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Topic: The Miserable MAC West and how it's killing the conference
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rootforROO44
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Posted: 2/15/2012 2:17 PM
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Just thought I'd share this interesting post from an Akron blog.  It talks about the disparity between the East and the West in basketball and how it's hurting the conference RPI.  Some very interesting stats are mentioned, it's a good read. 
 
 
anorris
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Posted: 2/15/2012 2:49 PM
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Yep, this has been a topic of discussion here, too (my post from a couple weeks back).  At this point I'd rather play everyone in the East three times a year.
Last Edited: 2/15/2012 2:49:54 PM by anorris
Ziegler79
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Posted: 2/15/2012 3:04 PM
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Interesting article - however, we've lost two games in a row to the West so it's hard to complain right now.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 2/15/2012 5:02 PM
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All due respect Zieg losing those 2 does not change the reality that the west sux. Coach Taylor feels the new format is not really that good and there should be something to protect the divisional winner. I see the opposite, when you look at the table and see the top teams are all Mac east .... i think it is discriminAtory when they only have to play the east once while we beat the hell outta each other. .
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 2/15/2012 5:17 PM
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bornacatfan wrote:expand_more
All due respect Zieg losing those 2 does not change the reality that the west sux. Coach Taylor feels the new format is not really that good and there should be something to protect the divisional winner. I see the opposite, when you look at the table and see the top teams are all Mac east .... i think it is discriminAtory when they only have to play the east once while we beat the hell outta each other. .


Exactly. The West already has a built-in advantage that they have an easier conference schedule. If they can't post a better record than the teams in the East, then they definitely don't deserve the No. 2 seed like they use to get.
anorris
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Posted: 2/15/2012 7:07 PM
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UpSan Bobcat wrote:expand_more
All due respect Zieg losing those 2 does not change the reality that the west sux. Coach Taylor feels the new format is not really that good and there should be something to protect the divisional winner. I see the opposite, when you look at the table and see the top teams are all Mac east .... i think it is discriminAtory when they only have to play the east once while we beat the hell outta each other. .


Exactly. The West already has a built-in advantage that they have an easier conference schedule. If they can't post a better record than the teams in the East, then they definitely don't deserve the No. 2 seed like they use to get.
This.
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/15/2012 7:28 PM
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I've said it probably 5 times on here in the last two weeks:  With the new conference tournament format, what is the point of the divisions?  DITCH THE DIVISONAL FORMAT. Play 16-18 conference games and be done with it.  Yeah, there will be an unbalanced schedule, but who really cares?  It would still be better than the current format.
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/15/2012 7:29 PM
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Added thought:  I think the new rewards for the top four seeds is a brilliant idea.  It makes the conference season mean more than it used to.  Tonight's game versus BG is a great example.  Last year, this game would have meant so much less.
giacomo
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Posted: 2/15/2012 10:27 PM
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These things go in cycles. There was a time when Ball St, EMU and Toledo were the class of MAC hoops.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 2/15/2012 10:37 PM
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I like the format where the top 2 seeds get protected. :Like in the Horizon it gives meaning to the regular season. I truly feel it gives the best the conference has to offer a better seed and likelihood of succeeding and advancing in the tourney. IMHO of course 

The ground work for this was lain by coaches at Kron and Cant who took offense to a 9 seed knocking them out of the tourney. Trying hard to ensure that will never happen again.
JSF
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Posted: 2/15/2012 11:11 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
I've said it probably 5 times on here in the last two weeks:  With the new conference tournament format, what is the point of the divisions?  DITCH THE DIVISONAL FORMAT. Play 16-18 conference games and be done with it.  Yeah, there will be an unbalanced schedule, but who really cares?  It would still be better than the current format.


I've yet to hear an argument as to why getting rid of divisions would be helpful. Keeping the West teams away from the superior East teams is a good thing.
rootforROO44
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Posted: 2/15/2012 11:53 PM
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 Interesting point JSF, I don't think ditching the current format would be a great idea either.  The schools would have to spend more money on further trips, some team's wouldn't play some team's twice each year, and it would be embarrassing for the West teams haha. 

 

btw, i'm guessing you're the JSF from www.Zipsnation.org correct?

JSF
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Posted: 2/16/2012 12:15 AM
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Yes.
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 2/16/2012 2:43 AM
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If we had won last week against Toledo and EMU would this thread exist?
bornacatfan
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Posted: 2/16/2012 8:37 AM
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Considering that it exists on the MAC board, from what I gather originated on the Akron board, and has propgated to BSUfans and other boards I suspect it has nothing whatsoever to do with the losses to those 2 teams
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/16/2012 12:26 PM
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Don't you think it's embarrassing for the conference as a whole when people look at the standings for our conference and see almost every year a one sided divisional format?  This same format, other than scheduling, now has very little significance in our conference.

