HATE TO SEE IT. THEY’RE ALL COMIN’ BACK!
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This is why I wasn’t concerned when they initially sent out the “we’re all running it back” tweets.
Akron Starters from 24-25:
James Okonkwo - Portal to Utah
Tavari Johnson - Now in portal
Nate Johnson - Portal to Kansas St
Isaiah Gray - Graduated
Seth Wilson - Graduated
They still return MAC 6th Man of Year Shammah Scott (for now). While I certainly take joy in seeing this, as they were a major challenger for us to get back to the dance, it does show that even with Akron having reportedly the biggest NIL investment in the MAC and the biggest coaching investment, nothing will come easy anymore.
Have to build a culture beyond payday. Hopefully this year shows Steele is doing that
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Expect UMass full lineup to be announced tomorrow evening during a Mass Co zoom meeting. Have other commitments, but we’ll have big men, guards, shooters. Should be a very good class and we will compete for both men’s and women’s MAC Championships. We’ve had a decade to get our stuff together before entering the MAC all sports. We will be a strong member.
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I believe the transfer window closes tomorrow at 11:59pm correct? Mekhi and Potter still haven’t announced a commitment and no incoming transfers announced to cover either of their prospective spots or Craft.
Tomorrow appears to be the deadline to enter the portal. Commitments can occur past tomorrow still.
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Just deadline to enter portal. Can commit at any time.
Exhibit A, Rashad Amos.
I, for one, am happy about this. Tired of the it’s greener on the other side BS narrative. And while it would be nice for Miami to have an easy path to the NCAA Tournament, if the MAC implodes on a regular basis, it’s not great for stability and ensuring consistent competition. Maybe one day the MAC is a two-bid league. Candidly, who can predict what happens in this crazy environment.
Very glad we didn’t have any last day portal additions. I’m thrilled with our core coming back. We have a great class coming in, and I’d imagine a few additions on the horizon. Sunny days in Oxford!
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Now that players can no longer go into the portal, it’s all about filling in the blanks. Around the league Ohio and Toledo have pretty much done so already and look better for it. Akron has some blanks to fill, but still looks solid. Miami is in better shape than most. While Craft was a loss, and Potter a nice piece, the incoming freshmen, collectively, look to be the best in the MAC.
UMass is an unknown, but looks to be a rebuild. And Kent is an unknown, after getting a late start following post season run. BG, once again looks interesting based on talent, but that has been the case for several years now with marginal results.
All that said, I definitely see Miami as a clear Top 3 with perhaps the strongest argument to be No.1 preseason. Can’t wait to see the non-con schedule. Hope there are numerous measuring sticks.
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IMO, the top 3 are UMass, Akron, and Miami in no particular order.
OU didn’t get hit hard by the transfer portal, but they were hit by graduation. Connors and Simmons are great adds, but do they replace Mitchell and Clayton? Maybe?
Completely agree that Toledo did well. Simmons hurts, but I think Park will do well in the MAC. They’re probably my 4th place team right now.
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Agree w/Jive … That’s four solid MAC teams right there. If you can get two more 20-win teams out of Ohio, Kent, EMU, BG then the league overall should be pretty strong. Non-conference scheduling/performance will be a big indicator overall, especially at the top.
Top 4 teams - whoever they are - must have combined 8-10 P4 games on the schedule to stand up. That includes games vs. teams like Memphis, Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, Santa Clara and Mtn. West teams.
A few upsets in the mix wouldn’t hurt, either.
IMO.
The MAC’s problem hasn’t been and won’t be the top. I said it alot last year and the stats mostly bore it out: our top is competitive and as good or better than alot of our peer conferences ranked in the spots 5 or so slots above us in the different conference ranking algorithms.
The problem was (and will continue to be) the bottom. Sure, losing NIU will help, but last year, we often had 5 teams ranked 275+ in NET (for much of the season we had 4+ in 300+). That is what needs to be elevated. I’m not worried about UMass or Akron or OU or Toledo. They have shown they want to compete. The MAC front office needs to start leaning on some of these programs to invest who are not so far in the NIL era.
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Clerc, going to UMass, is a very large, 6’10" low post center.
Felt from BG going to Temple.
