Toledo

Montana Wins Big Sky Title: Wednesday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:50:31 -0800

UConn and USF were the big winners on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, while West Virginia and Seton Hall now await their NCAA tournament fate.

1. Montana pulls away in the second half to beat Weber State and win the Big Sky's automatic bid.
The Big Sky title game was one of two championship game rubber matches on Wednesday night, and even though the home team won each meeting by double digits the expectation was that the Wildcats and Grizzlies would be close throughout. That was true for about 33 minutes, as from the 6:41 mark on Montana outscored Weber State 27-14 on their way to the 85-66 victory. Damian Lillard played very well for Weber State, finishing with 29 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, but on this night he likely would have needed to score in upwards of 40 points to give Randy Rahe's team a shot at winning.

Why? Because while Montana didn't receive one point from their bench all five starters reached double figures, with Kareem Jamar and Mathias Ward scored 23 points apiece to lead the way. In addition to those two the Grizzlies can also call on guard Will Cherry and Derek Selvig, which could make them a tough matchup for someone next week. Both teams will return some key pieces next season, meaning that Weber State and Montana could very well meet with another NCAA berth on the line in 2013.

2. C.J. McCollum and Gabe Knutson prove to be too much for Bucknell in the Patriot League final.
Patriot League Player of the Year McCollum did what he's done all season long in scoring 29 points to lead Lehigh offensively, but the fact that the Mountain Hawks had a second scorer while the Bison did not proved to be the difference. Gabe Knutson added 23 points and seven rebounds, five of them being offensive, in the Mountain Hawks' 82-77 win at Bucknell to take the automatic bid. Mike Muscala was outstanding for the Bison as he finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the next scorer for Bucknell finished with just 11 points (Bryson Johnson, who made two of his three field goals in the final minute).

Lehigh did a better job of executing offensively as they found quality looks and shot 50% from the field, finishing with an efficiency of 113.9. According to statsheet.com a Bucknell opponent hadn't approached that number since Loyola (MD) posted a 116.1 back in December. Lehigh proved to be too much for Bucknell offensively, especially when factoring in the fact that Muscala didn't receive consistent scoring help on the other end.

3. LIU Brooklyn takes care of Robert Morris to win their second consecutive NEC tournament crown.
For the second straight season the Colonials and Blackbirds met with a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line, and just like last season it was the home team that emerged victorious. All five starters reached double figures for the Blackbirds, who pulled away in the second half to win 90-73. C.J. Garner led the way with 21 points and backcourt partner Jason Brickman added 18 and 11 assists, while forward Julian Boyd finished with 18 and ten rebounds.

Andy Toole's Colonials suffered a pair of unfortunate blows during the game as both Velton Jones and Mike McFadden suffered injuries, but the game was more about what Brickman was able to do at the point in running the LIU attack. The Blackbirds also outscored the Colonials 31-14 from the foul line, and their sheer ability to score helped make up for Robert Morris grabbing 21 offensive rebounds. Rebounding's been an issue for much of the season for LIU, and if they want to improve their chances of winning a game Boyd, Jamal Olasewere and Kenny Onyechi will need to lead the way towards improvement.

Quick Hitters

1. After winning the MEAC regular season crown in their first year as a full member of the league, Savannah State fell 59-46 to Hampton in a MEAC tournament quarterfinal. Horace Broadnax's team shot 27.1% from the field and 5-for-22 from beyond the arc, and their 20 turnovers didn't help matters either. The regular season title does guarantee the Tigers an NIT berth, but obviously they would rather not have to use that automatic bid.

2. Two disciplinary actions taken on Wednesday did a better job of summing up what this season has been like for the Pac-12 than any stat that's been thrown out there. Arizona suspended starting point guard Josiah Turner indefinitely due to a violation of team rules, and he won't be playing at all this weekend. And UCLA head coach Ben Howland sat big man Joshua Smith for the first half of their 55-40 win over USC due to his being late for the team bus to the arena.

3. Compared to how they were playing in for most of conference play, these last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle for Sean Woods' Mississippi Valley State team. The Delta Devils survived their SWAC quarterfinal on Wednesday, beating Jackson State 63-60 to advance to the semis. Cor-J Cox provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, six rebounds and five steals, but if MVSU is to back up their regular season title with a tournament crown they can't afford to shoot 3-for-17 from three as they did against Jackson State.

4. The top four seeds in the Southland all advanced to the semifinals, with the top seeds making short work of their respective opponents. Regular season champ UT Arlington beat Nicholls State 96-48 as Bo Ingram led four Mavericks in double figures with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. Two-seed Stephen F. Austin beat Sam Houston State 68-46, shooting 55.6% from the field and 24-for-30 from the foul line. Also advancing were Lamar and McNeese State.

5. On a day that saw three of the four higher-seeded teams advance at the Conference USA tournament the one winner that should stand out is Marshall, who beat SMU 74-56. DeAndre Kane led the way with 18 points and Dennis Tinnon grabbed 15 rebounds for the Thundering Heard, who have the talent necessary to make a run through the tournament.

6. Chalk ruled the two matchups in the MAC on Wednesday as Western Michigan and Toledo advanced to the quarterfinals. The Rockets led Northern Illinois by 11 with just over four minutes remaining, only to see the Huskies nearly come back and grab the win. Rian Pearson led Toledo with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

7. While the CBI has taken teams with losing records in the past, Oklahoma's season may be finished thanks to their 62-53 loss to Texas A&M in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. David Lobeau and Khris Middleton led the Aggies with 15 points apiece, combing for 30 points and 16 rebounds on the night. Also advancing was Oklahoma State, who beat Texas Tech 76-60.

