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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: March Madness
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GraffZ06
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Posted: 3/15/2026 4:16 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
It's all about the new metric they are using Wins Against the Bubble (WAB). It will help schools in any conference who have an excellent record like Miami did without Quad 1 wins. Sports Illustrated defines it this way: "WAB stands for Wins Above Bubble, and it measures — broadly speaking — the number of wins a team has against its schedule relative to how an average bubble team would fare against that same schedule."
WAB is a Bart Torvik stat. The committee added it as an official metric this year - but nobody knows how much weight they will put on it. Some are speculating a lot because it's literally meant to compare a teams resume versus the projected cutoff/bubble team had they played their schedule.

Per Torvik -
Miami Trank is #86. Their WAB is +2.5. Torvik projects them as a #10 seed.

Compare that to Akron with Trank of #71 but WAB of -0.2. Torvik projects them as a #12 seed.

If anyone was curious, and none of you were, our WAB was -11.6 (meaning a team on the bubble should have gone 26.6 - 5.4 if they played our same exact schedule).
Last Edited: 3/15/2026 4:20:19 PM by GraffZ06
FJC31
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Posted: 3/15/2026 6:42 PM
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Don’t hate the matchups for Akron and Miami. Dayton is basically a home game for the latter. If it can pull Yugitoglu (7’2) away from the basket to guard the perimeter and gas him like Buffalo did Ayton years ago, I think Miami has a legit shot.

No Toppin doesn’t give Tech the traditional paint advantage the way it normally would as a P5 over a mid major. Contain Christian Anderson and it’s a winnable game for Akron.

Both Tech and SMU run through smaller/mid-major sized guards. Rooting for both.
Last Edited: 3/15/2026 6:43:38 PM by FJC31
FishBates
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Posted: 3/15/2026 7:40 PM
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I almost hope fiami wins so they will have to play Tennessee who will come out with their hair on fire for the reasons already mentioned earlier in this thread.

Comparing scores, Tennessee lost 2 of 3 to Vandy but all three games were close while Vandy blew SMU out. Vandy held SMU to 12% from three, stole the ball from them 7 times while SMU turned it over 12 times, VU had 20 assists and 54 points in the paint. In other words, SMU is not in the same class as Vandy or Tennessee. They are an early 8.5 point fave over fiami and might win, even in Dayton as long as there are no MAC refs to bail fiami out.

But then we would miss seeing Tennessee destroy fiami in a game that would not even be competitive. It would be so one-sided that fiami might have to reconsider building a new gym.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 3/15/2026 9:17 PM
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FishBates wrote:expand_more
I almost hope fiami wins so they will have to play Tennessee who will come out with their hair on fire for the reasons already mentioned earlier in this thread.

Comparing scores, Tennessee lost 2 of 3 to Vandy but all three games were close while Vandy blew SMU out. Vandy held SMU to 12% from three, stole the ball from them 7 times while SMU turned it over 12 times, VU had 20 assists and 54 points in the paint. In other words, SMU is not in the same class as Vandy or Tennessee. They are an early 8.5 point fave over fiami and might win, even in Dayton as long as there are no MAC refs to bail fiami out.

But then we would miss seeing Tennessee destroy fiami in a game that would not even be competitive. It would be so one-sided that fiami might have to reconsider building a new gym.
I'm I alone, or does anyone else on here think FishBates is Greencat?
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/15/2026 9:46 PM
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bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
I almost hope fiami wins so they will have to play Tennessee who will come out with their hair on fire for the reasons already mentioned earlier in this thread.

Comparing scores, Tennessee lost 2 of 3 to Vandy but all three games were close while Vandy blew SMU out. Vandy held SMU to 12% from three, stole the ball from them 7 times while SMU turned it over 12 times, VU had 20 assists and 54 points in the paint. In other words, SMU is not in the same class as Vandy or Tennessee. They are an early 8.5 point fave over fiami and might win, even in Dayton as long as there are no MAC refs to bail fiami out.

