I was thinking I have been very unimpressed by the stars of the conference that I was excited to see play this year...So I looked it up.  I would argue if you add D.J. and Zeke (still to come to Athens), you probably have the top 8 players in the conference, or at least the top candidates for POY...Except maybe the guard from Toledo, and Whitfield may be a stretch because he has struggled some.  Regardless, here is what they have been able to do this year:

Buffalo - Javon McCrea:  8 points, 4-13 FG, 4 rebounds, 0 assist, 1 turnover
Kent - Justin Greene:  10 points, 3-4 FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 turnovers
Miami - Julian Mavunga:  7 points, 3-6 FG, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers
WMU - Flenard Whitfield:  4 points, 2-8 FG, 5 rebounds, 0 assist, 4 turnovers
BSU - Jarrod Jones:  11 points, 4-13 FG, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 turnovers
CMU - Trey Zeigler:  10 points, 4-12 FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers

Total - 50 pts (8.3 per game), 20-56 (35.7%), 46 rebounds (7.6 per game), 6 assists (1 per game), 20 turnovers (3.3 per game)

The only success they have had is rebounding, and that may be a result of missing all those shots and getting them back.  6 assists to 20 turnovers, so even though we are clearly crashing on the stars, they are not finding anyone to dish to, and end up throwing it away or throwing up a brick.  I was also amazed how rarely these guys have made it to the line...Meaning despite targetting them, limiting their points and forcing turnovers, they still aren't even able to draw fouls.

A great testament to our great defense.

So much has to do with our perimeter pressure and how quickly we are in defensive switch and/or help situations.  It's also why our 3 pt defense is so good. Nobody catches the ball in rhythm. 

We're #1 in defensive efficiency for a reason!

For whatever reason, this reminds me of an anecdote a former player told me about the 2007-08 season. We had gotten off to a 6-2 MAC start mainly because we had abandoned the loose style that defined the O'Shea era and instead played tight and defensive. Then, for whatever reason, he comes into the locker room before the Toledo game and announces, "Hey, wasn't it fun when we scored 100 on Cornell? Let's do that again!"

I don't think Groce will abruptly change course.

It'll be interesting to see how Akron's big man does in the Convo.  He is a game changer, but I hope that with a strong effort from Reggie and Ivo (along with a healthy disdain from the O-zone) that we can add him to the mediocre stats of the other stars in the conference.

That would help.

A'uston C'a'l'h'o'u'n is their leading scorer so he might fit better. His line was 4 pts, 1-5, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 turnovers.

I think the thing that stands out to me is the FG%.  With the exception of Zeigler these are all post players. They are shooting a combined 49.8% from the field.  Take Zeigler out and it's 50.3.   That speaks to the fact that we are doing a really good job of keeping bigs from catching the ball where they are used to catching it.  I was watching our defense on Marshall (and their other bigs) last night and he was really having to work hard.  All our guys really worked but Jon Smith was particularly active in his rotations.