The Blue Ribbon preview is out. Boals of course is complimentary of all the players but not much detail on what the starters and rotation will be, but as for some nuggets...

-Hadaway was averaging 12/8 in the first four MAC games and then we were 6-10 without him. I don't know how you keep him out of the starting lineup.
-Conners will be the volume shooter. Elliott is a core guy
-Breath was 11th in the country in defensive rebounding %. Despite his height, he can play one on one as a center. Highly complimentary of his strength.
-Evans will "fight" for minutes at the 4/5
-"really excited" about Kuany
-Burris is a threat to make a shot any time he touches it
-Confirmed Mosley is out for the year
-Kelly is probably ready to help now. High motor and athleticism and makes positive things happen, which is how I always described Hadaway.
-Fisher's offense sounds way ahead of his defense. Needs to get stronger.
-Reese is a walk-on

To me it sounds like Fisher is at the end of the healthy list, Evans/Kuany will be a competition, Sheldon is part of the core group who have been here and played at least a year, but could be passed by Burris if his shot hasn't returned, and Kelly will get some run.

Team wise, Blue Ribbon has us finishing 4th: https://getsomemaction.com/news/2025/9/8/mens-basketball-...

Surprised to see UMass so low (6th) and Buffalo so high (9th).

Pav is on their First Team FWIW.

I think the key word here is "make a shot" as distinct from "make a basket."

I think it’s anyone’s conference this year in the top 5. I’d probably move UMass up and Kent/Toledo down. Everyone took a hit this portal season. I’ll go as far as saying I think Toledo takes a huge step back program wise and finishes 6th or 7th. Javan leaving for Athens just seems like Tod K is losing his touch.

Excited to read the tidbits about Burris. Spacing and shooting is our biggest question mark going into the season. Despite my hopeless optimism every year, I like this personnel group more than the previous two.

I am most excited to see Kelly and his athleticism. It's been a while since we had a truly athletic 3 and D kind of guy with size, strength, hops and skill and he appears to have all of that. I really liked Fisher's game in high school and look forward to him adding strength to his slight frame. Burris worked hard to get stronger last year and is ready to step up. Hopefully Pavs can get some rest this season and we can trust Ajay and Sheldon to give good minutes. Elliott is the key here for me. Can he take that next step because by year end last year he was a key contributor.

I'm no expert, but I think that this is crazy. UMass is not that far behind Akron, and I think we are much better than this ranking would indicate. I bet money (not much of it, but actual money) that UMass will in the top two at the end of the season.

Yeah this rating system isn't something I'd subscribe to until maybe the middle of the season when we've seen teams actually play ball. One of the metrics used is called "Recent Form" where a team receives a rating based on how well they've played recently. And those games carry more weight than games played earlier than the year, according to his scoring methodology. So in theory, the rating could be based off games from last season?

Also I don't know if his preseason rankings take into account SOS, but it sounds like he does adjust for opponent.

https://blog.evanmiya.com/p/introducing-relative-ratings-and

Yea, the one that leads to March Madness matters more.

Being regular season "MAC Champs" only matters to the team that wins it.

This is also basically true of the MAC tournament. This is also basically true of the Big Ten Tournament as well or even the NCAA. I mean, we are the MAC, most people don't remember much of anything that happens. I would always hear, "Nobody remembers who lost the Super Bowl!" Well, if it was last year then yes, people do still remember. If it was 5 years ago then almost always no, but on quizzing people who make any kind of statement like that it is also true of the winner. That is, unless it was their team.

I get it the MAC regular season is irrelevant because the MAC champion is almost certainly not good enough to make the NCAA. The MAC Tournament is irrelevant because the winner isn't good enough to win the NCAA. But then why are we here? Why are we sports fans? Why do we post here all year long, bad or good, regular season or post season. Because we aren't sports fans, or at least I think most of us are, who don't need the season reduced to one sentence for ESPN soundbite marketing purposes to casual fans. We have more fandom and understanding than that. And be it @Rutgers to open the year, vs. WVU at home in front of a record crowd, @OSU where we very likely were not going to win, or Gardner Webb where we very probably will we care because it is entertaining and "You play to win the game!" no matter what you are playing for.

Saw and talked to both Coach Boals and Aidan Hadaway (separately) in Columbus on Saturday. Both were excited and anxious to get going.

Coach confirmed Reese is a walk-on. I believe someone asked about that when he transferred.

+1 same thoughts