MBB vs S. Alabama 2/4 6:30 PM

[AppDub]

Question for all:
Do you like or dislike having a semi-meaningless non conference game at this point in the season?
The early season MAC - SBC challenge games make sense. Not sure about the late season ones especially if you have to travel.

Not a fan.

[Saint3333]

Like the early one, why not make both in November/December.

[hapapp]

Like the early one, why not make both in November/December.

Or do like the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. You only play one game and you rotate years on the road.

[appfanjj]

Question for all:
Do you like or dislike having a semi-meaningless non conference game at this point in the season?
The early season MAC - SBC challenge games make sense. Not sure about the late season ones especially if you have to travel.

Not a fan.

Just thinking ahead a bit. Let's say we finish really strong with more good wins but do not go the the NCAA tournament. A win over EMU might not help our chances of a NIT bid very much but a loss would certainly be glaring on our resume.

[appfanjj]

Like the early one, why not make both in November/December.

Or do like the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. You only play one game and you rotate years on the road.

100%

[Stonewall]

It’s a way to get two D 1 games, home and home. That’s about it.

[spacemonkey]

NIT has some to do with "brand" We have a well recognized brand. If we have the record...they will put us in.

MAC/Sunbelt challenge.....I would change the way the are picking opponents. I think 2nd place in Sunbelt should play 2nd place in MAC. (This time of year) Chance to increase your NET like that. Akron, current 54 net ranking, at the Holmes Center would probably draw a pretty big crowd this weekend.

[biggie]

It is probably needed for us to get a decent OOC home game, unfortunately.

[T-Dog]

Move the second game of the MAC Challenge to December and put a December conference game back in February.

[EastHallApp]

Question for all:
Do you like or dislike having a semi-meaningless non conference game at this point in the season?
The early season MAC - SBC challenge games make sense. Not sure about the late season ones especially if you have to travel.

I like it. The reason for the late-season game, in theory, is so you can see which teams are doing well and then set the matchups accordingly, rather than risk a top team getting stuck with a poor opponent. Unfortunately, that doesn't account for teams like App, who looked mediocre a month ago but now are near the top of the league.

And they're not meaningless for the leagues. Your top teams (again, in theory) get an extra matchup with another quality mid-major, and the league gets a chance to boost its overall NET, which is otherwise basically set in stone by New Year's. Those things matter on Selection Sunday.

[EastHallApp]

MAC/Sunbelt challenge.....I would change the way the are picking opponents. I think 2nd place in Sunbelt should play 2nd place in MAC. (This time of year) Chance to increase your NET like that. Akron, current 54 net ranking, at the Holmes Center would probably draw a pretty big crowd this weekend.

Do they not do it this way, roughly speaking at least? I thought that was already the case. If not, everyone just disregard my previous post.

[spacemonkey]

MAC/Sunbelt challenge.....I would change the way the are picking opponents. I think 2nd place in Sunbelt should play 2nd place in MAC. (This time of year) Chance to increase your NET like that. Akron, current 54 net ranking, at the Holmes Center would probably draw a pretty big crowd this weekend.

Do they not do it this way, roughly speaking at least? I thought that was already the case. If not, everyone just disregard my previous post.

Eastern Michigan is 4-7 conference record in 8th place. Their net ranking is 208.

Our net ranking is 178...so..it should be a good game.

[appfanjj]

We should definitely win.

[Saint3333]

Agreed, last ten games we’ve played closer to a top 120-150 level.

[AppDub]

Question for all:
Do you like or dislike having a semi-meaningless non conference game at this point in the season?
The early season MAC - SBC challenge games make sense. Not sure about the late season ones especially if you have to travel.

Not a fan.

Just thinking ahead a bit. Let's say we finish really strong with more good wins but do not go the the NCAA tournament. A win over EMU might not help our chances of a NIT bid very much but a loss would certainly be glaring on our resume.

More to lose than gain for sure in my opinion.

[proasu89]

Just go out and win the damn game!

[EastHallApp]

MAC/Sunbelt challenge.....I would change the way the are picking opponents. I think 2nd place in Sunbelt should play 2nd place in MAC. (This time of year) Chance to increase your NET like that. Akron, current 54 net ranking, at the Holmes Center would probably draw a pretty big crowd this weekend.

Do they not do it this way, roughly speaking at least? I thought that was already the case. If not, everyone just disregard my previous post.

Eastern Michigan is 4-7 conference record in 8th place. Their net ranking is 208.

Our net ranking is 178...so..it should be a good game.

Yeah, I just assumed the matchups were set a few weeks ago. It would have looked like an even matchup just a couple weeks back when we were 11-9 (4-4) and EMU was 9-9 (3-3). One team winning five straight while the other loses five straight will mess up the best of plans.

[EastHallApp]

Agreed, last ten games we’ve played closer to a top 120-150 level.

Not sure about the NET, but in Kenpom the Troy game alone moved us up about 30 spots.

[hapapp]

MAC/Sunbelt challenge.....I would change the way the are picking opponents. I think 2nd place in Sunbelt should play 2nd place in MAC. (This time of year) Chance to increase your NET like that. Akron, current 54 net ranking, at the Holmes Center would probably draw a pretty big crowd this weekend.

Do they not do it this way, roughly speaking at least? I thought that was already the case. If not, everyone just disregard my previous post.

I assume so, but why isn't Troy playing Miami then? Both have been atop their respective leagues for most of the year.

[agentpaul001]

Hopefully an opportunity to give a few bench players some more minutes and see if we can get another guard contributing before the tournament.