(12-08-2021 10:44 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  [quote='Miggy' pid='17931127' dateline='1638974205']

Pono:

Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team playing small and in need of depth. Rockets travel to NET top 100 Richmond Saturday in a rematch of last year's NIT game.
[

No doubt when Edu returns in February that he will take opponent points off the board. But since he only averaged 1 ppg last season playing 23 mpg, he may well be taking points off the Toledo’s board from the player he replaces.


Edu only played 47 minutes in the 2020-21 season. His 2nd season ending injury occurred in the Rockets' second game of the season(Oakland).

Thanks for correction, but fact remains he’s not an offensive player.

Cresswell Ranking Service ranks EMU 149th best men’s bb team in the nation.,

(12-08-2021 05:29 AM)pono Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 04:31 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:13 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:08 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:04 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  How I would rank the teams as of 12/7:

Ohio
Buffalo
Toledo
EMU
BG
Kent St
Akron
Miami
Ball st

Toledo had a nice win over Bradley and BG beat Oakland at full strength.

Bradley is ranked #240.

Actually Steve, you’re right the Toledo win is so so. I checked Bradley’s schedule and they have not played anyone. However, Toledo beat a D1 school at home and doesn’t hurt the MAC reputation.

I watched a portion of the Toledo-Bradley game. Bradley’s limited offense averages just 70 ppg, but is an excellent defensive team holding opponents to 66.7 ppg. Therefore not surprised that Toledo scored but 67 points.

Toledo, now 6-2, is a highly organized team that rarely turns the ball over. It’s defense is solid holding opponents to 69.5 ppg.

Toledo averages 78.5 ppg by running a diverse and efficient offense that has a lot of timing back-cuts from various angles that results in easy hoops at the hoop. Rollins (20 ppg), Millner (15 ppg) and Shumate are Toledo’s main offensive weapons. Opponents need to make an effort shot down Rollins, and concentrate on stopping Shumate and Millner at the rim off of back-cuts.

Believe Toledo is a better team than Ohio. 6-2, that averages 74 ppg compared to opponents averaging 69 ppg. Ohio shoots slightly more three’s than two’s and rarely goes to the foul-line. Ohio’s off the bench player 6’3” guard McDay has left the team and it’s not known if nor when he’ll return. It appears that Dwight Wright will not be returning this season due to under going surgery to repair his broken foot.

Buffalo is still the team to keep an eye on as it averages 82 ppg (34th highest in the nation) and gives up 72 ppg.

kinda ugly win for Toledo but Bradley makes you earn every point. they started slow but were on a 3 game win streak and Toledo had some guys battling illness. Regardless, another MAC win over the Valley. Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team playing small and in need of depth. Rockets travel to NET top 100 Richmond Saturday in a rematch of last year's NIT game.

Why not redshirt Edu since he would have missed 2/3 of season?

(12-08-2021 09:36 AM)Miggy Wrote:  Pono:

kinda ugly win for Toledo but Bradley makes you earn every point. they started slow but were on a 3 game win streak and Toledo had some guys battling illness. Regardless, another MAC win over the Valley. Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team playing small and in need of depth. Rockets travel to NET top 100 Richmond Saturday in a rematch of last year's NIT game.

No doubt that when Edu return in February will take opponent points off the board. But since he only averaged 1 ppg last season playing 23 mpg, he may well be losing points off the board from the player he replaces.
[/quote]

Good post Miggy!

(12-08-2021 12:35 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 05:29 AM)pono Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 04:31 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:13 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:08 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Bradley is ranked #240.

Actually Steve, you’re right the Toledo win is so so. I checked Bradley’s schedule and they have not played anyone. However, Toledo beat a D1 school at home and doesn’t hurt the MAC reputation.

I watched a portion of the Toledo-Bradley game. Bradley’s limited offense averages just 70 ppg, but is an excellent defensive team holding opponents to 66.7 ppg. Therefore not surprised that Toledo scored but 67 points.

