MAC

MAC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:33:31 -0500

Akron is the favorite after winning 23 games last year, but just about everyone in the dominant East Division has a chance to make some noise.

Conference Rank: 17th

10 year average: 13th

MAC Conference Page

All-MAC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Rodney Pierce	Buffalo	Sr
G	Darion Anderson	Northern Illinois	Jr
G/F	David Kool	Western Mich.	Jr
F	Brandon Bowdry	Eastern Mich.	Jr
F	Jarrod Jones	Ball State	So

Player of the Year - Rodney Pierce
CHN Award Winners		Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Darion Anderson Rodney Pierce		Best Scorer: David Kool Best Rebounder: Brandon Bowdry Best Passer: Joe Jakubowski

MAC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

68	Akron	MAC	1	NCAA
82	Buffalo	MAC	2	NIT
104	Kent State	MAC	3	CBI/CIT
128	Bowling Green	MAC	4
184	Ohio	MAC	5
199	Miami (OH)	MAC	6
232	Central Michigan	MAC	7
266	Ball State	MAC	8
289	Northern Illinois	MAC	9
311	Eastern Michigan	MAC	10
318	Western Michigan	MAC	11
341	Toledo	MAC	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the MAC?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

MAC Preseason Poll & Awards

Press Release — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:54:12 -0400

CLEVELAND - Akron was predicted to finish first in the Mid-American Conference East Division in a poll of the league's media, the conference office announced on Oct 28.

Central Michigan was predicted to win the West Division, amassing 113 points and 10 first-place votes. Northern Illinois was picked to finish second with 102 points, while Eastern Michigan was forecast to finish third with 94 points. Ball State, Western Michigan and Toledo were picked to finish fourth, fifth and sixth in the West Division, respectively.

Five schools earned votes to win the MAC Tournament with Akron being the favorite with 19 votes. Buffalo received two votes, while Northern Illinois, Kent State and Bowling Green each received one.

MAC East Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       Akron – 190 points (19)

2.       Kent State – 108 points (3)

3.       Buffalo – 97 points (1)

4.       Miami – 78 points

5.       Bowling Green – 54 points (1)

6.       Ohio – 32 points

MAC West Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       Central Michigan – 113 points (10)

2.       Northern Illinois – 102 points (4)

3.       Eastern Michigan – 94 points (3)

4.       Ball State – 87 points (3)

5.       Western Michigan – 79 points (4)

6.       Toledo – 29 points

(1st place votes in parentheses)

Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)

East Division All-MAC Preseason Team

Kenny Hayes, G, Miami

Brett McKnight, F, Akron

Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo

Chris Singletary, G, Kent State

Anthony “Humpty” Hitches, G, Akron

West Division All-MAC Preseason Team

David Kool, G, Western Michigan

Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State

Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan

Darion “Jake” Anderson, G, Northern Illinois

Carlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan

Poll: Who Will Win the MAC?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:48:43 -0400

College Basketball: Preseason Conference Ranking

CHN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:43:04 -0400

After finishing 1st in the RPI the last two years, the ACC should fall back slightly thanks to the big-name departures at UNC & Wake Forest. This should allow one of the Big 12, Big Ten, or even SEC a shot at being #1. The Pac-10 is weak enough that a high-major like the A-10, MVC, or MWC could surpass it.

Chime in with your thoughts below if you agree or disagree with CHN's preseason conference ranking.

2009-10 Conference Ranking

*08-09 is last year's conference RPI. Commentary by Shawn Siegel, ranking by CHN.

	Conference	08-09*
1	Big Ten 9 of 11 teams go into season with ncaa hopes, and as many as 7 may reach that goal	2
2	Big 12 ku is the clear title contender. the bottom few teams are weak though and the middle-tier is hit or miss	3
3	ACC no dominant team like last year, but solid as always.	1
4	SEC rise of uk brings league back to prominence after down year..	6
5	Big East lose tons of big name players, and still held down by likes of depual, rutgers, etc	4
6	Pac-10 conceivable the pac-10 only receives 3 tourney bids.	5
7	Atlantic 10 should get at least 2 invites to the ncaa tournament	8
8	MVC with improvement expected from usual leaders creighton & siu, mvc should be solid all-around	9
9	MWC just about every top team loses a top player, but mwc should be one of the more entertaining leagues	7
10	Conference USA though memphis takes step back, rest of league is better than usual.	10
11	WAC after some down years, wac will once again be compeititve league	11
12	Horizon butler has top 10 hopes, but squads like csu and green bay lose key seniors.	12
13	Colonial while still 1 bid league, likes of odu, n'eastern, gmu, and vcu are all quality	14
14	Sun Belt more then just wku, the entire east division is solid	17
15	MAAC siena, niagara, and rider all have postseason hopes	13
16	WCC gonzaga and smc both worse then season ago	15
17	MAC #'s should be better than last year, but west division still a struggle	21
18	Big West led by up-and-coming long beach state. always finish around this #.	18
19	Summit darling ndsu loses a lot, so usual contenders like oru and oakland should be at forefront again	26
20	Big Sky with exception of sacramento st, this is a solid league top to bottom.	24
21	Southland underrated league always good for some non-conference upsets	19
22	Ivy cornell will be the best the ivy has offered in quite some years	29
23	Southern steph curry's departure opens up door for charleston	20
24	America East decimation of binghamton will hurt league #'s	16
25	Atlantic Sun the league's upper half is as solid as it's been for a few years	27
26	Patriot could use a rebound from former top gun bucknell.	22
27	OVC morehead st continues its improbable rise..	23
28	Big South outside of radford, not much to get excited about here..	25
29	NEC nec hasn't had much going for it in recent years	28
30	MEAC as usual, will battle swac for title of country's worst	30
31	SWAC solid jackson st gives swac hope of surpassing meac	31

