A few college hoops seasons ago, we started doing almost weekly power rankings for MAC basketball. As pointless as it may seem to be doing power rankings for a conference that’s currently 17th-best*, we had fun with it, and it was a great way to understand the state of MAC hoops on a weekly basis. I slacked the past couple seasons, and the O-Zoner — probably out celebrating Ohio’s MAC East football title at the only sports bar in Columbus that televises all ATP and Davis Cup matches — did a far better job with them than I ever had. Since dude’s probably toasting Theo Scott somewhere, I’m going to grind out the first MAC power rankings of the 2009-10 season.
One thing that remains unchanged whether it’s me or the O-Zoner doing the rankings is the pedestrian play in the MAC: the quality of play continues to be pedestrian. Several weeks into the 2009-10 season and not a single MAC has been able to claim a BCS league scalp. The MAC’s best win so far has to be Western Michigan’s 83-67 win over Virginia Commonwealth at The ‘Zoo. And as much as I love the CAA and as highly as I think of The Rams that just isn’t good enough.
This week brings with it more opportunities for the MAC to raise the ruckus, as seven of the league’s teams are kicking it up a notch:
* Buffalo visits Purdue on Saturday
* Eastern Michigan is at Ohio State on Saturday
* Akron plays at Texas A&M on Friday
* Western Michigan hosts Temple
* Ohio entertains Tulsa
* Kent travels to Cincinnati to take on Xavier
* Ball State hits Hinkle Fieldhouse to square off with Butler
Here’s how NFABJ ranks the 12 MAC squads a few weeks into the 2009-10 season:
1. Kent State (5-2, Pomeroy SOS 82)
The Golden Flashes didn’t really do anything that special this week, but neither did any other team in the MAC. Actually, let me correct that — no team in the MAC did anything that special, as in meaning good so Kent’s loss at South Florida and win over a pretty decent Morehead State team today are plenty to earn them the top spot.
This week: at Xavier on Friday
2. Akron (4-2, Pomeroy SOS 305)
Like usual, the Zips have embarked on an early season schedule that’s about as challenging as a kindergarten-level word search. That’s why ranking them so highly feels kind of like giving my dog a treat when he craps on the floor in the apartment; I’m just encouraging this type of behavior. The main difference is that Akron coach Keith Dambrot is not seeking our approval (as far as I know) while the dog is supposed to. So, Akron had a good week in OOC by their putatively low standards, fending off a terrible Arkansas-Pine Bluff squad and holding serve against a Tyrone Lewis-less Niagara today.
This week: The bakery is officially out of cupcakes, as the Zips travel to Texas A&M this Friday.
3. Ohio (4-1, Pomeroy SOS 261)
Weird week for the Bobcats on the hardwood; they began by lambasting Lamar 71-46 before they shot 26% from their floor in a 63-50 loss to a Marshall team that really isn’t anything special on the defensive end. The Bobcats are the best defensive team in the MAC, and that should help them to overcome future 26% shooting nights, which figure to be frequent since Tommy Freeman & Co aren’t exactly conducting offensive clinics.
This week: at Tulsa on Sunday
4. Miami (2-4, Pomeroy SOS 76)
Where is Rod Serling when you need him? The Miami Redhawks as coached by Charlie Coles have typically played a version of hoops that is straight outta the pre-shot clock era. Every offensive possession is a treasure to be savored and lingered over while defense is played with all the finesse and subtlety of a Bill Bellichik press conference. Not so this season, as the Redhawks are rocking the most efficient offense in the MAC, and are fresh off an 82-58 spanking of Evansville.
This Week: Dayton comes calling on Tuesday
5. Western Michigan (2-2, Pomeroy SOS 93)
David Kool & Co. didn’t have any games this week, which is great since it means they didn’t join the rest of the league in losing games they should win. Congrats to those of you in Bronco Country, you’re the best team in the MAC West. Again.
This Week: Playing host to Temple on Tuesday
6. Eastern Michigan (4-2, Pomeroy SOS 233)
Normally, a 2-0 week would get you higher up the MAC ladder than sixth. However, when that 2-0 week is the result of beating an awful Southeast Missouri State squad — SEMO to those in the know — and defeating Davenport — still not sure if that’s a school or just some dude from Detroit the Eagles played — it’s not cause for much celebration or, more importantly, a (semi) lofty perch in the NFABJ power rankings.
This week: Canisius visits on Monday and the Eagles play at Ohio State on Saturday.
7. Central Michigan (2-4, Pomeroy SOS 73)
It wasn’t a great week for Ernie Ziegler’s Chippewa by any stretch of the imagination. They lost at Wright State and Purdue by a combined score of 133-91. Yet, in a league where three teams have strength of schedule ranks that are 300 or worse and half the times have SOS ranks that are in the bottom half, losing to good teams like the Raiders and Boilermakers has to count for something. So it does for the Chips.
This Week: Should be an easier week for Central Michigan, as they host Chicago State and visit Illinois State.
8. Buffalo (2-2, Pomeroy SOS 305)
Coming off the Charm City sweep, Coach ‘Spoon’s squad should’ve done much better this week than throwing away a sure win against Canisius to lose 73-71. Regardless of that ridiculous and needless loss, the Bulls are two made jumpers away from being 4-0. However, given their struggles on offense, which go back to last season, that could very well end up being the story of UB’s season.
This Week: Army plays at Alumni Arena on Tuesday and the Bulls travel to Purdue on Saturday to get a check.
9. Bowling Green (1-3, Pomeroy SOS 96)
Deja vu? The 2008-09 Falcons were pretty mediocrein OOC play, losing to the likes of Savannah State and Central Arkansas, before ambushing the rest of the MAC to finish 11-5 in league play and claim the MAC East title and the number one seed in Clevo. Louis Orr’s squad won the MAC due mostly to the confusion it’s 2-3 zone caused. Being that BGSU is now ranked as having the 341st most efficient defense in college hoops, an encore seems as likely as Spike televising the Oprah show.
This Week: BGSU hosts Florida International and Savannah State before visiting the Boogie Down to play Fordham on Saturday.
10. Northern Illinois (1-4, Pomeroy SOS 181)
Ummm… the Huskies lost Northern Iowa 52-47. Yeah!! They covered the spread.
This Week: Bradley visits on Wednesday
11. Ball State (2-2, Pomeroy SOS 341)
Terrible week for the Cardinals, as they got thrashed at Temple and ambushed by UC-Davis, a school known more for it’s viticulture program than it’s basketball. Fans that turn up in Muncie should be candidates for Sainthood, as Billy Taylor’s squad plays at a glacial pace and is among the nation’s least efficient on both offense and defense. Something tells me that it won’t matter when MAC play rolls around since no team in the West is really all that much better on either side of the ball.
This week: At Butler on Wednesday
12. Toledo (0-6, Pomeroy SOS 38)
Say what you will about Gene Cross’s squad, but they are trying to rep the MAC, playing the league’s toughest OOC slate to date. Unfortunately, the inexperienced Rockets are probably the last team in the MAC that should be doing that. Case in point, Sunday’s 82-49 rout at Vermont. The Catamounts are respectable, but they aren’t a squad that MAC teams should by losing by 33 points to.
This week: Seemingly winnable home tilts with Rochester and Maryland-Baltimore County.
*All ratings from Ken Pomeroy
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