Well, this was finally released today! Taking a look at the guys on the All-MAC teams in both divisions, there is a ton of senior leadership. maybe that will translate to a lot of MAC teams having great seasons! Can't wait to for it to start!

http://www.mac-sports.com/news/2014/10/2...42752.aspx

Anyone know why football gets an actual media day, but basketball only gets a teleconference? Doesn't speak well of the MAC's focus on basketball.

That's sweet that toledo won the mid American conference title last year. Hope someone gets on that banner pronto.

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Some of us got a sneak peak at the new banner at the basketball social

How does the official MAC site screw up who won the MAC last year?

well, we did share for the MAC title, so it was our 8th title

You're right, I stand corrected. I'd forgotten we got #1 tourney seed by virtue of the tie-breaker.

Still, the press release could've made that clearer.

Miami is underrated. We lost Felder, Rollins, and Edwards from last year's team; Edwards hardly played so that isn't a problem, Rollins is being replaced by transfer Eric Washington (won't be as good on D but is a far better perimeter shooter), and Felder is being replaced by a few JUCO transfers that look solid. By the time we got towards the MAC tourney we only had healthy seven scholarship players to run Cooper's press, which was effective when we were able to use it. Now we have the depth to really push it, especially since this is the best conditioned team we've had in a while (check out the video below, they've been doing it throughout the summer). We might be raw, but if we improve like we did from the start to the end of last season then I'm excited to see what we'll look like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8duo2K1olOs

I don't really mind being picked last though, it's just bulletin material for Cooper to give the team. By the time we get into MAC play in January we'll have plenty of non-con games against teams like OSU and Dayton to see where we stack up. We won't win the MAC this year or anything like that, but we have only one senior currently with an Auburn transfer coming in, so next season could have big things in store if things pan out.

This should be the best Miami team in awhile. By conference season last year, we could play with everyone, but did not have enough depth to finish off a game. As an example, with 5-10 minutes to go, we led OU all 3 times we played them, but lost all 3 times. We have 5 of our 7 rotation guys coming back, a good point guard transfer, 3 junior college post players, and 3 freshmen who are advanced enough that they will play in our rotation, which is going to be a 12 man rotation. We will press for 40 minutes many games.

The other big change is that Miami will play 17 home games, the previous high was 14, and most years were 12 or 13. This will boost our overall record. Miami has not earned a lot of respect with our performance in recent years, thus the last place projection. No one on our team, our staff, or our fanbase expects us to be a MAC second division team again this year.

NIU will finish above EMU this year in the west, for sure. Ten returning players from last years squad plus two transfers from Kansas St and Purdue will make the Huskies a solid squad.

(10-28-2014 03:03 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  NIU will finish above EMU this year in the west, for sure. Ten returning players from last years squad plus two transfers from Kansas St and Purdue will make the Huskies a solid squad.

For sure? Interesting.

(10-28-2014 03:04 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 03:03 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  NIU will finish above EMU this year in the west, for sure. Ten returning players from last years squad plus two transfers from Kansas St and Purdue will make the Huskies a solid squad.

For sure? Interesting.

It will be a good race in the west but this is the deepest team NIU has had in quite some time. I'm not sure anyone can take down Toledo in the west this year but WMU, NIU, and EMU will all be solid squads that can all put up around 20 wins.

(10-28-2014 03:08 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 03:04 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 03:03 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  NIU will finish above EMU this year in the west, for sure. Ten returning players from last years squad plus two transfers from Kansas St and Purdue will make the Huskies a solid squad.

For sure? Interesting.

It will be a good race in the west but this is the deepest team NIU has had in quite some time. I'm not sure anyone can take down Toledo in the west this year but WMU, NIU, and EMU will all be solid squads that can all put up around 20 wins.

I agree that the MAC West will be very tough.

BTW, maybe some kudos to the MAC which was very strong last year and the West looks tougher (?) this year.

By the end of the season, I think 3 of the top 4 teams in the MAC overall will be from the West...kinda like football.

(10-28-2014 03:22 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  By the end of the season, I think 3 of the top 4 teams in the MAC overall will be from the West...kinda like football.

If that's the case its because the East is having a down year, not because the West has passed the level set by the East in recent years.

(10-28-2014 03:08 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 03:04 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 03:03 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  NIU will finish above EMU this year in the west, for sure. Ten returning players from last years squad plus two transfers from Kansas St and Purdue will make the Huskies a solid squad.

For sure? Interesting.

It will be a good race in the west but this is the deepest team NIU has had in quite some time. I'm not sure anyone can take down Toledo in the west this year but WMU, NIU, and EMU will all be solid squads that can all put up around 20 wins.

NIU is severely undervalued in this poll

Probably everybody not Toledo and Akron feels that way.

Even as a non-Miami fan I agree they are vastly underrated this season. I really liked how they looked towards the end of last season. They have a lot of really nice pieces and I could see it coming together really well.

Buffalo in 4th to start the year looks about right to me considering what they lost, but I'm obviously biased and like what I've heard/seen coming out of camp. They should have sufficient scorers, I'm just not sure about defense. I don't see much I like about Kent State this year. I don't see them being better than 5th. I see BGSU being last in Orr's final season.

(10-28-2014 06:02 PM)GoBullsGo Wrote:  Even as a non-Miami fan I agree they are vastly underrated this season. I really liked how they looked towards the end of last season. They have a lot of really nice pieces and I could see it coming together really well.

Buffalo in 4th to start the year looks about right to me considering what they lost, but I'm obviously biased and like what I've heard/seen coming out of camp. They should have sufficient scorers, I'm just not sure about defense. I don't see much I like about Kent State this year. I don't see them being better than 5th. I see BGSU being last in Orr's final season.

Orr was fired/resigned at the end of last year. If I recall, BG hired Wichita State's assistant which is a pretty good hire imo.

It's nice to see some of the lower MAC problems like Miami and NIU on the rise. We might be seeing the pieces being put into place that results in us being a two-bid league down the road.

(10-28-2014 01:36 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  You're right, I stand corrected. I'd forgotten we got #1 tourney seed by virtue of the tie-breaker.

Still, the press release could've made that clearer.

Yeah, as a Rocket fan I was wrong too. I was being sarcastic because I remember Toledo losing in the tournament and wasn't thinking about the regular season title...just the tournament.