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Akron Basketball Preview: #68

Joel Welser — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:36:48 -0400

Overall Rank: #68

Conference Rank: #1 Mid-American Conference

2008-09: 23-13, 10-6

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Keith Dambrot (115-51 at Akron, 223-121 overall)

Akron has won 20 games for four straight seasons and 2009-2010 should not put an end to that streak. Coach Keith Dambrot has done a great job with the Zips and it culminated last year a trip to the NCAA Tournament. And the only loss from the 2008-2009 team is forward Nate Linhart. While Linhart was the only player to start all 36 games last year and he was the team’s top rebounder, he is replaceable now that everybody else is a year older and a year wiser.

Key Losses: F Nate Linhart

Key Newcomers:

Zeke Marshall is garnering all the attention around the MAC recruiting circles. By most accounts, he is the best recruit ever to sign with a MAC team. The 7-0 center may not score a ton of points right away, but he is a superb rebounder and shot blocker. Marshall’s 7-5 wingspan will make it extremely difficult for any other team in the conference to consistently get into the paint and if he is not starting from day one, he will be playing quality minutes. Guard Alex Sullivan will also be suiting up this season after redshirting during the 2008-2009 campaign.

Backcourt:

Linhart did a lot of things well, especially on the defensive end, but he was also a quality outside shooter and ranked second on the team in scoring. Much of the scoring and shooting slack will have to be picked up by Darryl Roberts. The 6-0 senior was the Zips most consistent outside shooter last year and he should get more opportunities this year. If he can keep shooting 39.8 percent from long range and occasionally get to the basket, or the line where he shot 92.6 percent last season, Roberts could emerge as the team’s go-to-guy on the perimeter.

Frontcourt:

The leading scorer on the team last year was not even a starter. Brett McKnight tallied 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest and started just two games. The 6-6 junior will likely step into the small forward spot this year and replace Linhart in the starting lineup. McKnight’s brother, Chris, will likely join him in the frontcourt. Chris, who is 6-7, is a little tougher under the basket and will be the team’s interior scorer, at least until Marshall comes around. Nikola Cvetinovic, Jimmy Conyers and Mike Bardo all started at least ten games last year and they will give the frontcourt a ton of experienced and talented depth that Coach Dambrot will use.

Who to Watch:

Anthony Hitchens was forced into the starting point guard role as a freshman and did a decent job. However, Steve McNees can play there as well and Ronnie Steward is back after missing all but six games last year due to an injury. That gives the Zips three ball handlers. Depending on the competition, Akron can move Hitchens, who averaged 8.8 points last season, off the ball and let Steward or McNees run the point. That will allow the younger McKnight to once again come in off the bench since he will lack the foot speed to defend some smaller small forwards in the conference.

Final Projection:

And Coach Dambrot prides himself on defense. If Brett McKnight is not defending properly at the three spot, he will not be playing there. At times Akron’s offense was inconsistent, but they almost always stuck around because of their stellar defense. And in a conference like the MAC, when it will come down to four days in Cleveland for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, the Zips need to find more offensive consistency by the end of the season.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Anthony Hitchens, Sophomore, Guard, 8.8 points per game

Darryl Roberts, Senior, Guard, 8.3 points per game

Brett McKnight, Junior, Forward, 11.2 points per game

Chris McKnight, Senior, Forward, 9.2 points per game

Zeke Marshall, Freshman, Center, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
69		70		71		72

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

Buffalo Basketball Preview: #82

Joel Welser — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:50:33 -0400

Overall Rank: #82

Conference Rank: #2 Mid-American Conference

2008-09: 21-12, 11-5

2008-09 postseason: CBI

Coach: Reggie Witherspoon (126-171 at Buffalo, 126-171 overall)

Buffalo certainly does not lack in depth. Ten players averaged at least ten minutes per game last year and nine of those players earned at least one start. Of the ten players who were in the regular rotation, seven are back. Add a couple newcomers who can contribute and Coach Reggie Witherspoon has at least ten players who can give him quality minutes. The rest of the team is a year older and a year wiser and will be right in the mix for a Mid-American Conference title.

