Another installment of the weekly MAC basketball power rankings sees a new team on top for the second week in a row!
After a week that saw no Mid-American conference action Monday-Friday; the MAC is back with some exciting matchups. As we get ready to turn the page towards conference play in the coming weeks, it is important for these teams to figure out all of the kinks before they go head-to-head. This week we have a new first place team, and a new last place team.
Matchup of the week: Akron vs. Yale (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Ohio vs. Austin Peay (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.)
All games listed are EST.
1. Kent State Golden Flashes
Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)
Record: 8-2
Last week: W vs. Mercyhurst (82-57)
Next week: at Alabama (Dec. 22 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
For the second week in a row, a new team has taken the top spot in our rankings. This week the Kent State Golden Flashes jump up to the number one spot. It’s hard not to jump on the Kent State hype train, considering the team has won three games in a row and has won six of their last seven. Redshirt senior VonCameron Davis proved to the college basketball world that he has what it takes to take Kent State to new heights after an 18 point performance vs Auburn two weeks ago. The Golden Flashes will take on another tough SEC opponent in Alabama this week, and this is the type of game that can put Kent State in the right frame of mind with conference play just over two weeks away.
2. Akron Zips
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 6-3
Last week: L at Milwaukee (100-81)
Next week: vs. Yale (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Jackson State or UTEP (Dec. 21 – TBD)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Akron Zips have lost their top spot in the rankings after a 19 point loss to Milwaukee last week. Despite Tavari Johnson and Nate Johnson having quality offensive games with a combined 41 points; they allowed five Milwaukee players to reach double digits which is never a recipe for success. Despite the loss, there is still a lot to be excited about from this Akron team. They were previously on a five game winning streak before the Milwaukee loss, and have continued their positive momentum from being MAC champions last season. The Zips will have a pair of Ivy League clashes against Yale and Princeton before they open up conference play.
3. Toledo Rockets
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 6-4
Last week: L at Youngstown State (93-87)
Next week: at Houston (Dec. 18 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Marshall
Bad losses: Oakland, UC San Diego
The Toledo Rockets remain in the three spot for this week’s rankings. There is no shame in losing to a Youngstown State team that is red hot with four wins in a row, and is expected to make some noise in the Horizon league. The second unit for Youngstown State really got to Toledo; scoring a combined 27 points. The Rockets have their toughest challenge yet as they take on #15 Houston, but if they can keep it close; then that is all of the momentum they need going into conference play.
4. Miami (OH) Redhawks
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)
Record: 6-3
Last week: W vs. Bethany (112-70)
Next week: at Vermont (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.), vs. Sacred Heart (Dec. 22 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: at App State
Bad losses: vs. Wright State
The Miami (OH) Redhawks continue to wow the college basketball world as they stay at number four on our rankings. The Redhawks have won four of their last five games, and two of their three losses came to Big Ten schools in Indiana, and Michigan. They proved in their last game against Bethany that they can still win even when Peter Suder is having an off day. Suder had four points on 1-5 shooting, but that didn’t stop Kim Craft from scoring 34 points of his own. If Miami keeps this up, they will be a problem once conference play begins.
5. Central Michigan Chippewas
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 5-3
Last week: L at Valparaiso (93-77)
Next week: at Mississippi State (Dec. 17 – 7:30 p.m.), at Arizona (Dec. 21 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Valparaiso
The Chippewas have no movement on this week’s ranking despite their worst loss of the season coming last week against Valparaiso. For a team that was in the thick of it with Marquette just a few short weeks ago, you were expecting a little bit more. However, now is not the time to panic if you are a Central Michigan fan. They have two tough matchups this week against the SEC’s Mississippi State, and the Big Twelve’s Arizona. This might be what they need going into conference play.
