http://www.midampub.com/CollegeBB.aspx
10/28/2009
Jeremy K. Guy
Quote:MAC Eat Division Preseason Media Poll
1. Akron – 190 points (19)
2. Kent State – 108 points (3)
3. Buffalo – 97 points (1)
4. Miami -- 78 points
5. Bowling Green – 54 points (1)
6. Ohio – 32 points
MAC West Division Preseason Media Poll
1. Central Michigan – 113 points (10)
2. Northern Illinois – 102 points (4)
3. Eastern Michigan – 94 points (3)
4. Ball State – 87 points (3)
5. Western Michigan – 79 points (4)
6. Toledo – 29 points
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)
East Division All-MAC Preseason Team
Kenny Hayes, G, Miami
Brett McKnight, F, Akron
Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo
Chris Singletary, G, Kent State
Anthony “Humpty” Hitches, G, Akron
West Division All-MAC Preseason Team
David Kool, G, Western Michigan
Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State
Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan
Darion “Jake” Anderson, G, Northern Illinois
Carlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan
Hopefully, Silas plays the way I think he is capable of playing. He will be a top player in the MAC.
Armon Bassett at Ohio will be one of the top players in the MAC as well. He becomes eligible at the end of the semester. He began his career at Indiana and was pretty good there as a freshmen. He got caught up in the whole Sampson/Crean changeover thing I think.
Go Huskies!!!, can't wait to see if the attendance bumps up a little bit this year.
This is an outrage. How can anyone not pick us for first in the West? Do they not realize the potential of this team?
(10-28-2009 01:17 PM)Field Turf Wrote: [ -> ]This is an outrage. How can anyone not pick us for first in the West? Do they not realize the potential of this team?
Good point! They're just biased against NIU, that's all.
(10-28-2009 11:16 AM)filmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]Go Huskies!!!, can't wait to see if the attendance bumps up a little bit this year.
I think attendence will be up. I don't know how much but if we beat Northwestern or U of I, it will give us a huge boost in attention to the program.
I was thrilled that they used potential just to have us placed 2nd!
Most publications have us at 4 or 5 based on previous performance. Which is really all the concrete evidence they have to make a prediction. Without really knowing MAC teams and personnel and any situations teams have, they can only go on previous performance. If those other publications researched for info and didn't go on just past performances - and used that other info to make predictions, we maybe would have seen others put NIU in the 2-3 spots instead of 4-5 and they would have predicted Armon Bassett and Xavier Silas listed somewhere on All-MAC teams. Of course, this is why many of these pre-season magazines don't mean much for predictions (especially for mid-majors who they don't really research). midampub went out on a limb and tried to used knowledge and potential to make a prediction, which can be just as risky as not using it. But it is nice to see someone do it. I think the Huskies could be anywhere from 2-5 and it wouldn't be surprising. It might be disappointing if 5th or awesome if 2nd, but depending on injuries and how the young guys (sophs especially) mature we could end up anywhere.
Much respect coming Huskies way here. This poll is very reasonable!
NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
(10-28-2009 10:24 PM)Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote: [ -> ]NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
"Cntrl C + Cntrl V"
I fart in your general direction.
(10-28-2009 10:17 AM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote: [ -> ]Armon Bassett at Ohio will be one of the top players in the MAC as well. He becomes eligible at the end of the semester. He began his career at Indiana and was pretty good there as a freshmen. He got caught up in the whole Sampson/Crean changeover thing I think.
Wasn't Armon Bassett kicked off the Indiana basketball team by Dan Dakich before Tom Crean got the job? There were alot of rumors flying arround about Sampson's last team including drug use, and a disregard for basic things like going to class.
(10-28-2009 10:24 PM)Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote: [ -> ]NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
:withstupid:
Why would he be a fool for that? What makes you an expert on being a fool?
Wait..... I can't believe I just asked that last question.... At least you got your dig in on the MAC so you can still indirectly slam the Huskies while complementing them at the same time.
Seriously, if everyone except for Ervin and Dzpina are coming back next year, why would he be a fool to leave when he could have an even better year the following year and maybe even more and better offers. Plus his son will be graduated. He could have his best year ever, coach his son during his senior year, and then go somewhere else if he wanted. I wouldn't say all that is foolish to experience.
(10-29-2009 07:37 AM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote: [ -> ] (10-28-2009 10:24 PM)Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote: [ -> ]NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
:withstupid:
Why would he be a fool for that? What makes you an expert on being a fool?
Wait..... I can't believe I just asked that last question.... At least you got your dig in on the MAC so you can still indirectly slam the Huskies while complementing them at the same time.
Seriously, if everyone except for Ervin and Dzpina are coming back next year, why would he be a fool to leave when he could have an even better year the following year and maybe even more and better offers. Plus his son will be graduated. He could have his best year ever, coach his son during his senior year, and then go somewhere else if he wanted. I wouldn't say all that is foolish to experience.
I agree. He will be here at least two years. This year we could be close a 20 win season and next year win more than 20. Oh my god, I am sounding like MD02
We have legit scoring punch, a true big man who is 6'10 - 7'0 and everything a basketball team needs to be good...
EXCEPT a point guard. I think we'll have a good team but it's going to be interesting to see how good we can be without a true PG out there.
(10-28-2009 10:24 PM)Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote: [ -> ]NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
I don't believe that. I think if someone does offer him a job after a very good season here, I think it will be a higher level mid-major. Patton knows that if he stays one more year here and only losing Najul Ervin and Ante, that we'll be better. If anything look for him to leave when Silas and Anderson leave, which should be in 2 years. And he'll have offers from high majors.
(10-29-2009 08:07 PM)goniu1523 Wrote: [ -> ] (10-28-2009 10:24 PM)Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote: [ -> ]NIU has a legitimate shot to be the best team in the MAC, which isn't really saying a whole lot. But more important, they have a shot at having the best season this program has had in a very long time. I really do believe that Xavier Silas is going to be an instant smash. I also believe that we had better enjoy this season for all its worth because Ricardo Patton is likely a goner at the conclusion. The offers for his services are going to be there if NIU has the type of season I believe they will have. And he'd be a fool to pass them up.
I don't believe that. I think if someone does offer him a job after a very good season here, I think it will be a higher level mid-major. Patton knows that if he stays one more year here and only losing Najul Ervin and Ante, that we'll be better. If anything look for him to leave when Silas and Anderson leave, which should be in 2 years. And he'll have offers from high majors.
That is an excellent point even if NIU does come up a year ahead of schedule and has a good year this year, I think patton would wait it out also, given next year's team will be even better than this year. Could NIU be a marginal top 25 headed into the 2010-2011 season? I know thats getting wayyyyy ahead of ourselves, but from this distance Im not going to say its impossible.
you guys ever hear of the concept, "strike while the iron is hot?" If he gets a good offer, that offer might not be there the next year so one would be foolish to turn it down.....even if you think you will be better next year, you are only an injury or two, an arrest, a defection or whatever from going from the top of the heat to the bottom real fast...