OT: D1

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They are completely irrelevant. The Stallings team that went winless in the ACC was so bad you at least felt compelled to occasionally discuss what was happening. There’s nothing about this program right now that even makes for semi interesting conversation. They just exist. They’re basically what they were before Ben Howland was hired.

Was that the Ralph Willard era?

[Chuck Norris]

Miami Ohio remains one of the most interesting stories of the season as they now sit at 30-0 with one regular season game remaining yet are very much on the bubble should they fail to win the MAC tournament. I’m not sure why the MAC seems to have fallen so far in the mid major ranks. They must all be playing terrible schedules. In addition to Miami, Akron is currently 16-1 in the MAC and 25-5 overall yet they are nowhere near making the field in any bracket projections.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Miami Ohio remains one of the most interesting stories of the season as they now sit at 30-0 with one regular season game remaining yet are very much on the bubble should they fail to win the MAC tournament. I’m not sure why the MAC seems to have fallen so far in the mid major ranks. They must all be playing terrible schedules. In addition to Miami, Akron is currently 16-1 in the MAC and 25-5 overall yet they are nowhere near making the field in any bracket projections.

They also barely beat Mercyhurst (by 6 points).

[Chuck Norris]

Well I did just look it up and the MAC hasn’t had multiple bids to the tournament since ‘98-99 which I must admit really surprised me. I would’ve thought it happened much more recently. Their champion is usually a very tough out and it feels like they always have multiple teams that are pretty good at least from a win-loss record standpoint. It’ll be very interesting to see what happens with Miami should they not win the conference tournament.

[Fightingscot82]

Love me some Miami. As their fans say, Miami was a university in Ohio when Florida still belonged to Spain. I'm happy for their program because this is exactly what they needed to build momentum to fundraise for a new modern arena. Millett Hall is old, dark, and cavernous. Its like playing basketball on the stage in Carnegie Hall. I appreciate that their AD has been outspoken about how difficult it is to schedule non-conference games in the no man's land between P4 and mid-major beyond those very early season destination tournaments. Schools don't want to pay the guarantee rate for a MAC school to come when they can convince Presbyterian or Campbell or Chicago State to play for less and without trying for a return home game. So yeah, Miami's SOS is low but its because a) the MAC is as much of a mid-season dogfight as the PSAC can be, and b) nobody "good" will play them. Just as with football, the P4 schools bad mouth the lesser schools for lack of a strong schedule but then also refuse to play them and increasing the G6 and mid-major SOS.

[Chuck Norris]

Love me some Miami. As their fans say, Miami was a university in Ohio when Florida still belonged to Spain. I'm happy for their program because this is exactly what they needed to build momentum to fundraise for a new modern arena. Millett Hall is old, dark, and cavernous. Its like playing basketball on the stage in Carnegie Hall. I appreciate that their AD has been outspoken about how difficult it is to schedule non-conference games in the no man's land between P4 and mid-major beyond those very early season destination tournaments. Schools don't want to pay the guarantee rate for a MAC school to come when they can convince Presbyterian or Campbell or Chicago State to play for less and without trying for a return home game. So yeah, Miami's SOS is low but its because a) the MAC is as much of a mid-season dogfight as the PSAC can be, and b) nobody "good" will play them. Just as with football, the P4 schools bad mouth the lesser schools for lack of a strong schedule but then also refuse to play them and increasing the G6 and mid-major SOS.

I think the MAC is the best “one bid” conference by a significant margin. Miami has had a bunch of close calls. Winning the conference tournament is far from a sure thing. 30 wins, and counting, without a loss is hard to do in any conference. And yes, they can’t schedule better teams unless those teams agree, so if they’ve tried and no one will take them on, what can they do? I want them to run the table into the Big Dance, but I’m also a little morbidly curious to see if they really would get left out at 32-1 or whatever. I feel like they’d still get in, very possibly as part of the First Four.

[Fightingscot82]

Miami also has some history in the past. They've made the NCAA tournament 17 times before, most notably with a Sweet Sixteen run in 1999 behind Wally Szerbiak. Miami is also the alma mater of longtime NBA player Ron Harper.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The shine has quickly worn off of former Glenville State coach Kim Caldwell down in Knoxville.