MAC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:33:55 -0800

Akron is the favorite after winning 23 games last year, but just about everyone in the dominant East Division has a chance to make some noise.

Conference Rank: 17th

10 year average: 13th

MAC Conference Page

All-MAC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Rodney Pierce	Buffalo	Sr
G	Darion Anderson	Northern Illinois	Jr
G/F	David Kool	Western Mich.	Jr
F	Brandon Bowdry	Eastern Mich.	Jr
F	Jarrod Jones	Ball State	So

Player of the Year - Rodney Pierce
CHN Award Winners		Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Darion Anderson Rodney Pierce		Best Scorer: David Kool Best Rebounder: Brandon Bowdry Best Passer: Joe Jakubowski

MAC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

68	Akron	MAC	1	NCAA
82	Buffalo	MAC	2	NIT
104	Kent State	MAC	3	CBI/CIT
128	Bowling Green	MAC	4
184	Ohio	MAC	5
199	Miami (OH)	MAC	6
232	Central Michigan	MAC	7
266	Ball State	MAC	8
289	Northern Illinois	MAC	9
311	Eastern Michigan	MAC	10
318	Western Michigan	MAC	11
341	Toledo	MAC	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the MAC?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

MAC Preseason Poll & Awards

Press Release — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:54:36 -0700

CLEVELAND - Akron was predicted to finish first in the Mid-American Conference East Division in a poll of the league's media, the conference office announced on Oct 28.

Central Michigan was predicted to win the West Division, amassing 113 points and 10 first-place votes. Northern Illinois was picked to finish second with 102 points, while Eastern Michigan was forecast to finish third with 94 points. Ball State, Western Michigan and Toledo were picked to finish fourth, fifth and sixth in the West Division, respectively.

Five schools earned votes to win the MAC Tournament with Akron being the favorite with 19 votes. Buffalo received two votes, while Northern Illinois, Kent State and Bowling Green each received one.

MAC East Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       Akron – 190 points (19)

2.       Kent State – 108 points (3)

3.       Buffalo – 97 points (1)

4.       Miami – 78 points

5.       Bowling Green – 54 points (1)

6.       Ohio – 32 points

MAC West Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       Central Michigan – 113 points (10)

2.       Northern Illinois – 102 points (4)

3.       Eastern Michigan – 94 points (3)

4.       Ball State – 87 points (3)

5.       Western Michigan – 79 points (4)

6.       Toledo – 29 points

(1st place votes in parentheses)

Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)

East Division All-MAC Preseason Team

Kenny Hayes, G, Miami

Brett McKnight, F, Akron

Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo

Chris Singletary, G, Kent State

Anthony “Humpty” Hitches, G, Akron

West Division All-MAC Preseason Team

David Kool, G, Western Michigan

Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State

Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan

Darion “Jake” Anderson, G, Northern Illinois

Carlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan

Thursday/Friday Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:47:34 -0700

Thursday night delivers an ACC showdown that could very well be repeated in December. Clemson (1-0) visits Atlanta to take on #15 Georgia Tech (1-0) (7:30 PM on ESPN), and it's fitting that a Yellow Jacket team that rarely gets the national spotlight plays on national television...opposite the NFL season opener. Jonathan Dwyer and company made short work of Jacksonville State last Saturday, but they'll face a defense some think may be the best in the ACC. A stat to watch tonight: turnovers, which played a significant role in last year's meeting.

In the Tigers' first game under Dabo Swinney the two teams combined for eight turnovers (six for Clemson) in the 21-17 Georgia Tech victory. Coach Paul Johnson's option attack will put the ball on the ground, a definite risk for any option offense due to the increased ballhandling responsibilities. If Kyle Parker can't take care of the football Clemson will be in trouble. The sophomore has weapons to get the ball to as well, beginning with senior running back C.J. Spiller. Spiller scored the first time he touched the football in last week's opener, taking back a kickoff 96 yards. He and Dwyer are possibilities for the Heisman and the Doak Walker, and tonight provides a national stage on which to show their wares.

Ten of the last thirteen games in this series have been decided by five points or less, meaning that there's a very good chance that this one won't be decided until late. The Yellow Jackets will likely win the time of possession battle due to their offense, but Clemson will have to do much better than their 2.1 yards per carry showing in last year's meeting. If they can run the ball with some consistency Clemson can steal one in Atlanta. But at the end of the day, Georgia Tech has the look of a better football team.

Colorado @ Toledo (Friday at 9 PM, ESPN)

Out of necessity (Miami University pulled out of a home-and-home deal to play Kentucky in Cincinnati, losing said game 42-0) the Buffaloes make the voyage east to the Glass Bowl in hopes of rebounding from their loss to in-state rival Colorado State. The two have never met on the football field, and given what Purdue was able to do against the Rockets Colorado QB Cody Hawkins could be in for a good night. Colorado also has options in the backfield thanks to the presence of backs Demetrius Sumler, and Rodney Stewart.

