Greg looks at the MAC from a stylistic standpoint and the betting trends that were profitable last season, chats with Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News for in-depth analysis on all 12 teams' rosters before Greg gives his projected order of finish for the conference for the 2024-25 season!
Podcast Highlights
3:09-Betting trends, conference schedule notes & styles of the MAC
18:44-Examination of all the MAC rosters & conference play logistics with Rachel Lenzi
45:45-Greg’s projected order of finish for the MAC
If Worman for the Welcome to Lovely Las Vegas. Forcus Heeps with myself Greg Peterson, now part of the Vson family of podcasts. It is a glorious day. You're able to hit the old tune. It's the return of the back. We are doing the MAC Conference preview today. It's always a lot of fun to be able to take a look at this conference, and it's always great to be able to get Rachel Lindsay aboard. She is gonna be joining me in segment number two. She does great workover at the Buffalo News and we're gonna be chatting with her about these twelve rosters, just sort of the dynamics of all twelve of these teams. We're gonna be diving in with regards to just what we're seeing out of them in the off season. Some of these teams that are a little bit depleted by the transfer port on, some of these teams that we're able to make some nice pickups. In the final segment, I'm gonna give you guys my projector or finish for the MAC. And here in segment number one, we are going to be taking a look at these styles of play along with the betting trends of the Mac. If you do have a question comment segment of you what have you for this podcast, and please do fire those in because we're in the dog days of summer and I want to know what you want to hear on this podcast. You have one of two ways feel for those in. First one is my Twitter slash x timeline at youing and under forty one keep in mind in the museum. Maybe it does, I'm matters, it's prett usual. Please send these into the timeline. And the other way is buying an Apple podcast review. If you rate this podcast I starts and is very much appreciated. From there, you're able fire in whatever you'd like to hear on this podcast via that five star review. And since I am doing a conference preview today, that means that the last forty eight hours of college basketball news and notes, everything that we saw on Wednesday along with Thursday that is going to be polish up on the podcast tomorrow. So that'll keep things nice, clean and easy. And let's get down to business, and let's take a look at a Mac that really goes to the beat of its own drum. You've got a lot of unique styles. I think that This is why we oftentimes see the MAC be a pretty solid conference when it comes to don conference play, when it comes to being able to spring it upset or two in the NCAA tournament. Haven't seen as much of it or the last few seasons, but you may recall that Ohio team that very nearly made the Elite eight about a decade ago under John Gross. Some very fun teams, and I would say that you have a little bit of a slower conference. The most you saw Akron b two hundred and eighty fourth in the country in terms of total possessions per game. Eastern Michigan, by no means what's the Blazer. They were about two hundred and seventy second in the country in terms of total possessions per game. We have seen Central Michigan under Tony Barbie be a team that has really been able to step it up on the defensive side of things. Their touring fifty first in the country in terms of total possessions per game. Ken State has really been cranking up their tempo a little bit and they've been an interesting team because they look to generate a bunch of turnovers and felt like they might have went a little bit too fast for their own good. Last season about earned seventy ninth in the country in terms of total possessions per game, but a lot of mid to lower tempo teams like ball State at two hundred and tenth in the country in terms of total possessions per game, Miami of Ohio about two hundred and forty. If that's a lot of the vibe that you get in this conference. Obviously, you've got a team that has a rocket ship on offense in Toledo that typically plays super duper fast, eighty second in the country in terms of total possessions per game season ago, in a team that has ranked in the top thirty five in terms of point scored on a purpossession basis each other the last four years, and you just find a wide array of different offenses when it comes to this conference as well. Toledo is really the gold standard when it comes to being able to put points up on the board. But as we know, Toledo really not a team that's going to be able to get the job done on defense. And even though Toledo was replacing a lot of pieces from what we had seen two seasons ago, so a team that was able to check in in the top thirty five turns point scored on a purposession basis. As a matter of fact, they were approximately thirty fifth in all of college basketball terms of point scored on a per possession basis. Then from there you would see quite a bit of a drop offense. You do have a few teams that they were pretty rough on defense, but honestly so great on offense. Last season does feel like the conference has taken a little bit of a drop off since the NILRA really took hold, and we're going to talk about that with Rachel and segment number two. But did see Ohio be very efficient with the ball. They were seventieth in the country in terms of point scored on a per posession basis. Really didn't have anyone else crack the top one hun undred in terms of their offensive efficiency. But you did see a few teams being able to shoot it well from three point ins like Pall Sate Miami of Ohio. These are a pair of teams that we're able to do a relatively okay job from distance. And then you just did have quite a few teams the bottomed out last season. These were teams that just couldn't find a way to be able to get the ball in the basket, even a team like Central Michigan that credit where credit is due. They did a really nice job, but be able to upgrade that just overall system. Tony Barbie getting the team twelve and six in conference play last season nothing short of a herculem feet there. They were just around twenty fourth in all of college basketball in terms of points scored on a purposession basis last year run all the direction of Michigan schools, Eastern Michigan three and fourth in the country in terms of point scort on a purposesson basis. Western Michigan was actually the top of the three touring seventy eighth in the country turns point scored on a purposession basis, and they do have some inroads to be banking there. Miami of Ohio was to earn sixty fifth in the country in terms of point score on a purposession basis. Don't necessarily have super demonstrative home and roads plits. Non iluinnis to earn fifty sixth in the country points scored on a purposession basis. They were one team that was a bit of an outlier. They actually scored more points per possession when they were on the road rather than when they were at home. But you're gonna get a lot of open looks when it comes to this conference. We've seen Akron really be able to bear down a little bit more on defense. They were fifty third in the country in terms of points allowed on a purposession