Some random thoughts:

1.) Now that it's over, I'm glad JC went for it today and played everyone rather than resting them -- only since it got us a win. Any win over Miami feels great.

2.) Getting no byes sucks. If someone told us before the year we'd sweep the MAC East road games and beat 10 of the other 11 teams in the league, could you have imagined we'd be in this position? Damn. Of the three years with this screwy-bye format for the MAC Tourney, this seems like the first time a legit contender has really gotten hosed.

3.) Here's my silver lining: We probably weren't going to win the tourney anyway with such a banged-up team. Winning 3 games in 3 nights would have been a tall-enough task. But now we'll be favored to win two games, and then who knows, maybe Akron is winnable. Two or three more wins gets us to 23 or 24 and might make our record more attractive to the NIT. It might be fun to win a couple games in the NIT, right?

4.) Miami has a hanging video board and we don't? Damn. Never thought I'd have Miami envy. But I do. If and when we add a video board, I think it makes a HUGE difference in the look of the Convo. Would look like we finally entered the 21st century. We HAVE TO GET ONE!

5.) The seven MAC losses aside, I'm pretty impressed with how JC has been coaching up the roster. I really feel like everyone has improved. Wilkins, Campbell, Setty and Willis have really made strides. Only guy I feel like has regressed is TJ, but I think his legs are no longer healthy enough to make a jump shot. Props to JC. I feel good about the long-term future with him here.

6.) I really wonder about next season… Will we be better? Only true starters back are N'dour and Taylor. But Campbell is really coming on. I'm worried about us lacking a true 3-point threat, though. Where will the jumpers come from? Maybe Stevie and Bean can hit 35% from three and make defenses have to respect the outside.

7.) I'm really going to miss Nick. And I certainly will miss the contributions Jon, TJ, and Travis gave us. And damn, I sure wish Ric hadn't gotten hurt.

8.) Any update on Ric? Any chance we see him miraculously appear on the court this coming week? Or maybe in the NIT/CBI/CIT?

9.) If we get "only" an invite to the CBI or CIT, take it. This program isn't Kentucky. Like the football team with "lower-tier" bowls, it's better to claim we continue our streak of postseason appearances than to not do so.

10.) Go Bobcats. Stun us all and win 5 more this week.

I think we have pretty good shot at getting to Friday night.  We had no trouble with BSU at their place so we should win Monday.  Same with NIU, and I think our guys would like to get another shot at Kent after what happened Senior Day.  And Akron is Akron, so if we still have legs it should be a good game.

Now that the draw is finalized, I kind of hate it a lot.

Couldn't have drawn it up any tougher. WMU getting the 1 seed especially sucks. Not that it's likely we get far enough to face them. But damn...

Anyway, if we're dancing, we'll have earned it. Let's go play some great basketball, boys.