Purdue did whatever they wanted on the ground last weekend, rushing for 315 yards (8.1 yards per carry) in beating Toledo by three touchdowns. The yardage total had been reached just twice in the 12-year tenure of the retired Joe Tiller. The Buffs were a major disappointment last weekend, rushing for just twenty-nine yards on twenty-one attempts against CSU. Falling behind 14-0 early may have had something to do with that, but truth be told there's no excuse given the talent in the Colorado backfield. If CU comes out lethargic against Toledo they'll be in trouble once again.

Tim Beckman's Rockets can put some points up on the board and QB Aaron Opelt threw for 435 yards last weekend, so Colorado should be on notice. Toledo has the ability to get things done through the air, and the rushing game may prove to be better than it showed last week provided they not fall behind 21-0. Colorado won't be as explosive through the air, making it imperative that they run the ball effectively. Look for Coach Hawkins' team to survive a tough road test. If they don't, the heat under his chair gets turned up a bit.

The Ultimate Schedule: MAC West

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:09:02 -0700

MAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

Week 1: Western Michigan @ Michigan (September 5^th)

The Wolverines have made news in advance of the season opener due to head coach Rich Rodriguez’s proclamation that three quarterbacks will see time. If that’s for game plan reasons or the fact that none of the three (Tate Forcier, Nick Sheridan and Denard Robinson) has separated from the others then OK. But if it’s a case of overconfidence, thinking that the visit from the Broncos is nothing more than a formality they’d better talk to their conference brethren in Champaign. Bill Cubit’s team should not be overlooked, especially with QB Tim Hiller throwing and RB Brandon West throwing the football. If the Broncos can find ample replacements for the eight departed starters on defense look out.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Arizona (9/5), Toledo @ Purdue (9/5)

Week 2: Central Michigan @ Michigan State (September 12^th)

Another matchup between Michigan schools, with the task being far tougher for the Chippewas. Michigan State is picked by many to finish third in the Big Ten despite the loss of RB Javon Ringer. The Spartans have one of the better defenses in the conference with LB Greg Jones leading the way, and Mark Dantonio’s team doesn’t shy away from physical football. How well Butch Jones’ team deals with the hard-nosed style of play will dictate the flow of the game. If the Chippewas can keep the ball in the hands of Dan LeFevour and control the tempo they can win. If they allow the Spartans to slug away at will, it will be a long day in East Lansing.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Indiana (9/12)

Week 3: Northern Illinois @ Purdue (September 19^th)

Another Big Ten matchup, and just like Western’s opener at Michigan the visiting team has more than a puncher’s chance to leave with the victory. The Boilermakers, in their first season under Danny Hope, lost quite a bit on both sides of the football and were picked to finish tenth in the Big Ten this season. Jerry Kill’s Huskies have more than enough defense to compete for the division crown; whether or not they’re truly a part of the race with CMU and WMU will depend largely upon the improvements made on offense. Can NIU keep up with a team that likes to put the ball in the air like Purdue? It’s a pretty good test considering what they’ll go up against in conference play.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Army (9/19), Toledo vs. Ohio State (9/19 in Cleveland), Miami @ Western Michigan (9/19)

Week 4: Ball State @ Auburn (September 26^th)

The final Saturday in September sends Stan Parrish’s Cardinals to The Plains to take on an Auburn program in transition. Gene Chizik replaced the resigned Tommy Tuberville, and it too a little while for some natives to accept the fact that Auburn hired a man who was 5-19 in two years at Iowa State. Better athletes and a better recruiting base should help his cause in getting the Tigers back to competing for SEC championships. As for Parrish, who was the offensive coordinator last season, he’ll have to break in a new quarterback in Kelly Page but RB MiQuale Lewis does return. It’ll be too much to ask of the Cardinals to win at Auburn, but they could hang around for a bit.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Central Michigan (9/26), Toledo @ FIU (9/26)

Week 5: Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois (October 3^rd)

If the Huskies want to entertain any thoughts of winning the division they’ll need to defend their home turf when the Broncos roll into DeKalb. WMU won last year’s meeting by just three points despite the fact that the Huskies were breaking in a new quarterback and getting used to a new head coach. Now Jerry Kill can look at QB Chandler Harnish and know that he’s got enough experience to take the next step in his development. The Broncos have won the last three meetings, but each game has been tight and they were outgained by NIU in the last meeting. The winner takes a big step towards competing for a MAC title while the loser falls behind the 8-ball early.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Buffalo (10/3), Toledo @ Ball State (10/3)

Week 6: Ball State @ Temple (October 10^th)

This is a crossover game that has the chance to be a pretty good one. The two have never met, with Temple just joining the conference in 2007. Ball State has been the best road team in the conference over the past couple of seasons, winning nine straight MAC road contests. If the Owls are to win they’ll have to get more from an offense that ranked dead last in the MAC in total offense in 2008 while Ball State will hope for good play from a defense that returns seven starters. While Temple has hopes of possibly winning the East the Cardinals will hope to reach bowl eligibility.

Other Games Considered: Western Michigan @ Toledo (10/10), Eastern Michigan @ Central Michigan (10/10)

Week 7: Central Michigan @ Western Michigan (October 17^th)

As soon as the media picks for the conference were released this game became the “Game of the Year” within the West Division. The Chippewas won last year’s meeting by ten (38-28) despite Tim Hiller throwing for nearly 500 yards. Western really has no problem putting the ball in the air, but if they can’t get anything out of Brandon West and the running game they become a little too one-dimensional (49 yards rushing against CMU in 2008). If the Broncos can get some balance they’ve got a chance to end their three-game skid in the series. If not, look for the Chippewas to cement themselves as the favorite in the division.