Toledo, now 6-2, is a highly organized team that rarely turns the ball over. It’s defense is solid holding opponents to 69.5 ppg.

Toledo averages 78.5 ppg by running a diverse and efficient offense that has a lot of timing back-cuts from various angles that results in easy hoops at the hoop. Rollins (20 ppg), Millner (15 ppg) and Shumate are Toledo’s main offensive weapons. Opponents need to make an effort shot down Rollins, and concentrate on stopping Shumate and Millner at the rim off of back-cuts.

Believe Toledo is a better team than Ohio. 6-2, that averages 74 ppg compared to opponents averaging 69 ppg. Ohio shoots slightly more three’s than two’s and rarely goes to the foul-line. Ohio’s off the bench player 6’3” guard McDay has left the team and it’s not known if nor when he’ll return. It appears that Dwight Wright will not be returning this season due to under going surgery to repair his broken foot.

Buffalo is still the team to keep an eye on as it averages 82 ppg (34th highest in the nation) and gives up 72 ppg.

kinda ugly win for Toledo but Bradley makes you earn every point. they started slow but were on a 3 game win streak and Toledo had some guys battling illness. Regardless, another MAC win over the Valley. Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team playing small and in need of depth. Rockets travel to NET top 100 Richmond Saturday in a rematch of last year's NIT game.

Why not redshirt Edu since he would have missed 2/3 of season?

Because he has already missed 3 of 4 seasons. Kid is graduating in a week and has only played his freshman season and 2 games of his 3rd year season. If he redshirted he'd be a 5th year sophomore and I don't he's planning to stay at UT for 7 years. He is going into a Masters program and would likely complete that sometime during his 6th year. So, if he plays this year he's on track to play 2 more years and get a MBA too.

Per Miggy, true Edu is not much of an offensive threat. He also will be rusty when he returns and still getting comfortable on a reconstructed knee. However, he's such a good fundamental and instinctive defender and rebounder that he can give the team stops at that end even if not in top form. Also a good high screen passer and pick guy, so UT can add a few looks on offense going through a 6-10 high post player with vision. Rockets playing an undersized freshman as their primary bench big man right now and he works hard but can't score, so Edu won't hurt taking some of his minutes.

Hoping Farrkhan is healthy for EMU. Fun guy to watch.

(12-08-2021 03:57 PM)pono Wrote:  [quote='Luckeyone' pid='17931659' dateline='1638984930']
[quote='pono' pid='17930811' dateline='1638959374']
[quote='Miggy' pid='17930802' dateline='1638955897']
[quote='Luckeyone' pid='17930638' dateline='1638936795']

Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team

Because he has already missed 3 of 4 seasons. Kid is graduating in a week and has only played his freshman season and 2 games of his 3rd year season. If he redshirted he'd be a 5th year sophomore and I don't he's planning to stay at UT for 7 years. He is going into a Masters program and would likely complete that sometime during his 6th year. So, if he plays this year he's on track to play 2 more years and get a MBA too.

Per Miggy, true Edu is not much of an offensive threat. He also will be rusty when he returns and still getting comfortable on a reconstructed knee. However, he's such a good fundamental and instinctive defender and rebounder that he can give the team stops at that end even if not in top form. Also a good high screen passer and pick guy, so UT can add a few looks on offense going through a 6-10 high post player with vision. Rockets playing an undersized freshman as their primary bench big man right now and he works hard but can't score, so Edu won't hurt taking some of his minutes.

Hoping Farrkhan is healthy for EMU. Fun guy to watch.

Noah’s fine.

Looks like Edu is also a good and shot-blocker. Does he mostly swat balls
out of bounds?

