2019 MAC Tournament

[Globetrotter]

I just hope we win tonight and Friday night. Winning tonight puts us against, most likely, Toledo. I would love to take down UT in that way. If we make it to Saturday, I'll be thrilled. Of course, I'd also like to win Saturday, but making it there pretty much ensures we are in the NIT. Heck, it gives us about a 50/50 shot of making the NCAA.

But, first thing, let's beat Ball State tonight. This is a game we should win. This is a game we NEED to win.

It's so frustrating because we have seen them play great for like 2 months. And they just gave up everything that made them play great. Energy, ball movement, spacing. They are content with jacking up threes, if they are going in then all the rest of that will come. If they start missing they just give up.

[hammb]

I just hope we win tonight and Friday night. Winning tonight puts us against, most likely, Toledo. I would love to take down UT in that way. If we make it to Saturday, I'll be thrilled. Of course, I'd also like to win Saturday, but making it there pretty much ensures we are in the NIT. Heck, it gives us about a 50/50 shot of making the NCAA.

But, first thing, let's beat Ball State tonight. This is a game we should win. This is a game we NEED to win.

It's so frustrating because we have seen them play great for like 2 months. And they just gave up everything that made them play great. Energy, ball movement, spacing. They are content with jacking up threes, if they are going in then all the rest of that will come. If they start missing they just give up.

And the part that pisses me off is that it's not a chicken or egg thing. We don't start playing well when the threes go in, it's the opposite. When we play well and are getting open looks off ball movement they go in.

We are too reliant on the three for my taste, and that is true even during our good stretches. Still if they're catch n shoot threes off ball movement they're good shots. And we've seen Lillard, Frye, Turner, fields, and even laster can shoot those shots on catch n shoot situations. Only Turner can consistently shoot them off his own dribble; Frye as well when he's hot, but too often if he makes one he follows it with 3 more "heat checks".

[BG71]

Any sports bars showing the game on ESPN+?

[mbenecke]

Any sports bars showing the game on ESPN+?

Not that I'm aware, though Bdubs may be doing so.

You can also get a free 1-week trail on ESPN+!

[BG71]

I signed up for the free trial. Thank you!

[mbenecke]

I signed up for the free trial. Thank you!

No problem! Make sure you cancel it right before it expires, though - they'll automatically charge you otherwise.

[hammb]

I know Akron was mediocre on their good days, and awful on their bad days. But good god did Buffalo just dismantle them to kick off the events in Cleveland.

That's a team on a mission, and you won't catch them napping. I hope like hell we can make the finals and they'll take a Gonzaga like dive for the good of the conference.

[mbenecke]

FINAL:

#1 Buffalo 82, #8 Akron 46.

That one was ugly, folks.

[mbenecke]

FINAL:

#5 Central Michigan 89, #4 Kent State 81

The Chips are into the semifinals, where they will catch #1 Buffalo at 6:30pm tomorrow night on CBSSN.

Now onto the late games, where the 2nd-seeded team plays against #7 NIU. Go Huskies!

[mbenecke]

HALFTIME:

#7 NIU 41, #2 Toledo 39

No defense in the first half. 17 combined threes between them.

[mbenecke]

NIU leads by 5 and has the ball with 34 seconds left...

[Globetrotter]

This is exactly what I expected. A fairly easy run to the finals. And we will look past this first game and lose.

[hammb]

Down goes Toledo!

[mbenecke]

FINAL:

#7 NIU 80, #2 Toledo 76

Winner of tonight's game gets NIU in the semifinals tomorrow night.

Long drive home for all those fans from up north.

[hammb]

Anything less than the finals is now a dismal failure that erases anything good about this season.