basis. They were really the gold standard with that regard. And then when it comes to more of the top teams, well, Hio was about one hundred and tenth in the country in terms of points a lot on a purposession basis. Kent State two years ago, it was amazing. They took a drop off last year, one hundred and fifty fifth in the country in terms points a lot on a purposession basis. And I was mentioning those directional Michigan schools just really not getting online. Western Michigan to hundred and fifty fifth in the country in terms points a lot on a purposession basis, Eastern Michigan two hundred and eighty fifth in the country with this regard, and then Central Michigan really did a night shop, you know, fort to five that defense, they were up to one hundred and thirty fourth terms of points a lot on a purposession basis last season. But I mean a lot of this comes back to other than Kent State. Kent State very good at being able to generate turnovers. You've got a lot of in this conference that they don't necessarily do the world's greatest job and be able to generate a whole bunch of turnovers. Akron, who represented the conference in the NCAA tournament, right around about two hundred and eight in the country in terms of turnovers force on a purposession basis. After Kent State was so good when they made the twenty twenty three n CUAA Tournament, they were down to about seventy ninth in terms of turnovers force on a purposessed basis. So it's gonna be interesting to see if some of these teams look to be able to crank that up a little bit more. Northern Illinois was through twenty fifth in terms of turnovers force on a purpossessed basis. For Western Michigan they were two urning eightieth in the nation. With this regard at Eastern Michigan and their issues as well, two hundred and seventy fifth in terms of turnovers force on a purposession basis, and that allows for some nice clean possessions for these teams. Central Michigan about to turning twenty ninth in the country with this regard, and then at an interesting Miami of Ohio team that was able to do a pretty solid job of generating some turnovers. They were more around about one hundred and tenth in the nation in terms of turnovers force on a purposesson basis, while ball State hovering more in the neighbor about two hundred and thirty eight than Toledo Crime. David Crime in terms of a team has been so interesting. They a lot, a whole bunch of wide open threes, but they were eighty eighth in the country in terms of turnover sporce on a purposession basis to be able to get some fast break opportunities. And when you take a look at betting trends in the conference, because the conference is a little bit spread out, you've got a lot of teams obviously out there in the Great State of Ohio, You've got teams in the Great State of Michigan. You're not really going to be traveling too far. I would say the longest road trip probably New York the city of Buffalo over to Michigan. Maybe I'm a little bit mistaken there, but you don't have like just overly daunting road trips in this conference, and I feel like as a result, you were able to see some of these BAC road teams be able to come through and have some pretty solid season.
Says.
You did have four teams that were above five hundred against the spread in road games. You had four teams that were below five hundred against the spread and road games. Ken Sata the roughest time of it, four to nine against the spread on the road, Acron five and eight against the spread on the road. Meanwhile, your top two teams Buffalo is eight and five against the spread on the road, Miami of Ohio was signed in seven against the spread on the road, and then you had Bowling Green, Ohio, Ball State Central, Michigan. All be between six and six and eight and eight against the spread on the road. All were fifty to fifty sort of teams. And the theme that you saw there was that the underdogs were able to do a pretty solid job on the road and the favorites the teams that were laying points really weren't able to do so. And this was very much an underdog conference last season, as you didn't see Northern Illinois be absolutely miserable as an underdog seven and seventeen against the spread. In the role of an underdog, Acron was three six and one against the spread as an underdog. But you did have three teams Ball State, Toledo, Western Michigan covered quite a few games as an underdog. Western Michigan fourteen and nine against the spread as an underdog, Toledo six and four against the spread as an underdog, and then ball State nine and seven against the spread as an underdog. Against overall, it was just a little bit of a rough season for this conference. He had a lot of teams that come through as a favorite. Against State eight and fourteen against the spread as a favorite. Toledo was nine and thirteen against the spread as a favorite. Now credit credit as zoo Ohio. They were able to go fifteen and twelve against the spread as a favorite. But if you just look at the overall against the spread records that you got in this conference, he had one team hit above fifty five percent of their games against the spread. Overall, and you had three teams have forty percent or worse. Ball State sixteen and thirteen against the spread overall. That was your best cover rate in the Western Michigan, Miami of Ohio and Ohio up between fifty three point one to fifty four point eight percent of their games against the Spreadwell, he had Northern Illinois Goo Poultry ten and nineteen against the spread. Certainly not pacific or anything like that, but still not great. Kent State twelve and twenty against the spread overall, Buffaloes twelve and nineteen against the spread overall, Akron Toledo both went either fifteen and seventeen or fifteen seventeen and one against the Spreadwell, Boy and Green was an even Stephen sixteen at sixteen. And if you're taking a look at more of a total perspective for the MAC you did see in the back it be quite an underwhelming Conference Land season. Only three teams and more overs and unders the ledo that one should make sense seventeen overs and fifteen unders. Ball Sat fifteen overs thirteen hundreds cent a push in kains State eighteen overs of fourteen. Well, you had a pair of teams get right around about sixty three and a half percent of their games of the under, Akron twelve overs, twenty one unders, Central Michigan eleven overs, nineteen unders and a push. You at Eastern Michigan and Buffalo both go twelve overs seventeen unders. In the case of Buffalo, you're throwing there a push as well. And then a lot of teams like Miami of Ohio, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan hitting between about fifty three and a half to fifty five percent of their games to the under as well. And you're really noticed that this was taking ald a little bit more so during conference play as well as when you reach conference play. Yeah, Boy and Green and ball State be able to play some overs as Boy and Green twelve oversa eight unders, Ball State ten overs, seven hundreds and a push. Every other team hit more games to the under rather than the over, and conference play with having four different teams at at least sixty five percent of their conference games to the under. Ohio seven overs, thirteen unders, Akron seven overs, fourteen unders, Central Michigan and this includes the conference tournament as well, six overs, thirteen unders, Eastern Michigan five overs, thirteen unders. Throwing their miamival Ioa with their seven overs to twelve unders, or the Illinois seven overs eleven unders, Buffalo seven overs, ten unders and a push, and then Toledo was more of your even semen team nine overs to ten unders. Well, Kent State, Western Michigan both played between fifty seven and fifty eight percent of their conference games to the under end. When it came to the justicy dynamic that you saw outside the conference as well, this was very interesting in terms of more of an against the spread standard as well, as you saw these teams have a relatively rough go of it last season, and you could tell that the nil the guys transferring away from programs, it really did take a little bit of a hole as you saw just a few teams completely bought them out in this conference. Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Buffalo, Central Michigan all went five and seven against the spread outside the conference. Akron Kent State either went four to seven or four to seven and one against the spread outside the conference, and Ohio was just three and nine against the spread outside the conference. Ball State was your loan team that really made you some money outside the conference. He went seven and four against the spread in non conference play. Miami of Ohio Eastern Mission both went six and five against the spread in non com play, and for Toledo they were able to go seven and six. But you notice the seams that they struggled a little bit more non conference play. A lot of these teams were the ones that were able to rise up in conference play, with Ohio the worst team in non conference play against the spread being the best team in conference play fourteen and six against the spread in conference and then there was just a hodge positive different teams that were a pretty even steven with one big giant russy anchor in Northern Illinois have five and thirteen against the spread within the conference, Kent State at a rough Goovi just all across the board, eight and thirteen against the spread in conference play. At Buffalo they went seven and eleven against the spread and conference play, Toledo was one of your better non conference teams. They went eight and eleven against the spread in conference play. Well, Central Michigan, Buffalo, Miami of Ohio, they were able to be pretty rock solid team. Central Michigan eleven eight against the spreading conference play, Boying Green eleven to nine against the spreading conference play Manubiva, Ohio ten and nine against the Spreading Conference and Western Michigan twelve and seven against the spread in conference play, catching a lot of points in a lot of those game. So that's sort of the dynamic of the MAC and some of the betting trends and the cells of play that you can expect from the MAC. And coming next we're going to be taking a look at these teams, the dynamics of them, the coaching changes that we've seen in the off season, and so much more. With Rachel Lendsy, he does great work over I at Buffalo News. Right here on go Seeps with myself, Greg GEPs Peterson now part of the Decent Family podcasts and Matt Conference for men ever back here love me las Zegas because good Seeps with myself Greg gaps Peterson now part of the Decent Family of podcasts. This is a MAC Conference Previe edition, So I have to go out to the northeast part of the country and that's where we find Rachel Lendzy. He does such a tremendous job covering all things out there in the Buffalo area, does a tremendous job covering the MAC and so many different other teams. I know that Buffalo Bill's training camp is certainly in full progress. They love their hockey out there in the great state of New York as well. So Rachel covers it all, does a great job over at the Buffalo News and it's someone that you're able to follow on Twitter slash x at her first same Rachel, but let your m and then her last name Lindsay l E n z I altogether and Rachel, great to get you a board.
Thank you Edy, well, thanks for having me on. Greg. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me tonight, and.
I appreciate you jeoing to me because of Mac. It's such a fun conference. We have seen quite a few upsets from these teams over the years, and it's not too long ago that we found Buffalo in the NCAA tournament. But do you want to get your thoughts on this team to lead things off, because certainly this program has fallen on tough times. This is not the same team that we saw when Nate Oates was under the was taking over the program, and just what do you make on this team in general? One that is going to be looking to the likes of Noah bachelor and Kwan Bolden Junior to really lead things.
It's interesting, you know, I kind of preface this by saying one of the things, and this isn't exclusive to Mid American Conference either. Here we're seeing turnover with every team at every level, you know, with the transfer portal coming in and I all with all these changes that are happen being in college basketball at it that's no different at Buffalo as well. A year ago, you know, leard half ago now they went through a coaching change when George Hakovid the third came in from Villanova and took over for Jim Whitzel, who was fired after the twenty twenty three MAC Tournament. And even then, you know, there was one roster last year on this year's team. They have only four players from last year's roster on a team that went four and twenty seven, Ryan Sable guard, Lloyd McVeigh, Bryce and Wilson and Kwan Bolden Junior, the son of former NFL player and Kwan Bolden. George Halkovich told me, you know, even last year, he said, those are the guys I want to be our foundation of this team. You know, let me go back up by saying, I joked, I said, we need to give this team a ball again this year because for the twenty twenty three twenty four season, because there were so many changes, transition is tough for any program. There wasn't an established nil collective in place at Buffalo, which put you know, a lot of the sports at the disadvantage as well. Buffalo really hits them to times. They started to find themselves competitive toward the end of the season, really built some juice up. Ryan Sable, the guard, shot and shot and shot at the ball. He was taking threes left and right. But it took a lot of them to really find their identity last year, and they couldn't because let's be real, not everybody was on the same page on this team. But now George hal Covid and his staff, including Hamlet Tips and Jake Persudi's kind of their recruiting guru, they really, you know, think they've found the right combination of players, the right vibe. Again he mentioned no Bachelor. They brought him in from Maryland as a transfer as well. You know, they're really putting the piece together. They brought a lot of good young players as well into big freshman class. A lot of Euros as well, guys from Canada, guys from the West Coast as well, So just a matter of they have to get everybody on the same page philosophically, get them in, get them reps and get them going. And one of the guys that Jake Persidi told me is really going to you. They're going to count to be a leader on the team, is no bachelor, knowing how much experience he has at the Division one level already.
