(03-13-2018 12:59 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(03-13-2018 12:51 PM)cleveland Wrote:  TO GET BACK ON TOPIC ....

With so many teams returning so much obviously a small jump in improvement is not going to move the needle much. A third-place division team this season is probably the same next season ... for the most part.

WMU and CMU seem to be the only teams losing players that could cause a drop.

But the ??? is, who makes a jump up to a Top 4-type team.
I'm guessing Miami. But that's not a sure thing by any means.

Your thoughts ...

Ohio returns a lot, and brings Jason Carter back. They could surprise some people. Bowling Green should take a step next season as well.

Miami has the talent, but I'm not sure how I feel about Owens as an in-game coach. I watched a few of their games down the stretch, and his lack of an offensive system cost them in close games. It reminded me of Murphy. He's a first year head coach, and you could possibly attribute it to that, but I think it's something to keep an eye on. However, he's done well to bring talent and interest back to Oxford.

I think a lot of our problem this year on offense had to do with the lack of a consistent post presence. The MAC is a guard's league, but Owens wants to run the Purdue O where the D has to defend the big man inside and it opens the outside shot and perimeter lanes to drive. Logan McClane and Bam Bowman improved this year, but Robbie Hummel they are not; until we get some regular production out of that position we'll be limited to chucking threes in more instances than we'd like.

BG was 16-10 and vying for a 4th seed. They lost 6 straight and now have 3 players transferring. I went from encouraged to WTF. We went from losing one player to graduation to 4 significant players gone.

Transfer: Koch(pf,c, 21 minutes per game, 28 starts, Fr)
Transfer: Caldwell(pg, 25 minutes per game, 21 starts, So)
Transfer: Cummings(sg, 13 minutes per game, 0 starts, Fr).
Graduated: Fox(sg, 17 minutes per game, 3 starts, Sr)

Koch really surprised me since he started 28 games this year. One guard leaving does not surprise but two leaving, does surprise me.

Frye, Turner, Lillard, Plowden, Wiggins will likely be the starters with Uju and a redshirt frosh Matiss Kul...sp? contributing a lot I hope. We have a couple walkons and one incoming Fr guard to help backup Frye and Turner. Depth is a big question with these transfers.

(03-15-2018 11:52 AM)Siborg Wrote:  BG was 16-10 and vying for a 4th seed. They lost 6 straight and now have 3 players transferring. I went from encouraged to WTF. We went from losing one player to graduation to 4 significant players gone.

Transfer: Koch(pf,c, 21 minutes per game, 28 starts, Fr)
Transfer: Caldwell(pg, 25 minutes per game, 21 starts, So)
Transfer: Cummings(sg, 13 minutes per game, 0 starts, Fr).
Graduated: Fox(sg, 17 minutes per game, 3 starts, Sr)

Koch really surprised me since he started 28 games this year. One guard leaving does not surprise but two leaving, does surprise me.

Frye, Turner, Lillard, Plowden, Wiggins will likely be the starters with Uju and a redshirt frosh Matiss Kul...sp? contributing a lot I hope. We have a couple walkons and one incoming Fr guard to help backup Frye and Turner. Depth is a big question with these transfers.

Koch looked like he might develop into a very solid. MAC big. Transfers are a part of life, but three, including two starters might signify deeper program issues. Huger could still look for grad transfers or JC to fill those spots but there probably isn’t a lot out there.

I'll be a homer and say that NIU slips in at #5 or so.

We have some decent young players who are learning to play together, and the group had some good late season wins including MAC champ Buffalo.

Our coaching is 100% mediocre right now, hopefully that changes soon as well.