I found this to be realistic over the last 10 years. It says 4th to last 7-13 in conference. https://www.teamrankings.com/ncb/projections/standings/

One of our losses came to DePaul on the road. Last night DePaul went in and beat Louisville on the road. DePaul has two dynamic scorers in David Jones and Freeman Liberty. They will be a tough out in the NcAA Tourney.

It’s to early to predict how EMU will fair in the MAC.

In the last two games, EMU’s HC Heath produced two wins as changes were made many structural changes to both the offensive and defensive systems tge changes were tailored to highlight the strength of individual players skill-sets.

EMU is playing a far better style of play since EMU lost to Indiana, Michigan State, and DePaul.

In it’s last two games, EMU is stopping the three ball unlike in the Indiana when Indiana simply missed open three’s. EMU did not attempt to stop three’s in the either the DePaul nor San Diego games.

SMU would have likely beat UCSD if EMU had installed it’s new defense to stop the thre-ball.

Offensively, if EMU did not play a low-post offense the beginning of the season, EMU would have scored far more points in the MSU game of EMU had not played a low-post offense and instead spread the court.


EMU got hosed in the MSU game by refs as MSU scored 15 more points at the foul-line than EMU did.

EMU should have 6-3 record, with wins over both Northern Kentucky and UCSD, and losses to Indiana, MSU, and DePaul.

Heath has given each player a chance to prove how they contribute to EMU’s success.

In EMU’s final two non-conference games, we’ll get see if EMU can hold both FIU and Valpo to scoring less than 70-points over 40-minutes of play. EMU just having held both Northwood and Niagara to scoring less than 60-points is a good sign they can. We’ll also get to see if EMU can score 75 or more points in each of those games. If EMU can do both, such bodes well going into conference play at the end of this month.

EMU’s first conference game is played a on the road at Ohio U. Regardless if EMU wins, the game should be a good gauge as to where EMU is in it’s development. Ohio has a 6-2 record in non-conference play and has averaged 74-ppg, opponents 69-points.

Ohio is scoring less points per game in non-conference play, but giving up less points. Last season, Ohio had a positive scoring margin of 7-points, so far this season 5-points. Last season, in conference play, Ohio’s scoring declined in conference play and it’s opponents scoring rise. If that occurs in conference play this season, Ohio should have a narrow scoring margin over conference foes.

One reason Ohio’s scoring has declined is due to Ohio playing without injured F Dwight Wilson who averaged 14.5 ppg last season. He’s not expected to return this season. They also lost G McDay who left the team 3-games ago.

Ohio’s latest victory was over St.Francis NY (KenPom ranking of 328) that had a 1-7 record coming into the game. Ohio won 78-75. It’s previous game was a loss to LSU. Ohio scored but 51-points.

I rate Ohio as behind both Buffalo and Toledo, and may be finish even lower, although most rating services rate Ohio higher than Toledo, and others rate Ohio the best team in the conference.

How effective are EMU’s recently installed offensive and defensive schemes? Beyond very good.

EMU changed it’s offense beginning with tge UCSD game, and EMU’s field goal percentage is a combined 51.6 percent (79-153) in those games. That’s the 7th highest field goal percentage in the nation.

EMU shot their highest field goal percentage of 54.9 percent
(27-51) at UCSD which ranked 169th in the nation by Massey. UCSD is the best of the three teams EMU recently played.

EMU changed it’s defense the last two games, and opponents have shot but 37.8 percent fG percentage (41-108). That’s the 29th lowest opponent field goal percentage in the nation.

Let’s see what happens today.

We don’t know what will happen in MAC play, but I sense that EMU may well be the team that conference opponents should fear playing.

Ohio had an unimpressive 55-45 win today over Stetson that was 2-( coming into the game.

Richmond beat Toledo 72-69.

While EMU is competitive, CMU is...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket.../_/id/2117

(12-12-2021 03:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  While EMU is competitive, CMU is...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket.../_/id/2117

While EMU won, lot of state of MI teams continue to struggle. CMU is one point from oh for the season. WMU has not been impressive and has a bad loss or two. UofM isn't exactly tearing it up.

MSU is carrying the state.