Yeah.
Absolutely, bit of a side note and Kwam Bolden was my favorite NFL player back when I was growing up in high school, so no doubt about it. I would love to see him have a big year. But this is undoubtedly a young team. We shall see what sort of strides are able to take moving forward. And I do think that if they're just able to build some camaraderie, if they're able to build up for future years, that'll certainly be a win for them. And then I do think that this team is going to be fascinating as well. As we know the team that was able to represent in the NCAA Tournament last year was Akron. They are going to be losing Enrique Freeman though, and that was one of the most valuable players in all mid major college basketball was logging a double double last season. But you know as well as I do, Rachel, that John gross has had a lot of success in this conference. Still, that's quite a bit of the backward from last season. So where do you see Akron going now that Freeman is going to be out the full.
I see Akron and kind of Toledo in a similar place. Yeah, they're going from these very experienced teams to very young teams. But on many experience in the portal as well. You know, Enrique three was a massive loss, you know, I saw it. He's doing pretty well, you know, getting ready for the NBA also, and I mean Akron, in the last few years, Akron, Kent State, and Toledo have really established themselves as for lack of a better term, the class of the MAC that kind of bumped Buffalo out of that as well. You know, Akron on paper they're the team to beat, but again you have to look at what we're going through, and you know, not just exclusive to teams, but throughout college basketball a lot of turnover as well. There's a lot of changes going on also. So that's John Grossie's biggest task is just, you know, how do I keep working that magic every year? How do I keep this team consistent when the names and faces change every year?
Yeah?
Absolutely, I think that that is going to be so massive for them. As Rachel Lensi does great work out there in the lovely city of Buffalo is showing me right here on coast coast. Soupson, certainly this is a different looking MAC than we've seen in past season, says, we have seen a little bit of turnover with some of these teams, and it is going to be interesting to see what we're able to get moving forward out of Miami, Ohio. A team that it just sort of feels like they've been trying to build something up under Travis Steele, as we know, the former coach over at Xavier, but brings in an interesting guy, Peter Souter, who was a brox Ail player over at Bellerman a season ago. They do lose quite a few players from a season ago, but I do like the prospects of Dan Lewis won the top three point shooters in a off college basketball a few seasons going, a guy that was over ad Xavier to begin his career. Campcraft also comes over now played with Steel this season right.
Right in Miami's another one that's a slow, incremental build we've seen there. I remember about four or five years ago, I was right before the COVID nineteen pandemic shut everything down. He saw glimmers of hope with that program. When they upset number five Buffalo, they were a number twelve seed of you know, going back in the way back machine here, and it kind of gave them a little bit of hope as well. But one of the things about the Mac also we see again, you know, you have those top three or four teams. You know, maybe Ohio might get back in the fold as well, maybe Central Michigan will build some consistency as well. Is that What does Miami have to do to break into that top four, top five area as well? You know, and I think the coach that's going to be his thing, you know, how do we break through to that next level? Is it the players need to do? Is there something else we need to do? Is it about beating certain teams? Is it about beating the lower level teams and building the wins up that way as well too. But Miami is one of those teams that's always on the cast.
Yeah, Miami has been a really interesting team over the last few seasons where we're going to see if they're going to be able build some in roads as well as you don't get to be the coach of Xavier on accident, though certainly hasn't necessarily been going the way of Travis Steal thus far. We shall see if he's able to build something up for this season. And a team that probably took the biggest step back last season was ken State, just because when they made the NCAA Tournament twenty twenty three, being able to try to duplicate that was going to be very, very difficult, to say the least. Now they're sort of in season number two after losing so much of that backcourt that was so prolific in being able to make the NCAA Tournament, and it's going to be interesting to see if ken State is able to get back to sort of what was so successful for them two seasons ago and being able to generate so many turnovers as now they bring in a gentleman from Saint Louis and Sion Medley, Well, I think he's going to be a big difference maker for them.
Yeah, Kent State, you know, for as long as I've been covering the Mac, and I'm going into my seventh year covering the MAC. Now you bring up a very good point. They were known for you having that strong backcourt program. You know, a couple of years ago they had Castanida who tore up Buffalo. You know, just every time you look, he was shooting threes. I think it was Castania, correct me if I'm wrong. You wonder if Kent State's gonna have to kind of tinker its identity a little bit as well to adjust to the kind of players they get in, or if Rob Center Offf's going to say, hey, I'm going to stick with this identity. I think this is going to be a test of what Rob Center Offf does as a coach. Is that how is he and Howard this program at Kent State going to adapt as well? You know, kind of the X factor here with Kent State they lost one of their off court assistants, Jim Christian, former Boston College, former Ohio former tis You head coach. He's now the head coach here at Canecius, you know, which plays in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. So there's another thing, you know, Rob Center Off kind of loses a little bit of his brain trust here. It's kind of how do you fill that hole, fill that factor as well. So again, I mean, I think that's the word that I'm at touching every team in this league. I kind of, you know the description, every team's kind of rediscovering their identity and readapting to and readjusting as they go in.
Yep, they certainly are.
