Time to rank the BBall teams
So the regular season is about 1/4 complete (really) and it's time to rank how the league stacks up. Of course, a key injury, academic issue, etc... could change things up for a team real fast, but as of now:
1) Toledo (disclaimer, I'm a Rockets fan, but..) the league's only remaining unbeaten is also the most offensively balanced team with a lot of scorers, good ball movement, a strong pg, and enough inside play to balance the floor. Toledo hasn't beaten any really good teams yet but has played most of their games at road or neutral sites. this looks like a well coached team that can make individual plays but likes to play team ball. next stretch of 6 non-conf games includes a few typically good mid majors and ends with a matchup at Kansas which could see a 12-0 Toledo team taking on the all americans.
2) Ohio is also a very balanced club. not as many scorers as Toledo but N'dour has been a great addition and the defense is real solid. ohio doesn't have any bangers and is still kinda figuring out who and how they will run the show at pg (taylor and willis look pretty capable so far) but this is also a team that plays like a team and has experience and enough depth. they've mostly played home games but have beaten some solid mid major programs.
3) Kent is a dangerous team that you won't want to see in your tourney bracket. they are a little unbalanced with a lack of consistent inside play, but have as deep a roster as any in the mac and guys who can make shots.
4) Akron, a little on faith here as they haven't looked too good so far, but dambrot seems to always figure it out to a certain degree. right now they don't have much idea how they want to play or who does what, but they do have players at every position except pg which will probably be their Achilles heel unless Betancourt or evans picks it up. they scheduled up for a change this year so plenty of chances to see how they stack up before conf play begins
5) Western Mich could rise as high as third. they have shooters, a good big guy and are well coached with a clear sense of how they intend to play and what tempo they want. talent wise only middle of the pack but will beat some more talented teams along the way
6) eastern is probably the mac's most talented team if you define talent by things like size quickness jumping ability and dribbling skills. unfortunately, eastern is possibly the league's least talented group when it comes to organization, focus, and collaboration. murphy has a simple enough defensive concept that plays to their strengths and doesn't require great def fundamentals so they won't be easy to score on. offensively they have plenty of guys who can go one on one or jump over you, but the guy that's open is most likely watching the guy who has three hands in his face shoot a fadeaway jumper. maybe, they come together and decide to play team ball and peak late. I think we see more sporadic play (brilliant-sloppy-brilliant-selfish) while deshante riley turns his 7 foot frame away from the basket, holds the ball at his thighs and looks over his shoulder hoping something good - a cute bunny? - will magically appear.
7) buffalo has the outline of a good team, but was a bit overrated coming in - with too many 1st yr guys expected to make a difference and a HC who had never coached a game in that role. they could end up challenging for the title, it's possible, but there's work to do.
8-12) BG, Miami, Ball St, Central, NIU are all a little behind the pack. BG might be the best of these now, Miami adds a talented transfer in a couple weeks and seems to be buying into cooper's coaching, ball st has some balance w talented young pg, a veteran sg, and a good inside presence in majok majok but they are not deep enough and have a new inexperienced HC. central is pretty well coached and is beating the weaker teams on it's sched but is lower tier in terms of talent. NIU seems improved but not really dangerous. they should have their best season in a few years and still finish under 500.
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2013 04:04 AM by pono.)
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