We shared this one with the media who also liked OU. Really, there was no way to see anything different happening, giving who they had back. Still, they played more like the 9th place team they were in the regular season than the MAC Tourney and Big Dance team...and that was largely Armon Bassett.
2. Miami (Actual Finish: Second)
Taking some props for this one. The media picked them 4th, but I saw that they had some very good players returning and, of course, the evil genius.
3. Kent (Actual Finish: First)
The media had them second. I didn't think Kent was going to be able to take all those new guys and win the conference again, which was obviously wrong. Porrini and Manns both exceeded what I thought they would contribute.
4. Bowling Green (Actual Finish 5th)
More to come on our season review. Obviously, I had some orange-colored glasses on. The media picked us 5th.
5. Akron (actual finish, 3rd)
With only two players back and a bunch of transfers awaiting arrival next season, I didn't see Akron being as good as they ended up being--of course, especially not making the tournament. They got solid production out of 7-8 guys, good point play from Alex Abreu, and Steve McNees seemed like a more completely player.
6. Buffalo (Actual Finish 6th)
Buffalo finished in a tie with BG at 8-8 and lost the tie-breaker. They were also picked 6th by the MAC Media. They lost a ton of players from last year, and the fact they did this well is due to a smart decision on Mulkey, the emergence of Zach Filzen, and FOTY Javon McCrea.
West
1. Ball State (Actual finish 2nd)
Media picked them first, too. I liked the job Taylor is doing, as well as Jesse Barry. They probably did about what anyone thought, and the bigger surprise was Western.
2. Central Michigan (actual finish 3rd)
Media also had these guys 2nd. They had won this division the past couple years, and I figured they would contend. Yeah, not so much. Ernie Ziegler certainly has yet to show he is a good coach--beyond being the Father of Trey--and to say they were 3rd in the West is a little bit of an overstatement. They were among the 45 worst teams, RPI-wise.
3. Eastern Michigan (Actual Finish: Tied for Fourth).
I always think EMU will finally turn it around. Media had them 3rd, too. They were dreadful.
4. Western Michigan (Actual Finish 1st)
Media had them fourth, too. They lost 3 of their top 4 scorers, and I didn't see them having the year they had. It was a fine coaching job by Steve Hawkins.
5. Northern Illinois (Actual Finish: Tied for 4th).
Here's a direct quote:
I don't see the Patton era in NIU ending well.
Nailed it. While the Media had it right in total, the Huskies got 2 first place votes.
6. Toledo (Actual Finish: 6th)
You get no credit for predicting this one. They were even a little worse than I thought they would be. Having said that, don't look for it to last.
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