MAC SEMIFINALS vs. Kent State (3/15)

[mbenecke]

Always sucks to end the season in the Mac tournament. Fun season and a lot of progress made. Hopefully we can run it back with hill, Agee, and spurgin

I don't think our season ended today. I guess we'll find out for sure on Sunday, but I think we've got at least one game left.

We’ll see. At 20-13, we had a solid year. But the structure of college basketball’s postseason has changed - there are no automatic bids to the NIT anymore for regular season champs that don’t make the big dance, so a ton of them are looking likely to be shoved to the side for .500 P5 teams.

However, teams doing what Ole Miss decided to do in declining an NIT bid could shake things up a bit. So we’ll see.

[Redwingtom]

Sullinger is killing us again just like he did in the regular season matchup.

I knew this was coming during the Toledo game as I watched him go 0-7 from 3 and 5-17 overall from the field.

[hammb]

Always sucks to end the season in the Mac tournament. Fun season and a lot of progress made. Hopefully we can run it back with hill, Agee, and spurgin

I don't think our season ended today. I guess we'll find out for sure on Sunday, but I think we've got at least one game left.

We’ll see. At 20-13, we had a solid year. But the structure of college basketball’s postseason has changed - there are no automatic bids to the NIT anymore for regular season champs that don’t make the big dance, so a ton of them are looking likely to be shoved to the side for .500 P5 teams.

However, teams doing what Ole Miss decided to do in declining an NIT bid could shake things up a bit. So we’ll see.

Yep I'll be somewhat surprised if we ever see another MAC team in the NIT. The entire reason they changed the the rules was to stop taking MAC (and the like) teams. It's going to be nothing but mediocre Big10 teams and the like because those are the squads that bring money, which has always been the point of the NIT.

The only way I see that not happening is if a bunch of those teams just decline bids. I mean UM would probably get a bid but they fired their coach so will they play? That sort of thing.

I don't remember how the other tournaments work, or if they even exist anymore, but I tend to agree with you that the days of 6 MAC teams getting invited to postseason play may be over. I don't even know that I care. I never found it easy to work up to caring about anything below the NIT.

[mbenecke]

Always sucks to end the season in the Mac tournament. Fun season and a lot of progress made. Hopefully we can run it back with hill, Agee, and spurgin

I don't think our season ended today. I guess we'll find out for sure on Sunday, but I think we've got at least one game left.

We’ll see. At 20-13, we had a solid year. But the structure of college basketball’s postseason has changed - there are no automatic bids to the NIT anymore for regular season champs that don’t make the big dance, so a ton of them are looking likely to be shoved to the side for .500 P5 teams.

However, teams doing what Ole Miss decided to do in declining an NIT bid could shake things up a bit. So we’ll see.

Yep I'll be somewhat surprised if we ever see another MAC team in the NIT. The entire reason they changed the the rules was to stop taking MAC (and the like) teams. It's going to be nothing but mediocre Big10 teams and the like because those are the squads that bring money, which has always been the point of the NIT.

The only way I see that not happening is if a bunch of those teams just decline bids. I mean UM would probably get a bid but they fired their coach so will they play? That sort of thing.

I don't remember how the other tournaments work, or if they even exist anymore, but I tend to agree with you that the days of 6 MAC teams getting invited to postseason play may be over. I don't even know that I care. I never found it easy to work up to caring about anything below the NIT.

News out this morning that Indiana is also declining a bid. Absolutely hilarious that the NIT bent over backwards to let in these garbage P5 teams, specifically screwing over really good mid-majors, and now they’re being rejected left and right. It’s basically the same as all the opt-outs in bowl games. If it’s not a championship, it means nothing anymore. Makes me sad.

[Falconwriter]

Always sucks to end the season in the Mac tournament. Fun season and a lot of progress made. Hopefully we can run it back with hill, Agee, and spurgin

I don't think our season ended today. I guess we'll find out for sure on Sunday, but I think we've got at least one game left.

We’ll see. At 20-13, we had a solid year. But the structure of college basketball’s postseason has changed - there are no automatic bids to the NIT anymore for regular season champs that don’t make the big dance, so a ton of them are looking likely to be shoved to the side for .500 P5 teams.

However, teams doing what Ole Miss decided to do in declining an NIT bid could shake things up a bit. So we’ll see.

Yep I'll be somewhat surprised if we ever see another MAC team in the NIT. The entire reason they changed the the rules was to stop taking MAC (and the like) teams. It's going to be nothing but mediocre Big10 teams and the like because those are the squads that bring money, which has always been the point of the NIT.

The only way I see that not happening is if a bunch of those teams just decline bids. I mean UM would probably get a bid but they fired their coach so will they play? That sort of thing.

I don't remember how the other tournaments work, or if they even exist anymore, but I tend to agree with you that the days of 6 MAC teams getting invited to postseason play may be over. I don't even know that I care. I never found it easy to work up to caring about anything below the NIT.

I have to assume you were being facetious about UM possibly getting a bid.

[Flipper]

I'm so old..I remember when a bid to the NIT was valued

[mbenecke]

Kent inexplicably intentionally fouled up 1 with 5 seconds left after a go-ahead bucket, Akron hit both free throws to steal the MAC championship and NCAA tournament bid.

Oof.

[BleedOrange]

Kent inexplicably intentionally fouled up 1 with 5 seconds left after a go-ahead bucket, Akron hit both free throws to steal the MAC championship and NCAA tournament bid.

Oof.

I feel horrible for that Kent kid who committed that foul. The amount of anguish he was going thru on the bench after that play was intense. He'll need therapy after this.

[hammb]

Always sucks to end the season in the Mac tournament. Fun season and a lot of progress made. Hopefully we can run it back with hill, Agee, and spurgin

I don't think our season ended today. I guess we'll find out for sure on Sunday, but I think we've got at least one game left.

We’ll see. At 20-13, we had a solid year. But the structure of college basketball’s postseason has changed - there are no automatic bids to the NIT anymore for regular season champs that don’t make the big dance, so a ton of them are looking likely to be shoved to the side for .500 P5 teams.

However, teams doing what Ole Miss decided to do in declining an NIT bid could shake things up a bit. So we’ll see.

Yep I'll be somewhat surprised if we ever see another MAC team in the NIT. The entire reason they changed the the rules was to stop taking MAC (and the like) teams. It's going to be nothing but mediocre Big10 teams and the like because those are the squads that bring money, which has always been the point of the NIT.

The only way I see that not happening is if a bunch of those teams just decline bids. I mean UM would probably get a bid but they fired their coach so will they play? That sort of thing.

I don't remember how the other tournaments work, or if they even exist anymore, but I tend to agree with you that the days of 6 MAC teams getting invited to postseason play may be over. I don't even know that I care. I never found it easy to work up to caring about anything below the NIT.

I have to assume you were being facetious about UM possibly getting a bid.

Nah, I'm just an idiot. I had Michigan States mediocre record in my head with Michigan's fired coach.

Although the way these things go maybe we wouldn't be surprised if UM gets a bid before a MAC team.

[Matty B]

Launching a three at the buzzer? Stay classy Kent.

Who is shocked that it was Sullinger? Anybody? I strongly dislike that guy.

WAY late on this obviously but yeah, can't stand Sullinger. Spurgin went to shake his hand before the opening tip and Sullinger straight up turned a cold shoulder. I have No respect for the dude.