Gotta start working on getting into a better league or going 31-1 will get us the same results. Its sad to say but if we stay in the MAC this is about as good as it gets. The bigger schools don’t want MAC schools in at all, if we went undefeated they would say the same stuff. You either have to invest in the program and move forward or accept the reality. Again sad college athletics have gotten to this point but its the real world
Ditto…well said @Redsea although i wouldn’t say the mid to late 90s teams had better talent overall. The 99 squad had Wally obviously, but other than he and Frierson the rest of that roster was average at best. The 97 and 98 squads were good and would compare to this year but this year’s team has way more depth and across the board talent. The 91-95 teams were decent but after their top 2 players its a big drop off. Those teams in the 90’s played a snails pace and were all around 220th in nation in points per game–this years team would run them off the floor. And back then MM were able to play some big time teams at home which never happens now. Even with that, those 90’s teams while they beat Tennessee and Notre Dame, they too got blown out by Ohio State, Kentucky, Indiana, etc. Those teams all lost 7-11 games each season including several MAC games. This year to go 18-0 in MAC is remarkable with the quality of teams 1-8 this season.
I hate it, but you’re right. No mid-majors in the sweet 16. And even the ones that were higher seeds fell to the big conference teams. It’s more about the deep pocket resources than ever in this NIL era. Even if we dominate the Mac the next few years, I dont see us ever being more than a 1 bid league, so tourney or bust. Obviously, 31-0 changed that, but come on, that was a unicorn, can’t rely on that going forward.
But what does a new conference change? Can we compete with major conference flagship state schools or are we just going to be bottom dwellers in a league with blue blood programs. Im not advocating one way or another Im just curious what it would look like form those advocating for it.
A better conference than the MAC just not a new conference to join a conference. Miami has a choice to make in the near future as do other schools similar to Miami and in the MAC. Either spend more money and get into a better conference that has more media money, exposure, talent, etc… or stay where you are and keep getting left further and further behind. The big conferences are going to keep the “little guys” out as much as possible from tournaments, playoffs, media money, media rights. I don’t like it, I don’t think its good for colleges but it is the reality. For example there is no way in hell they are ever going to let a MAC school into the college football playoffs. There is no way they are letting a 11-1 MAC school into the playoffs over lets say a 10-3 Ohio St or 10-3 LSU. A 12-0 MAC football would have a hard time sniffing the college football playoffs. And on the off chance they do you can bet the next year the metrics change and it won’t happen again.
I hate to say it but UC has done a good job from moving up from Conference USA, to the BIG East, AAC, and then the BIG 12. Not saying the B12 is the BIG 10 or SEC but you have a hell of a lot better change getting into the college football playoffs and NCAA for basketball than the MAC ever does.
It’s an awkward time and it’s true the Big 10 and the SEC are going to break off and form their own thing at some point but that leaves behind the Big 12 and ACC which absolutely will be left behind So as long as you aren’t shooting for the Big 10 or the SEC the window is much wider. I don’t know what that means for the tournament but without the overwhelming need for the NCAA to keep the Big 10 and SEC happy anymore (if they are even in it after breaking off) they can really change the tournament for the better March Madness at the moment seems like a casualty of the SEC’s and Big 10’s greed.
@grumpy i assume this is being sarcastic about Rob Mestas? Pretty sure his 5pt, 3pt, 7pt season averages his last three years are not what we are talking about in terms of talent comparison LOL
Come on, man. DPOY in the MAC. Worked through an ACL tear. Minnesota Mr. Basketball. We don’t need to neg former players to make this year’s team look good.
Mestas was an absolute beast and possibly the best true PG I’ve seen in a Miami uniform. Haven’t seen quickness and tenacity like his in years. My favorite memory of him was watching him go against Earl Boykins from EMU at Millett. He would out rebound guys 6-8 inch taller. Wally and Damon got a lot of looks because of Mestas.
He also returned from knee surgery (meniscus removal i believe) within 10 days. Cant recall if it was his junior or senior year, but it was a crucial part of the season, if I recall.