Other Games Considered: Northern Illinois @ Toledo (10/17), Bowling Green @ Ball State (10/17)

Week 8: Buffalo @ Western Michigan (October 24^th)

Depending on what happens in their respective big divisional games (Buffalo at Temple, WMU at Central Michigan) this could be a preview of the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in December. Of the four teams that received votes to win the MAC only the Bulls play all three (Temple, Central Michigan and Western Michigan), and by this point in the season Turner Gill’s team will have seen them all. The Broncos won last season’s meeting in overtime thanks to 345 yards through the air and a defense that limited Buffalo to just 164 yards through the air. WMU will look to control things through the air; if Buffalo can limit that they’ll have a chance to win at Waldo Stadium.

Week 9: Bye Week (October 31^st)

While there are a few intriguing games on the schedule for this weekend it’s a good time to take a week off to prepare for the stretch run. The best conference games look to be Western Michigan visiting Kent State and Ball State hosting Ohio, while Central Michigan gets an upset opportunity at Boston College.

Week 10: Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois (November 5^th)

The Eagles are the one team we haven’t seen to this point in the season so it’s a good opportunity to check out Ron English’s program on a Thursday night in DeKalb. EMU was embarrassed at home in last season’s meeting, losing 37-0 while allowing the Huskies to rush for 235 yards. Of the three teams picked in the top half of the division the Huskies may be the team that the Eagles can hang with longer than anticipated. When the Huskies win in this series they tend to blow out EMU; the Eagles won 21-19 in 2007 and with seventeen starters back they could very well make things interesting.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Michigan State (11/7)

Week 11: Toledo @ Central Michigan (November 11^th)

The Chippewas escaped Toledo last season with a 24-23 win, a departure from the 2007 meeting that saw the Rockets get their doors blown off in the fourth quarter. Rover Barry Church, who seems to have been around for about ten years, will lead a defense for new head coach Tim Beckman that returns seven starters. In regards to the series the Chips have won four straight after losing ten straight to the Rockets, a streak that coincided with the year (2005) in which Brian Kelly got things headed in the right direction in Mount Pleasant. Hopefully for CMU Dan LeFevour will be healthy; last year’s meeting came in between games the senior missed due to injury. The Rockets have a senior quarterback of their own in Aaron Opelt, and while he isn’t considered to be the caliber of LeFevour, he is a capable decision-maker.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Northern Illinois (12/12), Western Michigan @ Eastern Michigan (12/14)

Week 12: Northern Illinois @ Ohio (November 21^st)

We’ve got one more attractive crossover game…that is if you’re a fan of strong running games and solid defense. The last meeting was actually a high-scoring affair, but it’s hard to expect both teams to light up the scoreboard this time around. Ohio QB Theo Scott missed most of 2008 due to a broken collarbone suffered in the season opener, giving Boo Jackson the keys to the offense. There still hasn’t been a decision on who the starter will be but Frank Solich does have two players with experience from which to choose. NIU QB Chandler Harnish should also perform better with a season under his belt, a development that should increase the production of the Husky offense. Not sure how many points will be scored, but expect nothing to be decided until the fourth quarter.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Ball State (11/18), Eastern Michigan @ Toledo (11/20)

Week 13: Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan (November 27^th)

Just like the meeting between the Chippewas and Western Michigan in October, the season finale between CMU and the Huskies will go a long way in deciding who makes the voyage to Detroit. Central Michigan won last season’s meeting 33-30 in overtime, spoiling a furious NIU rally to tie the game at 30 with nineteen seconds remaining in regulation. CMU led 30-6 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter yet needed a field goal from Andrew Aguila to seal the win. Dan LeFevour accounted for more than three hundred yards and four total touchdowns in the win, but it isn’t as if he wasn’t going to be the first line of the NIU scouting report anyway. Expect another entertaining contest, and this time there may be a lot more on the line.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Western Michigan (11/24), Toledo @ Bowling Green (11/27)

Week 14: Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

The conference gets the Friday night spotlight to itself on Championship Weekend, and the pick here is for Central Michigan to close out Dan LeFevour’s career with a conference title. Look for the Chippewas to dethrone reigning champion Buffalo at Ford Field.

The Ultimate Schedule: MAC East

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:12:49 -0700

MAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

Week 1: Troy @ Bowling Green (September 3^rd)

Why not open up the season with the favorite to defend its conference title (Troy of the Sun Belt Conference) visiting a Bowling Green team looking to pick up the first win of the Dave Clawson era? The question for the Falcons is which job will be more representative of Clawson’s offensive gameplan abilities: his years of success at Richmond, or one ill-fated year at Tennessee? Tennessee was a tough situation in 2008, with Phil Fulmer under pressure to win immediately, so it can be understood why the Volunteers struggled (quarterback play didn’t help either). Tyler Sheehan is a capable signal-caller, but he will be tested by the Troy defense. This will be a good measuring stick in the season opener for the Falcons.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Penn State (9/5), Connecticut @ Ohio (9/5), Buffalo @ UTEP (9/5)

Week 2: Pittsburgh @ Buffalo (September 12^th)

Last season the Panthers dropped a game at home to a Bowling Green team that ended up not being as good as thought when the season ended. So what can happen when Pittsburgh visits the defending MAC champion Bulls? Buffalo will hope that they’ve found capable replacements for RB James Starks, who will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum, and Pitt will also be looking for backs to replace the departed LeSean McCoy. The position to watch: wide receiver, where Naaman Roosevelt can hold his own with any wideout on the Pitt roster. Simply put, this is one of the early-season games that can provide the MAC with a BCS “scalp”.

