MAC Reporter online takes a look at where the teams are now – with an eye, on the future, as well.
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HEAD COACH: Rob Murphy (7th season)
PRESEASON COACHES/MEDIA POLL: Fourth, MAC West
PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAM: James Thompson IV
► The Eagles finished 2016-17 with a 16-17 overall record and went 7-11 in MAC play. The longest winning streak was four games during non-conference play. The longest losing streak was seven – part of a stretch when EMU dropped 9 of 10 from late January to late February.
► EMU edged Northern Illinois in first round action of the MAC tournament, but fell to Akron in quarterfinal action once in Cleveland.
► The Eagles two leading scorers from last season are gone. Ray Lee and Willie Mangum IV both averaged 15.7 ppg. Ty Toney (10.2 ppg) has also departed.
► Eastern opened with four victories in non-conference action to start 2017-18. After losing two of three, the Eagles three straight before droping a pair at Oakland and Syracuse. EMU closed pre-MAC play with a 67-48 drubbing of Rochester College.
► Elijah Minnie, a 6-9 transfer from Robert Morris University sat out last year but is averaging 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as an Eagle.
► James Thompson IV was named to the All-MAC Second team following each of the past two seasons. The 6-10 forward/center finished non-conference play averaging 16.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per outing. His season high is 29 points against North Florida. He also had 15 boards in that game and registered a season-high 18 caroms against Central State. Thompson IV is a preseason All-MAC selection.
► Junior guard Paul Jackson (16.1 ppg) and senior guard Tim Bond (9.6 ppg) combine for just over 25 points per contest.
► Eastern Michigan leads the MAC in blocked shots (5.2 per game) and Thompson IV is the top individual rebounder among MAC players.
► The Eagles rank second (MAC) in scoring margin, producing 78.5 ppg and surrendering 71.5 for a +7.0.
► EMU tops the MAC in field goal percentage (47.2%). However, the Eagles are 11th in both 3-point goal percentage (32.8%) and 3-pointers made (79).
► Eastern is second in turnover margin (+2.58).