Key Losses: C Vadim Fedotov, G Greg Gamble, G Andy Robinson

Key Newcomers:

Zach Filzen should make the biggest impact amongst the newcomers. The transfer from Northern Arizona is a great shooter and this is a team that could use a consistent shooting threat, even if it is off of the bench. Point guard Tony Watson is a decent recruit who can handle the ball and shoot. He should battle for the starting point guard job and will at least see some minutes off the bench. Fellow guard Milton Chavis is a good athlete, but there might not be much playing time left for him.

Backcourt:

Chavis will have to battle with Sean Smiley for minutes off the bench behind Rodney Pierce and Calvin Betts. Pierce was the only player on the team who averaged over ten points per game and he should be able to do that again. Pierce may not be the most consistent long range shooter around, but he can hit the three-point shot. However, it is his ability to get to the basket that makes him such a dynamic scorer. Betts is a 6-3 wing who can do a little bit of everything. He was a consistent outside shooter last season and ranked second on the team in scoring and led the squad in rebounding.

Frontcourt:

Usually it is a bad sign when a 6-3 guard leads the team in rebounding, but that is not really the case with the Bulls. Max Boudreau, Titus Robinson, Jawaan Alston and Mitchell Watt are not all bad rebounders. They just did not put up huge numbers because Coach Reggie Witherspoon had so many frontcourt players that he could rotate them in and out and always keep them fresh. Robinson and Watt were just freshmen last season and both could turn into much more productive players with a year of experience under their belt. In the meantime, Boudreau will be the star of the frontcourt after averaging 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds last year.

Who to Watch:

The biggest issue is replacing Greg Gamble at the point. Senior John Boyer is the experienced option. He has not played too much during his collegiate career with Buffalo, but he is a smart player who can keep the team under control and get the ball to the scorers. Byron Mulkey is also a senior, but he has played even less. Boyer will get the first shot at winning the job and is certainly the safest option. The Bulls do not need their point guard to average 8.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game like Gamble did last season, they just need him to control the tempo and keep the turnovers down and Boyer will likely be able to do that better than Watson.

Final Projection:

This team will miss Gamble and Andy Robinson. Robinson was not a typical sixth man, but he could provide an offensive spark. The Bulls hope Smiley and his outside shooting can provide that spark this year. The biggest issue is finding a player who can get to the basket and create open looks for their teammates. At times, many times, last year this offense was stagnant. If Pierce and Betts cannot create shots, hopefully Filzen or Watson can. Otherwise this team will miss out on the NCAA Tournament once again.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

John Boyer, Senior, Guard, 2.8 points per game

Rodney Pierce, Senior, Guard, 14.3 points per game

Calvin Betts, Senior, Guard, 9.1 points per game

Max Boudreau, Senior, Forward, 6.1 points per game

Mitchell Watt, Sophomore, Forward, 3.6 points per game

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

The Ultimate Schedule: MAC West

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:08:38 -0400

MAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

Week 1: Western Michigan @ Michigan (September 5^th)

The Wolverines have made news in advance of the season opener due to head coach Rich Rodriguez’s proclamation that three quarterbacks will see time. If that’s for game plan reasons or the fact that none of the three (Tate Forcier, Nick Sheridan and Denard Robinson) has separated from the others then OK. But if it’s a case of overconfidence, thinking that the visit from the Broncos is nothing more than a formality they’d better talk to their conference brethren in Champaign. Bill Cubit’s team should not be overlooked, especially with QB Tim Hiller throwing and RB Brandon West throwing the football. If the Broncos can find ample replacements for the eight departed starters on defense look out.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Arizona (9/5), Toledo @ Purdue (9/5)

Week 2: Central Michigan @ Michigan State (September 12^th)

Another matchup between Michigan schools, with the task being far tougher for the Chippewas. Michigan State is picked by many to finish third in the Big Ten despite the loss of RB Javon Ringer. The Spartans have one of the better defenses in the conference with LB Greg Jones leading the way, and Mark Dantonio’s team doesn’t shy away from physical football. How well Butch Jones’ team deals with the hard-nosed style of play will dictate the flow of the game. If the Chippewas can keep the ball in the hands of Dan LeFevour and control the tempo they can win. If they allow the Spartans to slug away at will, it will be a long day in East Lansing.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Indiana (9/12)

Week 3: Northern Illinois @ Purdue (September 19^th)