And this is very much a conference that is in transition to your point, just in the NIL era, it has changed a lot of these MAC teams. We've seen a few of these teams have a little bit of a rough go of it. And really the direction of Michigan schools I think are going to be intriguing cases as well as these schools have really fallen on tough times, especially Western Michigan who they brought in Dwayne Stevens last year after it's been a little bit of a turnstyle for them at head coach over last few seasons. But do you like the fact that they bring in Owen, Bob Singer and Javon Hannah who are there last season, so they maintain a little bit of consistency there. They bring in a guy in Donovan Williams, who has been a double figure score at previous stops. Believe he began his career over at Oklahoma State as well, and for Western Michigan. Just bringing you back Bob Singer. I think he's a good sign for this program.
Oh definitely, let me go back correct myself. Castian Nadia was an accurate. I always get to give endured solid Joorn mixed up as well. Just two guards that they're interchangeable. They play very similarly. You know, there guys who were focal points in the team. So that was my mistake. Caftananda was an accron. He ripped up Buffalo from the three point line. Solidier was very similar when I covered them as well. So that's my mistake when I'm wrong. But we're going back to Western Michigan. Correct, yes, yes, okay, Western Michigan want to get this back on track here as well too. You beg up a very good point where you know the directional Michigan's Western Central Eastern Central did make a bit of a job Western. You know it's still a five hundred team as well. You wonder what the personnel is going to be, how they're going to interact with that as well. I see Western with their coach going like Miami on an upward trajectory as well. But you see them in the middle, you know, those twelve teams, as you know, eight teams make the postseason. They're digging it out at that point there as well too.
Yeah, they certainly are. And I think it's going to be interesting to see what Eastern Michigan does as well, because Stan Eath is going to the Paul route here, bringing in DeShawn Nelson and Jalen Terry. Now, as we noted, Paul had a very rough time of it in the Big East, but this is clearly not the Big East anymore. They bring back Jalen Billingsley, someone who's six foot eight, has a little bit of size. I like the ad of Julian Lewis. And to say that Eastern Michigan is going to be one of those SOB contenders out there in the back is far fetched, but does feel like for Eastern Michigan they're starting to be able to build up some prospects. And even though they had Imani Bates a few seasons ago, they had nothing around Bates and now it feels like they finally have a little bit of depth.
And that's the thing. It was two seasons ago. Imani Bates was the focal point of that team, and I mean the writing was on the wall. It was only going to be there a year before he turned pro. And you know, the long term goal of that program was to create some stability again, which is tough nowadays, but you know, the coach has to bring in players who are going to buy in the program look at the long term. It's kind of like what George Helkovich is doing at Buffalo. Identify your key guys, make sure they stay. You know, might take nil money, might take you know, scholarship money, might take more playing time or whatnot. Because every year you're also re recruiting your players as well, so you don't want those players to leave either. You got to make those guys want to be the core of the program and emphasize it as well, rather than panic and turn around. I think Eastern Michigan is a good example of that. Like Buffalo, identify those three core key guys, build your program around them, know what could come down the pipe, and prepare for that. And no, we might have to go through this again, but these are the guys we can count.
On, yep.
Absolutely. And then when it comes to Central Michigan. Out of the three Direction of Michigan schools, Central Michigan had the most success last year. They were able to win ten games within the conference, really built something up. Big win in the off season is that Anthony Pritchard is going to be back for the team. They bring in Jacobe Heiti as well. He was over at the Food Cookman a season ago.
So I do take a.
Look at Central Michigan and while they're probably gonna need to tighten up a little bit on the glass, they're going to need to be a little bit more consistent with their offense. Clearly, this was a team that was able to do a solid job on defense and has a nice facilitator in Pritchard.
Oh definitely, definitely. So you know, they've got a good foundation that they have set in the off season. It's control. This is one of that they found a lot of success last year, and the Central Michigan in the last couple of years, I've been kind of one of the down teams in the MAC. And to be able to do that, I mean, as you know, Mount Pleasant not an easy place to play, not an easy place to get to to do that and bring in those guys and kind of keep that foundation as well. That's really going to help Central Michigan and build on that. I mean eighteen and fourteen, twelve and six in the MAC is no joke. Last year, you know, they say, hey, they know what works again they augmented it out into their roster. Now it's kind of like, what's the next stat for the Chips.
Yep, it is going to be because I just take a look at the Central Missie team and I think that they're going to be one of the more intriguing teams out there in the MAC. I love the job that Tony Barbie was able to do. Now it's all about keeping on having that going forward. As Rachel Lensie does such a tremendous job over at Buffalo News has tried to be right here on cos Supsan how hope if we dive in on another team that had a nice season last year in Bowling Green. As Bowling Green under Todd Simon, who I really like as a coach. They weren't necessarily a great three point shooting team themselves, but did a nice job hunkering down on defense, and they're going to be having Sam Towns in the program this year, a nice six foot non combo player. I like some of the transfers that have been brought in by Bowling Green. No doubt, losing some of these guys like Marcus Hilt from a season ago, it's going to be an issue. But where do you see things going for a Bowling Green team that I think Todd Simon and your number two is one of the best coaches already out there in the MAC.
And Bowling Green. One of the things we saw, you know, they got out to a really fast start. You know, I think they won all but four of their first teams through the middle of January. That's pretty nice. But you know, it kind of ran out of gas, you know at the end. I mean they finished the regular season, finished the season three and two, had a couple of wins. You know, they beat Central Michigan in the tournament. But then one thing with that program I look at and think, all right, you got to pace yourself. You can't win a bunch at the beginning of the season and run out of gas for the games that really really matter and the max. That's one of the things that I think is the coach's next challenge is how do we work through an ebbanflow season. It's a long It is a long, long season from the time you're starting playing with your exhibition game in October to the MAC Tournament to any of the postseason tournaments, any n IT or the CBI or whatever. But I think that's going to be the key for Bowling Green this season. Navigate of the long road of the season. Don't win a bunch and then run out of gas, you know, towards the end of the season.
