Yes, only two games in at most but how do you see the basketball race now?

1. Ohio
2. Akron
3. Miami
4. Buffalo
5. Toledo
6. Eastern Michigan
7. Kent
8. Ball State
9. Bowling Green
10. Central Michigan
11. Northern Illinois
12. Western Michigan

I do believe folks are sleeping on Akron.

My rankings would be similar. Where Akron is really strong is in their depth. They have 9 players that would get meaningful minutes on pretty much any MAC roster.

Toledo couldnt have played sloppier with less effort last weekend and still almost beat Kent. Id say Ohio and UT are top two in talent. But Ive seen enough Toledo basketball to know that could be a trend, meaning we arent better than middle of the pack anyhow. No one should beat us in Savage.

Ohio not in top three. Scored but 59 points against WMU. Lacks depth.

Akron has two exceptional players in Ali and Freeman. Believe they lack sufficient quality players in their depth chart. But still a team to keep
our eye on.

Toledo has a terrific offensive system that produces easy hoops. Disrupt Toledo’s offense or shut down Rollins, and UT stdggles to score 70 points.. Easier said than done.

MOH is not a top three team.

Don’t write Buffalo off as yet.

EMU is still a work in progress. Has the defense, offensive players and depth. Potential to be a deadly small ball team. Worth keeping an eye on especially if they win their first three conference games.

Castaneda and Trimble aren't quality? Lol ok

(01-03-2022 04:28 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Toledo couldnt have played sloppier with less effort last weekend and still almost beat Kent. Id say Ohio and UT are top two in talent. But Ive seen enough Toledo basketball to know that could be a trend, meaning we arent better than middle of the pack anyhow. No one should beat us in Savage.

I was going to say the same thing about the Flashes. Played like crap, couldn't shoot--again--and had no coherence, no unity. Only saved by hitting free throws. This team will be a whole lot better once, and if, it gets healthy and all the rotation players get a chance to blend together. But won a game when they played terribly. We'll take it.

I feel I said this in another thread, but there are about 6 teams that I feel have a legitimate chance of winning the MAC this year. No team is all that great and a handful are absolutely terrible. Weakest the MAC has been in a long time.

(01-03-2022 05:49 PM)axeme Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 04:28 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Toledo couldnt have played sloppier with less effort last weekend and still almost beat Kent. Id say Ohio and UT are top two in talent. But Ive seen enough Toledo basketball to know that could be a trend, meaning we arent better than middle of the pack anyhow. No one should beat us in Savage.

I was going to say the same thing about the Flashes. Played like crap, couldn't shoot--again--and had no coherence, no unity. Only saved by hitting free throws. This team will be a whole lot better once, and if, it gets healthy and all the rotation players get a chance to blend together. But won a game when they played terribly. We'll take it.

Thats true and ive only seen Kent play twice for what its worth. It does seem like the talkbakeyness will get them in tech trouble a lot. Toledo has Moss and Saunders each capable of this distraction but Kents whole team appeared to be allowed to do and say as they please. Personally Ive had the live and die by the three teams which Kent has. And although very fun at times, can lead to slumps. I predicted Kent in a 4th to 7th place league team and that remains true to my view.

(01-03-2022 06:35 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 05:49 PM)axeme Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 04:28 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Toledo couldnt have played sloppier with less effort last weekend and still almost beat Kent. Id say Ohio and UT are top two in talent. But Ive seen enough Toledo basketball to know that could be a trend, meaning we arent better than middle of the pack anyhow. No one should beat us in Savage.

I was going to say the same thing about the Flashes. Played like crap, couldn't shoot--again--and had no coherence, no unity. Only saved by hitting free throws. This team will be a whole lot better once, and if, it gets healthy and all the rotation players get a chance to blend together. But won a game when they played terribly. We'll take it.

Thats true and ive only seen Kent play twice for what its worth. It does seem like the talkbakeyness will get them in tech trouble a lot. Toledo has Moss and Saunders each capable of this distraction but Kents whole team appeared to be allowed to do and say as they please. Personally Ive had the live and die by the three teams which Kent has. And although very fun at times, can lead to slumps. I predicted Kent in a 4th to 7th place league team and that remains true to my view.

