Ball State received 4 points in the AP preseason basketball poll, good for 41st in the rankings.

Rankings of teams in the MAC footprint:
2 Michigan State, 12 Cincinnati, 14 Notre Dame, 17 Xavier, 19 Northwestern,
20 Purdue, 34 Butler, 39 Michigan, 40 Dayton, 41 Ball State, 43 Oakland.

(11-01-2017 02:36 PM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Ball State received 4 points in the AP preseason basketball poll, good for 41st in the rankings.

Rankings of teams in the MAC footprint:
2 Michigan State, 12 Cincinnati, 14 Notre Dame, 17 Xavier, 19 Northwestern,
20 Purdue, 34 Butler, 39 Michigan, 40 Dayton, 41 Ball State, 43 Oakland.

Apparently they actually aren't. Or they are, but it was by accident. Seth Davis was the sole voter who put the Cards in, but he has stated on Twitter that it is a typo and that he actually has Baylor in the 22nd slot, not Ball State. So I'm unclear if he accidentally selected BSU instead of Baylor in a dropdown when he submitted it, or if he's saying he selected Baylor but it got changed down the line somewhere. Either way, it's an inadvertent submission and not a sign that the Cards or the MAC are getting renewed respect unfortunately.

I think I saw in the SI ranking of all D-1 teams that the highest ranked team in the MAC was WMU in the high 120’s. Sad when there is no MAC team even in the top 100, let alone the top 50.

They had the MAC champ as a 15 seed.

Let’s hope they are really, really wrong.

(11-01-2017 08:02 PM)axeme Wrote:  I think I saw in the SI ranking of all D-1 teams that the highest ranked team in the MAC was WMU in the high 120’s. Sad when there is no MAC team even in the top 100, let alone the top 50.

They had the MAC champ as a 15 seed.

Let’s hope they are really, really wrong.

I think this could be the worst year of MAC basketball in a long time imo. Miami might be poised for a jolt of life if the rest of the conference declines while we go from a Tennessee State staff to one of Purdue.

Typo or no, I've been impressed that Ball St's been able to turn it around. They were a basketball cellar-dweller when I was a student a few years ago all 4 years.

(11-01-2017 08:55 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Typo or no, I've been impressed that Ball St's been able to turn it around. They were a basketball cellar-dweller when I was a student a few years ago all 4 years.

If there is another likely 20-win MAC team after Western Michigan, Ball State and Buffalo, let me know. I just don't see it.

Based on ESPN ??? -- http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...ball-1-351

No MAC team ranks higher than 136 (BSU) ... and a lot of MAC teams usually expected to at least be creditable (Toledo/168), Kent (193) aren't expected to be much this year, either. And while Ohio (163) ranks among the top four (behind BSU, WMU, UB) ... that's still not saying much, either.

No doubt the league lost a ton of talent after last season ... let's hope there was some strong recruiting done throughout the league. Time will tell.

(11-02-2017 02:29 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 08:55 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Typo or no, I've been impressed that Ball St's been able to turn it around. They were a basketball cellar-dweller when I was a student a few years ago all 4 years.

If there is another likely 20-win MAC team after Western Michigan, Ball State and Buffalo, let me know. I just don't see it.

Based on ESPN ??? -- http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...ball-1-351

No MAC team ranks higher than 136 (BSU) ... and a lot of MAC teams usually expected to at least be creditable (Toledo/168), Kent (193) aren't expected to be much this year, either. And while Ohio (163) ranks among the top four (behind BSU, WMU, UB) ... that's still not saying much, either.

No doubt the league lost a ton of talent after last season ... let's hope there was some strong recruiting done throughout the league. Time will tell.

Here's where they have the MAC....
136. Ball State Cardinals | RPM% 72
145. Buffalo Bulls | RPM% 49
147. Western Michigan Broncos | RPM% 80
163. Ohio Bobcats | RPM% 48
166. Eastern Michigan Eagles | RPM% 38
168. Toledo Rockets | RPM% 53
187. Akron Zips | RPM% 20
193. Kent State Golden Flashes | RPM% 56
234. Northern Illinois Huskies | RPM% 41
249. Bowling Green Falcons | RPM% 50
273. Central Michigan Chippewas | RPM% 37
283. Miami (OH) Redhawks | RPM% 55

Akron's hardly got 5 players to put on the court this year, so I don't know why they're not last. Eastern has just 3 returning players, so I don't know why they're up so high. Central lost their 50-points-per-game pair, but returns most of the rest so I don't know why they're so low. Kent State's graduated Jimmy Hall but returns all the other pieces, so I don't know why they're so low.

(11-03-2017 07:31 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(11-02-2017 02:29 PM)cleveland Wrote:  <snip>
Based on ESPN ??? -- http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...ball-1-351

No MAC team ranks higher than 136 (BSU) ... and a lot of MAC teams usually expected to at least be creditable (Toledo/168), Kent (193) aren't expected to be much this year, either. And while Ohio (163) ranks among the top four (behind BSU, WMU, UB) ... that's still not saying much, either.
<snip>

Here's where they have the MAC....
136. Ball State Cardinals | RPM% 72
145. Buffalo Bulls | RPM% 49
147. Western Michigan Broncos | RPM% 80
163. Ohio Bobcats | RPM% 48
166. Eastern Michigan Eagles | RPM% 38
168. Toledo Rockets | RPM% 53
187. Akron Zips | RPM% 20
193. Kent State Golden Flashes | RPM% 56
234. Northern Illinois Huskies | RPM% 41
249. Bowling Green Falcons | RPM% 50
273. Central Michigan Chippewas | RPM% 37
283. Miami (OH) Redhawks | RPM% 55

Akron's hardly got 5 players to put on the court this year, so I don't know why they're not last. Eastern has just 3 returning players, so I don't know why they're up so high. Central lost their 50-points-per-game pair, but returns most of the rest so I don't know why they're so low. Kent State's graduated Jimmy Hall but returns all the other pieces, so I don't know why they're so low.