Another Big Ten matchup, and just like Western’s opener at Michigan the visiting team has more than a puncher’s chance to leave with the victory. The Boilermakers, in their first season under Danny Hope, lost quite a bit on both sides of the football and were picked to finish tenth in the Big Ten this season. Jerry Kill’s Huskies have more than enough defense to compete for the division crown; whether or not they’re truly a part of the race with CMU and WMU will depend largely upon the improvements made on offense. Can NIU keep up with a team that likes to put the ball in the air like Purdue? It’s a pretty good test considering what they’ll go up against in conference play.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Army (9/19), Toledo vs. Ohio State (9/19 in Cleveland), Miami @ Western Michigan (9/19)

Week 4: Ball State @ Auburn (September 26^th)

The final Saturday in September sends Stan Parrish’s Cardinals to The Plains to take on an Auburn program in transition. Gene Chizik replaced the resigned Tommy Tuberville, and it too a little while for some natives to accept the fact that Auburn hired a man who was 5-19 in two years at Iowa State. Better athletes and a better recruiting base should help his cause in getting the Tigers back to competing for SEC championships. As for Parrish, who was the offensive coordinator last season, he’ll have to break in a new quarterback in Kelly Page but RB MiQuale Lewis does return. It’ll be too much to ask of the Cardinals to win at Auburn, but they could hang around for a bit.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Central Michigan (9/26), Toledo @ FIU (9/26)

Week 5: Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois (October 3^rd)

If the Huskies want to entertain any thoughts of winning the division they’ll need to defend their home turf when the Broncos roll into DeKalb. WMU won last year’s meeting by just three points despite the fact that the Huskies were breaking in a new quarterback and getting used to a new head coach. Now Jerry Kill can look at QB Chandler Harnish and know that he’s got enough experience to take the next step in his development. The Broncos have won the last three meetings, but each game has been tight and they were outgained by NIU in the last meeting. The winner takes a big step towards competing for a MAC title while the loser falls behind the 8-ball early.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Buffalo (10/3), Toledo @ Ball State (10/3)

Week 6: Ball State @ Temple (October 10^th)

This is a crossover game that has the chance to be a pretty good one. The two have never met, with Temple just joining the conference in 2007. Ball State has been the best road team in the conference over the past couple of seasons, winning nine straight MAC road contests. If the Owls are to win they’ll have to get more from an offense that ranked dead last in the MAC in total offense in 2008 while Ball State will hope for good play from a defense that returns seven starters. While Temple has hopes of possibly winning the East the Cardinals will hope to reach bowl eligibility.

Other Games Considered: Western Michigan @ Toledo (10/10), Eastern Michigan @ Central Michigan (10/10)

Week 7: Central Michigan @ Western Michigan (October 17^th)

As soon as the media picks for the conference were released this game became the “Game of the Year” within the West Division. The Chippewas won last year’s meeting by ten (38-28) despite Tim Hiller throwing for nearly 500 yards. Western really has no problem putting the ball in the air, but if they can’t get anything out of Brandon West and the running game they become a little too one-dimensional (49 yards rushing against CMU in 2008). If the Broncos can get some balance they’ve got a chance to end their three-game skid in the series. If not, look for the Chippewas to cement themselves as the favorite in the division.

Other Games Considered: Northern Illinois @ Toledo (10/17), Bowling Green @ Ball State (10/17)

Week 8: Buffalo @ Western Michigan (October 24^th)

Depending on what happens in their respective big divisional games (Buffalo at Temple, WMU at Central Michigan) this could be a preview of the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in December. Of the four teams that received votes to win the MAC only the Bulls play all three (Temple, Central Michigan and Western Michigan), and by this point in the season Turner Gill’s team will have seen them all. The Broncos won last season’s meeting in overtime thanks to 345 yards through the air and a defense that limited Buffalo to just 164 yards through the air. WMU will look to control things through the air; if Buffalo can limit that they’ll have a chance to win at Waldo Stadium.

Week 9: Bye Week (October 31^st)

While there are a few intriguing games on the schedule for this weekend it’s a good time to take a week off to prepare for the stretch run. The best conference games look to be Western Michigan visiting Kent State and Ball State hosting Ohio, while Central Michigan gets an upset opportunity at Boston College.

