The MAC is having about as good a women's season as it ever has. The league's RPI ranks eighth among 31 Division I conferences.
Ball State (22) and Buffalo (30) are in the top 30 in team RPI. Five teams are in the latest Mid-Major Top 25.
The league hasn't had two NCAA bids in 20 years. There's a good chance this season.
Here's a quick look at the conference. There are detailed capsules on each team at
http://wbbflashes.com, a blog I do on the Kent State women's team.
BALL STATE (11-0, RPI 22). The Cardinals have had as impressive a non-conference season as we've seen in the MAC since Bowling Green's glory days. They've have beaten two top 50 RPI schools and two more in the second 50. Last season the entire MAC beat one team in the top 50.
BUFFALO (9-2, RPI 30). Bulls are clear favorites in the Mac East. At this point last year, they were, too, but finished third. They have four starters back.
TOLEDO (9-3, RPI 66). Defending tournament champs have lost to No. 3 Louisville and top mid-major programs Duquesne and Western Kentucky.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (8-3, RPI 167). Good record but worst strength of schedule in the conference. Still scoring (and giving up) a lot of points.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (9-3, RPI 104). Preseason favorites have lost only to three teams in the top 100 RPI.
BOWLING GREEN (8-3, RPI 101). Falcons have best non-conference record in four years but not a strong schedule.
MIAMI (8-3, RPI 115). Redhawks have new coach and conference's leading scorer.
KENT STATE (7-5, RPI 165). Flashes have beaten seven teams with RPIs of more than 200 and lost to five with RPIs in the top 100.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (7-5, RPI 75). Record belies the toughest preseason schedule in the MAC. But three wins were against non-Division I competition.
AKRON (6-5, RPI 253). Zips keep playing weak non-conference schdules and fading in MAC. We'll see if this year is any different.
OHIO (5-5, RPI 127). Team that dominated the MAC from 2014-16 leads league in turnover margin by far but otherwise has terrible offensive numbers.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (4-7, RPI 288). Eagles were at bottom of conference last year and, despite good freshman class, are still there.