(12-12-2021 05:59 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-12-2021 03:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  While EMU is competitive, CMU is...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket.../_/id/2117

While EMU won, lot of state of MI teams continue to struggle. CMU is one point from oh for the season. WMU has not been impressive and has a bad loss or two. UofM isn't exactly tearing it up.

MSU is carrying the state.

As stated before B.Artis-White has been out for WMU since early November and had surgery. WMU is hoping he will be ready by conference play. That is one explanation for WMU struggles. Artis-White averaged 14.2 points a game last year.

(12-12-2021 05:59 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-12-2021 03:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  While EMU is competitive, CMU is...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket.../_/id/2117

While EMU won, lot of state of MI teams continue to struggle. CMU is one point from oh for the season. WMU has not been impressive and has a bad loss or two. UofM isn't exactly tearing it up.

MSU is carrying the state.

Oakland is playing at a competitive level. U of D is struggling.

BTW, I think we all owe Scott great applause for hiring Stan. As I have been posting, CMU also needed to fill a position.

As of now they are 1 - 9 with a one-point win over EIU, which is winless and ranked next to last in D-I.

We have come out of this coaching transition much better than either CMU or WMU, for that matter.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

(12-12-2021 08:32 AM)emu steve Wrote:  BTW, I think we all owe Scott great applause for hiring Stan. As I have been posting, CMU also needed to fill a position.

As of now they are 1 - 9 with a one-point win over EIU, which is winless and ranked next to last in D-I.

We have come out of this coaching transition much better than either CMU or WMU, for that matter.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

Too early to tell on CMU because they’ve played a tough schedule!

The George Gervin Game Above Center announced across the state:

Gervin is by far the highest-scoring NBA player from a Michigan high school or college. His 26,595 points rank 17th all-time, and Benton Harbor High’s Chet “The Jet” Walker is next with 18,831.

Glen Rice, Magic Johnson, Kevin Willis and Chris Webber — all high school and college stars in the state — also rank in the Top 100.

None better than the EMU Iceman!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.detroit...6479587001

(12-12-2021 08:32 AM)emu steve Wrote:  BTW, I think we all owe Scott great applause for hiring Stan. As I have been posting, CMU also needed to fill a position.

As of now they are 1 - 9 with a one-point win over EIU, which is winless and ranked next to last in D-I.

We have come out of this coaching transition much better than either CMU or WMU, for that matter.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

Stan has done a great job of getting us competitive. I was glad we hired him and said so at the time and he was the preferred choice by many on this board including me, Too early to tell whether the NIU hire CMU hire are busts. Also we are 5-0 at home and 0-5 on the road. Does this mean we are headed for a .500 season? Yes that would be improvement in one season.

(12-12-2021 10:27 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(12-12-2021 08:32 AM)emu steve Wrote:  BTW, I think we all owe Scott great applause for hiring Stan. As I have been posting, CMU also needed to fill a position.

As of now they are 1 - 9 with a one-point win over EIU, which is winless and ranked next to last in D-I.

We have come out of this coaching transition much better than either CMU or WMU, for that matter.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

Stan has done a great job of getting us competitive. I was glad we hired him and said so at the time and he was the preferred choice by many on this board including me, Too early to tell whether the NIU hire CMU hire are busts. Also we are 5-0 at home and 0-5 on the road. Does this mean we are headed for a .500 season? Yes that would be improvement in one season.

He was not my choice. That said, I have been pleasantly surprised and impressed. The rebuild did include one and done players like the Scotts but the foundation is freshman Farrakhan, Golson and Njie. When was the last time we had three returning sophomores of that magnitude?

(12-12-2021 10:27 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(12-12-2021 08:32 AM)emu steve Wrote:  BTW, I think we all owe Scott great applause for hiring Stan. As I have been posting, CMU also needed to fill a position.

As of now they are 1 - 9 with a one-point win over EIU, which is winless and ranked next to last in D-I.

We have come out of this coaching transition much better than either CMU or WMU, for that matter.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

Stan has done a great job of getting us competitive. I was glad we hired him and said so at the time and he was the preferred choice by many on this board including me, Too early to tell whether the NIU hire CMU hire are busts. Also we are 5-0 at home and 0-5 on the road. Does this mean we are headed for a .500 season? Yes that would be improvement in one season.

