Week 5 Power Rankings: What’s A Bulls Fan To Do?

Here’s my dilemma: I’m been with the UB Bulls since they returned to D-I status in 1991, my freshman year of college, and I’ve suffered through the grim early years, cheered them on against Valpo and Bryce Drew during the Rasaun Young era, went into hiding like many a Bulls fan during the subsequent five or so seasons, and been brought back by Turner Battle, Mark Bortz, and Company the past few years. So, while I bleed Bulls Blue, I also want to maintain some semblance of objectivity when it comes to blogging about the MAC because, well, let’s face it: UB’s going to have an off year eventually.

What am I to do in a week that saw Ohio, generally considered to be the best team in the MAC, get blown out by Cinci and play some uninspired ball against DII Shippensburg? Are the Bobcats, at this point in the season, the best team in the MAC? Simply put, no. The Bulls are and I’m not saying this just because I’m a proud UB alum. I’m saying this with my I Love MAC Basketball cap on. Tim O’Shea’s squad is playing like all they need do tow in is don their headbands, lace up their kicks, and take the court to win. And that’s just not the case.

My good friends at Vandelay Sports may see it differently, which is why you ought to check out their power rankings. While doing that, you also should thank your the lucky stars the MAC, unlike most other leagues, has two sets of power rankings because, in the words of Faith No More, we care a lot!

1. Buffalo (8-1) (2) – The Bulls didn’t play this week but the reason they’re number one has as much to do with what they’ve done this season, especially recently, as it does with what the Bobcats have not. Coach ‘Spoon’s squad could be 11-1 before crucial two game road trip to Northern Illinois and Toledo in early January.

2. Ohio (5-1) (1) – Plain and simple, Jeremy Fears and the rest of the Bobcats need a talking to. Followed up ghastly second half effort against Bearcats with seriously underwhelming performance in 73-57 win over Shippensburg. Right now, Bobcats are most overrated act since Coldplay.

3. Miami (4-2, 1-0) (4) – Like the Bulls, the Redhawks are moving up even though they didn’t play this week. Similarly to UB, Charlie Coles’ squad is moving up not just because NIU lost a big non-league scrap with Illinois-Chicago but also because the Redhawks have been consistently good this season. That being said, Miami’s upcoming stretch, which includes road games against Wichita State, Michigan, Cinci, and NIU will either cement the Redhawks as MAC and at-large bid contenders or expose them as an average squad in a league that’s experiencing a below average season.

4. Toledo (5-2, 0-1) (6) – Here’s another quandary: should a team move up because of a non-league win? When it’s as impressive as the Rockets 83-68 win over resurgent St. Bonaventure was, I think the answer’s yes. Look, NIU may own a win over Toledo but at the end of the day, the ability of Stan Joplin’s squad to put points on the board makes them a better team than both an NIU team that struggles to score and an Akron squad that has yet to play a complete game.

5. Northern Illinois (4-2, 1-0) (3) – Huskies were the latest MAC team to pummel a mediocre Wright State squad but followed that up by losing to Illinois-Chicago in a game were they get destroyed on the boards. Not surprisingly, the undersized Flames won by putting back an offensive carom with 1.2 seconds left. Huskies need to get tougher and shoot better if they’re going to beat out the Rockets to win the West.

6. Akron (3-2) (5) – Zips didn’t play this week, which is a shame since they could’ve used a run to get the taste of the no-show 85-111 loss to Louisville out of their mouths.

7. Ball State (4-2) (7) – Cardinals beat up on D-III Anderson University Saturday in a tune-up for Tuesday night scrap with Drexel.

8. Kent State (5-3) (8) – Golden Flashes had the week off. Thursday night scrap with St. Mary’s in Moraga, Cali will be good test for Kent State squad that’s been inconsistent thus far this season.

9. Eastern Michigan (2-4) (10) – Eagles had the least bad loss — 69-73 to UWGB — of the bottom feeders this past week.

10. Bowling Green (2-6) (12) – Falcons had second least bad loss — 60-71 at Florida State — of the bottom feeders this past week.

11. Western Michigan (2-4) (9) – Broncos got blown out by terrible USC squad, 62-77, in only action this week.

12. Central Michigan (2-6, 0-1) (11) – Chippewas weren’t terrible in losing to Salukis but they end up in my doghouse because they lost to Southern Illinois of the —let’s say it together — fucking Valley on Sunday, 54-64.