Other Games Considered: Kent State @ Boston College (9/12), Miami @ Boise State (9/12), Bowling Green @ Missouri (9/12)

Week 3: Indiana @ Akron (September 19^th)

Speaking of possible wins against BCS teams, the Zips host an Indiana team picked by the media to finish last in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers dismissed QB Kellen Lewis in a case of taking team chemistry over playmaking ability. Who else is there that can make things happen for the Hoosiers offensively? QB Ben Chappell has a solid season in 2008, but the defense led by DE Jammie Kirlew will be leaned upon heavily in the first month of the season. Akron isn’t a particularly explosive team on offense either, but they do have a solid quarterback in senior Chris Jacquemain. The Zips have never hosted a BCS conference team so expect a frenzied atmosphere despite the predicted level of the opponent.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Penn State (9/19), Miami @ Western Michigan (9/19), Buffalo @ UCF (9/19)

Week 4: Buffalo @ Temple (September 26^th)

Rarely does a game between the two teams expected to vie for the division title take place in the first month of the season. But that’s the scenario that the Bulls and Owls have to deal with, and if this one is as wild as last year’s game then we’re in for a treat. A Hail Mary at the gun from Drew Willy to Naaman Roosevelt won it for the Bulls, who went on to win the entire conference. With nine starters back on defense led by linebackers Amara Kamara and Alex Joseph, the Owls may have more than enough ammunition to slow down the Buffalo attack. The winner goes a long way towards punching their ticket to Ford Field while the loser falls into “hope the winner loses two league games” mode.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Central Michigan (9/26), Miami @ Kent State (9/26), Ohio @ Tennessee (9/26)

Week 5: Central Michigan @ Buffalo (October 3^rd)

While Temple doesn’t play either of the two favorites in the West the Bulls get both, beginning with a visit from the Chippewas on the first Saturday in October. Buffalo nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback in last year’s 27-25 defeat, missing a late field goal after recovering an onside kick. But all-time history isn’t on the side of the Bulls either, who are 3-21 against the West since joining the conference in 1999. The running game played a large factor in last season’s result with the Chips rushing for 208 yards while holding UB to just sixty-six (and that was with James Starks). The Bulls were close thanks to a furious rally; a little offensive balance could be what puts them over the top in the rematch.

Other Games Considered: Ohio @ Bowling Green (10/3), Kent State @ Baylor (10/3)

Week 6: Ohio @ Akron (October 10^th)

How to pick the four teams behind Buffalo and Temple would be anyone’s guess, and the winner of this matchup goes a long way towards finishing third if not challenging for the division title. The Bobcats won a wild battle in Athens 49-42, but the road team hasn’t fared well in the recent history of this series (last win by the road team: 2004) and the Bobcats haven’t won consecutive games over the Zips since the late-90s. It’s also Homecoming for the Zips, who will be playing on campus and that should add something to the atmosphere surrounding the game. Coaches Frank Solich and JD Brookhart are two of the better coaches in the conference, so the strategic aspect should be something to pay attention to as well.

Other Games Considered: Bowling Green @ Kent State (10/10), Miami @ Northwestern (10/10)

Week 7: Bye Week (October 17^th)

The most appealing game on the schedule is Akron visiting Buffalo, but the Bulls have been on the list three times already. Miami’s visit to Athens to take on the Bobcats doesn’t have the look of a game that will have a significant impact on the division race, and the same goes for Bowling Green visiting Ball State.

Week 8: Akron @ Syracuse (October 24^th)

The Zips won last season’s meeting in rather comfortable fashion, racking up 478 yards of offense in the 42-28 win. The question for Syracuse is how much Greg Paulus can help in the passing game. Against Akron the Orange had just 135 yards through the air, offsetting a solid 218 yards on the ground. Doug Marrone should bring more balance to the Syracuse attack, but it remains to be seen what Paulus can produce since he hasn’t taken a live snap since his senior year of high school. Look for Akron DE Almondo Sewell to lead the way in pressuring the former Duke point guard for sixty minutes.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Toledo (10/24), Kent State @ Ohio (10/24) and Northern Illinois @ Miami (10/24)

Week 9: Western Michigan @ Kent State (October 31^st)

The Broncos have dominated the series with the Golden Flashes, winning the last twelve meetings. And it’s not like these have been “close but no cigar” meetings either; WMU has managed to blow out Kent State on a regular basis. And with Tim Hiller back for one more year in Kalamazoo, KSU free safety Brian Lainhart and company will have their hands full in slowing down Bill Cubit’s offense. The Golden Flashes tend to rely heavily upon their run game, and they’ll need to get the job done in order to keep the ball out of the hands of Hiller and company.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Northern Illinois (10/31), Temple @ Navy (10/31)

Week 10: Kent State @ Akron (November 7^th)

Back with the Golden Flashes, this time to watch them take on an Akron team that beat them in overtime last season. The Golden Flashes held a sizeable advantage in yards gained and first downs yet it’s the Zips who possess the Wagon Wheel. Chris Jacquemain and company should be better equipped to put up solid offensive numbers, while Ken State needs to be a little more opportunistic this time around. These two could be fighting for slots in the conference pecking order behind favorites Buffalo and Temple, or they could find a far more lucrative position at the fingertips of the winner.

