By J. Olsen
The Mid-American Conference basketball landscape might be summarized in one word – CHAOS!!
That’s right -- on a given night, it’s chaos out there, especially lately. That doesn’t make constructing our Power Rankings any easier. It probably does, however, make for some interesting debates.
With three games to go, teams are . . .
The Mid-American Conference basketball landscape might be summarized in one word – CHAOS!!
That’s right -- on a given night, it’s chaos out there, especially lately. That doesn’t make constructing our Power Rankings any easier. It probably does, however, make for some interesting debates.
With three games to go, teams are . . .
. . . scrambling for MAC Tournament playoff positions. Home court is no guarantee, but it helps your odds.
There’s been significant movement since our last Power Rankings. In the Who’s Hot realm, we find Ball State and Eastern Michigan, with Ohio and Bowling Green at times bidding for a spot. In the Who’s Not world, we have ... well, lots of folks.
1. BUFFALO BULLS (12-3 MAC, 20-8 OVERALL)
It’s not like UB has crashed, but after a tremendous run to start MAC play, the Bulls are 4-3 over their last seven outings. Miami became the latest to upset Buffalo with a win Tuesday in Oxford. UB has three regular season tilts to recapture that Raging Bulls form before tourney time.
2. TOLEDO ROCKETS (11-4 MAC, 11-9 OVERALL)
Toledo is riding a two-game losing streak after dropping road contests at Ball State and Eastern Michigan – both teams on our Who’s Hot List. The Rockets barely hold off BSU in our rankings, but Ball State appears to have UT’s number. Like the aforementioned Bulls, Toledo needs to “right the ship” over the upcoming week.
3. BALL STATE CARDINALS (10-5 MAC, 19-9 OVERALL)
BSU owns the MAC’s longest active win streak – five games! So, the Cardinals seem to be gaining momentum as tourney time approaches. Ball State smoked Toledo twice, but it lost to Buffalo (early in the season) and had an ugly loss at Eastern Michigan Feb. 3. No doubt the Cardinals can play with the Big Boys, but they can ill afford to take anybody for granted, either (e.g. back-to-back road losses to Miami and Kent State).
4. EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (8-7 MAC, 17-11 OVERALL)
The Eagles move up four spots from their position in our last rankings. Not only have they won three straight, they posted “W”s in five of the last six outings. The only loss was in overtime at Bowling Green. It’s been a month since EMU lost two straight (Ohio and Buffalo in January). Eastern’s defense travels well and if the Eagles offense gets going, they are even MORE dangerous.
5. WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS (8-7 MAC, 17-11 OVERALL)
The Broncos have only once dipped below .500 in league play, but they have only been more than a game over .500 once, as well. It’s been a bumpy – albeit smaller bumps – ride. WMU broke a two-game losing streak Tuesday with a dramatic 83-81 win over Central Michigan, who they visit in the regular season finale. In between, Western battles Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Staying above .500 will take some quality play, but WMU is capable.
6. BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (7-8 MAC, 16-12 OVERALL)
The Falcons have lost two in a row, which seems to mean they are due to win a pair. At least that is how it’s been going over the past months or so. Kent State is next on the slate, to the Flashes probably should bring their “A” game Saturday.
7. MIAMI REDHAWKS (7-8 MAC, 14-14 OVERALL)
The RedHawks were fourth in our last rankings, but we mentioned at the time they could bounce up and down the chart due to some inconsistency. The RedHawks are coming off a nice upset of Buffalo Tuesday, but that broke a four-game losing streak. Akron, Kent State and Ohio remain, with MU already owning wins over first two. If the RedHawks can beat Ohio at home in the finale, they would have at least one victory over each of the MAC East teams. That was certainly not a given coming into the season, but coach Jack Owens has done a nice job of bringing in young talent.
8. KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (7-8 MAC, 13-15 OVERALL)
The Flashes won three straight back in late January. Since that time, they’ve lost five of six. The victors included several of our top Power Ranking teams, but KSU needs to turn things around. Bowling Green and Akron come to the MAC Center before Kent State finishes at Akron to close the regular season.
9. OHIO BOBCATS (5-10, 12-15 OVERALL)
The ‘Cats won just three times in their first 13 MAC outings, but they’ve been looking better lately – riding a two-game win streak for the first time since late December. Jordan Dartis has been leading the way as of late, but the Bobcats are usually pretty balanced overall. After visiting Buffalo Saturday, Ohio finishes with Bowling Green and at rival Miami.
10. AKRON ZIPS (5-10 MAC, 12-15 OVERALL)
Akron hopes its narrow win at Bowling Green Tuesday will be a springboard to late success. Two of the final three games (Miami and Kent State) are at home. In between those two dates is a road matchup against Buffalo. At least UA finally managed to pick up a road win, edging Bowling Green Tuesday night.
11. CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (5-10 MAC, 16-12 OVERALL)
The Chips are coming off a frustrating 83-81 overtime loss at Western Michigan and face Toledo at Savage Arena Friday before two home tilts in the season’s final week. All three remaining opponents (Toledo, Ball State and WMU) defeated Central the first time around.
Despite being last in field goal percentage in conference play, CMU is third in scoring offense (76.8 ppg). The Chippewas are is 11th in scoring defense (77.8 ppg).
12. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (5-10 MAC, 12-16 OVERALL)
The Huskies have not won two in a row since late November. Coming off a loss at Ball State, NIU faces a gauntlet down the stretch. After traveling to Eastern Michigan Saturday, the Huskies host Toledo and Ball State.
There’s been significant movement since our last Power Rankings. In the Who’s Hot realm, we find Ball State and Eastern Michigan, with Ohio and Bowling Green at times bidding for a spot. In the Who’s Not world, we have ... well, lots of folks.
1. BUFFALO BULLS (12-3 MAC, 20-8 OVERALL)
It’s not like UB has crashed, but after a tremendous run to start MAC play, the Bulls are 4-3 over their last seven outings. Miami became the latest to upset Buffalo with a win Tuesday in Oxford. UB has three regular season tilts to recapture that Raging Bulls form before tourney time.
2. TOLEDO ROCKETS (11-4 MAC, 11-9 OVERALL)
Toledo is riding a two-game losing streak after dropping road contests at Ball State and Eastern Michigan – both teams on our Who’s Hot List. The Rockets barely hold off BSU in our rankings, but Ball State appears to have UT’s number. Like the aforementioned Bulls, Toledo needs to “right the ship” over the upcoming week.
3. BALL STATE CARDINALS (10-5 MAC, 19-9 OVERALL)
BSU owns the MAC’s longest active win streak – five games! So, the Cardinals seem to be gaining momentum as tourney time approaches. Ball State smoked Toledo twice, but it lost to Buffalo (early in the season) and had an ugly loss at Eastern Michigan Feb. 3. No doubt the Cardinals can play with the Big Boys, but they can ill afford to take anybody for granted, either (e.g. back-to-back road losses to Miami and Kent State).
4. EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (8-7 MAC, 17-11 OVERALL)
The Eagles move up four spots from their position in our last rankings. Not only have they won three straight, they posted “W”s in five of the last six outings. The only loss was in overtime at Bowling Green. It’s been a month since EMU lost two straight (Ohio and Buffalo in January). Eastern’s defense travels well and if the Eagles offense gets going, they are even MORE dangerous.
5. WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS (8-7 MAC, 17-11 OVERALL)
The Broncos have only once dipped below .500 in league play, but they have only been more than a game over .500 once, as well. It’s been a bumpy – albeit smaller bumps – ride. WMU broke a two-game losing streak Tuesday with a dramatic 83-81 win over Central Michigan, who they visit in the regular season finale. In between, Western battles Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Staying above .500 will take some quality play, but WMU is capable.
6. BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (7-8 MAC, 16-12 OVERALL)
The Falcons have lost two in a row, which seems to mean they are due to win a pair. At least that is how it’s been going over the past months or so. Kent State is next on the slate, to the Flashes probably should bring their “A” game Saturday.
7. MIAMI REDHAWKS (7-8 MAC, 14-14 OVERALL)
The RedHawks were fourth in our last rankings, but we mentioned at the time they could bounce up and down the chart due to some inconsistency. The RedHawks are coming off a nice upset of Buffalo Tuesday, but that broke a four-game losing streak. Akron, Kent State and Ohio remain, with MU already owning wins over first two. If the RedHawks can beat Ohio at home in the finale, they would have at least one victory over each of the MAC East teams. That was certainly not a given coming into the season, but coach Jack Owens has done a nice job of bringing in young talent.
8. KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (7-8 MAC, 13-15 OVERALL)
The Flashes won three straight back in late January. Since that time, they’ve lost five of six. The victors included several of our top Power Ranking teams, but KSU needs to turn things around. Bowling Green and Akron come to the MAC Center before Kent State finishes at Akron to close the regular season.
9. OHIO BOBCATS (5-10, 12-15 OVERALL)
The ‘Cats won just three times in their first 13 MAC outings, but they’ve been looking better lately – riding a two-game win streak for the first time since late December. Jordan Dartis has been leading the way as of late, but the Bobcats are usually pretty balanced overall. After visiting Buffalo Saturday, Ohio finishes with Bowling Green and at rival Miami.
10. AKRON ZIPS (5-10 MAC, 12-15 OVERALL)
Akron hopes its narrow win at Bowling Green Tuesday will be a springboard to late success. Two of the final three games (Miami and Kent State) are at home. In between those two dates is a road matchup against Buffalo. At least UA finally managed to pick up a road win, edging Bowling Green Tuesday night.
11. CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (5-10 MAC, 16-12 OVERALL)
The Chips are coming off a frustrating 83-81 overtime loss at Western Michigan and face Toledo at Savage Arena Friday before two home tilts in the season’s final week. All three remaining opponents (Toledo, Ball State and WMU) defeated Central the first time around.
Despite being last in field goal percentage in conference play, CMU is third in scoring offense (76.8 ppg). The Chippewas are is 11th in scoring defense (77.8 ppg).
12. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (5-10 MAC, 12-16 OVERALL)
The Huskies have not won two in a row since late November. Coming off a loss at Ball State, NIU faces a gauntlet down the stretch. After traveling to Eastern Michigan Saturday, the Huskies host Toledo and Ball State.
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