6. Buffalo Bulls
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 5-5
Last week: N/A
Next week: at Georgia (Dec. 19 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: vs. Bryant
The Buffalo Bulls are back in action this week after a week out of action, that is why it is hard to move them from last week’s number six spot. Buffalo has been a surprise team in the MAC as they were originally projected to be towards the bottom of the conference. Now if the regular season ended today, they would have a MAC tournament bid. However, the season does not end today and the Bulls have lost two of their last three games. It is hard to fault them for losses to Penn State, and one of the best mid major programs in St. Bonaventure. Their upcoming trip to Athens will truly tell how they can respond after the time off.
7. Ohio Bobcats
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+1)
Record: 4-6
Last week: L at Marshall (79-70)
Next week: vs. Austin Peay (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Texas State
Despite losing their only game played last week, the Ohio Bobcats have moved up in this week’s ranking. The Bobcats went into this season expecting to be at the top of the MAC, but that simply hasn’t been the case. Despite the record not being what they wanted, this is a team we’ll find out about more as conference play rolls around.
8. Bowling Green Falcons
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+1)
Record: 4-6
Last week: L at Kansas City (85-77)
Next week: vs. St. Thomas (Dec. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Southern Miss, Bellarmine
Bowling Green also moves up in this week’s rankings despite suffering a loss last week. If you told anyone that the Falcons would be hovering around the eight seed in the MAC right before conference play; the majority of people would have believed you. However, that is not saying that Bowling Green can’t do much better than that. The truth is they have potential to be very solid in the MAC. Marcus Johnson is currently averaging 17 PPG on 47% shooting, and it’s important to have high scoring/efficient players like Johnson. Bowling Green is a team that could easily move up as conference play approaches.
9. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-2)
Record: 5-5
Last week: L vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (99-76)
Next week: vs. Wright State (Dec. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: vs. Texas State, vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
The main reasoning behind the rise of Ohio and Bowling Green in our rankings is the fall of Eastern Michigan. The Eagles were at one point 5-2 on the season, and looked to be in the upper echelon of the MAC. However, after a blowout loss at home to Purdue Fort Wayne; we have no choice but to move them down. The Eagles are on a three game losing streak and all of the losses in this current streak have been double-digit losses. Eastern Michigan’s last three wins have only been within two possession’s. It’s not time to panic yet for Eastern Michigan, but they can’t afford to go into conference play on a losing skid.
10. Ball State Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 4-6
Last week: W vs. Bellarmine (86-82)
Next week: vs. Evansville (Dec. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Detroit Mercy
The Ball State Cardinals have had their ups and downs on the young season, but the talent on this team is hard to ignore. Portland transfer Juanse Gorosito propelled Ball State to a win over Bellarmine last week with a 21 point performance. They also decided to move former MAC player of the year Payton Sparks to the bench in favor of Ben Hendricks. This worked out for both parties as Sparks had 14 points off of the bench, and it brought a spark (no pun-intended) to the second unit. The Cardinals can move up if they continue to be a good second half team like they have been in these tight wins.
11. Northern Illinois Huskies
Last week’s ranking : 12 (+1)
Record: 3-7
Last week: N/A
Next week: at Illinois State (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Elon, Northern Iowa
The Northern Illinois Huskies are no longer at the bottom of our list and have officially moved up. The Huskies are coming off of a week off as they enter their final two games before conference play begins. The biggest weakness for Northern Illinois this season has been playing on the road. They are 0-6 on the road and have only had one single digit loss on the road. This week they have the perfect opportunity for their first away win against a Missouri Valley opponent in Illinois State.
12. Western Michigan Broncos
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)
Record: 3-7
Last week: L at St. Thomas (77-71), L at North Dakota State (98-62)
Next week: vs. Valparaiso (Dec. 20 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: SIUE
To round out our rankings we have the Western Michigan Broncos at the bottom of our list. This week we have a new top team and a new bottom team on our list. Western Michigan is currently on a three game losing streak and have lost four of their last five games. The cherry on top was a 26 point loss to North Dakota State last week. This week they take on a Valparaiso team that has given MAC teams trouble in the early part of the season. There is still time to right the ship, but they would need a big run in conference play to even have a shot at playing in the MAC tournament.