(12-08-2021 04:22 PM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 03:57 PM)pono Wrote:  [quote='Luckeyone' pid='17931659' dateline='1638984930']
[quote='pono' pid='17930811' dateline='1638959374']
[quote='Miggy' pid='17930802' dateline='1638955897']
[quote='Luckeyone' pid='17930638' dateline='1638936795']

Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team

Because he has already missed 3 of 4 seasons. Kid is graduating in a week and has only played his freshman season and 2 games of his 3rd year season. If he redshirted he'd be a 5th year sophomore and I don't he's planning to stay at UT for 7 years. He is going into a Masters program and would likely complete that sometime during his 6th year. So, if he plays this year he's on track to play 2 more years and get a MBA too.

Per Miggy, true Edu is not much of an offensive threat. He also will be rusty when he returns and still getting comfortable on a reconstructed knee. However, he's such a good fundamental and instinctive defender and rebounder that he can give the team stops at that end even if not in top form. Also a good high screen passer and pick guy, so UT can add a few looks on offense going through a 6-10 high post player with vision. Rockets playing an undersized freshman as their primary bench big man right now and he works hard but can't score, so Edu won't hurt taking some of his minutes.

Hoping Farrkhan is healthy for EMU. Fun guy to watch.

Noah’s fine.

Looks like Edu is also a good and shot-blocker. Does he mostly swat balls
out of bounds?

Edu was a spectacular shot blocker as a skinny freshman. He looked great on that end as a 3rd year guy in 2 games after his first knee injury. Rocket fans may remember him pinning 7-1 Ari Boya's layup on the glass in last year's opener. He's not a hyper athletic shot swatter type. More of the perfect timing and get a piece of the ball rim protector who doesn't foul much. Now, we got no idea how much bounce he's got left in him after 3 knee injuries, but at least he's stronger and older now. Was the top young guy in the Philippines national bball system prior to the injuries. If he gets fully healthy expect him to be on their national team for FIFA tournaments and olympic qualifiers.

(12-08-2021 10:44 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 09:36 AM)Miggy Wrote:  kinda ugly win for Toledo but Bradley makes you earn every point. they started slow but were on a 3 game win streak and Toledo had some guys battling illness. Regardless, another MAC win over the Valley. Big news for Toledo is that injured center AJ Edu's recover is ahead of schedule and he could be back by the beginning of February. Will be rusty but would be a huge defensive and rebounding boost to a UT team playing small and in need of depth. Rockets travel to NET top 100 Richmond Saturday in a rematch of last year's NIT game.

Although Toledo has averaged 81-ppg in their 9 non-conference games, yet in one of those games against an awful Ohio Northwestern team they scored 106 points. Such score artificially inflated Toledo’s scoring average.

In five of their 9 games, Toledo averaged less than 70-points or less which raises some concern about their ability to score against good MAC teams.

I see them averaging somewhere between 74-76 ppg in MAC play.

I also don’t see Toledo holding good MAC teams to the 72-points opponents have averaged so far this season.as we need to eliminate the Ohio Northwester that scored just 36 points
Playing against Toledo.

No doubt Edu will take opponent points off the board when he returns in February. But since he only averaged 1 ppg last season playing 23 mpg, he may well be losing points off the board from the player he replaces.

Toledo lost to Oakland by 24 points, 81-59, EMU beat Oakland 74-69, in an exhibition game. Oakland’s three top scorers scored more points against Toledo than they scored against EMU. Oakland were missing some of their starters. Nevertheless, the subs shot very well against EMU, and Oakland’s missing starters did nothing when they played against Toledo.

Toledo did beat Valpo 69-61. We’ll be able to compare how EMU fairs against Valpo to how Toledo did playing Valpo.

Edu only played 47 minutes in the 2020-21 season. His 2nd season ending injury occurred in the Rockets' second game of the season(Oakland).
[/quote]

Todd is and has been clearly the best MBB coach of the MAC West for years. He is a pro, I don't think he sweats the outcome of the Oakland game, in fact to him it was similar to an exhibition game like the EMU-Golden Grizzly contest.