Other Games Considered: Bowling Green @ Buffalo (11/3), Miami @ Temple (11/7)

Week 11: Bowling Green @ Miami (November 12^th)

The Redhawks have dominated the all-time series with a record of 41-19-5 against the Falcons, who haven’t beaten Miami since 2005. What does Bowling Green need to do in order to end the current run of futility? They can start by shoring up a rush defense that allowed the Redhawks to run for 218 yards in last year’s 27-20 win. To put that into context, the 2-10 Redhawks averaged 107 rushing yards per game, and their second-highest total for a game was 142 in a loss to Kent State. Sometimes, a team simply has your number no matter what the circumstances may be. The hope for Bowling Green is that they can turn the tide in the other direction.

Other Games Considered: Ohio @ Buffalo (11/10), Temple @ Akron (11/13)

Week 12: Kent State @ Temple (November 21^st)

These two teams played an exciting game in 2008, with the Golden Flashes winning 41-38 thanks in large part to 561 yards of offense (329 on the ground). Temple produced just seventy-two yards on the ground and lost the yardage battle by 207 yards yet still found themselves with a chance to win the game late. The Owls finished 2008 dead last in total offense, the lone team unable to average at least three hundred yards per game. By this point in the season people should have a good idea as to whether or not that unit has become any more productive. If so, the Owls could very well find themselves chasing down a division crown.

Other Games Considered: Northern Illinois @ Ohio (11/21), Akron @ Bowling Green (11/20)

Week 13: Toledo @ Bowling Green (November 27^th)

The two schools are separated by just twenty-six miles, meaning that bragging rights take on a more personal feel in the aftermath of this game. The Falcons have won the last two with nearly identical final scores (37-10 in 2007, 38-10 in 2008). Last year’s game saw Bowling Green rack up nearly 300 yards on the ground while holding the Rockets to just sixty-seven yards through the air (Toledo had -1 yards total in the first half) in the final game of the Tom Amstutz era. Toledo senior QB Aaron Opelt will be hoping for a far better result in this year’s battle for the Peace Pipe, as will his teammates.

Other Games Considered: Temple @ Ohio (11/27), Buffalo @ Kent State (11/27)

Week 14: Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

MAC Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:50:19 -0700

Can the Bulls repeat as champions?

By Raphielle Johnson

2008 saw the completion to one of the biggest turnarounds in recent college football history, with Turner Gill leading the Buffalo Bulls from the dregs of college football to the top of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls knocked off Ball State in the conference championship game, earning a trip to the International Bowl. They may have lost that game and starting quarterback Drew Willy (graduation), but most importantly they did not lose Coach Gill.

Despite a few interview opportunities he’ll be right back on the sidelines, hoping that players such as WR Naaman Roosevelt and RB Brandon Thermilus (James Starks will likely miss the entire season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder) can lead the Bulls to another title. Zack Maynard takes over for Willy under center, and while he’s got many options to go to with the football he’ll also have to deal with three new starters on the offensive line. Defensively, look for the Bulls to be one of the conference’s stronger units with nine starters returning. The key for Buffalo: avoiding a “hangover” following a season of success the likes of which hadn’t been seen at UB for a very long time.

Their biggest challenger in the East could very well be Temple, another program looking to drag itself up from the bottom of college football. Al Golden’s team went 5-7 in his first year in Philadelphia, but they did win four league games. Adam DiMichele has graduated, but the Owls do have quarterbacks with starting experience in Vaughn Charlton and Chester Stewart. Outside of quarterback the Owls are a solid football team featuring a number of young yet talented options on both sided of the football. Far more competitive than people expected them to be last season, Temple has the talent to challenge the Bulls and possibly win the conference.

Ohio, Akron and Bowling Green could slot in behind those two in any given order, but good luck figuring out which of the three would have the best chance to shove their way into the top two. Ohio will always run the ball and play sound football under Frank Solich, but the growth of the passing game will determine whether or not the Bobcats can win the division. JD Brookhart’s Akron Zips return nine starters on offense with QB Chris Jacquemain leading the way. But in order for Akron to put together their first winning season since 2005 a defense that finished tenth in the MAC in total defense must improve.

Bowling Green welcomes a new head coach in Dave Clawson, who was extremely successful at Richmond before taking over as offensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2008. He will have some dependable options on offense in QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes to work with, but there will be some work to do defensively. A unit that ranked second in the conference in total defense returns just three starters and have to replace all-conference DE Diyral Briggs.

Kent State is another team to keep an eye on, with the Golden Flashes returning fifteen starters, led by the diminutive yet productive RB Eugene Jarvis. Jarvis rushed for just over eight hundred yards in 2008, missing three games due to injury. His health becomes even more important due to the graduation of QB Julian Edelman. Four starters are back on the offensive line, and the defense returns starters at all three levels. The wildcard in regards to their contention for a division crown will be the play of sophomore QB Giorgio Morgan; if he can play mistake-free football the Golden Flashes have a chance to earn their first winning season since 2001.

