When the teams who are currently on the outside looking in probably having to beat ranked teams to have a shot--and no doubt some of them will--when you have no ranked teams on your schedule nor any other teams left with NCAA bids likely, your chances of moving into the bracket are virtually nil. Do they have a chance of moving into being one of the last 10-15 teams out? Sure, maybe, if they go without a loss to the MAC final, but that's small consolation.

(02-07-2013 12:09 PM)axeme Wrote:  When the teams who are currently on the outside looking in probably having to beat ranked teams to have a shot--and no doubt some of them will--when you have no ranked teams on your schedule nor any other teams left with NCAA bids likely, your chances of moving into the bracket are virtually nil. Do they have a chance of moving into being one of the last 10-15 teams out? Sure, maybe, if they go without a loss to the MAC final, but that's small consolation.

Don't get me wrong, I think the possibility is extremely remote. But if Akron were to win out with victories over NDSU and @Ohio, and lose to a team like Ohio or WMU in the finals, they would be 27-5. That, in my opinion, would be good enough to be selected by the committee. If you add in an additional loss along the way, the justification becomes more cloudy.

The odds are better than you suggest.

It will be interesting to see how many top 25 votes Akron is getting when they win-out going into the next Ohio game. The chances for the MAC really get worth talking about if Ohio manages to go in and beat Belmont.

I don't put much stock into national writers takes on who gets in from mid-majors... Lunardi just puts in the #1 team in the MAC no matter if they aren't likely to actually get in. It'd be like Western being the MAC rep this year as of now if they hadn't played Akron or Ohio.

(02-07-2013 12:09 PM)axeme Wrote:  When the teams who are currently on the outside looking in probably having to beat ranked teams to have a shot--and no doubt some of them will--when you have no ranked teams on your schedule nor any other teams left with NCAA bids likely, your chances of moving into the bracket are virtually nil. Do they have a chance of moving into being one of the last 10-15 teams out? Sure, maybe, if they go without a loss to the MAC final, but that's small consolation.

If Akron wins out and loses in the finals they are flat out in. They will have won 23 in a row prior to the loss in the finals. Their only bad loss will have occurred with star players missing in the first game of the year. Their only losses will have been to teams currently ranked 19, 18, 66 and 67 in Pomeroy. They would have a 27-5 record with a solid RPI, BPI, Pomeroy and Sagarin. You can't look at the bubble right now because so much will change. Would Akron make it if the season ended today, no. But it doesn't end today. Of course, this all is contingent on Akron taking care of business.

(02-07-2013 04:08 PM)OUVan Wrote:  

(02-07-2013 12:09 PM)axeme Wrote:  When the teams who are currently on the outside looking in probably having to beat ranked teams to have a shot--and no doubt some of them will--when you have no ranked teams on your schedule nor any other teams left with NCAA bids likely, your chances of moving into the bracket are virtually nil. Do they have a chance of moving into being one of the last 10-15 teams out? Sure, maybe, if they go without a loss to the MAC final, but that's small consolation.

If Akron wins out and loses in the finals they are flat out in. They will have won 23 in a row prior to the loss in the finals. Their only bad loss will have occurred with star players missing in the first game of the year. Their only losses will have been to teams currently ranked 19, 18, 66 and 67 in Pomeroy. They would have a 27-5 record with a solid RPI, BPI, Pomeroy and Sagarin. You can't look at the bubble right now because so much will change. Would Akron make it if the season ended today, no. But it doesn't end today. Of course, this all is contingent on Akron taking care of business.

This is right. While it is unlikely that anyone can win 23 games in a row, that would likely get them in. They certainly are not close to being in now, however.

(02-05-2013 02:36 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  why the MVC avoid the Summit leagues top 4 teams? NDSU, wiu, oakland, sdsu? were they seriously that afraid of a loss? pathetic if you ask me.

NDSU #65 RPI vs AKRON #53 RPI will be the best matchup, 2/22 on ESPN 2 6pm central Cant wait!

NDSU is overrated. Nice little team in a conference that is down from the Oakland days.

Akron, if focused, should win by 20+.

This is how things are going for Miami basketball. We get matched up against Southern Illinois, who was 1-10 in the MVC. Immediately afterward, they go out and knock off top 25 Wichita State.