While I smile when someone posts that we got hosed by officials in these early road season contests, I suspect that most coaches just expect it as there is no conference oversight. Of course, no coach wants to enter MAC play with a horrible record but truthfully there is little reward for a superlative one either.

Case in point: Murph entered league play in 2019-20 with a 10-3 record and proceeded to go 0-7 in the MAC.

Buffalo beat Western Kentucky 87-77.

Xavier beat Ball State 96-50.

(12-07-2021 11:20 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 10:45 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I can remember in 19-20 schedule where we went 10-3 in non conference but went 6-12 in conference. Just a cautionary.

Great point’79 but that 19-20 schedule was full of cupcakes….this year’s schedule more rigorous and preparatory for MAC play.

I predict we will finish as a top 5 team

Wrong Lucky, among the non conference wins that year were North Texas, UMBC, North Carolina A&T, Valpo, U of D, Northeastern. We lost to UNLV, UC Irvine and MSU.

(12-08-2021 07:03 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 02:41 AM)Miggy Wrote:  If EMU beats no.138 Niagara by a good margin at home on Thursday night such would be a sign that EMU may well be a top 4 MAC team as Luckyone predicts.

If EMU’s perimeter defenders had defended played above the three-point line as they did in the Northwood game, EMU would have beaten UC-San Diego. As UC-San Diego would not have scored anywhere near the 36-points they did on 12-made three’s. Noah playing in that game would have helped as well.

EMU can follow-up with wins over both FIU and Valpo, and thereby coalesce going into MAC play.

Am confident in EMU players M. Scott, Farrakhan, McBride, Golson, Rice, and Spottsville, scoring well and by defending above the three-point line, thwarting the effectiveness ofthree-point shooters.

Njie, Ballard, N.Scott, and possibly Jihave to defend the rim and stray far from the rim. Also, they have to avoid excessively fouling opponent shooters.

EMU needs to play offensive and defensive schemes that match their players skill-sets.

Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.

Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.
[/quote]

EMU79

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.
[/quote]


EMU79: Believe you texted that Blue Ribbon magazine picked EMU to finish next to last in the MAC, and that you disagreed and picked EMU to finish in last place in the MAC. Right?

After the Niagara game, Bart Torvik rankings is showing EMU some love. As he rated EMU’s defense as 56 best in the nation. This was probably due to holding Niagara to scoring but 58-points. Torvik rated EMU’s offense as 221 in the nation. Overall, Torvik gave EMU a rating of 156 best team in the nation.

FIU is going to be a good barometer on where we are at relative to comparable MAC components. If we beat FIU, I believe we finish 4th or 5th in the conference but if we lose, we will be right at 0.500 in conference.

(12-09-2021 12:47 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  FIU is going to be a good barometer on where we are at relative to comparable MAC components. If we beat FIU, I believe we finish 4th or 5th in the conference but if we lose, we will be right at 0.500 in conference.

Agree FIU and Valpo game will provide a lot of info on how EMU will stack-up against conference opponents.

Love to see EMU finish non-conference competition with a 6-5 record. EMU has shown marked improvement in defending the three-point line, and cutting down on turnovers. But a few areas still need improvement. Want to see EMU win both games and move up into the top 190 teams in the nation, and then build on that in conference play.

In MAC, only impressive teams I see so far are Buffalo and Toledo, and Kent State may surprise.

(12-09-2021 05:46 AM)Miggy Wrote:  Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.

EMU79

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.
[/quote]


EMU79: Believe you texted that Blue Ribbon magazine picked EMU to finish next to last in the MAC, and that you disagreed and picked EMU to finish in last place in the MAC. Right?
[/quote]

I think you are right, Miggy. I do recall ‘79 saying something almost exactly like that. Very impressive memory!

(12-09-2021 05:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 07:03 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 02:41 AM)Miggy Wrote:  If EMU beats no.138 Niagara by a good margin at home on Thursday night such would be a sign that EMU may well be a top 4 MAC team as Luckyone predicts.

