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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Welcome to the MAC, UMass...No For Real This Time
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GoCats105
2/26/2024 3:56 PM
Figured this deserved its own thread on the bball board. An instant boost to the conference. Per the Athletic, UMass is joining the MAC in all sports.
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ctb
2/26/2024 4:17 PM
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
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M.D.W.S.T
2/26/2024 4:27 PM
The internet seems to think UCONN is going to announce football only.
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IceCat76
2/26/2024 4:36 PM
This is all the Globe has so far. You can see the trend in the comments.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/26/sports/umass-mid-a... /


At least I'll only have a 100 mile drive to see the Cats play.
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GoCats105
2/26/2024 4:48 PM
IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
This is all the Globe has so far. You can see the trend in the comments.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/26/sports/umass-mid-a... /


At least I'll only have a 100 mile drive to see the Cats play.
IceCat, can you speak to the masses on the popularity on UMass basketball in your area? I know we around here who are diehard hoops fans see that and see a good addition to the league, but looking at their recent history, they really haven't done much of anything since the early-mid 90's with the Calipari/Camby teams.

Since 2000:

- 4 NIT appearances (one final under Travis Ford in 2007-08)
- 1 NCAA Tournament appearance (Derek Kellogg in 2013-14)
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 5:13:18 PM by GoCats105
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JSF
2/26/2024 7:02 PM
That kind of came out of nowhere.


...temple next, amirite
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FJC31
2/26/2024 7:20 PM
Strong market grab by the MAC. Have to think another school is potentially in the works for a 14th member?
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 7:42:02 PM by FJC31
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FJC31
2/26/2024 7:46 PM
ctb wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
Didn’t meant to double up the 14th member question. If we decide to continue east and going off your FCS idea, Albany could be an interesting add. Finished 7th last season in coaches poll for football. Been almost 10 years since Albany made the tourney, but had 3 consecutive appearances from 13-15.
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 7:47:50 PM by FJC31
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GoCats105
2/26/2024 8:20 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
Didn’t meant to double up the 14th member question. If we decide to continue east and going off your FCS idea, Albany could be an interesting add. Finished 7th last season in coaches poll for football. Been almost 10 years since Albany made the tourney, but had 3 consecutive appearances from 13-15.
They wouldn't add a basketball-only member. Unless the FCS football team had plans on transitioning up, there's not much else to pick from.

Toledo Blade reporter said WKU and the MAC still have a mutual interest. If that happens, MAC basketball gets an instant boost with the addition of these two.
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greencat
2/26/2024 8:20 PM
ctb wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
MTSU blew their chance. Now they play in front of an empty stadium. Even their new coach who hasn't coached a game there criticized that apathy. They could have jumped with WKU and kept that rivalry plus establish new ones. Instead they will be playing UTEP and New Mexico State - schools 1400 or more miles from them.
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FJC31
2/26/2024 8:40 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
Didn’t meant to double up the 14th member question. If we decide to continue east and going off your FCS idea, Albany could be an interesting add. Finished 7th last season in coaches poll for football. Been almost 10 years since Albany made the tourney, but had 3 consecutive appearances from 13-15.
They wouldn't add a basketball-only member. Unless the FCS football team had plans on transitioning up, there's not much else to pick from.

Toledo Blade reporter said WKU and the MAC still have a mutual interest. If that happens, MAC basketball gets an instant boost with the addition of these two.
That’s what we were both implying; Albany would move up in football. It would’t be an ideal basketball-only member.

Saw WKU reference on Twitter a moment ago. UMass is currently to 17-10 in hoops and WKU is 19-8. Huge gets for the MAC basketball if the latter in fact joins this time around.
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 9:10:57 PM by FJC31
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GoCats105
2/26/2024 9:02 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
MTSU blew their chance. Now they play in front of an empty stadium. Even their new coach who hasn't coached a game there criticized that apathy. They could have jumped with WKU and kept that rivalry plus establish new ones. Instead they will be playing UTEP and New Mexico State - schools 1400 or more miles from them.
This is the mentality I really don't get from MTSU, or WKU for that matter. I've seen WKU fans bitching about playing in cold weather on a Tuesday night. Hey at least you're on TV! How's that CUSA TV deal?

