Akron Game Thread

[creightonotter]

friggin 90 minute drive for Zips fans to Pittsburgh. ridiculous.

[HandDownManDown]

Probably shouldn't really be able to complain about a 3/14 matchup. But man, this seems like by FAR the toughest of the 14 seeds. And then both S.Carolina/Oregon seem significantly tougher than any other 6/11 options, too. Not saying this is a tough road -- we're a three seed, if they come out ready to go and locked in they should advance. But given the three seed, this kind of feels like as tough of a path as we could have drawn with the 14 + 6/11 options this year. And then add in the storyline with Dana.

Can’t say I agree with your assessment.

Some people see monsters in every closet.

[HandDownManDown]

friggin 90 minute drive for Zips fans to Pittsburgh. ridiculous.

And there will still be more of us than there are of them.

[RyanHolmgren]

Probably shouldn't really be able to complain about a 3/14 matchup. But man, this seems like by FAR the toughest of the 14 seeds. And then both S.Carolina/Oregon seem significantly tougher than any other 6/11 options, too. Not saying this is a tough road -- we're a three seed, if they come out ready to go and locked in they should advance. But given the three seed, this kind of feels like as tough of a path as we could have drawn with the 14 + 6/11 options this year. And then add in the storyline with Dana.

South Carolina (49) is the worst #6 on KenPom by 15 spots. What makes you think it’s the toughest #6, tougher than a badly underseeded BYU (#16 KenPom)?

[GWJay]

How is a potential game against a team that was nowhere near a tourney berth a game against the best 11 seed?

Edited to add, South Carolina is by far the lowest rated 6 in Kenpom, to the point where there are multiple double digit seeds higher. They’re 35 spots lower than BYU which is also a 6 seed.

The 14s, Akron is second.

Fully agree here, SC is a 6 with a gaudy record cause they played no one in the non-con - were anticipated to finish last in the SEC. Oregon wouldn't have been a tourney team without their run in the weak Pac. I get Oregon is a different team when healthy, but I would anticipate being anywhere between a 5-7 point favorite against either of those teams

[Trifecta]

I love our draw, personally

[Eye of the Jay]

Path to the Elite 8 is pretty good with South Carolina really not that great (around 50th best team) and Oregon being the caliber of a Prov/Hall/Xavier

Tennessee also has a tough path with Texas and Colorado St potentially being in their way of the Sweet 16.

Worst matchup is our first one against a tough Akron squad a short drive down the road. Need to be locked in for that one. Mac has to scout their big man and figure out an effective defense in 4 days

[BenningtonBluejay]

Path to the Elite 8 is pretty good with South Carolina really not that great (around 50th best team) and Oregon being the caliber of a Prov/Hall/Xavier

Tennessee also has a tough path with Texas and Colorado St potentially being in their way of the Sweet 16.

Worst matchup is our first one against a tough Akron squad a short drive down the road. Need to be locked in for that one. Mac has to scout their big man and figure out an effective defense in 4 days

He’s a really good rebounder, we need to neutralize that. Believe he leads the country in rebounding

[GWJay]

Got to get through 2 games first but looking ahead, got to also hope Rick Barnes remains Rick Barnes in March. Matchup of the tournament would be Kalk v Edey

[Alphawalt]

Path to the Elite 8 is pretty good with South Carolina really not that great (around 50th best team) and Oregon being the caliber of a Prov/Hall/Xavier

Tennessee also has a tough path with Texas and Colorado St potentially being in their way of the Sweet 16.

Worst matchup is our first one against a tough Akron squad a short drive down the road. Need to be locked in for that one. Mac has to scout their big man and figure out an effective defense in 4 days

He’s a really good rebounder, we need to neutralize that. Believe he leads the country in rebounding

He is a really good rebounder, but he is only 6 foot 7, so tenacious yes, tall no. I figure the weak conference he plays in explains the gaudy rebounding numbers.