The big question about the MAC West this season is whether anyone other than those with a close — i.e. friends and family — relationship to coaches and players in the league should really care what happens. And, to be honest, I don’t know that anybody else should. The six sides in the MAC West are, well, not just irrelevant when it comes to the broader college hoops universe, they also aren’t that relevant when it comes to figuring out who’s going to win the MAC. Sure, the winner of the MAC West will claim the second seed for Clevo, get a bye to the MAC quarterfinals and then get dispatched by a team from the MAC East during said quarterfinals or in the semis.
What really matters for those of us in the MAC Nation is that programs in the West Division show improvement this season. The 2009-10 season can’t be a repeat of the past few seasons where the West Division teams were playing at a low-major level. That just won’t cut for a league that needs to get a second bid to the Big Dance for the first time since 1999. It’s tough to make that case when six teams have RPIs that place them solidly in the bottom quartile, as was the case last year.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much confidence that the likes of Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Western Michigan are going to be that much better in 2009-10.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ball State
2. Eastern Michigan
3. Central Michigan
4. Western Michigan
5. Northern Illinois
6. Toledo
What the Data Says:
Other than that the MAC West has been abysmal? In four of the last six seasons — including three in a row — the team with the best Ken Pomeroy defensive efficiency rating has won the West. The Ball State Cardinals were that team last season, and with 6-9 soph superstar-in-the-making Jarrod Jones returning to anchor their interior defense, there’s little reason to think Billy Taylor’s squad won’t pace the West in that category again this season.
All-MAC West
G, David Kool, Senior, Western Michigan
G, Darion Anderson, Junior, Northern Illinois
F, Chris Kellerman, Senior, Central Michigan
F, Brandon Bowdry, Junior, Eastern Michigan
F, Jarrod Jones, Sophomore, Ball State
MAC West Player of the Year: Jarrod Jones, Ball State
Like most non-BCS leagues, the bigs that play in the league are typically either undersized, but athletic, or lumbering giants that are called “projects.” Rare has been the frontcourt player like Jones, who has the mix of size and skills that get NBA scouts excited. Jones will have a big year since Ball State will need him to improve on his 11.2 PPG if they are going to repeat as MAC West champs.
MAC East Coach of the Year: Charles Ramsey, Eastern Michigan
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but the Eagles could be the surprise team of the MAC — East or West — this season. With four starters returning, and senior guard Carlos Medlock healthy after sitting out last season with a broken foot, Ramsey’s squad has the ability to make a run at the Cardinals.
Most Exciting Player in the MAC West: Darion “Jake” Anderson, Northern Illinois
A great night out for me would getting together with the handful of people who care about this and arguing about whether Anderson or Miami’s Kenny Hayes is the best player in the MAC while downing pints of Racer 5 IPA. And I guess that’s why I’m such a dork. The creative, high-scoring Anderson, on the other hand, is not dorky at all. Dude can get to the goal and score in ways that seem to defy basketball physics.
Most Punk Rock Player in the MAC West: David Kool, Western Michigan
Punk is at it’s best when the songs are direct and to the point. Like the 40-second blast of aggresion and energy that is “Lost Cause” by Negative Approach. David Kool’s basketball game is kind of like that. He doesn’t waste time and doesn’t do anything fancy. All he does is get open and make shots. And that’s pretty punk in our book.
Toughest Player in the MAC West: Justin Anyijong, Toledo
Dictionary.Com has about 15 meanings for the adverb “toughness.” Determining which of those apply to the 6-9 Anyijong, the Rockets top returnee, is pretty easy. It’s meaning number five —5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy. Very fitting for a player that brought it every game for a 7-25 (5-11) squad that was overmatched in just about every game last season. That toughness will serve Anyijong well this season, as things don’t figure to be that much better for Gene Cross’s side in 2009-10.
What We Like: Obviously, Jones is one of the better building blocks in the MAC, but he’s not the only Cardinal player that’s capable of throwing his weight around in the interior. Despite his 6-4 stature, junior Malik Perry showed an ability to score the ball and rebound it in the paint last season (4.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG). 6-5 Ole Miss transfer Terrence Watson has the rep of being a rottweiler on defense. Billy Taylor’s team should more than handle their own on the boards while outscoring opponents in the paint. The three frosh guards Taylor has brought in look good on paper.
What We Don’t Like: As good and deep as the Cardinals’ frontcourt seems to be, the backcourt is a great unknown. A Mr. Turtle pool has more depth than Ball State’s backcourt. The start of the season could be ugly, as Taylor will need to use it to find a point guard; a process not normally associated with OOC dubbyas. Without a consistent perimeter threat, the lane may end up looking a train on the Lexington Avenue line during rush hour when the Cardinals are on offense.
