I said 11-7 as my prediction for MAC play. We are trending to be better which is nice. Lots of tough road games left tho. Here is to grabbing a top two seed!

What I find interesting is that BG has defeated all the west teams they have played --except Toledo. We are definitely better that BG. I did not see the Kent game but we were definitely better than WMU and CMU. It just seemed that our guys lacked the intensity to finish. They acted if they expected Juice to make a magic 3 at the end and win the game. That attitude has changed and now the guys (especially Drummond) are making things happen. We will probably lose a few more games but we are actually better than any other team in the league.

(02-05-2015 07:05 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  What I find interesting is that BG has defeated all the west teams they have played --except Toledo. We are definitely better that BG. I did not see the Kent game but we were definitely better than WMU and CMU. It just seemed that our guys lacked the intensity to finish. They acted if they expected Juice to make a magic 3 at the end and win the game. That attitude has changed and now the guys (especially Drummond) are making things happen. We will probably lose a few more games but we are actually better than any other team in the league.

Disagree. WMU runs such an efficient offense. We couldn't stop it last year or this year. Until we do, they're better. CMU presents some tough match ups due to their size. Not sure we beat either on the road. Kent lost a key player and may slip some.

(02-05-2015 09:11 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-05-2015 07:05 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  What I find interesting is that BG has defeated all the west teams they have played --except Toledo. We are definitely better that BG. I did not see the Kent game but we were definitely better than WMU and CMU. It just seemed that our guys lacked the intensity to finish. They acted if they expected Juice to make a magic 3 at the end and win the game. That attitude has changed and now the guys (especially Drummond) are making things happen. We will probably lose a few more games but we are actually better than any other team in the league.

Disagree. WMU runs such an efficient offense. We couldn't stop it last year or this year. Until we do, they're better. CMU presents some tough match ups due to their size. Not sure we beat either on the road. Kent lost a key player and may slip some.

They lost to eastern... And Akron twice

Right now there are five teams at 6-3 and two at 5-4 for a total of 7 teams most likely in the running for the top four seeds in the MAC. While maybe not 100% certain, it is very likely that the top four seeds will come from those seven teams. It is also very likely that the tournament champion with the trip to the NCAA will come from whomever those top four turn out to be.

This thing is wide open at the moment. UT has as good a chance as anybody but there are a lot teams in the running for that top spot. The competition is extremely tough this year with 7 teams in the mix as compared to last year where there were only 3 (maybe 4) teams in the mix. It is all going to come down to which of those top four teams gets the hot hand in March as I don't see anyone outside of the top four having the stamina to last the entire tournament. It won't be easy but hopefully the Rockets can finally pull it off this year because I am afraid if they don't make this year, it is going to be back to the drawing board for at least a year or two before they have another realistic shot at it.

It is nice to see Drummond back playing up to his form from last year in recent games and also to see UT put away EMU early and give the bench some work rather than having another 40 minute nail biter.

Teams i think are dangerous because they are well coached and play hard: BG, Miami.
Teams i think are dangerous because of tallent: kent, akron, cmu, wmu, emu, buffalo, Toledo
Teams i think have the best actual chance this year: Toledo, WMU, Buffalo, CMU. Havent seen Kent play so throw em in there.

reasonable viewpoint

it mostly comes down to who is playing the best basketball as there is no dominant team.

buffalo is clearly a contender. young, but fairly explosive backcourt, one of the league's best interior players in moss and some other athletic or skilled bigs that can step up. hurley has them fairly well coached and their fans are giving them energy.

wmu give toledo problems so they are a threat. when they are sharp they run good offense and have streaky hot veteran shooters. however, their inside game is down a bit (wasn't against us which said more about our interior play that day) and their pg is hurt and may or may not return with a broken bone in his hand.

akron is well coached, big and experienced. we seem to have their number lately- match up well, but they give some teams a lot of trouble. they already beat up teams from the pac 12 and sec. almost won at penn st and have beat some of the better mac teams. losing treadwell and harney a yr early helped their chemistry.

bg had a really good big coming back and couple solid role guys. their new coach has em coached up better and added a couple crafty juco players. i think we have more talent, but bg is dangerous.

miami just doesn't have enough talent to make a run, but play hard and are pretty well coached. on the occasions they make some shots they are capable of being a spoiler.

kent should be a favorite in that they have good experienced guards - a combo which often can lead a hot march team on a run. kent has a crafty interior guy in hall, but he's sick w mono and may not be the same player down the stretch. i like spicer their other athletic role player at pf. bench looks the part but doesn't always play it.

cmu won't win. you could say they are balanced, well coached, have some young interior talent, plus a go to guy in fowler, one the conf best. they will play a lot of close games, but i think they have some backup level guys playing starter minutes and won't win it all.

emu is just too poorly coached on offense to turn the corner. enough talent on roster and when the defense is on, very tough to score on. but they have no clue on offense. sometimes they get by on a guys individual skills, but lately that hasn't worked. a good defensive team can give them problems.

ohio is a darkhorse imo. n`dour is really good. will have a long pro career somewhere. campbell is an emerging big in the mac. really nice shooter with size. they simply don't have the passing to win a lot, and are thin on depth, but when willis is making jumpers and their energy level is high they can be good. ask depaul. who is 500 in the big east. ohio beat em by like 40.

ball st is a yr away. niu plays hard and defends but doesn't win.