I know those rankings aren't great, but here's Kent State's out-of-conference opponents. Xavier, Albany, Wright State, and Norfolk State are away, Loyola, Valparaiso, and Youngstown State are neutral sites. There are some tough but winnable games here. We should get though these at least 6-6, - I'd feel 7-5 would be a success.

18. Xavier Musketeers | RPM% 69
66. Oregon State Beavers | RPM% 96
106. Loyola (IL) Ramblers | RPM% 69
120. Albany Great Danes | RPM% 78
125. Valparaiso Crusaders | RPM% 45
152. Northeastern Huskies | RPM% 50
202. Southeastern Louisiana Lions | RPM% 65
208. Wright State Raiders | RPM% 48
239. Youngstown State Penguins | RPM% 62
267. Cleveland State Vikings | RPM% 53
288. Norfolk State Spartans | RPM% 50
351. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils | RPM% 10

MAC hoops has been stuck in a bad downward spiral. One big problem is that other than Ohio making their run to the Sweet 16 in 2012, the MAC hasn't done anything in the tournament which has a huge impact on the overall perception of leagues. What makes it worse, is that as that perception of the MAC continues to fade, along with that comes lower and lower seeds in the NCAA tourney, which obviously makes it more and more difficult to right the ship, as your first round opponents are very good teams. We had a 14 seed year last year. That indicates we are only a handful of teams away from a play in game with the SWAC schools. Our conference ratings on pretty much any index you want to use, certainly would suggest that the MAC champ has been woefully under-seeded in the tourney. It doesn't help that our regular season champ (and best team) has been upset fairly often in the tourney as well.

What was the last single digit seeded MAC team? Off the top of my head I think it was KSU or Akron back in about 2007, at an 8 or 9? We've just been on a steady slide since then.

(11-03-2017 08:00 AM)eich41 Wrote:  MAC hoops has been stuck in a bad downward spiral. One big problem is that other than Ohio making their run to the Sweet 16 in 2012, the MAC hasn't done anything in the tournament which has a huge impact on the overall perception of leagues. What makes it worse, is that as that perception of the MAC continues to fade, along with that comes lower and lower seeds in the NCAA tourney, which obviously makes it more and more difficult to right the ship, as your first round opponents are very good teams. We had a 14 seed year last year. That indicates we are only a handful of teams away from a play in game with the SWAC schools. Our conference ratings on pretty much any index you want to use, certainly would suggest that the MAC champ has been woefully under-seeded in the tourney. It doesn't help that our regular season champ (and best team) has been upset fairly often in the tourney as well.

What was the last single digit seeded MAC team? Off the top of my head I think it was KSU or Akron back in about 2007, at an 8 or 9? We've just been on a steady slide since then.

Just a personal observation ... but I don't necesarily believe that the MAC's 'regular season champion' is automatically 'the best team' when it comes to tournament time ... the last two times Ohio advanced I think they were a 4-seed or worse, and both times one could easily argue they were 'playing the best basketball' of any team in the MAC ... the O'Shea NCAA team ... while very good ... in my opinion beat 'the best team in the MAC' that season in Buffalo. ... Each season is different.

(11-01-2017 07:46 PM)pennies4everybody Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 02:36 PM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Ball State received 4 points in the AP preseason basketball poll, good for 41st in the rankings.

Rankings of teams in the MAC footprint:
2 Michigan State, 12 Cincinnati, 14 Notre Dame, 17 Xavier, 19 Northwestern,
20 Purdue, 34 Butler, 39 Michigan, 40 Dayton, 41 Ball State, 43 Oakland.

Apparently they actually aren't. Or they are, but it was by accident. Seth Davis was the sole voter who put the Cards in, but he has stated on Twitter that it is a typo and that he actually has Baylor in the 22nd slot, not Ball State. So I'm unclear if he accidentally selected BSU instead of Baylor in a dropdown when he submitted it, or if he's saying he selected Baylor but it got changed down the line somewhere. Either way, it's an inadvertent submission and not a sign that the Cards or the MAC are getting renewed respect unfortunately.

In the MAC we take rankings any way we can get them! Can't rescind votes in a presidential election, so shouldn't be able to here :)

Basketball is a long season and hard to project impact of freshmen and transfers until coaches settle on rotations which may take weeks and even months settle. Teams that return a lot from the prior have fewer question marks. My guess is come March the same mix of teams find a way to reach the finals and semis.

obviously Akron will be down with so many departures and losing an excellent coach but there is a pretty decent potential starting 5 there and groce is capable.

i think people are writing off kent state a bit. they were the best team in the league late last season and got a lot of their good players coming back (yes they use some stars) and new talent coming in. could be a deep team

toledo has some good players back and some impact transfers. they lose a couple good players but williams loss may actually help as he forced a lot of things offensively. the schedule is tough.