What We Think: 14-14 (9-7), 1st in the MAC West for whatever that’s worth
What We Like: Eagles’ head coach Charles Ramsey is a MAC, and more importantly from the perspective of EMU fans, an Eastern Michigan guy through-and-through. We like that. And we like that after four brutal seasons filled with lopsided losses, Ramsey finally seems to have a team that can compete in the MAC (or the MAC West at the very least). In a league that seems strong on the interior, the Eagles forward duo of Brandon Bowdry and Justin Dobbins is one of the better frontcourt tag-teams in the MAC. The return of talented senior point Carlos Medlock from injury means there will be depth in the backcourt as well, since sophomore L.J. Frazier did a credible job running the show last season. It’s not an embarrassment of riches, but this is the best team Ramsey’s had since his EMU tenure began.
What We Don’t Like: History ain’t on the Eagles’ side. Once one of the better programs in the MAC, Eastern Michigan hasn’t had a winning season since 1999-00 when they went 15-13. It’s nice that guys like Bowdry, Dobbins, and Frazier are returning, but they are the core of an EMU squad that finished 8-24 last season. Medlock’s return is a nice story, but what is Ramsey going to do? Play an undersized backcourt of the 5-10 Frazier and 6-0 Medlock? Anoint one of them the point and the other the sub? When teams are as evenly matched as the top three-to-five sides in the MAC West seem to be, chemistry can be the difference between finishing around the top or sinking to the bottom. The presence of two non-D1 teams on the OOC slate is troubling. That’s not good for the league or the EMU program.
What We Think: 13-16 (8-8)
What We Like: Ernie Ziegler’s Chipps aren’t the most talented side in the MAC, but their key returnees, guards Jordan Blitzer and Robbie Harman, and versatile (if soft) big Chris Kellerman, are, well, respectable. Interior pit bull Marko Spika and 6-8 redshirt frosh Zach Saylor, who has a rep for being a banger, should compensate for Kellerman’s rebounding and defensive deficiencies to make the Chipps tough inside. While not the murderer’s row that Miami’s OOC schedule is, Central Michigan’s OOC slate should have them more prepared for the rigors of league play than most of their rivals in the MAC West.
What We Don’t Like: Everything else really. Your average Maxim subscriber has more depth than the Chipps do. That might help to explain why CMU didn’t really do anything particularly well last season; ranking 235 in offensive efficiency and 250th in defensive efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy. All this while plodding along like a marathoner on an eight-hour pace. Ziegler’s brought in plenty of new faces, but none really seem like standouts at this time.
What We Think: 11-18 (7-9)
What We Like: Senior guard David Kool is a pretty good player. The Broncos have one of the MAC’s better homecourt advantages at University Arena at The ‘Zoo. Steve Hawkins is one of the more accomplished coaches in the MAC. Similar to fellow directional Eastern Michigan, Hawkins and the WMU staff have put together an OOC slate that is challenging enough to ensure Kool & Co are ready for MAC play.
What We Don’t Like: Not even Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard was as bare as that with which Hawkins has going into the 2009-10 season. Having Kool around is nice, but how good is he without dynamic running mates Shawntes Gary and Michael Reddell? Can he carry a team? Steve Hawkins will find out, because the Broncos don’t have much else to recommend them.
What We Think: 10-18 (6-10)
What We Like: Let’s start with the Huskies’ backcourt of the explosive Jake Anderson, steady point Mike DiNunno, and 6-5 wing Xavier Silas, a Colorado transfer, who averaged double figures in the Big XI. Ricardo Patton’s perimeter players will get plenty of points. The Huskies tempo is the fastest of any team in the MAC by a shot so long that it would make Sea Biscuit blush. Pace matters in a league where most teams don’t run. The trip to DeKalb, Illinois remains one of the most arduous in the MAC.
What We Don’t Like: Patton is expecting a lot from a pair of pedestrian returning frontcourt players Sean Kowal and Najul Ervin. Kowal’s and Ervin’s jobs become even more difficult given the slew of quality bigs in the MAC. Patton’s squad doesn’t seem to do anything well other than run, as they ranked 293th in offensive efficiency and 255th in defensive efficiency per the inimitable Ken Pomeroy.
What We Think: 10-18 (6-10)
What We Like: Ummm…. huh…. The Rockets can’t be any worse than they were in 2008-09 when they finished 7-25 (5-11), or can they? Two starters — 6-9 forward Justin Anyijong and guard Larry Bastfield — and two key returnees — forward Mohammed Lo and big Ian Salter — return for Gene Cross’s squad so at least there will be some experience on hand. John Savage Hall offers one of the better homecourt advantages in the MAC. Guarantee games at Cinci and Michigan State should help to stuff the coffers.
What We Don’t Like: Everything else. If Toledo was worse than a happy hour at Houlihans last season with guys like Tyrone Kent, Jonathan Amos, and Anthony Byrd around, how horrible will they be this season? Can’t find the Vegas line, but I think folks in the Glass City could be in for another long season.
What We Think: 6-25 (4-12)
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