the back court. Time will tell, I suppose.

Having a 7 footer in the game at all times is definitely a plus against major programs.

[Pick6]

[sgm405]

Don't forget the MAC tourney isn't a straight ranking. West winner gets a high seed. So that always devalues one side of the bracket. West is generally always weaker than the East.

Not true actually, they changed it to straight ranking last year.

[Bob_The_Cat]

Just in case you can't tell, that's DJ holding the MAC Championship trophy. For the life of me, though, I just can't remember who it was they beat. Maybe you can help me remember.

[Pick6]

Just in case you can't tell, that's DJ holding the MAC Championship trophy. For the life of me, though, I just can't remember who it was they beat. Maybe you can help me remember.

I can do that to. Akron didnt beat OU this game, though. They didnt even make the game. Lost to Ball St.

[Mac]

Akron is smacking Ohio U at the moment..

When is the Athens game?

[Bob_The_Cat]

Akron is smacking Ohio U at the moment..

When is the Athens game?

Would have liked the Bobcats to win this one, but in the long run it doesn't mean much. Barring some unforseen collapse by Akron or Ohio, they'll be the top two seeds in the tourney. I didn't think the bobcats would win JARR. Akron has a damn good team and Akron is a tough place to play. Would have been nice, but pretty much an expected outcome. Until Akron wins at the Convo, it's not that big of a deal. Pretty much thought these teams would split.

[The Voice]

I can do that to. Akron didnt beat OU this game, though. They didnt even make the game. Lost to Ball St.

I'm sorry, how many times has Akron made the tournament?


It wasn't too long ago they were staring in classic youtube videos.

[sgm405]

I'm sorry, how many times has Akron made the tournament?


It wasn't too long ago they were staring in classic youtube videos.

GO ZIPS!

[Mac]

Would have liked the Bobcats to win this one, but in the long run it doesn't mean much. Barring some unforseen collapse by Akron or Ohio, they'll be the top two seeds in the tourney. I didn't think the bobcats would win JARR. Akron has a damn good team and Akron is a tough place to play. Would have been nice, but pretty much an expected outcome. Until Akron wins at the Convo, it's not that big of a deal. Pretty much thought these teams would split.

The JAR is far from a tough place to play, unless they do endless promotion of the game like they did for this game, the place is a ghost town. One of the worst places to ever watch a game and I never step foot in that place, I don't care who they are playing. If it's going to be a good game, they will at least be on ESPN U.

[Pick6]

The JAR is far from a tough place to play, unless they do endless promotion of the game like they did for this game, the place is a ghost town. One of the worst places to ever watch a game and I never step foot in that place, I don't care who they are playing. If it's going to be a good game, they will at least be on ESPN U.

Sorry, fans dont "get up" to play the NIU's and directional Michigan's of the world. Although, the culture is slowly changing. We had the 3rd biggest student attendance ever (beaten twice since) playing Ball State earlier this year. No promotion. It is definitely a tough place to play when quality opponents are there. Akron is in a bit of a different situation than OU. There are actually other entertainment options in the area.

[Mac]

You shouldn't need a promotion to get your student section to show up....what kind of claim to fame is that???

Youre right, nobody wants to watch MAC basketball because outside of a couple games a year, it is pretty awful to watch. It doesn't help Akron when Dambrot is insistent on having a horrific schedule year after year, and he wonders why winning 20 plus games doesn't matter to the people in the area when they rarely have a game worth seeing at the JAR.

I always root for Akron, being a local team and all, but I can never get people to want to go to a game. (Basketball or football).

[Pick6]

You shouldn't need a promotion to get your student section to show up....what kind of claim to fame is that???

Youre right, nobody wants to watch MAC basketball because outside of a couple games a year, it is pretty awful to watch. It doesn't help Akron when Dambrot is insistent on having a horrific schedule year after year, and he wonders why winning 20 plus games doesn't matter to the people in the area when they rarely have a game worth seeing at the JAR.

I always root for Akron, being a local team and all, but I can never get people to want to go to a game. (Basketball or football).

Like I said, culture change is happening. The basketball team is starting to turn into the soccer team in terms of support. The players and coaches are going out of their way to interact with fans and tell them about games. Not sure what promotion has made a real impact on student attendance this year. Social media night? I dont see any way that drew students. It was more of a national publicity stunt to grab attention than anything, and it worked. Akron has not reached to the level of giving out 1000 free jerseys for attending a game, like OU just did recently. I do agree the OOC needs to improve more (it has been improving). Bigger names need to be added. BG just got MSU to come to the Stroh this year. Dont know how they did it. Akron's best OOC home opponent this year was MTSU, who is a good mid major, but frankly, I doubt hardly anybody knows about them, let alone wants to watch them.

Akron and OU need to get out of the MAC. The rest of the league is holding them back. Its a shame with how good each of these teams have been the past 2 years, only one can go to the tourney.

[Mac]

I would absolutely agree that Akron and even Ohio need out of the MAC for all sports if they want any change of growing a sports culture in their regions.

It's not about a culture change at Akron because Dambrot has been there for nearly ten years, nothing is going to change. Getting MTSU to come to Akron is not relevant. Hell, getting a good game like VCU (what was that, bracketbuster?) is not even going to draw people in despite the Akron connection and their recent run.

Getting schools like Butler, Gonzaga, Dayton, Xavier, Cinci etc..etc.. is what will get fans in and those teams shouldn't be opposed to playing at Akron.

I don't think team goes from meddling mid major to the upper echelon of mid majors until they start beating real teams. Which they have never done. Nor have ever made a significant post season run.

[RchfldCavRaised]

Im from Akron, watched the program grow up from Jamal Ball and Andy Hipsher under Dan to Romeo, Jeremiah and where Dambrot has it now. Dambrot does this team no favors by having a cupcake OOC schedule. To put it bluntly. You see his protege Shaka at VCU playing anybody anywhere with an equally small/obscure program.

I moved down here to Nashville and have season tickets to MTSU, and I watched over the last 3 years as they took on teams like 2-3 SEC teams every season, the toughest Mid Majors they can book and just generally a tough OOC schedule and this season they got the bump up to Conference USA from the Sun Belt.

There is no gradual ascension for U of A. They need to take on a harder schedule (this was the perfect year to do it) and they need to establish a rivalry with the tough mid majors that are in close proximaty to the school but out of conference (Cleveland State, Xavier, Cincy, Butler, WKU, Morehead St, Detroit). Build those rivalries and engage the fans as much as possible to pack the JAR and get them driving on the interstate to support them, and then Akron can bump up like they should have already been able to.