What is "talkbakeyness"?

(01-03-2022 05:06 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Castaneda and Trimble aren't quality? Lol ok

Not in the same category of Ali and Freeman. Both awful two-point shooters. Not consistent 3-point shooters as both shot poorly on three’s in 4 non-conference games. If they try, opponents lcan shut down their three’s. Also, their defense is suspect.,

(01-03-2022 04:35 PM)Miggy Wrote:  Ohio not in top three. Scored but 59 points against WMU. Lacks depth.

Akron has two exceptional players in Ali and Freeman. Don’t see quality players on their depth chart.

Toledo has a terrific offensive system that produces easy hoops. Disrupt Toledo!s offense and their in trouble. Easier said than done.

MOH is not a top three team.

Don’t write Buffalo off as yet.

EMU is still a work in progress. Has the defense, offensive players and depth. Potential to be a deadly small ball team. Worth keeping an eye on especially if they win their first three conference games.

(01-03-2022 07:34 PM)Miggy Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 05:06 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Castaneda and Trimble aren't quality? Lol ok

Not in the same category of Ali and Freeman. Both awful two-point shooters. Not consistent 3-point shooters as both shot poorly on three’s in 4 non-conference games. If they try, opponents lcan shut down their three’s. Also, their defense is suspect.,

Trimble is 2nd in the MAC in 3s made per game. Castaneda is 5th in ft% and 14th in the 3P%. You don't have to be considered 1st or 2nd team All-MAC to be quality.

(01-03-2022 06:49 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 06:35 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 05:49 PM)axeme Wrote:  

(01-03-2022 04:28 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Toledo couldnt have played sloppier with less effort last weekend and still almost beat Kent. Id say Ohio and UT are top two in talent. But Ive seen enough Toledo basketball to know that could be a trend, meaning we arent better than middle of the pack anyhow. No one should beat us in Savage.

I was going to say the same thing about the Flashes. Played like crap, couldn't shoot--again--and had no coherence, no unity. Only saved by hitting free throws. This team will be a whole lot better once, and if, it gets healthy and all the rotation players get a chance to blend together. But won a game when they played terribly. We'll take it.

Thats true and ive only seen Kent play twice for what its worth. It does seem like the talkbakeyness will get them in tech trouble a lot. Toledo has Moss and Saunders each capable of this distraction but Kents whole team appeared to be allowed to do and say as they please. Personally Ive had the live and die by the three teams which Kent has. And although very fun at times, can lead to slumps. I predicted Kent in a 4th to 7th place league team and that remains true to my view.

What is "talkbakeyness"?

BitchAndComplaineynessToReferees synonym

Now the real season starts. Teams played different schedules non conference so its hard to see head to head where they rank. Ohio won the games they were expected to win(homes games and cupcakes away). They lost the two games they were expected to lose(ranked SEC teams on the road). The question is there was not much in between. Schedule ranked 300 so its fair to say they played a schedule weaker than the MAC regular season slate. MAC looks with open without an true elite team or clear front runner. Ohio and Toledo good but not dominate while inconsistent play from Buffalo, Miami, Akron and Kent State.

Thats a generous rank of Miami bball from the OP. Im skeptical.

oHiO's NoT a ToP tHrEe TeAm.

Ohio with its fourth true road win of the season. Pile up those and those computers start to like a team. 11-2 2-0 MAC 7-0 at home 4-2 away.

(01-04-2022 08:45 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  oHiO's NoT a ToP tHrEe TeAm.

I know, right?! LOL

My prediction early in season:

Ohio
Buffalo
Toledo
Kent St
EMU
Akron
Miami
Ball st

Current RPI rankings for the MAC:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basket...kings/rpi/

52. Ohio
60. Toledo
128. EMU
162. Kent St.
186. Akron
205. Buffalo
225. BGSU
264. WMU
269. Ball St.
275. Miami
288. N. Illinois
296. CMU