Also, bitching about the weather for a Tuesday night MACtion game is just a right of passage as a MAC fan. Welcome to the club.
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ohio9704
2/26/2024 9:11 PM
JSF wrote:expand_more
That kind of came out of nowhere.


...temple next, amirite
Man, the travel for them in the American Conference is just awful. Public university in a nice new media market. Would love to see the MAC get to 16 teams. Find all the dance partners you can in conference realignment.
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ctb
2/26/2024 10:22 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
Didn’t meant to double up the 14th member question. If we decide to continue east and going off your FCS idea, Albany could be an interesting add. Finished 7th last season in coaches poll for football. Been almost 10 years since Albany made the tourney, but had 3 consecutive appearances from 13-15.
They wouldn't add a basketball-only member. Unless the FCS football team had plans on transitioning up, there's not much else to pick from.

Toledo Blade reporter said WKU and the MAC still have a mutual interest. If that happens, MAC basketball gets an instant boost with the addition of these two.
That’s what we were both implying; Albany would move up in football. It would’t be an ideal basketball-only member.

Saw WKU reference on Twitter a moment ago. UMass is currently to 17-10 in hoops and WKU is 19-8. Huge gets for the MAC basketball if the latter in fact joins this time around.
Agreed. Picking up WKU along with UMass would be a huge boost for MAC basketball. WKU in particular has been very strong as of late. The MAC’s strength in basketball has been in decline for a while now, and perhaps these additions can help stabilize and regrow the MAC as a solid basketball conference.
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SBH
2/27/2024 10:19 AM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
MTSU blew their chance. Now they play in front of an empty stadium. Even their new coach who hasn't coached a game there criticized that apathy. They could have jumped with WKU and kept that rivalry plus establish new ones. Instead they will be playing UTEP and New Mexico State - schools 1400 or more miles from them.
I heard MTSU president was very duplicitous in his interaction/negotiations with the MAC hierarchy. Would not expect us to re-engage with him.
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M.D.W.S.T
2/27/2024 10:52 AM
ohio9704 wrote:expand_more
Find all the dance partners you can in conference realignment.
Correct.

If you're not growing, you're dying.
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greencat
2/27/2024 11:00 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Doesn’t make sense geographically, but nothing about conference realignment right now does. Either way, this is a big gain for the MAC on the basketball side of things. Football… not so much. I wonder if we’ll get a 14th member now? Perhaps MTSU or WKU? Or maybe someone moving up from FCS?
MTSU blew their chance. Now they play in front of an empty stadium. Even their new coach who hasn't coached a game there criticized that apathy. They could have jumped with WKU and kept that rivalry plus establish new ones. Instead they will be playing UTEP and New Mexico State - schools 1400 or more miles from them.
I heard MTSU president was very duplicitous in his interaction/negotiations with the MAC hierarchy. Would not expect us to re-engage with him.
The A D at MTSU got his master’s degree in sport administration from Ohio University in 1986. You would have to think the problem was higher up. Let them pay the price and play in front of an empty stadium against teams from far-flung locations that nobody in that area cares about.
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D.A.
2/27/2024 2:13 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
This is all the Globe has so far. You can see the trend in the comments.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/26/sports/umass-mid-a... /


At least I'll only have a 100 mile drive to see the Cats play.
IceCat, can you speak to the masses on the popularity on UMass basketball in your area? I know we around here who are diehard hoops fans see that and see a good addition to the league, but looking at their recent history, they really haven't done much of anything since the early-mid 90's with the Calipari/Camby teams.

Since 2000:

- 4 NIT appearances (one final under Travis Ford in 2007-08)
- 1 NCAA Tournament appearance (Derek Kellogg in 2013-14)
While the question wasn't directed at me, I think the following, level headed post from UMASSHOOPS.com does a good job of nailing reality: "Basketball was given the keys to the future of UMass Athletics back when we first left the MAC and drive us towards the AAC. It failed miserably."

