Timily’s Blog

The college basketball season is well underway and things are heating up in the MAC conference.  Kent State remains on top in the MAC with a 6-1 record.  They have been unstoppable at home as they are now 11-0 at home this season.  Their one loss in the MAC came on the road at Ohio.  Their most recent win came against East Michigan witha  final of 77-67 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  They have the team and the talent to win the MAC this year, but will still face a few tests before the season ends.  Their toughest games left are a game against Ohio in Kent State and a road game at Akron.  But don’t count out other MAC teams as anything can happen.

Akron survived a tough battle in the first half against Toledo at home, but wound up winning 68-52.  They trailed by 5 at the half, but outscored the Rockets 40-19 in the second half to go to 5-2 in the MAC.  While Akron is a good team they are shaky at times.  A loss at home to Portland State early in the season had most fans counting Akron out, but they have come out strong, but with close wins against Buffalo and Ohio.  They still have tough games coming up at West Michigan and at Ohio.  They also have a home game against Kent State.  This will be a chance for Akron to prove if they have what it takes to win the MAC, especially since they had a really tough road loss at Central Michigan a week ago.

Then comes the Ohio Bobcats who also have a 5-2 record in the MAC.  After a shaky 1-2 start in the conference the Bobcats are riding a four game winning streak after beating Central Michigan 62-47 in Athens and are going into Northern Illinois this weekend.  They need to prove themselves on the road because this is where Ohio struggles most in the MAC.  The Convo has been good to OU as they have not lost there yet this year, but had a close 2 point win over Ball State at home.  Ohio has a team of talent with one of the MAC’s best players in Leon Williams who had yet another double-double in their most recent game.  Now Ohio takes to the road for two games and they need to prove they can win on the road if they want a shot at the MAC title.

Western Michigan once again leads the MAC West, but in the MAC that’s not saying much.  Their first battle against a MAC East team was against Kent State in which the Broncos couldn’t pull through.  Their most recent game was at Buffalo when they prevailed 100-90 after going to two overtimes.  While this is a good win on the road it’s against a Buffalo team who are 0-7 in the MAC this year.  They will have to prove themselves as they play the rest of the MAC East teams in the next few weeks and it won’t be easy.

Without a doubt Bowling Green has been a surprise team this year.  After being 3-13 in the MAC last year they have started this year with a 5-2 record in the MAC.  After suffering a humiliating 80-44 loss to Akron, BGSU is on a three game winning streak after winning at Ball State  63-53.  Now they take that streak to Western Michigan where they will have a tough game to play.  Not to mention they still have to play at Miami and at Ohio so their road to the MAC title on’t be easy.

The defending MAC champion Miami Redhawks find themselves with a losing record in the conference at 3-4.  After going 1-4 against fellow MAC East teams they have won the past two against the MAC West teams Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois.  While they are trying to get their record back on track they will still have to go through the MAC East again with their toughest road game at Kent State.  Not to mention they will still have to play at Western Michigan to round out the MAC West games.  This will not be easy for them as they have just three road wins this season and only one of those is the in the MAC.

This rounds out the top half of the MAC as far as standings go.  The rest of the MAC consists of the constantly losing MAC West.  Central Michigan had a noticeable win against Akron, but they will need a lot more than that.  Below them are Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Northeren Illinois, and Ball State who constantly feed wins to the MAC East.  Then at the bottom of the MAC is Buffalo who have jsut not played well at all, they can’t seem to find a way to win.  No wins against the MAC teams this season.  Their most notable win would probably be a double digit win against Tulane or a win against South Florida, both at home.  No road wins for Buffalo however so don’t expect much out of this team anymore this year.  Pray that your not the first MAC team to lose to them.  Just as the Ravens wished they weren’t the first loss to the Dolphins.

So who will win the MAC?  That’s never a clear answer.  Statistically I would have to give it to the Kent State Golden Flashes, but as Miami proved last year you don’t have to have a good MAC record to go the dance.  Akron will be looking for revenge after going 26-7 last year and getting snubbed from going to the dance after Miami beat them.  The Bobcats have a legitimate chance as well.  If they play like they did against Maryland then look out Cleveland because the Bobcats will be rolling at the Quicken Loans Arena.  Then there is Bowling Green who surprises everyone by being good this year could they make us even more shocked by pulling out with the MAC title?  Miami could ride their freak train through Cleveland again like they did last year, but don’t count on it.  The only other MAC team that has a chance I’d say would be West Michigan if they could prove to us that the MAC West isn’t completely worthless.  Other than that it would be nothing short of a miracle if any other team won, especially Buffalo.

My prediction right now?  Ohio and Kent State are the top two contenders for it, but Ohio beat Kent State in their only meeting this year so give the edge to them.  If Ohio can win at Kent State and keep that rolling in the MAC tournament, then say hello to the 2008 MAC Champions.