Does anyone else realize that we will likely be favored in every single remaining game we play in the MAC regular season?

We've got Kent St and Buffalo at home.

BGSU and Miami on the road...both of which are struggling somewhat this year. Both will be tough, but I think we might be favored by a couple of points.

We still have to play all of our West games on the road yet. However, there isn't a team in the division that is clearly ahead of WMU at this point.

Is it possible we lock down and 11-2 or better the rest of the way? That would put us at 12-4 and a likely top 4 seed in Cleveland.

Does anyone see this happening?

If this team wasn't so prone to going into complete scoring slumps I would think this would be possible. They always play great defense... but there are games where they just can't get anything to fall...

Ummmmmmmm. NO!

I think we will be lucky to finish up 8-5, which would put us at 10-7. Which still might be better than we had originally thought to start the season.

Seems like BS should always be favored at home.

(01-17-2013 11:27 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  If this team wasn't so prone to going into complete scoring slumps I would think this would be possible. They always play great defense... but there are games where they just can't get anything to fall...

This. If DB and Richie can provide consistent offense off the bench, I think the ceiling becomes closer to that 11-2 EA3 thinks is possible. That's a big if however. I'm also concerned that teams with good front court depth will wear us out if Whittington or Paul get into foul trouble. If we become a perimeter-oriented team with those guys stuck in foul trouble, we're not going to win many games.

Here's kenpom's mathematical predictions:

The three losses are closes losses though. 1 point to CMU, 1 point to BGSU and 2 points to Toledo

I think we will drop at least one of the Buffalo/Kent State duo, probably fall at Ball State and lose to either Toledo or CMU on the road.

Our remaining home schedule:

EMU
CMU
Ball St
NIU
Kent
Buffalo

Remaining road:

@NIU
@Ball St
@Toledo
@CMU
@EMU
@BGSU
@Miami

I think we win out at home. The road is completely different. Going 5-2 is gonna be tough...but I am reminded that none of those teams would be considered a top 4 team in the MAC right now.

(01-17-2013 01:18 PM)dunkface Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 11:27 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  If this team wasn't so prone to going into complete scoring slumps I would think this would be possible. They always play great defense... but there are games where they just can't get anything to fall...

This. If DB and Richie can provide consistent offense off the bench, I think the ceiling becomes closer to that 11-2 EA3 thinks is possible. That's a big if however. I'm also concerned that teams with good front court depth will wear us out if Whittington or Paul get into foul trouble. If we become a perimeter-oriented team with those guys stuck in foul trouble, we're not going to win many games.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Saturday against Ohio, it was noticeable when those guys werent in the game that we really didnt have a whole lot of scoring options on the floor. Had it not been for Kleins aggressiveness I dont know how we would have scored for a much of that game.

I read the other thread about the Freshman doing well. I think they are doing ok. But I just dont think they are going to be enough to take us to the next level in the MAC. Paul, yes. He is a stud and is only going ot get better. Klein is starting to get his feet under him and show that he belongs and will be pretty good. As for most of the other guys, it just seems like we have a bunch of 6' 3" white kids that cant jump, arent overly athletic and might not be quite at the level we need. Yes, they can all be solid contributors, but I dont see them being anything special. Problem is, with 7 of them in the rotation, this is what we are stuck with for the foreseeable future, so we best hope they can develop into something special.

Well... the EMU, CMU, Ball St and Toledo fan bases all think they can make a run at winning the West. Not that it's a great achievement or something.

It doesn't matter. WMU will be knocked out of the conference tourney by the second round.

(01-17-2013 02:51 PM)Nacho Wrote:  It doesn't matter. WMU will be knocked out of the conference tourney by the second round.

Um, yeah it does matter. If they get a 3 or 4 seed...they get a bye directly to the quarterfinals...hence avoiding the first and second rounds all together.

(01-17-2013 03:02 PM)EA3 Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 02:51 PM)Nacho Wrote:  It doesn't matter. WMU will be knocked out of the conference tourney by the second round.

Um, yeah it does matter. If they get a 3 or 4 seed...they get a bye directly to the quarterfinals...hence avoiding the first and second rounds all together.

They will still find a way to lose by the second round.

Quote:Paul, yes. He is a stud and is only going ot get better. Klein is starting to get his feet under him and show that he belongs and will be pretty good. As for most of the other guys, it just seems like we have a bunch of 6' 3" white kids that cant jump, arent overly athletic and might not be quite at the level we need.

OK

Who is going to tell AJ and CH3?

(01-17-2013 05:27 PM)ESSSS Wrote:  

Quote:Paul, yes. He is a stud and is only going ot get better. Klein is starting to get his feet under him and show that he belongs and will be pretty good. As for most of the other guys, it just seems like we have a bunch of 6' 3" white kids that cant jump, arent overly athletic and might not be quite at the level we need.

OK

Who is going to tell AJ and CH3?

They are in the Lennay category until we see them on the court.

(01-17-2013 10:50 AM)EA3 Wrote:  Does anyone else realize that we will likely be favored in every single remaining game we play in the MAC regular season?

We've got Kent St and Buffalo at home.

BGSU and Miami on the road...both of which are struggling somewhat this year. Both will be tough, but I think we might be favored by a couple of points.

We still have to play all of our West games on the road yet. However, there isn't a team in the division that is clearly ahead of WMU at this point.

Is it possible we lock down and 11-2 or better the rest of the way? That would put us at 12-4 and a likely top 4 seed in Cleveland.

Does anyone see this happening?

As of now kenpom has us favored in the remaining MAC games: