The Eastern Division has been the better division for some time in Men's Basketball, but what about this year? If my numbers are correct I see the Eastern teams have a 19-9 record against teams in the Western Division. Since we are playing a true round-robin schedule this year it's fair to rank the teams 1-11. If we did that for the results so far this year the top 4 teams would be from the East:

1. MTSU (7-1)
2. USA (6-3)
3. WKU (5-3)
T3. FAU (5-3)
5. UALR (5-4)
6. FIU (4-4)
T6. ASU (4-4)
8. UL-L (3-6)
9. Troy (2-5)
10. UNT(2-6)
T10. ULM (2-6)

How do you see the rest of the season playing out? Which teams move up? Which move down?

What in the HELL happened to UNT?

Im not even smack talking, I just dont understand how they fell apart so badly.

I think Arkansas State and UALR will finish strong. stAte just seems to be very inconsistent (beat MT/WKU and turn around to lose to FIU & Louisiana???), and UALR is terrible on the road. Safe to say the tourney will be a fun one this year.

I think MT will lose one or two more, all on the road. The WKU, FIU, FAU, and UALR away games seem the most likely to give us trouble. That said, we're in great position for the regular season title. If we can somehow win out, we'll have a decent shot at an at large.

But the short answer to the thread's question is: WAAAY better.

From what I understand, among other things, they have been killed with injuries and don't have many scholarship players active.

(01-18-2013 09:21 AM)FIUFanatic Wrote:  From what I understand, among other things, they have been killed with injuries and don't have many scholarship players active.

That's not all that valid of an excuse. WKU is practically the Walking Wounded, yet have managed to stay afloat. It seems much more like a coaching issue in North Texas to me.

(01-18-2013 09:23 AM)mathenis89 Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 09:21 AM)FIUFanatic Wrote:  From what I understand, among other things, they have been killed with injuries and don't have many scholarship players active.

That's not all that valid of an excuse. WKU is practically the Walking Wounded, yet have managed to stay afloat. It seems much more like a coaching issue in North Texas to me.

You may be right. But it sure doesn't help.

Last two seasons we all know MTSU has been the team in Jan. and Feb...Lets see who the team is in March...

ASU made a strong appearance in the conference tournament last year when Finn and Hooten were finally healthy. Brady made some changes to the lineup and is playing some freshmen a lot of minutes and bringing Hooten and Washington off the bench. If Worsham and Cam Golden are playing like Sophomores come March I think ASU could be in a position to make some noise in the tournament.

(01-18-2013 09:35 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Last two seasons we all know MTSU has been the team in Jan. and Feb...Lets see who the team is in March...

Yeah I'm already set up for the march let down but may e things will be different this year!

(01-18-2013 09:00 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  What in the HELL happened to UNT?

Im not even smack talking, I just dont understand how they fell apart so badly.

They're looking ahead to next year.:muttering:

The East is clearly better. And call me a homer if you wish, but I can see FIU moving up. I like our schedule. We already played our toughest road games @MTSU, @WKU and @ASU. The USA road game will be tough, but I can see FIU finishing 13-7 or so in conference. USA looked very good when we hosted them, but from my very uneducated opinion, it seems they don't always play up to their potential. Am I right on this? Obviously MTSU is the favorite to win the conference, but that doesn't mean we won't see a surprise team in the tourney. It's all about who gets hot at the right time.

UNT may have injuries, but when your messiah Tony Mitchell lays a goose egg vs. a conference opponent (congrats to FIU on that), then I think something is amiss in that locker room. I am betting the players are not buying what the new staff is selling (which is apparently losses).

I will say that I think UL can be a dangerous team. Maybe not this season (they have had a lot of injuries too), but they have some really talented pieces once it all comes together.

(01-18-2013 11:21 AM)Fish Wrote:  The East is clearly better. And call me a homer if you wish, but I can see FIU moving up. I like our schedule. We already played our toughest road games @MTSU, @WKU and @ASU. The USA road game will be tough, but I can see FIU finishing 13-7 or so in conference. USA looked very good when we hosted them, but from my very uneducated opinion, it seems they don't always play up to their potential. Am I right on this? Obviously MTSU is the favorite to win the conference, but that doesn't mean we won't see a surprise team in the tourney. It's all about who gets hot at the right time.

After we played you we lost our best defender who was our second leading scorer. We also lost our head coach but that probably is not a negative.

(01-18-2013 09:35 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Last two seasons we all know MTSU has been the team in Jan. and Feb...Lets see who the team is in March...

MTSU is a great team in march. They won some games in the NATIONAL invitation TOURNAMENT last season.

(01-22-2013 08:04 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 09:35 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Last two seasons we all know MTSU has been the team in Jan. and Feb...Lets see who the team is in March...

MTSU is a great team in march. They won some games in the NATIONAL invitation TOURNAMENT last season.

lol. And to further stir the pot:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/co...53518492/1

ASU plays 5 of its last 7 on the road. That includes trips to MTSU, WKU, and UALR. We'll learn a lot about our team in those games.

(01-22-2013 08:04 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 09:35 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Last two seasons we all know MTSU has been the team in Jan. and Feb...Lets see who the team is in March...

MTSU is a great team in march. They won some games in the NATIONAL invitation TOURNAMENT last season.

Those are some big words for you GOATSonTOP... I'm surprised you spelled them correctly. Good job!

Lets not derail this into another WKU/MTSU smack thread...we already have enough of those hanging out on the smack board.

(01-23-2013 01:15 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Lets not derail this into another WKU/MTSU smack thread...we already have enough of those hanging out on the smack board.

Yeah, probably for the best. Someone might get stabbed.

There is no reason to have divisions, except to make the 4th place team in one division or another feel better because they're not in 8th or 9th place.

Think they'll be gone next year, with only 10 teams?