But then we would miss seeing Tennessee destroy fiami in a game that would not even be competitive. It would be so one-sided that fiami might have to reconsider building a new gym.
I'm I alone, or does anyone else on here think FishBates is Greencat?
Hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it, but I do see the similarities now that you ask the question. Maybe we should ask him what he thinks of Liberty University!
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 3/16/2026 9:22 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I'm I alone, or does anyone else on here think FishBates is Greencat?
Hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it, but I do see the similarities now that you ask the question. Maybe we should ask him what he thinks of Liberty University!
Interesting theory. Here, I will test it out. Jesus is Lord and Belmont is a world class university!

I agree these games for Akron & Miami are important, given all the national attention and the conversation the last 2 months about if mid-majors with elite records should be taken seriously. They both need to keep the games close, but especially Miami. The first 4 draw may be a blessing as they get a lesser opponent. Had they just been thrown up against a powerful 5 seed it could've been ugly.
Last Edited: 3/16/2026 9:24:51 AM by Andrew Ruck
rpbobcat
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Posted: 3/16/2026 9:37 AM
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No way to know if its true, but they were saying on T.V. that Miami's week
out of conference schedule was because a lot of schools didn't want to
play them.

That was always Rutgers excuse, before they joined the B1G.
Last Edited: 3/16/2026 9:38:55 AM by rpbobcat
FJC31
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Posted: 3/16/2026 9:54 AM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
No way to know if its true, but they were saying on T.V. that Miami's week
out of conference schedule was because a lot of schools didn't want to
play them.

That was always Rutgers excuse, before they joined the B1G.
I think there's some truth to that. Miami's Associate Head Coach (or one of its assistants) shared emails with the media it sent out to a few P5 schools.

If top mid-majors are having a hard time getting P5 games for better Quad wins, just schedule each other.

Having other conference winners in the tournament on your resume is also valuable.
Last Edited: 3/16/2026 9:54:49 AM by FJC31
FishBates
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Posted: 3/16/2026 10:50 AM
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I have no idea what some of you are babbling about - Jesus? Belmont? WTF?

Actually right now I'm trying to get opinions on how to adjust my picks based on injuries to teams like Duke and Texas Tech, since USA Today and ESPN have bracket contests with a million bucks at stake.

Trying to win a million bucks has to be the priority today. At least for me.

YMMV
FishBates
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Posted: 3/16/2026 1:22 PM
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Before you pick Bama going far...

BREAKING: Alabama’s Aden Holloway was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp

Police discovered more than a POUND of marijuana in Holloway’s apartment, along with paraphernalia and money.

What does he think this is? Jefferson Hall in the 1970's?
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/16/2026 1:41 PM
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FishBates wrote:expand_more
I have no idea what some of you are babbling about - Jesus? Belmont? WTF?

Actually right now I'm trying to get opinions on how to adjust my picks based on injuries to teams like Duke and Texas Tech, since USA Today and ESPN have bracket contests with a million bucks at stake.

Trying to win a million bucks has to be the priority today. At least for me.

YMMV
Please tell us what you think Liberty University's chances are of winning in the NIT. Bet you can make a lot of money placing the right bets on the NIT, too.
FishBates
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Posted: 3/16/2026 2:26 PM
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The list of teams that turned down invitations to the NIT is more impressive than the ones who accepted. Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Florida State, etc all declined.

The CIT apparently folded and won't be played. The CBC has one team that accepted: WVU, but it would be hard to play a tournament with only one team in it. Obviously.
cc-cat
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Posted: 3/16/2026 5:51 PM
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FishBates wrote:expand_more
Before you pick Bama going far...