If EMU’s perimeter defenders had defended played above the three-point line as they did in the Northwood game, EMU would have beaten UC-San Diego. As UC-San Diego would not have scored anywhere near the 36-points they did on 12-made three’s. Noah playing in that game would have helped as well.

EMU can follow-up with wins over both FIU and Valpo, and thereby coalesce going into MAC play.

Am confident in EMU players M. Scott, Farrakhan, McBride, Golson, Rice, and Spottsville, scoring well and by defending above the three-point line, thwarting the effectiveness ofthree-point shooters.

Njie, Ballard, N.Scott, and possibly Jihave to defend the rim and stray far from the rim. Also, they have to avoid excessively fouling opponent shooters.

EMU needs to play offensive and defensive schemes that match their players skill-sets.

Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.

Spot on season to date.

https://sagarin.usatoday.com/2022-2/coll...s-2021-22/

FWIW, this is for 20/21:

https://sagarin.usatoday.com/college-bas...2020-2021/

(12-09-2021 01:14 PM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-09-2021 12:47 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  FIU is going to be a good barometer on where we are at relative to comparable MAC components. If we beat FIU, I believe we finish 4th or 5th in the conference but if we lose, we will be right at 0.500 in conference.

Agree FIU and Valpo game will provide a lot of info on how EMU will stack-up against conference opponents.

Love to see EMU finish non-conference competition with a 7-5 record. EMU has shown marked improvement in defending the three-point line, and cutting down on turnovers. But a few areas still need improvement. Want to see EMU win both games and move up into the top 190 teams in the nation, and then build on that in conference play.

In MAC, only impressive teams I see so far are Buffalo and Toledo.

In some rankings, Niagra is ranked higher than FIU- so might be more telling a win than FIU. But nonetheless, I agree with your point as I would like to see a repeat of the result for confirmation.

To clarify, EMU can only get to 6-5 OOC if they win out (not 7-5). Otherwise, I would agree that I would really prefer a winning OOC record to a losing one.

(12-09-2021 01:52 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(12-09-2021 05:46 AM)Miggy Wrote:  Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.

EMU79

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.

EMU79: Believe you texted that Blue Ribbon magazine picked EMU to finish next to last in the MAC, and that you disagreed and picked EMU to finish in last place in the MAC. Right?
[/quote]

I think you are right, Miggy. I do recall ‘79 saying something almost exactly like that. Very impressive memory!
[/quote]

Ramy, EMU79 saying EMU would finish last behind NIU can be found on message board, page 2, under topic of this year’s roster, on page 21, in post no. 405.

You also responded to EMU saying that Blue Ribbon Magazine was not a reliable guide. See Post 409 and Post 417.

(12-09-2021 02:07 PM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-09-2021 01:52 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(12-09-2021 05:46 AM)Miggy Wrote:  Just using the 'logic' I learned early in school, there seems to be two tiers, and we seem to be in the 2nd tier.

Those saying we are top four are doing it more on hope than anything else.

EMU79

Before the season began I said the lower half would be a battle between us, CMU, NIU and WMU and where they ended up in the standings was interchangeable. I think we may end ahead of these three teams.

EMU79: Believe you texted that Blue Ribbon magazine picked EMU to finish next to last in the MAC, and that you disagreed and picked EMU to finish in last place in the MAC. Right?

I think you are right, Miggy. I do recall ‘79 saying something almost exactly like that. Very impressive memory!
[/quote]

Ramy, EMU79 saying EMU would finish last behind NIU can be found on message board, page 2, under topic of this year’s roster, on page 21, in post no. 405.

You also responded to EMU saying that Blue Ribbon Magazine was not a reliable guide. See Post 409 and Post 417.
[/quote]

I think I’m the only consistent poster stating we would finish Top 4 but I’m guessing top 5 as of today :-)