The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

Out-Of-Conference opponent rankings are listed below. That Western Illinois win is looking pretty good as was their performance against Indiana. Conversely, that Northern Kentucky loss is looking pretty bad as does the extent of the loss to DePaul. The next 3 games will be very telling..

Indiana ( 56 )
Illinois St ( 272 )
Northern Kentucky ( 289 )
Michigan State ( 19 )
Western Illinois ( 90 )
DePaul ( 94 )
UC- San Diego ( 130 )
North wood (NA)
Niagara ( 138 )
Florida International ( 150 )
Valparaiso ( 215 )

(12-06-2021 10:15 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Out-Of-Conference opponent rankings are listed below. That Western Illinois win is looking pretty good as was their performance against Indiana. Conversely, that Northern Kentucky loss is looking pretty bad as does the extent of the loss to DePaul. The next 3 games will be very telling..

Indiana ( 56 )
Illinois St ( 272 )
Northern Kentucky ( 289 )
Michigan State ( 19 )
Western Illinois ( 90 )
DePaul ( 94 )
UC- San Diego ( 130 )
North wood (NA)
Niagara ( 138 )
Florida International ( 150 )
Valparaiso ( 215 )

Very balanced schedule.

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.

(12-06-2021 10:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

I can remember in 19-20 schedule where we went 10-3 in non conference but went 6-12 in conference. Just a cautionary.

(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

(12-07-2021 08:33 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 10:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

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.

(12-07-2021 11:04 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 08:33 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 10:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

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.

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

(12-07-2021 11:04 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 08:33 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 10:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

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.

(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:  

(12-07-2021 08:33 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 10:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  The NCAA generated “NET” computer rankings for basketball starting yesterday for the season. They usually delay issuing the rankings until there is some statistical basis in terms of the number of games played, but they update the rankings daily thereafter. I know many of you prefer other computer rankings, but this is the one that the tournament selection committee actually uses- so I tend to put value in that. Here is the link for anyone interested…
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings

I am excerpting the MAC rankings below. EMU is not as good if standing as I would have liked per at 235 overall and 8th in the MAC. But given the bulk of the team is new, I expect them to climb as the year progresses. Perhaps maybe to 6th in the MAC. Their 2-5 start probably dig too far a hole for them in terms of the rankings at least.

74 Toledo MAC 5-2
86 Ohio MAC 5-2
112 Buffalo MAC 3-3
118 Miami (OH) MAC 3-3
127 Kent St. MAC 2-2
202 Ball St. MAC 3-4
218 Akron MAC 3-3
235 Eastern Mich. MAC 2-5
239 Bowling Green MAC 3-4
312 Western Mich. MAC 2-4
324 Northern Ill. MAC 2-6
345 Central Mich. MAC 1-7

No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

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 7-2, is a highly organized team that rarely turns the ball over. It’s defense is solid holding opponents to 69.5 ppg.

Toledo averages 81.2 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.

Toledo’s opponents have averaged 72.5 ppg

Believe Toledo is a better team than Ohio. 6-2, that averages 74 ppg it’s opponents 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), it’s opponents 72 ppg.

(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:  

(12-07-2021 08:33 AM)Miggy Wrote:  No.127 ranked Kent State, now 4-3, was beaten by Towson 73-58. Towson was a 7-point favorite. Posters on KSU message board are dejected by KSU’s poor play. KSU’s stats are good, but KSU’s bench is weak.

Eastern Michigan has won all three games played at home, and is averaged 76.6 ppg in regulation compared to it’s opponents averaging 68-points in regulation. Should be noted that the Illinois State game was a double-overtime win.

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.

(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.

WMU has been without Artis White they hope,to have him back by conference play. He is probably Westerns best player.

Monty Scott’s 53.54 FG percentage (53-99) is ranked 89th in nation among all players. His 53.54 FG percentage is ranked 9th in the nation among all guards with at least 90 FGA’s, and Scott’s FG percentage is ranked number one among all guards in the MAC with at least 90 FGA’s.

Buffalo’s J.Williams is ranked as MAC’s second highest guard with at least 90 FGA’s with a 50 percent FG percentage (57-114).

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]

Who do you place in first tier? Second tier?

(12-08-2021 08:44 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.

Who do you place in first tier? Second tier?
[/quote]

There is a natural break between the 5th and 6th place teams.

What's crazy is that in FB, the MAC West is far superior to the East and in MAC MBB, it is the opposite.

(12-08-2021 08:52 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 08:44 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.

Who do you place in first tier? Second tier?

There is a natural break between the 5th and 6th place teams.

What's crazy is that in FB, the MAC West is far superior to the East and in MAC MBB, it is the opposite.
[/quote]

What happened to the old “Sunshine Steve”? The aging process is not being kind to you…

I do see what you are saying. It seems that the top 4-5 teams almost belong in a different category (Kent St dropped significantly after their Towson loss). You’d expect those high ranking guys to compete at least with the lower teir of the P5 conferences, and dominate the rest of the MAC. EMU’s ranking and results thus far does not seem to place them in that grouping.

The good news is EMU looks like a middling in the conference so far, rather than the bottom (ie, not as bad as CMU, WMU, and NIU). Given EMU probably experienced the most amount of off season changes, the fact that their currently middling bodes well for the possibility of development into a top tier team by the years end. This may not transpire, but their is some basis for the speculation rather than just wishful thinking. These last 3 OOC games will be very tellin…

ALSO: there are no longer divisions in MAC basketball. The divisions make for a nice mini conference tournament for football, but serve no purpose on the basketball side except to confuse things. I think this is the second year of this. Anyway, note EMU plays Toledo only once this year (and fortunately only at home nonetheless) because we are no longer scheduling based on divisions.

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.
[/quote]


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.

(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.
[/quote]

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).