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Topic: Bring back the Bracketbuster
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GoCats105
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Posted: 2/24/2016 8:44 AM
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Sure it didn't really bust any brackets as the name intended, but I always enjoyed have a late season non-conference opponent that provided a nice measuring stick.

Either that or create the Horizon/MAC or MAAC/MAC challenge as others have suggested. Horizon probably makes more sense for geography and competition, but the MA(A)C Daddy Challenge sounds awesome.
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/24/2016 11:16 AM
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I know it became wildly unpopular for some, but I happened to love it. It was a game day that I always circled on the calendar. It typically provided an interesting opponent, and I miss having that game. I also know it provided major travel concerns because of the last minute timing of the announcements.
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Posted: 2/24/2016 11:56 AM
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I liked it while it lasted, but when good conferences like the CAA drop out, I can understand why it was nixed. In a way, it was kind of like a mid-season Selection Sunday; you could get an idea how respected your success was. The 2008 George Mason game remains one of my favorite Bobcat spectator experiences.
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/24/2016 12:14 PM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
I liked it while it lasted, but when good conferences like the CAA drop out, I can understand why it was nixed. In a way, it was kind of like a mid-season Selection Sunday; you could get an idea how respected your success was. The 2008 George Mason game remains one of my favorite Bobcat spectator experiences.
That was a great one, Shab. And those are the kind of games I would like to see.

The MAC/MAAC Challenge would be awesome. Get McDonald's to sponsor this thing and call it the Big Mac Challenge. Someone get Schaus on the phone right now.
The Optimist
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Posted: 2/24/2016 1:03 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
The MAC/MAAC Challenge would be awesome. Get McDonald's to sponsor this thing and call it the Big Mac Challenge. Someone get Schaus on the phone right now.

+1 if only someone could get that ball rolling
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/24/2016 1:54 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
I liked it while it lasted, but when good conferences like the CAA drop out, I can understand why it was nixed. In a way, it was kind of like a mid-season Selection Sunday; you could get an idea how respected your success was. The 2008 George Mason game remains one of my favorite Bobcat spectator experiences.
That was a great one, Shab. And those are the kind of games I would like to see.

The MAC/MAAC Challenge would be awesome. Get McDonald's to sponsor this thing and call it the Big Mac Challenge. Someone get Schaus on the phone right now.
It's not a bad idea. I often wonder why we haven't seen more link ups among conferences like the MAC and CAA, or MVC, etc for a "challenge" type of series. It would seem to help most teams with scheduling. I just wouldn't like it in the middle of the conference season. Maybe it would help sell an interesting game or two on the non-conf schedule. On the other hand, there are those on here that might get upset with playing Wichita State, Hofstra, Iona, or N.Iowa too often. ;)
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/24/2016 2:31 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
The MAC/MAAC Challenge would be awesome. Get McDonald's to sponsor this thing and call it the Big Mac Challenge. Someone get Schaus on the phone right now.
Too easy. Brilliant. Delicious.
OUcats82
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Posted: 2/24/2016 3:26 PM
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I'm lovin' it!
Last Edited: 2/24/2016 3:27:25 PM by OUcats82
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Posted: 2/24/2016 3:36 PM
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The Optimist wrote:expand_more
The MAC/MAAC Challenge would be awesome. Get McDonald's to sponsor this thing and call it the Big Mac Challenge. Someone get Schaus on the phone right now.

+1 if only someone could get that ball rolling


Royalties ($$$) should go to the person who originally came up with "Big Mac Challenge." Maybe someone can research the BA archives to see which poster first came up with this idea.
OUcats82
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Posted: 2/24/2016 7:35 PM
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Mark Morrison needs to be hired to sing the song for all promo videos etc.
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/25/2016 7:01 AM
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OUcats82 wrote:expand_more
Mark Morrison needs to be hired to sing the song for all promo videos etc.
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

You and I sir, are on the same page.
shabamon
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Posted: 2/25/2016 8:50 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Mark Morrison needs to be hired to sing the song for all promo videos etc.
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

You and I sir, are on the same page.
Two or three years ago, when the MAC collectively was having a good year, they would play that song in the Convo following basketball games.
OUVan
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Posted: 2/25/2016 11:39 AM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
I know it became wildly unpopular for some, but I happened to love it. It was a game day that I always circled on the calendar. It typically provided an interesting opponent, and I miss having that game. I also know it provided major travel concerns because of the last minute timing of the announcements.
It not only provided an interesting opponent but we got that same interesting opponent again a year or two later. I loved the Bracketbuster and the lead-up to it was just as fun trying to figure out who our opponent would be.