Miami of Ohio also has a new head coach in Mike Haywood, and he’ll have quite the rebuilding job to do in Oxford. The Redhawks have a proud football history but they’ve finished 2-10 in two of the last three seasons. Senior Daniel Raudabaugh returns to lead the offense, and that unit ranked ahead of only Temple in total offense. The Redhawks weren’t much better defensively, ranking ninth in the conference in total defense. Just five starters return to that unit, led by three returnees in the secondary.

In the West, it’ll most likely be a two-horse race between Central Michigan and Western Michigan. The Chippewas return the conference’s best quarterback in Dan LeFevour, and head coach Butch Jones also has receivers Kito Poblah, Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown back in the fold. But the Chips have just one starter back on the offensive line, and the fact that they have ten starters back on defense is undermined by the fact that CMU was dead last in the conference in total defense last season. If the defense can round into shape they’ve got a chance to get through a tough early-season schedule and get back to the top of the MAC.

As for the Broncos, they’ve got some holes to fill defensively but the offense is in good hands thanks to the return of all five starters on the offensive line and QB Tim Hiller. Hiller threw for 286.5 yards per game in 2008, tops in the conference by thirty yards per game. Brandon West will be back for one more run as well, hoping to improve upon numbers that ranked him sixth in the conference in rushing yards a season ago. The Broncos were fourth in the MAC in total offense but just eighth in total defense. That number has to improve if they’re to win the conference this season.

Northern Illinois was the worst offensive team in the conference yet still reached a bowl game in the first season under Jerry Kill due to a defense that finished tops in the conference by nearly fifty yards per game. Defensive end Larry English is now in the NFL and just four starters return on defense, but things may be looking up for the offense. QB Chandler Harnish started ten games as a freshman and is one of seven starters back on that side of the football. If the NIU offense can make some strides they’ll be in the running for third place in the West.

Toledo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan all welcome new head coaches in 2009, with the Rockets having the best chance of finishing in the top half the of the division. New head coach Tim Beckman takes over a team that returns sixteen starters, including QB Aaron Opelt and running backs Morgan Williams and DaJuane Collins. Growing pains could be more plentiful for Ball State’s Stan Parrish and Eastern Michigan’s Ron English. The Cardinals have just four starters back on an offense that led the MAC in total offense a season ago. The load will become heavier for RB MiQuale Lewis with the loss of QB Nate Davis and four starters on the offensive line.

As for EMU the program has won four games in a season three times this decade. That’s the high-water mark for the perennial MAC doormat, something the former defensive coordinator at Louisville hopes to change. Seventeen starters return to Ypsilanti, including nine to an offense that ranked third in the MAC last season. But no matter how many yards Andy Schmitt threw for the Eagles struggled to win games due to a porous defense. Schmitt did lead the Eagles to an upset win over the Chippewas in the season finale, throwing for 516 yards and five touchdowns in the 56-52 stunner. In the final two games of the season Schmitt attempted 76 (Temple) and 80 (CMU) passes; if he has to do that this year the Eagles will more than likely fail to surpass their three-win total of 2008.

As for who wins the MAC title look for Central Michigan’s defense to show signs of improvement, winning the conference provided LeFevour stay healthy. If not, the door opens for either Buffalo or Western Michigan to grab the title. But rest assured it will be another season of wild games and surprising results in the Mid-American Conference.

Storyline: Offense vs. defense. The Bulls are pretty solid on both sides of the football, but the other major contenders need to make improvements on either the offensive (Temple) or defensive (CMU, WMU) side of the football.

Players of the Year: QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan) and LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan)

How they’ll finish

East 1. Buffalo West 1. Central Michigan

2. Temple 2. Western Michigan

3. Ohio 3. Northern Illinois

4. Akron 4. Toledo

5. Kent State 5. Ball State

6. Bowling Green 6. Eastern Michigan

7. Miami (Ohio)

Next: MAC East and West ultimate schedules

MAC Tournament: Pairings & Schedule

Press Release — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:28:05 -0700

2009 FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Tuesday, March 10 - First Round
No. 7 Central Michigan vs. No. 10 Eastern Michigan, Noon
No. 6 Kent State vs. No. 11 Northern Illinois, 2 p.m.*
No. 8 Western Michigan vs. No. 9 Ohio, 4 p.m.*
No. 5 Akron vs. No. 12 Toledo, 6 p.m.*

Thursday, March 12 - Quarters
No. 2 Ball State vs. No. 7/No. 10 Winner, Noon (FS Ohio)
No. 3 Buffalo vs. No. 6/No.11 Winner, 2:30 p.m.* (FS Ohio)
No. 1 Bowling Green vs. No. 8/No. 9 Winner, 7 p.m. (FS Ohio)
No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5/No. 12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.* (FS Ohio)

Friday, March 13 - Semis
No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 Winner,7:30 p.m. (FS Ohio)
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.(FS Ohio)

Saturday, March 14
Championship Game (ESPN2), 8 p.m. EST

*or 30 minutes following previous game

Wright State Finally Gets a Win: Tops Toledo

Bill Kintner — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:45:26 -0800

DAYTON - Wright State finally broke out of their losing streak and even set a new record for the fewest points allowed as they beat Toledo 50-35 at the Nutter Center.

It wasn't pretty unless you liked defense but it broke Wright State's longest losing streak to start a season since joining the ranks of Division I just 21 years ago.

As for Toledo (2-7) it was another dent in first year coach Gene Cross' rebuilding job.

Midway through the first half Wright State's Cory Cooperwood took a feed from Scott Grote and hit a jump shot to put the Raiders up 8-7, a lead they held for the rest of the game.