Week 10: Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois (November 5^th)

The Eagles are the one team we haven’t seen to this point in the season so it’s a good opportunity to check out Ron English’s program on a Thursday night in DeKalb. EMU was embarrassed at home in last season’s meeting, losing 37-0 while allowing the Huskies to rush for 235 yards. Of the three teams picked in the top half of the division the Huskies may be the team that the Eagles can hang with longer than anticipated. When the Huskies win in this series they tend to blow out EMU; the Eagles won 21-19 in 2007 and with seventeen starters back they could very well make things interesting.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Michigan State (11/7)

Week 11: Toledo @ Central Michigan (November 11^th)

The Chippewas escaped Toledo last season with a 24-23 win, a departure from the 2007 meeting that saw the Rockets get their doors blown off in the fourth quarter. Rover Barry Church, who seems to have been around for about ten years, will lead a defense for new head coach Tim Beckman that returns seven starters. In regards to the series the Chips have won four straight after losing ten straight to the Rockets, a streak that coincided with the year (2005) in which Brian Kelly got things headed in the right direction in Mount Pleasant. Hopefully for CMU Dan LeFevour will be healthy; last year’s meeting came in between games the senior missed due to injury. The Rockets have a senior quarterback of their own in Aaron Opelt, and while he isn’t considered to be the caliber of LeFevour, he is a capable decision-maker.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Northern Illinois (12/12), Western Michigan @ Eastern Michigan (12/14)

Week 12: Northern Illinois @ Ohio (November 21^st)

We’ve got one more attractive crossover game…that is if you’re a fan of strong running games and solid defense. The last meeting was actually a high-scoring affair, but it’s hard to expect both teams to light up the scoreboard this time around. Ohio QB Theo Scott missed most of 2008 due to a broken collarbone suffered in the season opener, giving Boo Jackson the keys to the offense. There still hasn’t been a decision on who the starter will be but Frank Solich does have two players with experience from which to choose. NIU QB Chandler Harnish should also perform better with a season under his belt, a development that should increase the production of the Husky offense. Not sure how many points will be scored, but expect nothing to be decided until the fourth quarter.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Ball State (11/18), Eastern Michigan @ Toledo (11/20)

Week 13: Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan (November 27^th)

Just like the meeting between the Chippewas and Western Michigan in October, the season finale between CMU and the Huskies will go a long way in deciding who makes the voyage to Detroit. Central Michigan won last season’s meeting 33-30 in overtime, spoiling a furious NIU rally to tie the game at 30 with nineteen seconds remaining in regulation. CMU led 30-6 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter yet needed a field goal from Andrew Aguila to seal the win. Dan LeFevour accounted for more than three hundred yards and four total touchdowns in the win, but it isn’t as if he wasn’t going to be the first line of the NIU scouting report anyway. Expect another entertaining contest, and this time there may be a lot more on the line.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Western Michigan (11/24), Toledo @ Bowling Green (11/27)

Week 14: Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

The conference gets the Friday night spotlight to itself on Championship Weekend, and the pick here is for Central Michigan to close out Dan LeFevour’s career with a conference title. Look for the Chippewas to dethrone reigning champion Buffalo at Ford Field.

The Ultimate Schedule: MAC East

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:12:25 -0400

MAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

Week 1: Troy @ Bowling Green (September 3^rd)

Why not open up the season with the favorite to defend its conference title (Troy of the Sun Belt Conference) visiting a Bowling Green team looking to pick up the first win of the Dave Clawson era? The question for the Falcons is which job will be more representative of Clawson’s offensive gameplan abilities: his years of success at Richmond, or one ill-fated year at Tennessee? Tennessee was a tough situation in 2008, with Phil Fulmer under pressure to win immediately, so it can be understood why the Volunteers struggled (quarterback play didn’t help either). Tyler Sheehan is a capable signal-caller, but he will be tested by the Troy defense. This will be a good measuring stick in the season opener for the Falcons.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Penn State (9/5), Connecticut @ Ohio (9/5), Buffalo @ UTEP (9/5)

Week 2: Pittsburgh @ Buffalo (September 12^th)

Last season the Panthers dropped a game at home to a Bowling Green team that ended up not being as good as thought when the season ended. So what can happen when Pittsburgh visits the defending MAC champion Bulls? Buffalo will hope that they’ve found capable replacements for RB James Starks, who will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum, and Pitt will also be looking for backs to replace the departed LeSean McCoy. The position to watch: wide receiver, where Naaman Roosevelt can hold his own with any wideout on the Pitt roster. Simply put, this is one of the early-season games that can provide the MAC with a BCS “scalp”.

Other Games Considered: Kent State @ Boston College (9/12), Miami @ Boise State (9/12), Bowling Green @ Missouri (9/12)

Week 3: Indiana @ Akron (September 19^th)

Speaking of possible wins against BCS teams, the Zips host an Indiana team picked by the media to finish last in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers dismissed QB Kellen Lewis in a case of taking team chemistry over playmaking ability. Who else is there that can make things happen for the Hoosiers offensively? QB Ben Chappell has a solid season in 2008, but the defense led by DE Jammie Kirlew will be leaned upon heavily in the first month of the season. Akron isn’t a particularly explosive team on offense either, but they do have a solid quarterback in senior Chris Jacquemain. The Zips have never hosted a BCS conference team so expect a frenzied atmosphere despite the predicted level of the opponent.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Penn State (9/19), Miami @ Western Michigan (9/19), Buffalo @ UCF (9/19)

