MAC Men's Basketball Championship Game/March Madness

[KMayUSA6060]

I doubt many of you expected to see a thread about the MAC, but I'm a diehard Akron Zips fan. Akron & Can't State (Kent State) faced off last night in the MAC Championship Game. The schools are separated by about 15 miles, and it is legitimately one of the best rivalries in college athletics. We HATE each other.

4 KSUcks players were suspended prior to the game - 1 for the full game, 3 for the first half (only one of the players was significant, and he played in the second half) - for posting a video from the locker room of the team dancing and singing a pre-recorded diss track of Akron.

https://twitter.com/OverTheLine__/st...mac-title-game

As you can see, it is laced with expletives and directly calls out several Akron players (Ali Ali is one of our best players, #2 is a solid guard, and then #4 is no longer with the team). I personally love the diss track, as it adds legitimacy to the rivalry; it's just not something you post publicly. In fact, I thought the discipline was light as it did not touch any of the coaches who have obviously allowed this to occur previously (Can't State is not the cleanest program by any means, especially under this coach - Senderoff). The last matchup between these teams, Can't won by 2 and ran straight over to the Akron student section and a fight almost broke out. Senderoff was seen not only NOT stopping it, but smirked and seemingly encouraged it. Akron students were apparently not the most polite (college students not polite? Shocking.), but there was zero control from KSUcks players.

Akron ended up winning last night by 20. It was a beautiful delivery of justice.

Akron is a very easy team to root for. They had one starter quit early in the year, and another be dismissed late in the year for not buying into the system. I don't believe they've lost since the last player was dismissed (if they have, it's only been 1). Their starting C is a walk-on that is at Akron on Academic Scholarship. He's a high GPA (4.0?) student and is one of the most fundamentally sound bigs you'll ever see. He is one of 13 players in the nation averaging a double double, he's top 7 or 8 in rebounds, etc. John Groce is the head coach, who made some special runs at Ohio before going to Illinois and then Akron.

Go Zips in the NCAA Tournament.

[mikemb]

Good luck against UCLA in the first round.

Mike

[Hxcmilkshake]

I didn't think that video was a big deal....I don't think anyone should've missed the whole game...

I'm from Connecticut originally so hopefully the Huskies don't fall prey to the yearly 5-12 curse

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

I didn't think that video was a big deal....I don't think anyone should've missed the whole game...

I'm from Connecticut originally so hopefully the Huskies don't fall prey to the yearly 5-12 curse

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

It was a combination of the video and previous antics by the program. For example, #13 for them had an OVI last week and was never publicly disciplined. The MAC was looking for a reason to discipline the program. 3 of the 4 players suspended were nobodies, and the only somebody missed the first half; Akron outscored KSUcks by 9 pts without him, and by 11 pts with him.

Good luck to UCONN!

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by mikemb

Good luck against UCLA in the first round.

Mike

Thank you. We match up well on paper, but admittedly haven't watched a lick of Bruins ball. Hopefully Groce can use some of his Match Magic and pull off the upset.

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

Thank you. We match up well on paper, but admittedly haven't watched a lick of Bruins ball. Hopefully Groce can use some of his Match Magic and pull off the upset.

I think there will be many "upsets" this year. Lots of good teams.

My team, Rutgers, has to play one of those first round games. But, far better than not being in the tournament.

Gotta go and stary filling out my brackers!

Mike

[KMayUSA6060]

Damnit. Should've had the Bruins. Screwy officiating and not making enough shots lost us the game. Oh well.