At halftime Wright State (1-6) held a four-point lead at 20-16.

The Raiders came out and went on an 11-2 run during the first 13 minutes to go up 31-18 and the game was never in doubt after that.

"The first few minutes (of the second half) they smashed us around," said Cross. "They imposed their will upon us, instead of us imposing it on them. When you turn the ball over 26 times it is hard to win,"

The 26 turnovers had a lot to do with the Raiders tight defense. The 26 turnovers were almost twice as many as they had field goals (14). The Raiders' defense held the Rockets to a measly 29.2 percent (14-48) shooting. Normally the Rockets are one of the better shooting teams in the MAC averaging 43.6 percent.

The Raiders shot just 37.7 percent (20-53) which has been a problem for them all year. But tonight the Raiders lived off of their defense and that was enough to get by the Rockets.

Wright State coach Brad Brownell cited defense as the key to wining the game since the offense was still a little sub-par.

"It wasn't pretty, but if you like defense it was pretty," explained Brownell. "It was an outstanding defensive effort."
The Rockets star player, Tyrone Kent took just six shots and made two of them and no Toledo player scored in double figures tonight.

For Wright State, John David Gardner scored 12 points and Ronnie Thomas pulled down 12 rebounds.

Notes:

-Toledo leads the series 5-4.

-Raider sick bay report...leading scorer Vaughn Duggins had surgery on his ring finger of his right hand on December 4th and hopes to return after the first of the year. Kyle Pressley has a sprained right ankle and did not play tonight. He is listed as day-to-day. Troy Tabler separated his left shoulder in practice and is listed as day-to-day. He did not dress tonight.

-With all the injuries Wright State added Michael Boan from Reynoldsburg, OH as a walk-on. He saw his first action tonight when he came in for the last minute.

-Wright State won the first game ever played against Toledo 67-66 and then lost the second game 75-73 while they were still a Division II power.

-Toledo's next game is at home against Houston on December 20 at 7 p.m.

-Wright State's next game is Friday at Arkansas-Little Rock at 8 p.m.

College Football: #23 Miami @ Georgia Tech Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:20:02 -0800

Four games are on the schedule before Saturday, with the big one being an ACC Coastal showdown between #23 Miami (7-3, 4-2) and Georgia Tech (7-3, 4-3). The Hurricanes, currently in the driver's seat in the division, need a win to keep that status since North Carolina lurks just one game behind in the standings. And with the Heels due to take on NC State and Duke to end the season, a loss here could essentially hand the division to a Carolina team that has already defeated Miami and Georgia Tech. The young Hurricanes will have their hands full dealing with one of the ACC's best defenses, led by possible firt-round draft pick DE Michael Johnson.

Not to mention an option attack that once you focus too much on the ground game of QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer, a big play through the air comes by way of WR Demaryius Thomas. How much have the young Hurricane quarterbacks (Robert Marve and Jacory Harris) progressed throughout the season? We'll learn here, but given the crazy nature of the ACC it would be fitting if the Yellow Jackets won this game at home.

Friday's Games

6:00 PM ET Buffalo at Bowling Green

The MAC East is on the line in this one, with Turner Gill's Bulls one win away from clinching the division. A wild overtime win at Akron last week put Buffalo (6-4, 4-2) in this position, but they're going to be tested on the road in this one. QB Tyler Sheehan has played better football of late, helping lead the Falcons (5-5, 3-3) to wins over Kent State and Ohio. There's an equally capable quarterback on the other side of the field in Drew Willy, a major reason for Buffalo's recent turnaround.It'll come down to what the two defenses can do in this one, and with the Bulls leading the MAC in turnover margin they'll win a close one. Expect the phone of Coach Gill's agent to be ringing this offseason.

7:07 PM ET Miami (OH) at Toledo

The Redhawks (2-8, 1-5 MAC East) were expected to contend in the MAC East but they, like Toledo (2-8, 1-5 MAC West), are now playing out the string. This is also the final home game of the Tom Amstutz era, with "Toledo Tom" stepping down to take a fundraising position within the athletics department at season's end. His player surely want to send him out with a win, and they should do just that in a wild affair.

9:30 PM ET Fresno State at San Jose State on ESPN2

The Bulldogs (6-4, 3-3) haven't met expectations this season, currently sitting in sixth place in the WAC and in desperate need of a victory to guarantee themselves somewhere to go come bowl season. But they visit one of the WAC's best defenses in San Jose State (6-5, 4-3), which has found a way to win six games despite having one of the nation's worst offenses. Fresno State has better talent across the board, but I don't think they're admitting how much that early-season loss to Wisconsin took out of them. The Spartans win a close one, and keep an eye on their NFL-ready corners in Coye Francies and Christopher Owens.

-Will Muschamp designated "head coach in waiting" at Texas.

For all the talk about who could fill openings at Tennessee and Clemson, one man's name can now be taken off of that list. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been designated head coach in waiting at the school, meaning that whenever Mack Brown decides to retire the job is his. This development, which has happened in college basketball in recent years, has even caught the attention of Virginia Tech athletics director Jim Weaver. With their defensive coordinator, Bud Foster, having interviewed at Clemson there is obviously some incentive to keeping him in Blacksburg besides the fact that he's an excellent football coach. This is an interesting development to keep an eye on this offseason in regards to possible head coaching openings.