Looks about right in the East to me. Hard to tell what will happen to Ohio with the departures. The Flashes have a ton of new faces. Akron, who knows? So, another wide open race in the East.
Be very interesting to see the impact of the hot new recruits at BSU and CMU this year.
I just don't know how you can pick a team that hasn't demonstrated it can beat contenders on the road.
Anybody notice anything missing in the "official" MAC basketball blog?
Mac has always been are guard dominated league. Especially point guards. Kent State had the best point guards most of the past 10 years. Ohio with Cooper now has the MAC's top point guads. Ohio has enough of a supporting cast coming back around Cooper to win the MAC. Washington and Freeman were also double digit scorers. Keely, Baltic and Sayles also return. That's six guys who saw the floor last March. Its a huge advantage playing six games during the postseason MAC tournament and NCAA combined. add in another group of talented freshmen. Some may argue this class is even better than last years. Nick Kellogg SG and Rico Johnson SF seem to be high impact players right away who will contribute early. Add in transfer Alex Kellogg off the bench who is a rebounding specialist via Providence College of the Big East and should help make up for the loss KVK. 9 man rotation with 2 other freshman with skills that could challange for playing time.
Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction. A lot less bagage for Groce to deal with this year should lead to a better regular season. All three were SG's allowing Nick Kellogg and Rico Johnson to play big minutes as freshmen.
(09-29-2010 12:27 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction.
Note to Akron fans; KSU does not lead the MAC in # of problem players, arrests or altercations. We are only "competitive" in this area.
Quote:Note to Akron fans; KSU does not lead the MAC in # of problem players, arrests or altercations. We are only "competitive" in this area.
.
Just know I'm going to jinx us with this post, but last year think we fell to the bottom of these rankings with only one off the court incident involving an underage freshman player and beer in the dorms. Even Sing was a choir boy. Haven't heard anything so far, other than guys working hard.
Hope I didn't awake Karma.
(09-28-2010 07:58 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ]Anybody notice anything missing in the "official" MAC basketball blog?
Discussions of conference expansion?
(09-29-2010 06:30 AM)Flash FreaK 81 Wrote: [ -> ] (09-29-2010 12:27 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction.
Note to Akron fans; KSU does not lead the MAC in # of problem players, arrests or altercations. We are only "competitive" in this area.
I'd consider trading a couple arrests and a suspension or two for a MAC Championship, and a beatdown of Georgetown in the Big Dance.
(09-29-2010 07:14 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ] (09-28-2010 07:58 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ]Anybody notice anything missing in the "official" MAC basketball blog?
Discussions of conference expansion?
Women? But yours is valid, too. No attendance info either.
(09-29-2010 07:23 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ]Anybody notice anything missing in the "official" MAC basketball blog?
Post 1990's web page design?
(09-29-2010 12:27 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]Mac has always been are guard dominated league. Especially point guards. Kent State had the best point guards most of the past 10 years. Ohio with Cooper now has the MAC's top point guads. Ohio has enough of a supporting cast coming back around Cooper to win the MAC. Washington and Freeman were also double digit scorers. Keely, Baltic and Sayles also return. That's six guys who saw the floor last March. Its a huge advantage playing six games during the postseason MAC tournament and NCAA combined. add in another group of talented freshmen. Some may argue this class is even better than last years. Nick Kellogg SG and Rico Johnson SF seem to be high impact players right away who will contribute early. Add in transfer Alex Kellogg off the bench who is a rebounding specialist via Providence College of the Big East and should help make up for the loss KVK. 9 man rotation with 2 other freshman with skills that could challange for playing time.
Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction. A lot less bagage for Groce to deal with this year should lead to a better regular season. All three were SG's allowing Nick Kellogg and Rico Johnson to play big minutes as freshmen.
yeah, and i think the graduation of KVK will be an addition as well
that was a pretty weak blog entry
OK, Ohio will be good (great recruiting class, excellent pg, some good role players and devaughn washington could emerge as a star in conf play if he can consistently play hard and focused like he did in a couple big late games last yr)
Kent should never be underrated but there's little to put them at #2 this yr.
Akron would prob be the #1 choice based on overall roster, coaching, recent history
Miami and Buffalo could surprise some people
CMU is the obvious west #1, not cause they are that good but they are the defending div champ and added a good recruiting class and probable impact scorer.
NIU should be #7. Ricardo Patton is the Stan Parrish of MAC hoops
Toledo deserves the low prediction but will be much better than folks think due to an improved coaching staff and a few solid player additions.
Ball St could peak a bit this yr under Taylor
(09-29-2010 07:15 AM)Captain Kangaroo Wrote: [ -> ] (09-29-2010 06:30 AM)Flash FreaK 81 Wrote: [ -> ] (09-29-2010 12:27 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction.
Note to Akron fans; KSU does not lead the MAC in # of problem players, arrests or altercations. We are only "competitive" in this area.
I'd consider trading a couple arrests and a suspension or two for a MAC Championship, and a beatdown of Georgetown in the Big Dance.
Careful there Captain. Even thinling about that type barter has gotten KSU unbelievable ridicule (and unwarranted) so often in past seasoans. I think some of that scorn even came from Athens.
I don't think it's possible to predict Akron's season. Aside from the graduation of two starters and the transfer of a third, three bench players transfered out and another graduated. That's seven players gone, and nine players coming in (four will have to sit out a year). We really don't know what's going to happen.
Funny you say that. I'm starting to put together my previews, and while I'm bullish on the conference's future, there are a LOT more questions than answers right now on almost every team.
(09-29-2010 06:30 AM)Flash FreaK 81 Wrote: [ -> ] (09-29-2010 12:27 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]Bassett, Coleman, are Kinney gone from last years team. They combined for 4 arrests and 5 suspensions so this may be addition by subtraction.
Note to Akron fans; KSU does not lead the MAC in # of problem players, arrests or altercations. We are only "competitive" in this area.
Gotta hand it to them, though.
Your team has great competitive spirit.
KVK will be missed. He did a tremendous job boxing out last year for rebounds. KVK played strong post defense and added a mid range jumper and was a respectable foul shooter for a big. He gave Groce big minutes last year. The freshmen coming in may have more overall talent than KVK, but KVK did have 4 years of college game experience and that isn't easy to replace.KVK started at center vs Georgetown and Ohio won that game. Monroe didn't exactly destroy KVK that game, and containing Greg Monroe was a big reason Ohio won that game.
(10-01-2010 08:25 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote: [ -> ]KVK will be missed. He did a tremendous job boxing out last year for rebounds. KVK played strong post defense and added a mid range jumper and was a respectable foul shooter for a big. He gave Groce big minutes last year. The freshmen coming in may have more overall talent than KVK, but KVK did have 4 years of college game experience and that isn't easy to replace.KVK started at center vs Georgetown and Ohio won that game. Monroe didn't exactly destroy KVK that game, and containing Greg Monroe was a big reason Ohio won that game.
And the hair- God, I'll miss The Hair!