CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the first time since the turn of the century the annual Akron-Kent State basketball rivalry, which picks up again at 2 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center, has no championship stakes riding with the outcome. In the past, one or both teams were always in the thick of the Mid-American Conference race.
Whenever it was played, Akron-Kent was the top game in the MAC. This weekend, Bowling Green at Buffalo on Friday night and Toledo at Ball State on Saturday carry more weight in the league race.
As recently as last season, the Zips were looking to cut the nets on a conference title with a victory over Kent, only to see the Golden Flashes trigger an end-of-the-season run to a MAC Tournament title with an upset.
Indeed, another staple has been road upsets in this rivalry. Last season, both road teams won.
However, this game still has its intrigue. While the Zips are woefully small along the baseline, coach John Groce has a bevy of shooters to spread around the court to pressure Kent's perimeter, which is thin in the backcourt.
At the opposite end, Kent's Rob Senderoff has an inside advantage that could potentially lead to foul trouble for the Zips.
Akron (11-14, 4-9) has lost five of its last six games, and has not won a road game all season. Kent State (12-14, 6-7) has lost four straight. Instead of playing for a regular season title, or a top four seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament, both teams need a victory to stay viable for are a first-round MAC Tournament home game.
This weekend's MAC schedule:
Friday
Bowling Green at Buffalo, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Saturday
Akron at Kent State, 2 p.m. CBSSN
Toledo at Ball State, 2 p.m. ESPN3
Miami at Ohio University, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 4:30 p.m. ESPN3
Western Michigan at Northern Illinois, 4:30 p.m. ESPN3