MAC Tournament

[Masterofreality]

Just started off here in Cleveburg.

I'm going down there for the evening session tonight, but one of our early season opponents is playing now.

Western Michigan is ripping up Bowling Green with about 2 minutes to go in the first half 33-22.

Bowling Green has a Jordan Crawford playing for them. Not quite the same player.

[xubrew]

the mac, like many conferences other than the atlantic ten, really puts on a hell of a show for their conference tournament. good rivalries and like-minded schools, and very competitive basketball.

kent state lost two of their first four, but have only lost twice since then, and both were in overtime. they're my pick to win the tourney.

[pizza delivery]

Is it me or has the MAC fallen on really hard times? I used to think more of them, perhaps, than they deserved.

[Michigan Muskie]

Just started off here in Cleveburg.

I'm going down there for the evening session tonight, but one of our early season opponents is playing now.

Western Michigan is ripping up Bowling Green with about 2 minutes to go in the first half 33-22.

Bowling Green has a Jordan Crawford playing for them. Not quite the same player.

I think he's actually a Jordon Crawford - so even less of the same player...

[Masterofreality]

I think he's actually a Jordon Crawford - so even less of the same player...

Right spelling. He's also only 5:6.

Damn. That kid Stainbrook who played here at St. Eds had a pretty good game against us this year. It looks like he hasn't been able to pull away from the feding trough though.

Dude has to be way over 3 bills now. He sure was a lot leaner at St. Eds.

[Masterofreality]

And Western wins handily.

Miami up next vs Akron.

[smileyy]

Is it me or has the MAC fallen on really hard times? I used to think more of them, perhaps, than they deserved.

No, they were a strong conference for a while. Miami, Ohio U and Kent St. all put up respectable NCAA performances. I think coach and recruiting drain finally got to them.

The same can be said of the MVC -- I'm just not sure that a conference at that level can sustain that type of success. Everything is being held together by a couple of coaches and ADs with talent and leadership skills, and eventually they're going to get those better offers.

Unfortunately, the strongest visionary teams in these smaller conferences are kept from forming into a more stable strong conference by budgets and existing conference ties. I suspect the best of the MAC, Horizon and MVC could make a midwest version of the A-10 and see sustained success.

[Masterofreality]

I'm rethinking Miami's rivalry

They scored all of 10 points, that's ten points in the first half against Akron. They trail 26-10.

Holy Gawd!

[Masterofreality]

Wow. Miami is back within 7- 46-39 with over 7 minutes to go.

[Masterofreality]

Double wow. Miami is now down only 4- 52- 48--with the ball and 4 minues to go.

[Masterofreality]

Damn. Now Miami's tied it up with 3:30 to go!

[Masterofreality]

And now Miami has the lead with 2:35 to go! 55-54.

[xsteve1]

Miami hits a 3 to send it to OT.

[Masterofreality]

OVERTIME!!

Akron let Miami shoot a 3 with 6 seconds to go, and they made it. 63-63. 53 points for Miami in the second half.

[xsteve1]

Double OT

[D-West & PO-Z]

What channel?

[SixFig]

Available on ESPN3

[Xavgrad08]

Akron wins 82-75. I am now pulling for Western Michigan to win the tournament. They gave X a tough game earlier in the year.

[DC Muskie]

I can't figure out if I should be happy or sad that our buy-in rival lost today.

[Jesuit4Life]

What channel?

Also on SportsTime Ohio, if you get it.

[JAPER]

I can't figure out if I should be happy or sad that our buy-in rival lost today.

I was bummed...

How much longer for Coach Coles in Oxford?

[X-band '01]

I can't figure out if I should be happy or sad that our buy-in rival lost today.

We just assumed you wouldn't give a shit, which makes me wonder why you'd even ask such a question.

[DC Muskie]

How much longer for Coach Coles in Oxford?

I don't know. He's been the coach there for 15 years. He has two 20 win seasons, granted they were in the first three years. He has won the MAC twice. I think.

[DC Muskie]

We just assumed you wouldn't give a shit, which makes me wonder why you'd even ask such a question.

I'm trying to be a better Xavier fan when it comes to this significant rival.

[chico]

Charlie Coles would make an awesome bench coach for some team. He knows how to coach, he obviously knows how to gameplan and make adjustments - he just can't recruit. Dayton would be wise to hire him if/when he leaves Miami.

[DC Muskie]

Charlie Coles would make an awesome bench coach for some team. He knows how to coach, he obviously knows how to gameplan and make adjustments - he just can't recruit. Dayton would be wise to hire him if/when he leaves Miami.

What a weird comment. He is an awesome bench coach? How exactly?

[waggy]

Charlie needs to stock up on depends and move to Florida.

[chico]

What a weird comment. He is an awesome bench coach? How exactly?

Because he gets absolutely nobody to come there yet still has a winning record. He knows how to make adjustments. He knows the ins and outs of the game. Quite simply, the man knows basketball. He wold be an asset on any staff's bench.

Wins and losses does not always tell the tale of how good a coach is. Joe B. Hall and Jim Boeheim both won a National title.

