MAC Men's Basketball Preview

Well, the men's basketball season is about to get started, and I've looked at our Falcons both in terms of personnel and in terms of a game by game look.  Now, I want to look at the Mid-American conference and project how things will go this season.

I'll start with the East, both because that is the division BG is in and because the West sucks ass.  Anyhow.

East

1. Akron

I like Akron a whole lot.  Yes, they folded down the stretch, but they did rally and win the tournament and they only lost one guy off a very solid and game-hardened team.  They have four straight 20 win seasons, have survived the departure of LeBron's HS teammates and built a genuine program.  It is unclear how much Zeke Marshall will contribute this year, but this will be a senior-dominated team that should win the MAC.

2. Buffalo

This team will also be senior dominated and returns lots of guys from last year.  The difference is, they didn't win the MAC and Akron did.  Still, they could easily make a run, though they may not be strong enough at guard.

3. Kent

Missed extending their 20 win streak by 1 last year, but if we pretend it was a 19 win streak all along it is still intact.  They bring some good players back, but may not have their traditional inside game and I believe are a step below the two elite teams in the MAC.

4. BG

As detailed earlier, BG lost significant scoring and rebounding to graduation.  I am predicting around a .500 season with some upside if things break right, but this team's best years are ahead of it a year or so.

5. Miami

I hate to doubt Charlie Coles, the mad, evil genius, and yes, I KNOW Kenny Hayes is coming back, I heard all about it.  But they also lost a lot...in other words, Hayes would have made them really dangerous last year and now his supporting class is less stellar.  Still, when Coles is cooking up the brew, any kind of magic upside is possible.

6. OU

Decimated by graduation, OU has a very, very young team this year, and in a tough division figures to struggle this year.  I don't expect it to last very long, however.

West

1. WMU

WMU actually tied for first in the East last year, and have the conference's best player in David Kool. I like Hawkins and their system, and I like them to get back to the top this year

2. EMU

With great inside play, lots of returning production PLUS the return of very talented Carlos Medlock, this team is a real sleeper. There is no reason for EMU to struggle each year as they do.

3. Central Michigan

No team in the West had a winning record last year, so everyone is building from a position of weakness. CMU was hampered last year by injuries to a couple big players, and have good guard play, and they could take first spot in this crap shoot.

4. Northern Illinois

The Huskies were really, really young last year, in fact, they lost less scoring and rebounding than any other team in the MAC. So, another year more mature, and they should be able to compete for this division. Good guard play, which they have, is always a key.

5. Ball State

Rebuilding project continues for Billy Taylor. This team lost the second most scoring in the MAC from an average team. Things were clearly in bad shape when Taylor arrived, and he still has work to do.

6. Toledo

This is just amazing to me. UT lost 63% of its scoring off a 7-25 team. You just don't expect to be that bad with the seniors they had. I don't know what to think. Either Joplin left the cupboard really bare or Cross is causing some problems. Last year, I said that I didn't see any reason for them to be as bad as they were, but this year they could be worse.

And let's not forget...in March, I'll go back over all this and show what an idiot I am.