Would love the Big Mac Challenge. I would schedule it the same weekend that the Bracketbuster was tabbed for. I toyed with the idea of the #1 team in each conference playing the #2 in the other but logistically this would be problematic. Realistically the road and home teams would need to be determined ahead of time. The schedule would be something like this:

Iona at Akron
Ohio at Monmouth
Siena at Buffalo
Kent St at Fairfield
St. Peter's at Ball State
Toledo at Manhattan
Canisius at CMU
NIU at Rider
Quinnipiac at EMU
WMU at Niagara
Marist at BGSU
Miami at tbd

Since the MAAC has one fewer team we'd have to arrange for our #12 team to have an opponent.
Y-CityCatFan
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Posted: 2/25/2016 11:59 AM
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Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
100%Cat
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Posted: 2/25/2016 12:00 PM
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OUVan wrote:expand_more
I know it became wildly unpopular for some, but I happened to love it. It was a game day that I always circled on the calendar. It typically provided an interesting opponent, and I miss having that game. I also know it provided major travel concerns because of the last minute timing of the announcements.
It not only provided an interesting opponent but we got that same interesting opponent again a year or two later. I loved the Bracketbuster and the lead-up to it was just as fun trying to figure out who our opponent would be.

Would love the Big Mac Challenge. I would schedule it the same weekend that the Bracketbuster was tabbed for. I toyed with the idea of the #1 team in each conference playing the #2 in the other but logistically this would be problematic. Realistically the road and home teams would need to be determined ahead of time. The schedule would be something like this:

Iona at Akron
Ohio at Monmouth
Siena at Buffalo
Kent St at Fairfield
St. Peter's at Ball State
Toledo at Manhattan
Canisius at CMU
NIU at Rider
Quinnipiac at EMU
WMU at Niagara
Marist at BGSU
Miami at tbd

Since the MAAC has one fewer team we'd have to arrange for our #12 team to have an opponent.
How about we just have Fiami sit this one out?
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/25/2016 12:08 PM
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Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
Of course that would be ideal, but I doubt the MVC would even take a look at the MAC. The CAA, A-10, Horizon or even WCC would all be much better.
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Posted: 2/25/2016 12:50 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
Of course that would be ideal, but I doubt the MVC would even take a look at the MAC. The CAA, A-10, Horizon or even WCC would all be much better.
I would be fine with any of those!
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Posted: 2/25/2016 12:55 PM
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Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
100% agree that if the A10 or MVC come calling we should grab it but that's not happening. Short of that personally I think the MAC/MAAC is a great idea. For the bigger conferences it doesn't really matter who they play. But for us it does but only for the top teams. The MAAC may not be quite a good regularly as the MAC but the top teams are typically good and to be honest that's all we really care about. I think the MAC/MAAC challenge would get more play especially since the MAAC is knee deep in the ESPN footprint. For the 5th place MAC team does it matter if you play Milwaukee or Manhattan? The only thing that matters at that point is you get the win for the conference for bragging rights. I would be fine with a challenged with the CAA or the Horizon but I just think the MAC/MAAC would be more interesting.
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Posted: 2/25/2016 1:26 PM
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OUVan wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
100% agree that if the A10 or MVC come calling we should grab it but that's not happening. Short of that personally I think the MAC/MAAC is a great idea. For the bigger conferences it doesn't really matter who they play. But for us it does but only for the top teams. The MAAC may not be quite a good regularly as the MAC but the top teams are typically good and to be honest that's all we really care about. I think the MAC/MAAC challenge would get more play especially since the MAAC is knee deep in the ESPN footprint. For the 5th place MAC team does it matter if you play Milwaukee or Manhattan? The only thing that matters at that point is you get the win for the conference for bragging rights. I would be fine with a challenged with the CAA or the Horizon but I just think the MAC/MAAC would be more interesting.
Believe me, I'm not one of those delusional fans who think we're next in line for B1G membership, I get that the A-10 is on a different tier. I also believe that the MAC is on a different tier than the MAAC, that's all I'm saying. This year we have consistently been around the top 10 in conference RPI. Just because we are not in the very top tier, doesn't mean we should position ourselves with a conference so far down the list (for the same reason the A10 wouldn't position themselves with us). That's all I'm trying to say.
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Posted: 2/25/2016 3:59 PM
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Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
100% agree that if the A10 or MVC come calling we should grab it but that's not happening. Short of that personally I think the MAC/MAAC is a great idea. For the bigger conferences it doesn't really matter who they play. But for us it does but only for the top teams. The MAAC may not be quite a good regularly as the MAC but the top teams are typically good and to be honest that's all we really care about. I think the MAC/MAAC challenge would get more play especially since the MAAC is knee deep in the ESPN footprint. For the 5th place MAC team does it matter if you play Milwaukee or Manhattan? The only thing that matters at that point is you get the win for the conference for bragging rights. I would be fine with a challenged with the CAA or the Horizon but I just think the MAC/MAAC would be more interesting.
Believe me, I'm not one of those delusional fans who think we're next in line for B1G membership, I get that the A-10 is on a different tier. I also believe that the MAC is on a different tier than the MAAC, that's all I'm saying. This year we have consistently been around the top 10 in conference RPI. Just because we are not in the very top tier, doesn't mean we should position ourselves with a conference so far down the list (for the same reason the A10 wouldn't position themselves with us). That's all I'm trying to say.