Week 4: Buffalo @ Temple (September 26^th)

Rarely does a game between the two teams expected to vie for the division title take place in the first month of the season. But that’s the scenario that the Bulls and Owls have to deal with, and if this one is as wild as last year’s game then we’re in for a treat. A Hail Mary at the gun from Drew Willy to Naaman Roosevelt won it for the Bulls, who went on to win the entire conference. With nine starters back on defense led by linebackers Amara Kamara and Alex Joseph, the Owls may have more than enough ammunition to slow down the Buffalo attack. The winner goes a long way towards punching their ticket to Ford Field while the loser falls into “hope the winner loses two league games” mode.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Central Michigan (9/26), Miami @ Kent State (9/26), Ohio @ Tennessee (9/26)

Week 5: Central Michigan @ Buffalo (October 3^rd)

While Temple doesn’t play either of the two favorites in the West the Bulls get both, beginning with a visit from the Chippewas on the first Saturday in October. Buffalo nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback in last year’s 27-25 defeat, missing a late field goal after recovering an onside kick. But all-time history isn’t on the side of the Bulls either, who are 3-21 against the West since joining the conference in 1999. The running game played a large factor in last season’s result with the Chips rushing for 208 yards while holding UB to just sixty-six (and that was with James Starks). The Bulls were close thanks to a furious rally; a little offensive balance could be what puts them over the top in the rematch.

Other Games Considered: Ohio @ Bowling Green (10/3), Kent State @ Baylor (10/3)

Week 6: Ohio @ Akron (October 10^th)

How to pick the four teams behind Buffalo and Temple would be anyone’s guess, and the winner of this matchup goes a long way towards finishing third if not challenging for the division title. The Bobcats won a wild battle in Athens 49-42, but the road team hasn’t fared well in the recent history of this series (last win by the road team: 2004) and the Bobcats haven’t won consecutive games over the Zips since the late-90s. It’s also Homecoming for the Zips, who will be playing on campus and that should add something to the atmosphere surrounding the game. Coaches Frank Solich and JD Brookhart are two of the better coaches in the conference, so the strategic aspect should be something to pay attention to as well.

Other Games Considered: Bowling Green @ Kent State (10/10), Miami @ Northwestern (10/10)

Week 7: Bye Week (October 17^th)

The most appealing game on the schedule is Akron visiting Buffalo, but the Bulls have been on the list three times already. Miami’s visit to Athens to take on the Bobcats doesn’t have the look of a game that will have a significant impact on the division race, and the same goes for Bowling Green visiting Ball State.

Week 8: Akron @ Syracuse (October 24^th)

The Zips won last season’s meeting in rather comfortable fashion, racking up 478 yards of offense in the 42-28 win. The question for Syracuse is how much Greg Paulus can help in the passing game. Against Akron the Orange had just 135 yards through the air, offsetting a solid 218 yards on the ground. Doug Marrone should bring more balance to the Syracuse attack, but it remains to be seen what Paulus can produce since he hasn’t taken a live snap since his senior year of high school. Look for Akron DE Almondo Sewell to lead the way in pressuring the former Duke point guard for sixty minutes.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Toledo (10/24), Kent State @ Ohio (10/24) and Northern Illinois @ Miami (10/24)

Week 9: Western Michigan @ Kent State (October 31^st)

The Broncos have dominated the series with the Golden Flashes, winning the last twelve meetings. And it’s not like these have been “close but no cigar” meetings either; WMU has managed to blow out Kent State on a regular basis. And with Tim Hiller back for one more year in Kalamazoo, KSU free safety Brian Lainhart and company will have their hands full in slowing down Bill Cubit’s offense. The Golden Flashes tend to rely heavily upon their run game, and they’ll need to get the job done in order to keep the ball out of the hands of Hiller and company.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Northern Illinois (10/31), Temple @ Navy (10/31)

Week 10: Kent State @ Akron (November 7^th)

Back with the Golden Flashes, this time to watch them take on an Akron team that beat them in overtime last season. The Golden Flashes held a sizeable advantage in yards gained and first downs yet it’s the Zips who possess the Wagon Wheel. Chris Jacquemain and company should be better equipped to put up solid offensive numbers, while Ken State needs to be a little more opportunistic this time around. These two could be fighting for slots in the conference pecking order behind favorites Buffalo and Temple, or they could find a far more lucrative position at the fingertips of the winner.

Other Games Considered: Bowling Green @ Buffalo (11/3), Miami @ Temple (11/7)

Week 11: Bowling Green @ Miami (November 12^th)

The Redhawks have dominated the all-time series with a record of 41-19-5 against the Falcons, who haven’t beaten Miami since 2005. What does Bowling Green need to do in order to end the current run of futility? They can start by shoring up a rush defense that allowed the Redhawks to run for 218 yards in last year’s 27-20 win. To put that into context, the 2-10 Redhawks averaged 107 rushing yards per game, and their second-highest total for a game was 142 in a loss to Kent State. Sometimes, a team simply has your number no matter what the circumstances may be. The hope for Bowling Green is that they can turn the tide in the other direction.