Yeah.
Absolutely, I think that that is going to be so big because we saw Boy and Green really hit their peak, perhaps a few weeks too early, and to your point, they did have a little bit of a rough end to the season last year. And then when I take a look at this ball Seat team, I think that this is one of the more intriguing bunches because they really had nice success two seasons ago when they had Peyton Sparks in the program.
Now they get them back after he was.
At Indiana last season, he was just a part of an Indiana front court that they just overrecruited.
They had like seventeen forwards on that team and absolutely no guard.
So there was no playing time for Peyton Sparks, so here he is back to ball State. But do you think that this team is one that could be able to take some strides forward, like the fact that they bring in want Sebashi and Guarricito who comes over from the West Coast. He was over at Portland. Mikey Pearson has some good versatility, and I look at what Mike Lewis has been able to do a ball State, a team that shot it well from three point range last season, and now I think that getting Sparks back in there really provides it seam some nice stability and balance.
If you do that, you firm up your personnel that's really really strong, and in a time when it's tough to do that for any program right now. But the middle of the season, Ball State also hit. You know, it's towards the end of their non conference schedule and they kind of limped in to their max schedule. It went on like a six or seven game losing streak over that bridged December and early January, and you can't dig yourself in a hole early hope you're going to play catch up at the end. That costs them in the end and one of things you want to do. I mean again, there were one game won, maybe two games out of the spot and Kenya Kent State beat them out with a final spot in the tournament. It's one of those. Yeah, that's the one thing they don't They got to focus on not digging themselves in a hole early by all the early losses and then having to play catch up at the end of the regular season.
No doubt about it.
And we shall see if the transfer Jeremia Hernandez is going to be able to help out with that as well. And then when I take a look at this program, I look at this team and they were really bit by the injury bug last season. If they're just able to get a clean bill of help, I think that they're going to be right there towards the top of the MAC have all the respect in the world for what Jeff Bowles has been able to do over at Ohio and Jackson Pavelski was just glued to the bench over at Ayuwa State last year. I thought that that was one of the most impactful transfers in the comp They've got the as and AJ Clayton and AJ Brown, Tarif Mitchell, who began his career over at Creighton. I look around at this team and certainly the postplay it's going to be a little bit of a question mark with them. But I look at this backboard and it's really going to be hard to match up with in my opinion in the MAC.
Oh Yeah, Ohio is one of those teams. I mean, are there blue bloods in the MAC. It's a hard word to use, but when I think about MAC basketball, I think Toledo, Akron, Ohio, Kent State, no throw Buffalo in there as well too. Ohio is always going to be in that mix for the top four teams. You know, even when they've had a little bit of a down year, even when it had transition, they're going to find a way to get in that conversation to the top four, maybe top five teams. Look at what they did last year. They're a really good model of consistency in so many ways. That's a team that's always going to give you a game.
Yeah.
Absolutely, And you mentioned one of those blue blood teams being Toledo, and I want to touch on them because this is one of the most interesting teams in the conference. Yere in a year out is Rachel Lendzi. She is going to be Rady Oncascaz soups for the Mac Freeby edition. She does a great job reporting over at the Buffalo News. And with Toledo, we know that the offense is going to be there. They can lose their entire roster and somehow, some way they'll find like five guys that you forty percent from three point range. That's just the way that this program works. The question under tok Kuwalchuk, though, is always going to be the defense. But I like the fact that they bring in a six with sixcambo player in Isaiah Adams. They have to replace so much of that backcard from last season, but they were in that exact same circumstance when they.
Lost for A. J. Dennis two seasons ago as well.
I want to get your thoughts on a Toledo team that once again is in transition. But I feel like this is sort of a situation whereas in Todd Kowalchuk, we trust.
It is and Toledo goes from being a very experienced team to I don't know if young is the right word, but a new team, I think that's the word we have to use instead of saying, oh, very young team with freshmen. They're a new team, they have new personality. You mentioned Isaiah Adams. It was at Buffalo. Over the last two three years, Todd kowalk did a really good job augmenting his roster going through the portal. But here's the question that says is Toledo every year are they going to finally win a MAC championship? Toledo fans might not want to hear this, but the perception is that they're the most underachieving team in the league and every year we keep winning. Is a Todd Kowalschek team going to break through win a MAC Tournament championship and go to the NCAA or are they going to somehow get the elusive at Lard bitch. That is the question that confronts Toledo every year, and every year we kind of wait with Baita brought the seas. This year Toledo is going to do it. So that's the question that Toledo has to answer. Are they going to be able to knock over that barrier and finally win a MAC championship?
Yep, that is a big question for them.
And then big question for Northern ILLINOI is are they going to be able to replace those great scores from season to go.
Season was over.
Before it started for Keyshaw Williams, which that was a little bit unfortunate, but I mean, we saw them lose really their top few guys from the seas go, which puts them in relatively love rough shape. But they do bring in a nice transfer from within the state in James Den too over at Western Illinois was really able to do a nice job with that program. So I do think that that's going to be a nice building block for them when Jones is going to be in there. And do like the prospects of Joe Monden junior guy that was out there in the state of in the northeast part of the country over at Fairley Dickinson and do you want to get your thoughts on a Northern Illinois team that it felt like they were really starting to build some forward progress. They had some nice contributors, but now they have to sort of start at square one though James end is a nice building block to be able to stuff from.
