Tag it:

?

1. Kent State  (18-9, 9-3) (LW: 1)
The fatigued Flashes have to be happy to finally be home for a while after traveling about 2,000 thousand miles in roughly 10 days.  Even with tired legs, they managed to pull off a late rally in Kalamazoo to tie Miami for first place in the East.  It was also their best defensive showing in a couple weeks.  Kent now owns the tiebreaker over Western Michigan and Miami does not.  Both schools are sure to keep an eye (while claiming they're not) on the West race down the stretch.  KSU also owns the most favorable schedule down the stretch with three games in the comforts in the Memorial Athletic Center and the only road affair at fading Bowling Green.
This week: Buffalo (Thursday), Ohio (Saturday)

2. Miami (14-13, 9-3) (LW: 3)
This season has been one of Charlie Coles' finest coaching jobs, despite what his detractors would claim.  Instead of falling out of the race like I expected after losing Quinten Rollins and Antonio Ballard, they instead rallied and charged to the top of the East.  Freshmen Josh Sewell and Jon Harris have stepped into the void and performed admirably.  Still, I remain skeptical on the prospects of Bizarro Miami keeping this pace.  The defense remains a liability, even throwing out the James Madison game (which was played with a “Do we really have to do this?” level of intensity from both teams).  They have lost the turnover battle 11 times out of 12 conference games.  These are red flags individually; together, they scream a regression is forthcoming.  The RedHawks, before Saturday's game, rated first in the country in luck by Ken Pomeroy's formulation.  That is, their record exceeded what their performance suggested more than any other team.  After the loss to the Dukes, that dropped to fifth.  Still high.  Miami is probably the conference's best rebounding team, and that has seen them through a number of games (particularly the opener at Ohio).  They're also a very good shooting team.  But what happens when they don't get hot?  At some point, they won't be able to climb out of the early holes they're consistently finding themselves in.  The schedule is not favorable either, with two tough road games and a home date with a resurgent Ohio squad.
This week: @Akron (Wednesday), Bowling Green (Saturday)

3. Akron (17-10, 7-5) (LW: 6)
Welcome back, Akron.  The Zips are officially the conference's hottest team, winners of five straight after a solid home victory over Creighton.  I said I wanted to see them put up points against better competition than the West had to offer.  In response, they went to Anderson Arena and had one of the best offensive performances in school history.  To illustrate: 1.40 points per offensive possession (tied for the 61st best effort by any team in any game this season in D-I), an effective field goal percentage of 69%, 1.42 points per weighted shot, a team assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.9, an assisted basket percentage of 71.9%, and rebounded 45.8% of their uncommon misses.  Against Creighton, a team that defends decently, they had 1.022 O-PPP.  It's safe to say they've figured out some of their offensive woes.  Add in their rock-solid defense, and this is a squad in position to make a run at the East title.  They have a great chance with home games against Miami and Buffalo.  Will they have the opportunity to avenge last year's loss to Kent State in the season finale?  ESPN2 sure hopes so.
This week: Miami (Wednesday), Buffalo (Saturday)

4. Western Michigan (15-11, 7-5) (LW: 4)
Another heartbreaking loss to Kent for the Broncos.  Surprisingly, they could only draw even on the boards with the Flashes.  It was the first time this season they lost surrendering less than a point per defensive possession.  Tough night.  Still, they remain tied for first in the West and winners of five of the last seven.  They did not take care of business the first time through their division.  Have they grown up and are now ready to face the challenge?  A direct path to Cleveland awaits.
This week: Toledo (Wednesday), @Eastern Michigan (Sunday)

5. Buffalo (16-9, 7-5) (LW: 2)
Bulls fans are breathing a deep sigh of relief after a complete game against Milwaukee.  When your eFG% is 21 points better than your opponent's, that's a good sign.  The win makes it easier to consider the Ohio loss the wake-up call; the Eastern Michigan loss should have been.  It better be, as this is a make-or-break week for UB.  Simply put, they need to win in Kent.  If not, they go to Akron needing a win just to stay above .500 - and with confidence plummeting.  That is a scenario Reggie Witherspoon wants to avoid at all costs.
This week: @Kent State (Thursday), @Akron (Saturday)

6. Ohio (14-13, 6-6) (LW: 7)
Don't look now, but this is a Bobcat team that appears to be putting things together.  The defense still isn't great and needs to keep improving, but the currently nigh-unstoppable offense is more than making up for it.  Amazingly, OU is still in the mix for a bye after going 1-4 against the East the first time around.  That is unlikely to happen again.  Can the shooting and ball movement make up for the lack of rebounding?  That's the biggest question.  It doesn't hurt to have two of the country's best three-point shooters, Tommy Freeman and Nick Kellogg, in a scheme designed to give them plenty of opportunities to bomb away.
This week: Bowling Green (Wednesday), @Kent State (Saturday)

7. Bowling Green (12-15, 7-5) (LW: 5)
The Falcons are in freefall mode after getting decimated by Akron and losing to Youngstown State, a team with a 2-14 record in the Horizon League.  Their defensive effectiveness has completely vanished; in three of the last five games, they've allowed at least 1.1 D-PPP.  They have a hard week on the road.  If they drop both, then what?  Does the House That Roars close with a whimper?
This week: @Ohio (Wednesday), @Miami (Saturday)

8. Ball State (15-11, 7-5) (LW: 8)
Playing Toledo will do a lot to soothe one's wounds.  A close game at a pretty good Wofford was heartening.  The Cardinals are favored in their remaining games, with Western Michigan standing as the exception.  Can they rally after a demoralizing trip through the East?  They have to recommit to defense.  Randy Davis ranks 15th in the nation in assist rate (38%).
This week: Eastern Michigan (Wednesday), @Central Michigan (Saturday)

9. Central Michigan (8-18, 5-7) (LW: 9)
The Chippewas have been awful all season long.  Just when I thought they were approaching mere badness, they play a meek final 13 minutes at Niagara, another awful team.  Trey Zeigler's freshman year is almost over, so you'd like to see some demonstrable improvement or consistency, but it's not there.  He will put together two or three poor games, bust out for one game, then follow it up with another poor game.  His free throw percentage is down to 54.2%.  Derek Jackson, on the other hand, is 50% from the field in the last three games.
This week: @Northern Illinois (Wednesday), Ball State (Saturday)

10. Eastern Michigan (8-18, 4-8) (LW: 9)
The Eagles' win over Jacksonville State gives them two wins in three tries against Division I competition for the first time in a year.  Brandon Bowdry continues to be all they have on offense.  He is using 34.7% of EMU's possessions and taking 34.9% of their shots when he's on the floor, both national top 10 figures.  He's also drawing 7.4 fouls per 40, 18th in the country.
This week: @Ball State (Wednesday), Western Michigan (Sunday)

11. Northern Illinois (7-18, 3-9) (LW: 11)
The Huskies managed just 12 points against Seattle in the first half.  This was at home.  Xavier Silas only scored 13 points last week.  Has he finally succumbed to the weight of carrying the team every night?  NIU is getting worse, not better.
This week: Central Michigan (Wednesday), @Toledo (Saturday)

12. Toledo (4-23, 1-11) (LW: 12)
The Rockets' fortunes continue to spite them, losing two more men for the rest of the season.  NIU probably represents their best chance to pick up a fifth win.  That's going to be the kind of basketball only a mother could love.
This week: @Western Michigan (Wednesday), Northern Illinois (Saturday)

J. Scott Fitzwater is a regular contributor to MAC Report Online.  Send him an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and follow him on Twitter @jscottfitzwater.