EMU’s success or non success has nothing to with it’s home and away record. As EMU was leading N. Kentucky when in the last minute of the game, an out of bounds play went awry. Emu would most likely beaten have UCSD if EMU employed tge defense they now do. Even in EMU’s first game against highly ranked Indiana, EMU won the second half by 9-points. No one expected EMU to beat MSU or DePaul home or away.

EMU is largely a young and inexperienced team. EMU is a work in process. That’s why we have seen close games. We still need to learn if Noah is a PG who can distribute the ball or a primarily a shooter. Seems to me that Scott needs to shoot at least much as Noah does. His stats bare that out. Surely would make it far easier for EMU to win games.

I would like to see EMU play and beat it’s final non-conference game against Valpo by a good margin with few mistakes, so our confidence will grow going into conference play. EMU has enough talent to beat any team in the conference, but there’s to many unknowns to say they will.

I watched a video that Ramy shared and this video popped up. I have seen the highlights and tournament play separately but never in composite form. I really enjoyed it:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5LXD0_GZ4

EMU’s HC Heath has put in an improved offensive and defensive system that has resulted in EMU winning it’s last three games. Roundtable, a ranking service recognizes that EMU is playing well and now rams EMU 118tg best team in the nation.

The fact that EMU recently beat both Niagara (NCAA NET-131 ) and FIU (NCAA NET-170) both ranked among the nation’s top 180 best teams, and EMU held both teams to scoring less than 60-points in regulation. EMU also EMU led Niagara by by 14 points in the second half before committing stupid fouls that led Niagara closing the gap in scoring that should not have happened. EMU had earlier beaten Western Illinois ranked 150th in the nation.

EMU’s has the potential along with Buffalo and Toledo to be in the top tier in the MAC. The only thing holding them is the inexperience of their young players. Even the Massey ranking predicts that EMU has a 20-percent of beating Ohio at Ohio, and a 27-percent chance of beating Buffalo at home.

It’s my opinion that those percentages are understated as Massey’s computers have included EMU stats from from prior games that are no longer relevant. Only stats from recent games are relevant.

There’s things that EMU needs to improve upon. I fully expect Monty to greatly increase his offensive contribution and for Noah to reduce his excessive turnovers over the course of next few weeks.

The challenge for EMU in beating both Buffalo and Toledo is not that they have better players, but rather their players having played in a battled systems, while EMU is still a work in progress.

Right now, EMU’s defense is stronger than it’s offense. If that continues ENU should be in good stead as MAC play commences. Hope we don’t have to wait long for the offense to fully mesh.

EMU’s tough schedule and recent wins over higher ranked Niagara and FIU, has resulted in EMU moving on up in them NCAA men’s bb rankings.

As the NCAA NET men’s bb rankings now ranks EMUthe 207th best team in the nation, and 6th best team in the MAC. EMU is slightly ahead of both Bowling Green and Akron, followed by Ball State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Central Michigan.

The first five teams are Buffalo, Ohio, Toledo, Miami of Ohio, and Kent State.

Thanks Miggy for your perspective and insight!

Regarding our next basketball schedule, I hope Coach Heath can get creative and schedule a basketball game against MSU or UofM at LCA next season. MSU is playing Oakland at the LCA on December 21. That’s a win-win for both schools since MSU won’t come to Oakland anymore. Low travel costs and a higher revenue potential for MSU to play in front of a big venue and fans who would not be at the Breslin this close to a Christmas holiday.

I’m sure Coach Heath has something in the works since he’s a great friend of Izzo. I’m sure Kampe is getting nervous with Coach Heath at EMU!!!

(12-13-2021 02:44 PM)Miggy Wrote:  NCAA NET men’s bb rankings ranks EMU 207fh best team in the nation, and 6th best team in the MAC. EMU is slightly ahead of both Bowling Green and Akron, followed by Ball State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Central Michigan.

The first five teams are Buffalo, Ohio, Toledo, Miami of Ohio, and Kent State.

I believe by the end of season, we will be a top 5 team and bump Miami of Ohio to a lower rung.