BREAKING: Alabama’s Aden Holloway was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp

Police discovered more than a POUND of marijuana in Holloway’s apartment, along with paraphernalia and money.
new meaning to "Roll Tide"

word is Oates will suspend him until the first tv timeout against Hofstra
JSF
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Posted: 3/17/2026 10:59 AM
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I hope Miami gets wrecked.
OUbobcat9092
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Posted: 3/17/2026 2:24 PM
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FishBates wrote:expand_more
The list of teams that turned down invitations to the NIT is more impressive than the ones who accepted. Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Florida State, etc all declined.

The CIT apparently folded and won't be played. The CBC has one team that accepted: WVU, but it would be hard to play a tournament with only one team in it. Obviously.
The CBI tournament is apparently taking a year off...
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/18/2026 10:35 AM
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Texas wins with an almost buzzer beater and somehow doesn't get called for a technical foul when an assistant coach runs onto the floor in celebration with time still left on the clock. If NC State hadn't called a TO they could have got a couple of free throws.
JHSbobcat08
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Posted: 3/18/2026 1:06 PM
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On this day, 16 years ago, Armon Bassett and DJ Cooper kicked Georgetown’s ass.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/18/2026 2:32 PM
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JHSbobcat08 wrote:expand_more
On this day, 16 years ago, Armon Bassett and DJ Cooper kicked Georgetown’s ass.
Sweet memory . . . thanks for posting!

. . . and about 62 years ago in March we whipped Kentucky 85-69!

It's nice to remember these things every March, including the Groce-lead OHIO's Sweet 16 run. I still have my MICHI-GONE shirt that on the back says "Now you know we are the REAL OHIO."

Need more of those memories in the future. We are in a drought!
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 3/18/2026 3:38 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
I hope Miami gets wrecked.
I, on the other hand, will be rooting for Miami and Akron. Just as I root for the MAC team every March. I know, a lot of disappointment lately. I also realize that it's been too long, but there's nothing like watching a MAC team - Kent, Ball St., UB, and especially Ohio - make a run in the tourney.
Last Edited: 3/18/2026 3:38:59 PM by bobcatsquared
FishBates
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Posted: 3/18/2026 3:56 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
I hope Miami gets wrecked.
I do as well even though SMU is really not a great team.

However, it would be hilarious to see Tennessee embarrass fiami by 30 or 40 points after all the b!tching and moaning and whining and crying that "nobody will play us" when the Bobcats flew 2600 miles to play St. Mary's and half the MAC played either Louisville or Wisconsin or Purdue. Belmont and SF Austin won a bunch of games this season without playing anybody out of conference and you know what happened? Just like fiami they got beat by an underdog in their league tourney.

Be careful what you wish for fiami.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 3/18/2026 4:15 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
On this day, 16 years ago, Armon Bassett and DJ Cooper kicked Georgetown’s ass.
Sweet memory . . . thanks for posting!

. . . and about 62 years ago in March we whipped Kentucky 85-69!

It's nice to remember these things every March, including the Groce-lead OHIO's Sweet 16 run. I still have my MICHI-GONE shirt that on the back says "Now you know we are the REAL OHIO."

Need more of those memories in the future. We are in a drought!
Until the Zips win their first NCAA game, it wasn't Groce led OHIO it was simply because we are OHIO that teams have gone far!
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 3/18/2026 4:19 PM
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The best thing for the MAC would be both Miami and Akron going as far as possible. They're rivals when we play them; when they're playing out of conference, they're peers and their success is generally good for the MAC.

I wonder if saying we're rooting for Miami will cause FishBaits to boycott BA.com now, too?
Last Edited: 3/18/2026 4:19:59 PM by Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
shabamon
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Posted: 3/18/2026 4:38 PM
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I'm rooting for both teams. Something rising tides and boats...
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/18/2026 4:46 PM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
I'm rooting for both teams. Something rising tides and boats...
#Metoo!
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Posted: 3/18/2026 5:11 PM
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The MAC is already guaranteed $4 million with the 2 bids and gets an additional $2 million per win which I believe is shared amongst the league members. So, I’m all for MAC teams winning as the $ tide will raise the Bobcat’s boat.
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