 

JSF
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Posted: 2/16/2012 12:43 PM
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No. Did anybody care how dominant the SEC East was over the SEC West?
Pataskala
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Posted: 2/16/2012 12:47 PM
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I echo the anti-division arguments and add one interesting fact: only four D1 conferences use divisions -- the MAC, the Southern, the Southland and the Sun Belt.  It doesn't put the MAC in great company.  Ten conferences that have 12+ teams do without divisions.

In the past the MAC tourney has rewarded mediocre division champions with byes.  It's the same sentiment that gives an NFL division champ a home field advantage in the playoffs over teams with better records -- it's poppycock.  I'm glad the MAC has finally recognized the illogic in this; now get rid of the divisions -- and maybe help free up scheduling a bit (I'll bet BG and Toledo would like a home-and-home every year; maybe some others). 
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/16/2012 3:55 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
No. Did anybody care how dominant the SEC East was over the SEC West?


If it worked so well, why didn't they keep it that way.


Pataskala wrote:expand_more
I echo the anti-division arguments and add one interesting fact: only four D1 conferences use divisions -- the MAC, the Southern, the Southland and the Sun Belt.  It doesn't put the MAC in great company.  Ten conferences that have 12+ teams do without divisions.

In the past the MAC tourney has rewarded mediocre division champions with byes.  It's the same sentiment that gives an NFL division champ a home field advantage in the playoffs over teams with better records -- it's poppycock.  I'm glad the MAC has finally recognized the illogic in this; now get rid of the divisions -- and maybe help free up scheduling a bit (I'll bet BG and Toledo would like a home-and-home every year; maybe some others). 

 

That's one good argument in favor of it.   Ball State and Miami probably wouldn't mind either. 

JSF
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Posted: 2/16/2012 3:57 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
No. Did anybody care how dominant the SEC East was over the SEC West?


If it worked so well, why didn't they keep it that way.


I don't know and it's not really the point. I was responding to your question about embarrassment. Nobody cares about the imbalance except MAC fans. As it stands now, the divisions exist for scheduling purposes. I think it's a good thing.
Pataskala
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Posted: 2/16/2012 8:50 PM
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The West is in an extended funk.  Over the past ten seasons ('01-'02 through '10-'11):

Teams with winning records -- East 38 of 61 teams (62.0%); West had 20 of 63 teams (31.8%)  [The MAC had 13 teams for four years during that time.  The East had 7 teams one year and the West had 7 teams three years.]

Teams with 20+ wins -- East 22 of 61 teams (36.1%); West 9 of 63 teams (14.3%)

Teams with 20+ losses -- East 5 of 61 teams (8.2%); West 19 of 63 teams (30.2%).
perimeterpost
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Posted: 2/16/2012 9:31 PM
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its odd to see an Akron fan complain about the imbalance of divisions. where were you during football season?
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 2/17/2012 1:18 AM
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I don't get threads like these ..and the ones about changing conferences.

Pretty much all I care about is the games that the 'Cats play.

I've always thought that if we win OUr rightful share of those, then everything else will work out.




[If anyone wants any further implicit thoughts about how to invest reasonably successfully, pm me.]
Last Edited: 2/17/2012 1:19:26 AM by Monroe Slavin
OU_Country
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Posted: 2/21/2012 2:17 PM
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Just in case you don't think the MAC West is a little embarrassing, here's something new to consider:

rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=AhbH37PKFR0eBK3fW5TrFxDevbYF

"State of Michigan (6). Not just the Red Wings are on fire here. Michigan State surprisingly leads the Big Ten and is ranked sixth in the nation. Michigan is tied for second in America’s best conference and ranked 11th in the AP poll and 13th in the coaches’ poll. They’re a combined 9-1 in February, with the only loss self-inflicted (Spartans over Wolverines). Detroit, not Butler, is the hottest team in the Horizon League, riding a five-game winning streak. Even Eastern Michigan leads the West Division of the Mid-American Conference despite an 11-16 record. (The MAC West is kind of the AFC West of college basketball; everyone is bad.)"
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Posted: 2/21/2012 5:55 PM
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After Bracketbuster Weekend, can we now complain about the "Miserable East"??

Heheh, just kidding...a little.  I was very, very disappointed in the Bracketbuster outcomes this year. 
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