1st time I’ve seen UD this year … super fun to watch , whacked Toledo on their home court . ( UD without their super point guard ! )
And still got drilled without Dayton's best player in the lineup. The MAC is truly in bad shape right now.
I'm slowly starting to realize a reddit comment of us being a "meme" conference is starting to become true. Trying to stay optimistic, but that's pretty damning.
The worrying thing is that it may well get worse next season as talent like Sparks transfers out. It will be a mighty struggle for all mid-majors to hold onto talent in this new environment.
Does this talent flow hurt the weaker mid majors relative to the stronger ones who can at least argue for a winning culture?
It appears to me that most of the programs in the MAC have been pushed down the D1 pecking order because they don't have as much to offer.
I guess time will tell. I have an admitted heavy bias, but it would seem Ohio has a significant advantage over other programs in terms of fan engagement coupled with a track record of success. Toledo has the engagement but not the track record. Akron, Kent State and Buffalo have the track record but not the engagement. No one else in the MAC is even worth mentioning in either sphere.
I know other factors come into play like playing time, fit, coaches, overall facilities and (sometimes) academic fit. But at least within the conference, one would expect to win the transfer war.