Right, and they're kind of in a similar position that Buffalo's in as well. You know, these idea they were bit by injuries. There was a lack of consistency as well. It's kind of like, what's going to be the formula it's going to take North in Illinois to get competitive. They were at five and thirteen in the conference eleven and twenty Buffalo took them down to the wire Total Lake, you know, lak game at the end of last season. But with Northern Illinois, it might just be a matter of that you staying healthy and building that can assistency by having an entire lineup. You use one player, it can affect the entire thing.
It certainly is and I just take a look at this MAC it's going to be a fun conference. Clearly there's a little bit of a Tier one and a Tier two in this conference, but it is going to be a lot of fun to take a look at this conference this season. Rachel, I know that you do a tremendous job covering not just college basketball, but a little bit of everything over there at the Buffalo News. I know that you're taking a look at everything that we're getting in terms of like Buffalo Bills training camp, everything that happens in the hockey scene out there in the Northeast part of the country as well. You do such great works, So I'll let the good people at home. No, it's all on tap for you and how people are able to follow on social media and other platforms.
All right, well, I'm covering you be football right now, helping out with a little bit of the Bills. We got some Western New York athletes who are in the Olympics now as well, including Matt Anderson, US men's volleyball player Anita Alvarez, a synchronized swimmer, you know, with Jesse Pagola, daughter of the Pogola family, owns the Bills and we're keeping track of them also. So it's getting toward busy season again. But can follow me on Twitter like you said, Rachel m Lenzi, can follow me on Instagram as well at our Lenzie Reporter Also, yeah, thank you so much for having me on taking the time to talk about the Mac as well. It's gonna be hard to believe. I'm gonna look at the calendar next thing. I know basketball season is going to start soon.
And it's the most glorious time of year.
But before then, we are going to get some Tuesday action as well, which I always love the Tuesday action games in my lives as well. I feel like they set those games up for those of us out here in lovely Las Vegas. Gives us a way to be able to get some football in our lives on these Tuesdays. And Rachel, she does such a tremendous job covering the Mac, covering a little football, covering just so much out there in the northeast part of the country. So big thanks to Rachel for John Miontasca see now part of the Visas Family Podcast and coming to next secon on the podcast.
Thank you if you mind, productor finished for the.
Mac, for reg your lovely Las Vegas. For coming the season with myself. Saggie Sweeterson, now part the Visa Family Podcast. Was great to be joined by Rael on this Mac Preview edition. She does an absolutely tremendous job taking a look at this wonderful game of basketball, holding it down over at the Buffalo News, taking a look at obviously the Mac couple with that, a little bit of Buffalo Bills, a little bit of the hockey scene out there in the lovely state of New York. And every single time she joins the show one such good insights. So big thanks to Rachel for joining me in the last segment. Now it is that time of the podcast. I give you my projector or finish for this wonderful conference as per usual, since I am doing a conference preview today, any news and I'd say we missed in college basketball on Wednesday. We will be catching up on those tomorrow, So have no fear of those will not be neglected. Just push back twenty four hours and call it what it is. In late July early August, we don't necessarily get a boatload of college basketball news this time year, which is why one of my conference previews do occur during this time of year, so we're able to fill the gaps in with some great conference previews. And then once we do some of these conference previews, once we get into the fall months, then things get hot and heavy and then we're able to make some more money. And I think that we might be able to make some money fading this team as number twelve in my projector finish, I'm gonna be going with Buffalo. And it's a shame because Ryan Sable he is back after he had about eight points, shot thirty seven half percent for three and I mentioned it with Rachel Ankwan Bolden was like my hero growing up. He was such a great player for the year Zone, the Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens, even that George stint with the San Francisco forty nine ers and his sun is fine. He's able to give you a few rebounds, seven points a steal for contest mid thirty three point shooter, but they just don't have a lot down lo ARMANI mighty. He comes in for Boston College where he was acting a little bit of a rebounder game and no bachelor was a top two hundred and fifty recruit according to two four to seven Sports. Never could get out there on the floor for Maryland. Team was three hundred and forty ninth in terms of points a lot on a pur possession basis at home last year, three hundred and forty third in terms of turnovers force perpot session play the road, they had a tough time taking care of the ball. This team, it just feels like, is a mess at this point. And I just don't see a lot of upside here with Buffalo for this upcoming season. So to have to go with Buffalo at number twelve in terms of my protector or finished, I know this will surprise a lot of people, but at number eleven, I am gonna be going with Miami of Ohio. I just have not really been bullish on the Travis Steele era. I felt like he did not do a very good job at Xavior at all. He does bring in Camcraft too. He's open to be able to have a nice clean bill of health after he missed the entire twenty twenty three twenty four season, and I do think that there's some upside there. You've got Evon Elmer, who was able to shoot a little bit north of forty percent for three some points, four and a half rebounds per game as a part time starter, and down the stretch was able to put up some pretty nice numbers. And then Peter Soonter he was solid over at Bellerman a little bit over three assists, ten and a half points per game, but Bellerman team was rough on defense. Dan Lewis has always been a relatively solid three point shot. He actually shot fifty three point two percent from three points during the twenty twenty one twenty two season. He was one of the top players in all of college basketball, but has my question marks download them.
Antoine Wolfolk.
