Four road games against respected mid-major programs.  This stretch will have serious implications come postseason as the Tournament Committees (NCAA At-Large is a real possibility for the MAC this year) look at common opponents and ability to beat quality opponents on the road.  We do well on this stretch and we are really in the conversation provided we perform come the MAC season.

At-Large is a real possibility if Kent, Akron and us continue to rack up wins.  The conference has more signature wins in the month of November this year than we have had in a very in an entire season in a very long time.  There is still a lot of games to be played and the rest of the season would have to go very well for those three, but the fact that it is a possibility at this point is a huge improvement.  NBC even has Ohio in the tournament field as a 13 seed at-large bid right now (via Athens Post Twitter).

IF we beat Oakland (Respected Mid-Major with signature win vs Tennessee and cracks left at Mich and Zona), Portland (From respected Mid-major Conference), Wright State (Good non-conf road opponent) and lose to Northern Iowa, our RPI will still be Top 100 and maybe Top 50 and then take care of teams we should and we will be in a position.  IF we beat Northern Iowa we will really be in the mix.

Now for this at large to happen, two of the teams with the best chance (Akron, Kent, Ohio) will have to advance to the conference tourney final and have solid MAC records.  Kent may have had a chance at an at large a few years ago had they made the conference finals and lost to akron, but we beat them in the quarters.  If you don't make the finals in the tourney you are done.

     VOR makes a point that is my argument every December on here when most posters state that the only games that matter are in the MAC tournament in March.

     Why not try to win enough quality non-league games to position the MAC to earn more than the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney? The MAC teams will always be .500 overall in conference games. You make a name for yourself by winning games in Nov. and Dec. against teams from leagues at the MAC level or higher.

Saying they have one right now is more for that special warm feeling inside.  Obviously there is a lot of games to be played and our RPI is going to drop significantly in the coming months, but if the season ended today?...

Sorry just got that warm feeling.

That was what I was referring to above, but just didn't have the link.  It makes me feel warm. How about you?

I both agree and disagree. A mediocre resume from this league will not get it done, we've seen that time-and-time again. Something like a 22-5 record with an impressive RPI probably would though. 

Can we put together one of those resumes? Who knows, that's not what I'm arguing. I'm just saying that there's no sense in dismissing the possibility out of hand. 

It has nothing to do with valuing MAC basketball -- conference affiliation is not on the table when you discuss the teams in March.  What is on the table are wins, quality wins, and strength of schedule.  We have a handful of quality teams on our non-conference schedule.  Nothing program-defining, but some quality programs that will likely finish fairly high in the RPI.  We also have other programs in the conference like Akron and Kent who have put up some quality wins, which will raise their RPI and in turn, our SOS.  That also means we could have a shot at those teams a time or two in conference, providing more opportunities for quality wins.

Obviously, it would require an unprecedented level of sustained consistency the likes of which we haven't seen in some time.  But it is nice to think about, and with some of the conference's OOC wins, it is much more likely this year than it has been the past several, if things continue to play out in a similar way.

You sucker ! 

This^

There have been a few at-large worthy MAC teams since the last time we received an at-large bid.  Unfortunately they keep winning the tournament.   To get a bid a team has to do well in the OOC games but more importantly they have to win the regular season and get deep in the tourney.  It's going to be tough this year because the East looks so damn competitive that I think it's going to be hard for one team to put up a huge in-conference record.

This at large talk is nonsense.

But realistically, what is the over/under on how many wins it would take to get an at large bid. I would say 27 wins with a trip to the conf finals would put us in the discussion. That would put  us around 27-6, hopefully a decent RPI if we continue to get help. Even at that I think we would be on the bubble.

Find a MAC team that lost only 5 or 5 games on the season and DIDN'T win the mac tourney.


Better yet...find a MAC team that only lost 5 or 6 games all season period.


It seems as though the two of you are using different arguments to reach the same conclusion.

You don't have to tell me about Cleveland St.


I remember long ago they had a record of 27-3 but their conference had no automatic bid. Yes they were left out though there were less teams in the tournament at that time.


I understand your point and I agree with it, though I think the wins from this conference so far will have some measurable weight.


The margin for error within the conference is practically zero however.


3 losses max if a teams wants to have even a slim hope of an at large bid.

I wonder if people will change their tune if we win tonight...