Other Games Considered: Ohio @ Buffalo (11/10), Temple @ Akron (11/13)

Week 12: Kent State @ Temple (November 21^st)

These two teams played an exciting game in 2008, with the Golden Flashes winning 41-38 thanks in large part to 561 yards of offense (329 on the ground). Temple produced just seventy-two yards on the ground and lost the yardage battle by 207 yards yet still found themselves with a chance to win the game late. The Owls finished 2008 dead last in total offense, the lone team unable to average at least three hundred yards per game. By this point in the season people should have a good idea as to whether or not that unit has become any more productive. If so, the Owls could very well find themselves chasing down a division crown.

Other Games Considered: Northern Illinois @ Ohio (11/21), Akron @ Bowling Green (11/20)

Week 13: Toledo @ Bowling Green (November 27^th)

The two schools are separated by just twenty-six miles, meaning that bragging rights take on a more personal feel in the aftermath of this game. The Falcons have won the last two with nearly identical final scores (37-10 in 2007, 38-10 in 2008). Last year’s game saw Bowling Green rack up nearly 300 yards on the ground while holding the Rockets to just sixty-seven yards through the air (Toledo had -1 yards total in the first half) in the final game of the Tom Amstutz era. Toledo senior QB Aaron Opelt will be hoping for a far better result in this year’s battle for the Peace Pipe, as will his teammates.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Ohio (11/27), Buffalo @ Kent State (11/27)

Week 14: Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

MAC Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:49:55 -0400

Can the Bulls repeat as champions?

By Raphielle Johnson

2008 saw the completion to one of the biggest turnarounds in recent college football history, with Turner Gill leading the Buffalo Bulls from the dregs of college football to the top of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls knocked off Ball State in the conference championship game, earning a trip to the International Bowl. They may have lost that game and starting quarterback Drew Willy (graduation), but most importantly they did not lose Coach Gill.

Despite a few interview opportunities he’ll be right back on the sidelines, hoping that players such as WR Naaman Roosevelt and RB Brandon Thermilus (James Starks will likely miss the entire season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder) can lead the Bulls to another title. Zack Maynard takes over for Willy under center, and while he’s got many options to go to with the football he’ll also have to deal with three new starters on the offensive line. Defensively, look for the Bulls to be one of the conference’s stronger units with nine starters returning. The key for Buffalo: avoiding a “hangover” following a season of success the likes of which hadn’t been seen at UB for a very long time.

Their biggest challenger in the East could very well be Temple, another program looking to drag itself up from the bottom of college football. Al Golden’s team went 5-7 in his first year in Philadelphia, but they did win four league games. Adam DiMichele has graduated, but the Owls do have quarterbacks with starting experience in Vaughn Charlton and Chester Stewart. Outside of quarterback the Owls are a solid football team featuring a number of young yet talented options on both sided of the football. Far more competitive than people expected them to be last season, Temple has the talent to challenge the Bulls and possibly win the conference.

Ohio, Akron and Bowling Green could slot in behind those two in any given order, but good luck figuring out which of the three would have the best chance to shove their way into the top two. Ohio will always run the ball and play sound football under Frank Solich, but the growth of the passing game will determine whether or not the Bobcats can win the division. JD Brookhart’s Akron Zips return nine starters on offense with QB Chris Jacquemain leading the way. But in order for Akron to put together their first winning season since 2005 a defense that finished tenth in the MAC in total defense must improve.

Bowling Green welcomes a new head coach in Dave Clawson, who was extremely successful at Richmond before taking over as offensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2008. He will have some dependable options on offense in QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes to work with, but there will be some work to do defensively. A unit that ranked second in the conference in total defense returns just three starters and have to replace all-conference DE Diyral Briggs.

Kent State is another team to keep an eye on, with the Golden Flashes returning fifteen starters, led by the diminutive yet productive RB Eugene Jarvis. Jarvis rushed for just over eight hundred yards in 2008, missing three games due to injury. His health becomes even more important due to the graduation of QB Julian Edelman. Four starters are back on the offensive line, and the defense returns starters at all three levels. The wildcard in regards to their contention for a division crown will be the play of sophomore QB Giorgio Morgan; if he can play mistake-free football the Golden Flashes have a chance to earn their first winning season since 2001.

