 Will Miami Repeat? Photo: Jim Klapthor
The previews are for the media and the fans. They give the media a chance to be creative before they have to start writing about actual results. Like if I was to write that either Northern Illinois or Ball State is going to win the MAC this season it would do two things: 1) Get me a lot of attention and 2) Have friends and family trying to convince me to check into Western Psychiatric here in Pittsburgh, because obviously I'd be in dire need of help.
Think I'm being too outrageous?
Just last year one of the better selling preview magazines actually printed that Ronny Thompson would be the MAC's Coach of the Year and turn Ball State around before leaving within two years for a bigger job. Well, at least they got the leaving part right.
My point is that its all just speculation - so I approached MAC Report Online about writing a preview after the better part of the non-conference schedules had been played. Surely this would give us a better idea about teams worthy of some hype and those who should start sending assistants out recruiting on game days because this season is already a wash.
MAC Report Online liked the idea and agreed to let me write it - SUCKERS!
This is the MAC after all, where nothing is ever very clear except the fact that once again, barring any amazing mid-to-late December results, the league is again looking at one bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Who will get that bid? Not sure, but why don't we start with who won't get it.
No Way
 Ball State (0-8) - The Cardinals are playing hard for new coach Billy Taylor but they just don't have enough bodies or talent right now. In a perfect world, Cardinals' senior guard Peyton Stovall would have the chance to go out a champion. Instead, he'll have to settle for being the classiest representative of Ball State I've ever talked to - not a bad legacy to leave.
 Northern Illinois (2-7) - Ricardo Patton's assistants should be scouring high school and junior college gyms throughout the Illinois/Missouri territory. They need to upgrade their talent big-time.
Miracles Can Happen...But Probably Not
 Buffalo (5-4) - I watched the Bulls here in Pittsburgh not too long ago and they were overwhelmed. After losing two straight to Niagara (solid team) and a Pitt team that should again be in the top 3-4 in the Big East, the young Bulls bounced back with three straight home wins against Canisius, Tulane, and Evansville before being beaten by Florida International 76-63. The Bulls open MAC play with a murderous schedule and we should know by January 20th how much those five wins really mean.
 Bowling Green (4-4) - The Falcons will be a fun team to watch as they get more comfortable with Louis Orr's style. The injury bug has again bitten the Falcons though, losing 4-man Erik Marschall for the season. There's some talent there but I'm not sure it's enough right now. Even more important, can it mesh?
 Eastern Michigan (4-4) - It's the third year of the Charles Ramsey era. Losing Brandon Bowdry for the year hurt, but the Eagles have shown some spunk early in winning two straight on the road in New York - the more impressive of the two at Draddy Gym against Manhattan. Talented sophomore post Justin Dobbins has turned in some big nights already, while Jesse Bunkley is proving night in and night out why he can't be left alone at the three-point line. Carlos Medlock is back to run the show while Jarred Axon is giving them quality minutes off the bench. JUCO transfer Wendale Farrow looks like a glue guy. The Eagles could be right there in the weaker West. With a healthy Bowdry, EMU moves up a category.
Friday Night in Cleveland -- Semi-Finalist Hopefuls
 Ohio (5-2) - Tim O'Shea's crew lost two heartbreakers on the road early to Holy Cross (62-60) and Temple (90-88). The 'Cats will now leave Athens for an extended road trip. First up is a Wednesday night date at Maryland followed by a Saturday afternoon contest against Kansas (in Kansas City). The fellas will then fly to Hawaii for the Rainbow Classic - shout out to my boy Kaipo! The only thing that worries me with the Bobcats is point guard play. They have everything else. Justin Orr is a great addition while the vets - Walther, Williams and Tillman - form a talented nucleus.
 Akron (6-2) - The Zips are hard to figure because of their schedule. They've beaten Temple and Wyoming at home and lost to Winthrop on the road. I put them here for two reasons - 1) Keith Dambrot can coach with the best of them and 2) Jeremiah Wood is capable of being the most dominant player in the MAC - if he wants to be.
 Central Michigan (3-5) - Nate Minnoy is starting to come on, while Giordan Watson is pretty much unstoppable off the dribble and pulling up. They have a tough and talented eight-or-nine man rotation that will be tough to deal with as MAC play drags on. They've struggled some early. If sophomore Marko Spica decides to buy in it could make a world of difference because he's an extremely talented big.
 Toledo (2-7) - One of their two wins is an impressive one over Missouri State. Watched them play here last weekend. They have some young size that's getting quality minutes against big-time competition on the road. Tyrone Kent is becoming a star for them but it has got to be tough for him at the point -- he could attack the basket even more in my opinion. The Rockets have played a difficult schedule and are always tough in Savage Hall.
 Western Michigan (4-5) - Some good wins (Davidson) and some confounding losses (Northwestern). Teams continue to kill them from the three-point line and with dribble penetration. Might be wise to zone up every now and then. Joe Reitz always brings it. David Kool needs to get off more and earlier offensively, while Shawntes Gary needs to play with some consistency. Quite frankly, they're a mystery right now. SIU is coming into the ‘Zoo soon but not before a tough road game at IUPUI.
C.R.E.A.M - or - Best Bets To Benefit Most From That Fat NCAA Check
 Kent State (8-2) - Impressive wins over Saint Louis and George Mason - albeit both at home. The Flashes are a deep team with all kinds of talent for the MAC. Can they stay together for the whole season? Jim Christian has already had to deal with some discipline problems early on. But those usually tend to go away once MAC play starts.
 Miami (4-3) - Best MAC win of the year over Xavier. RedHawks also beat Mississippi State and took Louisville to the wire. Loss to Dayton shouldn't have happened had they not self-destructed down the stretch. Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz are the best duo in the MAC and are also surrounded by guys who seem to get it to this point. Coaches around the MAC will be tested to come up with ways to stop either of them (they run a lot of their offense right through Pollitz).
So there you have it - one man's take on the consistently inconsistent MAC.
Just remember, it's probably not worth much!
(Note: Ray Mernagh, a frequent contributor to MAC Report Online, is the author of the book 1 Chance To Dance: A Season Inside Mid-Major Hoops in Mid-America, an insider's chronicle of one season in Mid-American Conference basketball and is the publisher of HoopWise.com. Mernagh is considered by many to be the foremost authority on mid-major collegiate hoops in America today.)
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