Most posters hate it...but reality just slapped their faces. Even many of their die hard hoops posters accept that FB drives the ICA bus, and that their MBB program has been mediocre for 20+ years, after a few failed head coach hirings.
Last Edited: 2/27/2024 2:14:09 PM by D.A.
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FJC31
2/27/2024 2:37 PM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
This is all the Globe has so far. You can see the trend in the comments.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/26/sports/umass-mid-a... /


At least I'll only have a 100 mile drive to see the Cats play.
IceCat, can you speak to the masses on the popularity on UMass basketball in your area? I know we around here who are diehard hoops fans see that and see a good addition to the league, but looking at their recent history, they really haven't done much of anything since the early-mid 90's with the Calipari/Camby teams.

Since 2000:

- 4 NIT appearances (one final under Travis Ford in 2007-08)
- 1 NCAA Tournament appearance (Derek Kellogg in 2013-14)
While the question wasn't directed at me, I think the following, level headed post from UMASSHOOPS.com does a good job of nailing reality: "Basketball was given the keys to the future of UMass Athletics back when we first left the MAC and drive us towards the AAC. It failed miserably."

Most posters hate it...but reality just slapped their faces. Even many of their die hard hoops posters accept that FB drives the ICA bus, and that their MBB program has been mediocre for 20+ years, after a few failed head coach hirings.
I do think UMass will be a perennial top 3 team in the MAC, FWIW to its fans. Pretty impressive season so far with non-conference against WVU and USF while sitting at 8-7 in a tough A10. Especially with Frank Martin.
Last Edited: 2/27/2024 2:41:45 PM by FJC31
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gedunkman
2/27/2024 10:02 PM
Did something I don't do very often, I looked on another school's fan board. There were several UMass fans speculating that half their basketball team will enter the portal when the season is over, because they won't want to play in such a lowly league as the MAC. Seemed a little over the top to me.
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The Optimist
2/28/2024 12:43 AM
gedunkman wrote:expand_more
Did something I don't do very often, I looked on another school's fan board. There were several UMass fans speculating that half their basketball team will enter the portal when the season is over, because they won't want to play in such a lowly league as the MAC. Seemed a little over the top to me.
Half their team will enter the portal... to make more money elsewhere. NIL is the name of the game not conference prestige.

If I'm a UMass fan, this is an opportunity to turn the program around. They've got the budget to come in and be a contender every year in the MAC.

...

I'd be real curious to see the $'s and cents of Temple in the AAC vs the MAC. There is a non-zero probability that happens.
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FJC31
2/28/2024 7:58 AM
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
Did something I don't do very often, I looked on another school's fan board. There were several UMass fans speculating that half their basketball team will enter the portal when the season is over, because they won't want to play in such a lowly league as the MAC. Seemed a little over the top to me.
Half their team will enter the portal... to make more money elsewhere. NIL is the name of the game not conference prestige.

If I'm a UMass fan, this is an opportunity to turn the program around. They've got the budget to come in and be a contender every year in the MAC.

...

I'd be real curious to see the $'s and cents of Temple in the AAC vs the MAC. There is a non-zero probability that happens.
This is where I’m at with UMass. I think it sounds much worse as a fan than it actually will end up being. What good is being in the A10 if you’re not winning and getting to the postseason?
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D.A.
2/28/2024 9:46 AM
This is some interesting analysis about the UMass financial move, which is a little more hoops related. There is also some really good data related to MAC budgets/revenues that should help OHIO MBB fans feel better about "Basketball getting screwed because we spend too much on Football now..."

https://youtu.be/sRjSP6j2Gt4?si=LYLGgUQd-oQwuKH6
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IceCat76
2/28/2024 10:48 AM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
This is some interesting analysis about the UMass financial move, which is a little more hoops related. There is also some really good data related to MAC budgets/revenues that should help OHIO MBB fans feel better about "Basketball getting screwed because we spend too much on Football now..."

https://youtu.be/sRjSP6j2Gt4?si=LYLGgUQd-oQwuKH6
This is an excellent analysis. Some of the locals (here) should see this
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Ohio69
2/28/2024 1:10 PM
IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
This is some interesting analysis about the UMass financial move, which is a little more hoops related. There is also some really good data related to MAC budgets/revenues that should help OHIO MBB fans feel better about "Basketball getting screwed because we spend too much on Football now..."

https://youtu.be/sRjSP6j2Gt4?si=LYLGgUQd-oQwuKH6
This is an excellent analysis. Some of the locals (here) should see this
That guy did an awesome job in that video. Very good stuff.

Bring on the Blue Hens....
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