Miami of Ohio also has a new head coach in Mike Haywood, and he’ll have quite the rebuilding job to do in Oxford. The Redhawks have a proud football history but they’ve finished 2-10 in two of the last three seasons. Senior Daniel Raudabaugh returns to lead the offense, and that unit ranked ahead of only Temple in total offense. The Redhawks weren’t much better defensively, ranking ninth in the conference in total defense. Just five starters return to that unit, led by three returnees in the secondary.

In the West, it’ll most likely be a two-horse race between Central Michigan and Western Michigan. The Chippewas return the conference’s best quarterback in Dan LeFevour, and head coach Butch Jones also has receivers Kito Poblah, Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown back in the fold. But the Chips have just one starter back on the offensive line, and the fact that they have ten starters back on defense is undermined by the fact that CMU was dead last in the conference in total defense last season. If the defense can round into shape they’ve got a chance to get through a tough early-season schedule and get back to the top of the MAC.

As for the Broncos, they’ve got some holes to fill defensively but the offense is in good hands thanks to the return of all five starters on the offensive line and QB Tim Hiller. Hiller threw for 286.5 yards per game in 2008, tops in the conference by thirty yards per game. Brandon West will be back for one more run as well, hoping to improve upon numbers that ranked him sixth in the conference in rushing yards a season ago. The Broncos were fourth in the MAC in total offense but just eighth in total defense. That number has to improve if they’re to win the conference this season.

Northern Illinois was the worst offensive team in the conference yet still reached a bowl game in the first season under Jerry Kill due to a defense that finished tops in the conference by nearly fifty yards per game. Defensive end Larry English is now in the NFL and just four starters return on defense, but things may be looking up for the offense. QB Chandler Harnish started ten games as a freshman and is one of seven starters back on that side of the football. If the NIU offense can make some strides they’ll be in the running for third place in the West.

Toledo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan all welcome new head coaches in 2009, with the Rockets having the best chance of finishing in the top half the of the division. New head coach Tim Beckman takes over a team that returns sixteen starters, including QB Aaron Opelt and running backs Morgan Williams and DaJuane Collins. Growing pains could be more plentiful for Ball State’s Stan Parrish and Eastern Michigan’s Ron English. The Cardinals have just four starters back on an offense that led the MAC in total offense a season ago. The load will become heavier for RB MiQuale Lewis with the loss of QB Nate Davis and four starters on the offensive line.

As for EMU the program has won four games in a season three times this decade. That’s the high-water mark for the perennial MAC doormat, something the former defensive coordinator at Louisville hopes to change. Seventeen starters return to Ypsilanti, including nine to an offense that ranked third in the MAC last season. But no matter how many yards Andy Schmitt threw for the Eagles struggled to win games due to a porous defense. Schmitt did lead the Eagles to an upset win over the Chippewas in the season finale, throwing for 516 yards and five touchdowns in the 56-52 stunner. In the final two games of the season Schmitt attempted 76 (Temple) and 80 (CMU) passes; if he has to do that this year the Eagles will more than likely fail to surpass their three-win total of 2008.

As for who wins the MAC title look for Central Michigan’s defense to show signs of improvement, winning the conference provided LeFevour stay healthy. If not, the door opens for either Buffalo or Western Michigan to grab the title. But rest assured it will be another season of wild games and surprising results in the Mid-American Conference.

Storyline: Offense vs. defense. The Bulls are pretty solid on both sides of the football, but the other major contenders need to make improvements on either the offensive (Temple) or defensive (CMU, WMU) side of the football.

Players of the Year: QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan) and LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan)

How they’ll finish

East 1. Buffalo West 1. Central Michigan

2. Temple 2. Western Michigan

3. Ohio 3. Northern Illinois

4. Akron 4. Toledo

5. Kent State 5. Ball State

6. Bowling Green 6. Eastern Michigan

7. Miami (Ohio)

Next: MAC East and West ultimate schedules

MAC Tournament: Pairings & Schedule

Press Release — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:27:41 -0400

2009 FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Tuesday, March 10 - First Round
No. 7 Central Michigan vs. No. 10 Eastern Michigan, Noon
No. 6 Kent State vs. No. 11 Northern Illinois, 2 p.m.*
No. 8 Western Michigan vs. No. 9 Ohio, 4 p.m.*
No. 5 Akron vs. No. 12 Toledo, 6 p.m.*

Thursday, March 12 - Quarters
No. 2 Ball State vs. No. 7/No. 10 Winner, Noon (FS Ohio)
No. 3 Buffalo vs. No. 6/No.11 Winner, 2:30 p.m.* (FS Ohio)
No. 1 Bowling Green vs. No. 8/No. 9 Winner, 7 p.m. (FS Ohio)
No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5/No. 12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.* (FS Ohio)

Friday, March 13 - Semis
No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 Winner,7:30 p.m. (FS Ohio)
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.(FS Ohio)

Saturday, March 14
Championship Game (ESPN2), 8 p.m. EST

*or 30 minutes following previous game