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Well, I guess you could say it’s a step in the right direction as it’s not 6th where we seem to have been picked for each year over the past decade or so. But the biggest head scratcher to me was someone actually picked BG to win the MAC Tournament. Ummm....WHAT?!? This person is either incredibly insane (BG is the only school in the MAC to never have won the tournament and hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1968) or they are a genius and should start picking Power Ball numbers if this actually happens.

In all seriousness, I’m cautiously optimistic that this team could actually finish somewhere in the middle of the East. But, as past history has consistently suggested, we could also find ourselves right back in the basement for what seems like forever and has been our home with the exception of a rare year here and there.

That said, if we can’t make a move and start to ascend this year with the mass losses and defections of all the 1st and 2nd Team All-MAC players from last year, then we may never get out of this never ending funk. The honeymoon is over for Huger and these are “his guys.” It’s time to put up or shut up and “next year” is here.

Here’s the breakdown:

MAC East Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Buffalo – 166 points (24)
2. Kent State – 139 points (2)
3. Ohio – 127 points (3)
4. Akron – 84 points (1)
5. Bowling Green – 82 points
6. Miami – 32 points

MAC West Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Western Michigan – 169 points (22)
2. Ball State – 156 points (8)
3. Toledo – 107 points
4. Eastern Michigan – 103 points
5. Northern Illinois – 57 points
6. Central Michigan – 38 points

MAC Tournament Champion: Western Michigan (10), Buffalo (9), Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1)

I brought it up in an earlier thread, but this year I really need to see something in terms of wins. With the OOC schedule we're playing I don't think a better than .500 record on the season is asking too much. I do think we're likely too young to win the MAC and truly have a "breakout" type year, but we should start to see signs that we're moving towards the top of the conference. Wiggins & Lillard and company are Juniors. They should start to take the lead and consistently show up.

We have a large group of newcomers but they seem to be relatively highly touted. We need at least one of those freshman to come in and prove he can play a major role. We need Caldwell/Frye to make big steps forward.

Most importantly we need SOMEBODY, ANYBODY to prove to be a legit go to scorer. Every good team has somebody they can rely on when they need a basket, and we haven't had one since Holmes left. I'd have to say Frye seems like the most likely candidate based on what we saw last year, but SOMEBODY must step up and become that guy. You'll never become a winner if you don't have at least one player who can take over and consistently get his own shot when you need it.

Should we be chanting: "Just Like Football!" Yet?

BG finishes 18-13 and second in the MAC East. Frye becomes the guy. You heard it here first

All tips off tomorrow night at Drexel...