Yeah...I didn't think of the in-conference Top 50 games until after I posted that.

You are right ... some of those numbers would be inflated because of that.

But here's my point. From 1994-95 to 1998-99, the MAC was a mulit-bid league three times. Probably the apex of MAC hoops.

How does the league get back to having teams in the at-large conversation?

When was the last time you really remember a MAC team truly in the at-large conversation? Akron a few times, but realistically they probably wouldn't have gotten a bid.

Those other leagues you mentioned might not have a team every single year in the conversation, but there have been a handful.

MVC has been a multi-bid league 15 times since 1994-95.

Horizon has been 7-time multi-bid league since '94-95

Colonial three times since 2005.

Sun Belt twice since 2007

MAAC has even done it once in 2011

OVC has had years where Murray State was in the discussion (didn't get in because of weak-ass schedule) and Belmont.

MAAC has had Monmouth sniffing an at-large a couple times recently.

Valpo from the Horizon has been in the discussion.

Has the MAC just not had a dominant team (that failed to win MAC Tourney) in 20+ years? Yeah, that's probably the case.

I just would like to see the league elevate back to being a premier mid-major league ... and not just have a better KenPom rating than the OVC and Patriot.

I think scheduling better for the whole league would help. While yes, the league RPI/ratings have gotten better the last few years ... I don't think the league's reputation has evolved all that much. It's still very much a one-bid league in every sense of the word.

The MAC doesn't register a lot of eye-popping out-of-conference wins ... and, I think, a big reason for that is they don't give themselves too many opportunities.

I know it's hard as hell to schedule years in advance. Like how the hell was Kent supposed to know that Texas was going to suck last year and a win there didn't actually end up being as awesome as many would have anticipated.

I'm not saying everyone needs to go out and schedule every P5 school they can find, but it would be nice to trim some of these worthless D2 teams and limit the amount of SWAC/MEAC showdowns. Maybe the league could work something out with another good mid-major league (Colonial maybe?) and do a conference challenge each year?

I just think mandating home games isn't the answer. It's helped somewhat raise the numbers, but has it raised the level of competitiveness and visability the league needs to compete at a higher level? Not so sure.

Again...I'm totally aware this is all soapbox ranting. I think we all agree we'd like to see a better schedule.

I just kind of wish the season had a little more meaning than "three nights in Cleveland". It just feels like we're lumped in with the Summit, Patriot and Southland each year in that regard and I've always thought the MAC was better than that....but in reality, maybe they aren't.

I think we are really on the same page here on about 99.9%.

The .01% is the "worked up" part. Just to put your mind at ease ... I'm not exactly losing sleep and running around screaming and yelling about CBB schedules in July.

To me, this is simply good-natured conversation/debate to get me through some slow work days (shhh! don't tell me manager)

Honestly, if Ohio played Tiffin 12 times before the MAC season started ... it would totally suck, but I'd follow them just the same.

It would just be nice to be relative on more of a national stage as a league than to be forgotten

We have to eliminate as many of the bad games as possible. Sometimes you have to be lucky in scheduling as well. Milwaukee, Western Kentucky and Sam Houston St. all had down years last year compared to what we were expecting. But 7 games against 200+ teams is a non-starter on many levels. Even with the scheduling mandate that is terrible scheduling. I don't pretend to know our process but someone should be put in charge with scouting and ranking potential opponents and targeting teams that will be solid teams this year. Don't schedule a single team that you know is going to be 200+ because even if you target good teams one or two of the types of teams that will come to Athens will slip up and fall into that category. Plus at a minimum we'll have four or five of those games in conference. Get home-and-homes with the very best possible teams you can. And get into holiday tournaments with multiple P5 teams.

Couldn't agree more on all points.

I think the director of basketball ops is kind of in charge of scheduling ... or at least that is their role at a lot of schools.

You're exactly right. We know that Southern, Alcorn State and Appy State are going to suck EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.

They should never get on our schedule .... ever. Nor should any of these D2 teams, unless it is an exhibition.

Internet birdies are saying we will get Clemson in the first round at Charleston, Dayton/Hofstra in 2nd round, any of the rest of the field to close.

That's probably the best scenario we could have hoped for if we beat Clemson and Dayton beats Hofstra. Hopefully Temple cleans out on the other side. Still, we're not getting any bad opponents here. Hofstra, ODU and Indiana State are all quality mid-majors.

Ohio/Clemson at 5 PM on ESPN2.

That all may be true. However, we can't control the rest of the MAC. We can control our own schedule.

Terrible for sure. Four and possibly five non-Division I teams and as few as one opponent inside the top 200.

Ball State has some big games on the schedule Oregon being the one that stood out to me....

Mixed reactions between..."what are we thinking" to "finally scheduling some big time teams"

Yeah

I'm not counting on you the red mess from fiami being totally bad just yet. I think coach has his hands full and his coaching choices and staff have been less than stellar but I think he has the desire and the chops to make a competitor over there

I would be inclined to mail my season ticket application back empty with that schedule.