This is a challenging day. I must try to figure where the Akron Zips might play in the NCAA tournament while trying to get over the shock that the parish where I grew up – St. James in Lakewood – is closing. It kind of takes a piece of yourself away from you. I reserve the right to blog more about this emotional occurrence at a later time.

As for the Zips, there was a lot of speculation last night after Akron's win in the MAC Tournament Final that UA could wind up in any of three places: Greensboro, Dayton or Philadelphia. But the committee also must put Ohio State in a nearby locale, and the Big Ten team is going to get the preferred low-miles road trip. So expect the Buckeyes to play in Dayton. Where Akron goes is anyone's guess.

The seed will be problematic. Most feel it will be a 13 or 14, but some worry that the Zips' RPI of 106 might doom it to a 16 seed.  That could set up a first-round game against Pitt or North Carolina.

I don't think Akron merits that low a seed, though. Winning the MAC should earn UA at least a 14^th seed, perhaps a 13. And many of the predictors agree … though they do have the Zips making a long road trip. EPSN has the Zips in Portland (Oregon) as a 13 seed playing Purdue. SI.com has them in Portland as well, also as the 13^th seed playing Washington. CBSSports.com has them in the same place with the same opponent. (Maybe somebody out there knows the definitive bracket predictor; if so, I invite them to post the link in the comments.)

It's really something that this Zips team won the MAC after it lost five 1,000-point scorers the last two years. This year's team didn't return a guy who averaged double figures. Expectations were minimal, at best.

It sounds trite, but this season's team showed the value of a team. The Zips had nobody who averaged a ton of points. They worked together, played together and played defense as if there was lighter fluid in their shoes. It relied on 10 players, three of whom are freshmen and three of whom are sophomores. They played together, and won together. And they did it that way in the tournament. Brett McKnight was outstanding. Humpty Hitchens helped win the first round game, and when he got hurt Steve McNees stepped in and played outstanding. Darryl Roberts contributed big play after big play. Nate Linhart was all over the court. (Linhart was named tournament MVP, but my vote went to McNees). Chris McKnight rebounded like a madman. So many helped.

Good for them, and good for coach Keith Dambrot and his staff.

Mike Rasor's outstanding blog on the Zips has some thoughts and emotions, and an excellent live rundown of the game, which of course at this point would not be live.

Ed Suba Jr. posted some outstanding photos from the game.

My column in the Beacon Journal is here.

Tom Gaffney wrote that UA "believed in itself when others didn't and proved to be a team of destiny."

The Plain Dealer's Elton Alexander wrote: "The 16 points delivered by sophomore forward Brett McKnight and the inspirational boost from freshman Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens' 10 first-half points were icing on the cake."

And Bill Livingston of the PD opined that "There are not a whole lot of happy stories in this area in this economy, and when one comes along, it should be savored. The roars from this game will echo down Interstate 77 for a long time."

Rodney McKissic of the Buffalo News correctly wrote that "Akron won this game with defense."

The Zips and their fans should relish this day. The tournament will make its bracket announcements at 6 p.m.

Regarding Chris Singletary, Ray Mernagh of MACreportonline.com writes: "He's a dirty player." The same site named Brett McKnight of Akron the MAC Sixth Man of the Year, and Jordan Mincy of Kent State the Defensive Player of the Year.