As Ohio wraps up nonconference with a pair of scintillating matchups with PV & NWOhio ... gave me a moment to peek ahead at MAC season.

Realistically, after what we've seen so far ... where will Ohio sit after first 9 games?

at CMU
at Akron
at EMU

... all these seem like they'll be tough to win.

at Kent
at BG

... both seem winnable

Buffalo
Ball St

... class of the league I'd say ... both at home, but as we've seen in recent years ... Convo magic isn't what it used to be, so these will be dogfights

Toledo

... another challenge

NIU

... maybe the only game I feel like Ohio should definitely win.

I wouldn't be stunned to see Ohio start 5-4 or 4-5 ... best case I'd say 6-3 .... worst case 2-7 and I wouldn't be stunned.

Still don't have a great feel on this team ... but it's going to be a battle for them to challenge for a top four seed. Not what I expected at this point of Saul Ball era

Moses for Ball State was pretty tough last year. Western has the two 7 footers. Kent has De La Rosa but he's dealing with injuries. No dominating big man per se but several dominating "players. Last year was a huge year for big men in our conference. If Carter is healthy he's the best big man in the league. I am excited to see Mickle go through our league. I think he is a tough matchup with his athleticism.

I totally forgot about Thompson!!!!!!! How did I do that? I believe they have a transfer whose a big guy who is pretty good too. And Perkins is a 4, not a 5.

Totally agree! That's why I don't have a good feel on this team this year. Injuries have played a crucial role so far.

But injuries aside ... I just thought year four of Saul Ball, Ohio would be a well-oiled machine, churning out automatic 12-win MAC seasons. Really felt like he would have Ohio firmly established as one of the top two or three teams in the MAC .... without question.

Buffalo is certainly there. And .... as crazy as it sounds ... I think Akron is the surprise team of the league for me. What Groce has done throwing together a roster and getting out to a 6-2 start against an above-average schedule is pretty impressive. I feel more confident in what Akron has shown me thus far compared to Ohio (mainly based on the schedule Ohio has played)

Who knows ... I could be wrong. I hope I am.

I'd like to think once Laster, Dartis and Carter are 100% .... this team takes off! I think Kirk has been better than I expected ... as has Mickle. I think Taylor has disappointed ... I think we've seen his ceiling. He is what he is.

Block has been inconsistent ... which stymies me because his shot is sooo sweet looking.

Gollon has show flashes.

So I think the pieces are there ... but just haven't seen enough to make me super confident this is a top four team in the league.

Not sure if Gareri or VanderPlas will really be able to come in during MAC play and provide much in terms of rotation guys. Butler might be odd man out once Dartis, Laster and Carter are 100% .... will he be okay with that this year? Or do we have another Culver situation on our hands.

I'm excited for MAC play to start ... because those games matter. The non-conference has been glorified exhibition games to me.

I am not surprised by Akron's start but IMO their schedule is not what I would call above average....especially considering how much of a hit our dept takes for the schedule they have put toegether Direct comparison is interesting.



283 Cleveland St. W, 67-57
268 Tennessee Martin W, 76-59
132 Dayton L, 73-60
228 Chattanooga W, 75-70
167 Marshall L, 86-64
160 Fort Wayne W, 83-79
185 Appalachian St. W, 94-89
351 Mississippi Valley St. W, 81-63

Compared to Ohio

349 Alabama A&M W, 61-53
27 Clemson L, 81-76
132 Dayton L, 79-65
176 Indiana St. W, 96-94
298 Mount St. Mary's W, 96-77
126 Iona L, 93-88
343 Coppin St. W, 80-37
34 Maryland L, 87-62
98 Western Kentucky W, 89-84
167 Marshall L, 99-96

splitting hairs and arguing about the schedules in pre season any more is a exercise in futility...randomly selecting a mid major or 3 will show you things like a 9-3 valpo team that has played 4 sub 200 ranked teams and lost 3 of those. Meanwhile they have beaten over 225 teams including Samford and Kent....and of course North Park Vikings and Trinity Christiam

You don't really have to sell me on the Groce train....still a part of it ...although the wife draws the line at visiting them in Akron.

Just to throw in SOS from Sagarin

Akron 6-2 (340)
Ohio 5-5 (174)

Agree on splitting hairs and arguing about preseason games.

My only point was Ohio had 4 throwaway games in 12 ...

Akron had 1 in 11.

Just think Zips schedule better prepares you for MAC play.

I could care less for MACtion hoops.....

No one has that "big" win, Ohio refuses to schedule anyone on a ramped up scale, and quite frankly the MAC sucks at hoops.

There I said it. All the teams are going for is a #14 seed to get clubbed by Notre Dame or Wichita State.

Kent St. gets a home game from Oregon St. and takes advantage tonight. Flashes win 79-78.

(Just caught a few minutes of UB at Texas A&M after watching some of UB's game earlier this week at Cuse.).

Call Perkins a 4 or a 5, he is still the best big man in the MAC. Hell, call him a 3 or a 7, it really doesn't matter. He's a beast inside and has the ability to take his man out on the perimeter.

That's a pretty high bar.

It's not that I have a high bar, I just remember the 90's and early 2000's when the MAC could consistently trot teams into the tournament that would give scares into the big boys. Heck, there were some Toledo teams that didn't get in that I still think should have gotten in based off of beating Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Xavier. But again, not to sound snooty, but MAC Basketball across the board could be better.

Akron is beating USC. USC has a lot of talent, but they are very undisciplined. Both Saul and Groce are doing well with depleted rosters I like our chances of pulling it together and winning the MAC.