Men's basketball
Akron will play in a postseason tournament for the third-straight season. The Zips accepted a bid at the College Basketball Invitational and will host Wisconsin-Green Bay on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Arena.
Green Bay (21-12) was the third-best team in the Horizon League, but the Phoenix fell in the quarterfinal round. Akron is 3-4 against Green Bay all-time, but the teams have not met since 1992, when both schools were members of the Mid-Continent Conference.
The winner will play either St. Louis or Indiana State on Monday, March 22. Rick Majerus coaches St. Louis, the higher seeded of the two, which has no juniors or seniors on the roster. The Billikens went 11-5 in the Atlantic 10 this year (20-11 overall). Indiana State, of course, is Larry Bird's alma mater. They went 17-14 and were the fifth-best team in the Missouri Valley Conference.
If St. Louis wins, then Akron or Green Bay will play there. It has not yet been determined who would host a potential game between Indiana State and Akron, according to Akron SID Gregg Bach. Here is the full bracket.
The semifinals will be held March 24. The championship round is a best-of-three series with games on March 29, March 31 and April 2. All games will be held on campus sites. The higher-seeded team gets to host two of the three championship games.
HDNet will broadcast up to eleven of the tournament games, but the Zips' first round game is not one of them.
The field has some pretty good teams, such as VCU, Princeton and defending champion Oregon State. Akron has nothing to be ashamed of. I think the community would be very fascinated by a best-of-three series, if the Zips make it that far.
Also this… Read the Toledo Blade story regarding the resignation of Rockets coach Gene Cross.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Is there any doubt in anyone's mind: The Horizon League is much stronger and more respected than the M.AC.
Has Akron ever considered a move to the Horizon? Playing CSU, YSU, Wright State, Butler, Valpo, Loyola, etc…sounds a lot more attractive than E. Mich., W. Mich., C. Mich., Buffalo…
Bet we'd get bigger crowds for the closer rivalry games, too. I believe this is something to seriously consider.
Ooops, just noticed the Horizon doesn't do football. With our half-empty $60-mil palace, I guess that kills that idea.
In who's eyes is the Horizon League more respected? You never hear the Horizon League mentioned and the games are not on TV as often as the MAC games. Horizon League has 1 or 2 teams that make the news, while MAC usually has 3 or 4 you hear talked about.
I'd take a split conference affiliation like Temple has. Play FB somewhere like CUSA or the MAC, and have everything else in the Horizon. I think that'd be a better place for hoops.
Matt, why not just schedule some of the teams you've mentioned, rather than Malone, Howard, etc…? Again, the MAC Ad's need to get together and come up with some scheduling requirements like other mid-major conferences. If you look around the MAC the Zips schedule actually isn't too bad. Take a look at Buffalo's, you need a stronger non-conference schedule in order to get the RPI up.
I agree with Steve,
These other Mid-major conferences areno diferent then the MAC. The difference is in the teams the MAC schedules. Akron and Kent had great records. If they had those records with a couple quality top-25 wins there would be no questions. Lets face it who the heck is New Mexico St.? A nobody yet they went 5-0 against then top-25 teams.
Brian, I venture to say Akron would have a difficult time against several Horizon teams.
And last I checked, the Horizon places more teams in March Madness than the MAC. Butler, alone, draws more respect…they're a freakin' Top 10 team! Didn't CSU join Butler in the Dance last season? When was the last time the MAC had 2 teams invited? Wright St. is a perennial power…and that's just 3 teams.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't people constantly harp on how weak the MAC West is? Is there any respect for that division? Sure isn't much more for the MAC East, if Kent or Akron couldn't join teeny OU in the Big 64. Then, the little 32 ignored Akron, as well. Ain't a whole lotta respect goin' on here, Brian.
The CBI is a joke sure, but if we win a few games it's great practice for next year.
Let's have fun watching Zeke develop into the Kent Killer he will be.
My fellow bloggers we have played Valpro and remeber this year Akron entered into a 4 year deal to play Cleveland State starting next season. I would like to see us move to Conference USA little stronger but changed hands this year with Houston getting a bid to play in the NCAA's and they have football, also Marshall was in the MAC and moved and they are playing in the NIT. A non-conference schedule with Butler and Cleveland State sounds good. But how about Akron hosting Ohio holiday tournament. Ohio State,Kent,Akron,Cleveland State,Xavier,Cinncinnati, Ohio U,Miami O. All games played at Quicken Loans. Of course the MAC matches up with the other four for two days. There is schedule strength there.
Great idea, Kevin. Include Wright State in there, too.
Of course, it makes far too much sense, so it'll never happen. But why not pitch the idea to the MAC commish anyway? Let HIM help bring it together.
Ahhh, Matt and Realist want to play in a higher profile conference, huh? Zippy is suffering from the "Marshall Syndrome." The Herd made that decision a few years ago and it hasn`t worked out. Marshall had natural rivalries with OU and Miami and promptly destroyed that. Heard anything about Herd football lately? Didn`t think so. How about B-ball? Akron goes to another league and you`ll be another middle of the pack team. Akron hasn`t had great success in hoops getting to the NCAA`s over the last six years. What makes you think the Horizon will be any different? IT WON`T BE!!! Schedule other mid-major teams and win those games and it WILL help you. Akron`s RPI & SOS were not good. Kent on the other hand was pretty good because of their scheduling and winning some of those games. Matt and Realist……..be careful what you wish for………you may not like it.
It doesn't matter what conference Akron basketball plays in if they don't upgrade the talent of this team. There is no question that the current roster is very disciplined and play their hearts out every game, but they simply do not have the quickness and strength to consistently beat more athletic teams like VCU, Rhode Is, Kent, or even OU now that Cooper, Basset and company have developed over the season. We have 3 promising recruits (forwards) coming in next season to fill the void of departing Chris McNight and Conyers. Bring in an assistant coach that can teach Zeke and these newcomers some post moves and work with them on strength and conditioning.
These gys pratice 4 hours a day every morning and I agree with a new coach but the new recruits are not bringing anything to the table some more 6-5 6-6 kids undeveloped bodies. There needs to be a change.
love college basketball — I think the CBI invitation says you had a nice year but not quite good enough to both the basketball team and the AD.
the basketball team has to figure out if it was the talent, the strategy, strength of schedule or combination of these factors that didn't let them accomplish their goal of the NCAA or NIT tournament — and they will
AD — has to help the team in scheduling and MARKETING of the Basketball product and University. we have a winning team — so help get some FANNIES in the stands. a good part of these tournaments is NAME RECOGNITION and right now we have trouble with name recognition within summit, stark and portage counties let alone northeastern ohio and ohio — you know the attendance numbers
both the basketball staff and the AD have had a season to get familiar with and feel each other out — i think both sides will make something happen for the good of the university and the fans
I don't like the CBI for ZIPS because the team and staff deserve some time off for a hard fought effort to get to the dance. the fans are concentrating on St. Patty's Day, the NCAA and springbreak. ( i hope we didn't buy a home game )
GO ZIPS!