I think the MAC is a huge question mark this year:
Miami - What do Ipsaro and Skaljac look like? Both coming off injuries that have restricted them much of the offseason. Does Woolfolk come back? Does Kirby make a leap?
Akron - Lots of new faces and a new coach (although he was top assistant). What does that continuity look like? History says they will continue to be a contender.
Ohio - They were 9-9 with Pav and Simmons last year. How much better are they with one more year and some of the elite players like Suder and Tavari now gone?
UMass - They are once again the big spenders. It didn’t seem to turn into wins last year, but they were a threat most games. How much better are they?
And then Kent, Toledo, and BG could also be in it. Going to be a competitive season.
Seems like a good analysis. I still can’t figure out how OU only went 9-9. I REALLY don’t understand how UMass was 7-11. They played us well all three times last year, and of course they knocked us off in Cleveland. Were they just not a good matchup for us?
As I commented to someone early today, there is a fine line to be walked between the prudence of caution and waiting in a situation like this and moving forward with getting the case on file and proceeding. I assume Antwone and all the respective players’ attorneys have weighed the risks and benefits of both. As well as best venue. Indiana will always be a possible venue as the defendant, NCAA, is headquartered there.
One thing to note, as it pertains to this lawsuit is the eligibility of Evan Mahaffey and Amani Lyles. Both of them are tied up in this lawsuit. Akron with those two is a gamechanger.
I don’t understand why the NCAA is choosing this hill to die on. It’s one season and it’s a bad look if some players are allowed to play and others not.
The NCAA desires chaos so they can convince people they need legislation like the PCSA. If they just allowed all these players back after 5 in 5 was accepted, there’d be no lawsuits so they wouldn’t have nearly the publicity to sell why they need antitrust exemptions. Its cynical to think, but no other explanation makes sense on why they are so dug in to fight this specific issue of players coming back to play a 5th year when it will be allowed going forward.