I see your point, and I hear it loud and clear when it comes to the RPI side of things. When it comes to real exposure, what conference(s) do we think would be better to align with? The A10, as you stated, is at another level. The top couple of the MVC usually are, but the rest of the league isn't much better than the MAC right now. Where it is far better is in facilities and exposure. The MVC isn't taking that deal with the MAC


So where does that leave you? The way I see it, it leaves you with the CAA, Horizon, Sunbelt, or MAAC make sense. I prefer the CAA, MAAC, and Horizon because of the geography.
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Posted: 2/25/2016 5:05 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC? Wouldn't this work against us as far as national perspective goes? Acc/B1G, PAC12/BIG12 These challenges suggest that the confrences are equal. I like the idea of a challenge, but not necessarily with a conference like the MAAC. MVC, YES!
100% agree that if the A10 or MVC come calling we should grab it but that's not happening. Short of that personally I think the MAC/MAAC is a great idea. For the bigger conferences it doesn't really matter who they play. But for us it does but only for the top teams. The MAAC may not be quite a good regularly as the MAC but the top teams are typically good and to be honest that's all we really care about. I think the MAC/MAAC challenge would get more play especially since the MAAC is knee deep in the ESPN footprint. For the 5th place MAC team does it matter if you play Milwaukee or Manhattan? The only thing that matters at that point is you get the win for the conference for bragging rights. I would be fine with a challenged with the CAA or the Horizon but I just think the MAC/MAAC would be more interesting.
Believe me, I'm not one of those delusional fans who think we're next in line for B1G membership, I get that the A-10 is on a different tier. I also believe that the MAC is on a different tier than the MAAC, that's all I'm saying. This year we have consistently been around the top 10 in conference RPI. Just because we are not in the very top tier, doesn't mean we should position ourselves with a conference so far down the list (for the same reason the A10 wouldn't position themselves with us). That's all I'm trying to say.

I see your point, and I hear it loud and clear when it comes to the RPI side of things. When it comes to real exposure, what conference(s) do we think would be better to align with? The A10, as you stated, is at another level. The top couple of the MVC usually are, but the rest of the league isn't much better than the MAC right now. Where it is far better is in facilities and exposure. The MVC isn't taking that deal with the MAC


So where does that leave you? The way I see it, it leaves you with the CAA, Horizon, Sunbelt, or MAAC make sense. I prefer the CAA, MAAC, and Horizon because of the geography.
I hear you. I just worry about national perception. I wouldn't want a peception that the MAC and MAAC are the same. The MAC has enough of an up hill clime as it is! Ha
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 2/25/2016 6:55 PM
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BetterCallSaul.



SaulBall-hopefully, it singularly lifts OHIO, gives us some appeal what makes upscheduling on our own (apart from the MAC) possible.
OUVan
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Posted: 2/25/2016 7:09 PM
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Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
I hear you. I just worry about national perception. I wouldn't want a peception that the MAC and MAAC are the same. The MAC has enough of an up hill clime as it is! Ha
There is no real national perception of the MAC. Just as there is no real national perception of the MAAC. The average fan is already lumping us with them and every other mid-major. What are the odds that anybody would notice the CAA-MAC Challenge? At least the MAC-MAAC has a hook. That's also why I would have the games be played in late February because it would be completely lost in December. In February we have the chance to line up some interesting matchups that might get talked about. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a CAA or Horizon Challenge. I just the MAC-MAAC would get more attention.
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Posted: 2/25/2016 10:34 PM
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I'd love to see the MAC vs the MVC even though it would by very tilted towards the MVC, but I'd also take the Horizon or the MAAC.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/26/2016 9:05 AM
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Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
Although this all sounds good, why would we want to align ourselves in a challenge with a conference consistently ranked much lower than the MAC?!
Uhhh because then it would be silly to call it the Big Mac challenge, and McDonalds probably wouldn't be interested.
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