[Xavgrad08]

From what I have heard Charlie has been having some health problems problems recently. He is 69 years old, so when he retires I highly doubt he ends up on the bench as an assistant.

[DC Muskie]

Because he gets absolutely nobody to come there yet still has a winning record. He knows how to make adjustments. He knows the ins and outs of the game. Quite simply, the man knows basketball. He wold be an asset on any staff's bench.

Wins and losses does not always tell the tale of how good a coach is. Joe B. Hall and Jim Boeheim both won a National title.

Come on. He gets no one to go there and somehow produces a winning record? And are you telling me that Charlie Coles is better than Hall and Boeheim? Boeheim is in the Hall of Fame.

Don't you think he should be able to compete in the MAC better, if he is such a good coach? I mean the MAC is a one bid conference, so most other schools should have the same level of talent, don't you agree?

Let's just take a look at the last five years and compare it to another school in the conference...named Akron.

Since 07 here is Akron's record:
26-7
24-11
23-13
24-11
21-12

In that same time they have finished in the eastern division
1st
2nd
3rd
2nd
3rd

Now let's take a look at Coles since 07
18-15
17-16
17-13
14-18
16-16

His teams finish in the east were"
3rd
3rd
4th
3rd
2nd

Also, since 07 Akron has played in four straight MAC tournament championship games.

So...in the last five years, Charlie has produced zero 20 game seasons, something that even Akron has done, something that even Dayton has done. He's never finished first in his division and he has the same amount of tournament appearances as Akron.

Is it easier to get better talent at Kent State, Akron, Central and Western Michigan than it is to get it at Miami? I'm not sure, but I seriously doubt Charlie can't get championship MAC talent to Oxford, while Whatshisname can at Akron.

Just the last two years he has failed to produce winning records. If he hadn't beat us it would have been two straight losing seasons. His best record since 07 was three games over .500. If this is some testament to his coaching ability, then NC State should be banging down his door to try and improve the Wolfpack.

But if winning doesn't actually matter, that judging the ability of a coach should be based on his adjustments, he should be at least be competitive in a not very competitive conference.

And yet he doesn't. But he's better than Boeheim.

Come on.

[chico]

Say it with me now - bench coach. I did not say head coach. Once again, slowly - beeennnccch coooaaaaccch.

You can spout off wins and losses - I told you he would make a great - what's the term - oh yeah, bench coach. A bench coach is not the head coach, but rather someone who advises the head coach and helps with things like strategy, scouting, game planning, in-game adjustments. Qualifications for this job include knowledge of the game, an ability to see what the other team is doing and make the proper adjustments, keeping the head coach aware of what match-ups might be helpful given current game situation, etc. I've seen the man coach on numerous occasions and his knowledge of the game is something that would be an asset to any coaching staff.

Think Dick LeBeau for a moment. The man was a terrible head coach, but one of the best defensive coordinators out there. Charlie Coles would make any team better by his presence - once again, as a bench coach. And yes, if I'm talking about a positions where recruiting is not a priority but coaching and strategy is, I'll take Charlie Coles over Jim Boeheim any day.

I'm not going to get into some protracted pissing match over this - especially with all the hoops on this weekend - so fire away, but I've said my peace.

[DC Muskie]

When you end an argument that you would take Charlie Coles over Jim Boehiem, I certainly hope you would stop right there, because you can't say anything dumber.

Dick LeBeau is a great defensive coordinator. Basketball however is played by the same time at both ends of the court.

I hope I didn't write that too fast for you.

It's really an interesting argument. Charlie, as you have witnessed, is a great X and O's guy, who sees what the other teams are doing and is able to strike them at their weaknesses. Except, he actually can't get the players to execute what he knows in his head. Like scoring ten points in the first half of yesterday's game on the way to .500 record.

Maybe he should team up with Brian Gregory. And both of them can work together on recruiting and X and O's for a guy not named Jim Boehiem. You know a guy who can coach and do X and O's pretty well.

Maybe Whatshisname would be a good bench coach as well. Maybe Charlie should actually sit on a bench while he coaches, maybe that will help him win games. Maybe he did that

Who knows. For whatever reason, Miami, it's coach, their fans, their non fans who are fans of ours, is simply the best kept secret in basketball apparently. Jim Boehiem and Syracuse as an extension, can't compare.

Charlie Coles could be a great bench coach. Or he could not be. I have no idea. But he has held onto his job for 15 years as a head coach and that's all you really can go on. Dick LeBeau proved he was a good DC before and after. He has a specialty. Charlie. Who knows what his specialty is.

[X-band '01]

I think he's actually a Jordon Crawford - so even less of the same player...

In honor of Bowling Green coming to Cintas next weekend, it's time to remember Bizarro Jordon Crawford.


Right spelling. He's also only 5:6.

Damn. That kid Stainbrook who played here at St. Eds had a pretty good game against us this year. It looks like he hasn't been able to pull away from the feding trough though.

Dude has to be way over 3 bills now. He sure was a lot leaner at St. Eds.

Yeah, whatever happened to this Stainbrook fella?