There is a lot of buzz on social media calling for her to be fired already.

Of course, if they can recover in the SEC Tournament it should quiet some things down. The AD gave her a public vote of confidence this morning.

[TheMadLibs]

The shine has quickly worn off of former Glenville State coach Kim Caldwell down in Knoxville.

There is a lot of buzz on social media calling for her to be fired already.

Of course, if they can recover in the SEC Tournament it should quiet some things down. The AD gave her a public vote of confidence this morning.

Ya the 5th year player quitting after senior day is an ugly story. I think Kim's youth is shining a bit.

[bballfan03]

Miami also has some history in the past. They've made the NCAA tournament 17 times before, most notably with a Sweet Sixteen run in 1999 behind Wally Szerbiak. Miami is also the alma mater of longtime NBA player Ron Harper.

I get theyre 30-0, but they havent played anyone of any stature. And they're barely beating a lot of these teams. If every game was 15+ points, id be more likely to say theyre a top 25 team.. right now not so much. Even if they win the conference.. they should be no higher than an 8 seed.

[Chuck Norris]

I get theyre 30-0, but they havent played anyone of any stature. And they're barely beating a lot of these teams. If every game was 15+ points, id be more likely to say theyre a top 25 team.. right now not so much. Even if they win the conference.. they should be no higher than an 8 seed.

No one is suggesting they should be a high seed. They legitimately might not get in at all if they don’t win the MAC tournament. They’re an 11 or 12 seed in most projections which is First Four territory if they’d get in as an at large.

[bballfan03]

No one is suggesting they should be a high seed. They legitimately might not get in at all if they don’t win the MAC tournament. They’re an 11 or 12 seed in most projections which is First Four territory if they’d get in as an at large.

I definitely think they should make it even if they dont win their conference, but if they don't- i think 11 is still too high. If they win MAC id make them a 10, if they lose then make them a 13.

[TheMadLibs]

I've seen plenty of absolute **** first round exits from mediocre big 4 schools. I'd rather see a MAC conference get a 2nd team and see what happens than watch a **** Auburn squad who can't pass 20 wins.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ya the 5th year player quitting after senior day is an ugly story. I think Kim's youth is shining a bit.

She chose not to start a senior bench player on Senior Day, which, of course, was a big game for her team. This particular player wasn't a mercenary, but rather a young lady who was in the program for 5 years. She had never made a start for the Vols. Said player was eventually put in the game -- with 15 seconds left.

Now, her team has also drastically underperformed this year, which isn't helping matters. This is now something very newsworthy for people to talk about (hence ...).

I'm sure opinions will vary on this subject. Are coaches obligated (unwritten rule) to start their Seniors?

Joe has always started his seniors at IUP -- even when some of them were just the deep bench, local walk-ons. He did it in a few big games over the years.

Some will ask how much damage can a player really cause in the first two minutes of a game? That's hard to answer for sure. But, in a close game, every possession counts.

[TheMadLibs]

She chose not to start a senior bench player on Senior Day, which, of course, was a big game for her team. This particular player wasn't a mercenary, but rather a young lady who was in the program for 5 years. She had never made a start for the Vols. Said player was eventually put in the game -- with 15 seconds left.

Now, her team has also drastically underperformed this year, which isn't helping matters. This is now something very newsworthy for people to talk about (hence ...).

I'm sure opinions will vary on this subject. Are coaches obligated (unwritten rule) to start their Seniors?

Joe has always started his seniors at IUP -- even when some of them were just the deep bench, local walk-ons. He did it in a few big games over the years.

Some will ask how much damage can a player really cause in the first two minutes of a game? That's hard to answer for sure. But, in a close game, every possession counts.

Yes I have no issue with not starting. It was the asking in final 15s of a blowout that would feel insulting. And even moreso, the choice to quit and communicate at a bare minimum says there lacks trust and unity, and more so messages poor relationships between staff and players.