He should be coming in from Ruggers where he was able to log about three rebounds per game, had some six foot nine sides. But just in terms of the rest of the teams out in the max, I think that they are really going to struggle, especially on the glass. The team only rebound about twenty point five percent of their misshots a season ago, ranking three hundred and thirty ninth in all of college basketball. So do feel very very embarish on this by me of Ohio team, I've got them number eleven in terms by a projector or finished and number ten.
I'm gonna be going Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois is at a record above five hundred conference, probably just once in the last eighteen seasons, and they lose pretty much all their top seven scores from a season ago.
But I do like James Dent.
James Dent, coming in from Western Illinois, was able to log about eleven points four boards per contest a season ago. Joined the team that was here in twenty fifth of the country in terms of just point scored on a purposession basis. But Quentin Jones should be able to hop out the outside shooting. Made forty percent of a series at cal Poulo last season nine and a half points four and a half boards, a little bit over Seo for contest. And Joe Mundon Junior had some upside as well. He was over at fairly Dicotive with about ten points four and a half boards. Karan McPherson, he was limited at thirteen games last season. He should be able to give this team some help as well. And then Kaelon Nichols, he was over at Duquine. He was really just glued to the bench for them, but nice backcourt piece. They don't have a lot down low, so that is going to be a bit of an issue. There were three and twenty nine and oppon a three point shooting percent So do you think that you've got some shall we say, worry with our their Illinois. But I do think that James Deen gonna be able to keep them out of the total Solar So at number ten, in terms of my projector finish, gonna be going through other Illinois. At number nine, we're gonna have a lot of directional Michigan schools coming up next, as we've got Western Illinois. They were three and fifty seventh in the country and free throw shooting percentage last year. They really need to work on that. But don Van Williams has some upside. He was able long nine a half points, four and a half boards while he was over at Pacific last season, and well, he gets off of that sinking ship and he should be able to hop out one lob Singer who shot about thirty eight percent for three. He's got some size nine points, six hat rebounds per game. Jeffon Hannah returning as well after he had a little bit over nine points per contest. This is something to be able to build around. Brandon Montu. He was limited just six games last season, but had about some points up forty two percent three point shooting when he.
Was out there on the floor.
Chancey Willis he was able to average about twelve points per game at Division two segond Off Valley State as well. I love that they stayed in state. They went to one of those good Division two schools out there in the Great Lakes Valley in a lot of those notable D two conferences in the midwester There's some really nice salad out there, and the team was thirty fourth in the country in offensive rebound rate last season. They do lose some of their top rebounders from a Cizio, so that is going to be hurting them a little bit. But I do take a look at Western Michigan. They retained some pieces with Hannah and Lob Singer, and I do think that Donovan Williams helps out that backcourt. So I did put Western Michigan at number nine in my projector or finished, and number eight I'm going with Bowying Green, And I feel already for doing this because I love Todd Simon as a coach. I think that he's won the more underrated mid major coaches in all of college basketball. They won twenty plus games for the first time in a few years. Todd Simon, he just always seems to get the job done, whether that was at Southern Utah, he was an interim coach over at un LV. But now they have to replace Marcus Hill, was a twenty point.
Per game score.
They're going to be turning to six foot eleven President Squire, who he I was talking about Hill a minute ago. He was a big time recruit of the junior college ranks. Squire is as well number forty junior college transfer goring to juco recruiting dot com. He was over at Salt Lake Community College, where he was only vlogging about eight a half points three and a half rebounds per game, but at six foot eleven is able to stroke at thirty seven percent from three part range and the seam figures play a lot of positionless basketball. Derek Butler at about ten and a half points four boards on forty one a half percent three point tuning I was over at Central Michigan eight season ago and then Toronte Campbell is another one of those good junior college tranks. For JUCO recruiting, dot Com clocked Amendment at number six at Northern Oklahoma Tantawa. Hopefully I said that correctly. Twenty six to a half points, three point three stals, three assists, six point three rebounds per gade just some absolutely ridiculous numbers. Braylan Green is a little bit of an upside guy. Two four to seven Sports rated him as a top tourn recruit for the class of twenty twenty three. Really couldn't get out there on the floor. But Marcus Johnson, he was a really good scorer over at Division two Wheeling College. He was wheeling and dealing with twenty one a half points eight rebounds per game. These are unproven guys. They were three hundred and thirty third in opponents three point shooting percentage last year, three and forty third in their own three point shooting percentage last year. So they need to do a better job along the arc. But I think that Todd Simon is going to be able to get some things figured out. I think they do a solid job on the glass to be able to stay towards the middle of the conference. I set Bowing Green number eight in terms of right projector or finish and number seven I'm going with Central Michigan. The team won twelve and six in the MAAC, tied for their best mark since they made the NCAA Tournament two during the two thousand and two to three season. And I love the fact that they bring back Anthony Pritchard. Richard was the main facilitator of this offense thirteen points five boards, four n emphasis and Jacoby Heaty he was over at Patune Cookman a season ago, just really has a nice zans for the ball fifteen half points one point four seals per game. Have to have your questions as to where the actual offense is going to be coming from. They were shooting sixty six point one percent at the free throw line. That's a hundred forty first in all of college basketball. They're thirty point one percent three point shooting was surround twenty eighth in all of college basketball. They're bringing Agunas Jeva Servish hopefully I said that correctly. He was averaging about five and a half points per contest as a main reserve over at Kelsey Bakersfield meet me. For the road Runners last season, it feels like they lose a lot of those nice big men, that nice versatility that they had a few seasons ago and a mainly last season. But with Anthony Pritcher back, I do think that'll keep Central Michigan towards the middle of the conference. I've got them number seven in terms by projector or finished and number six. I'm going to be putting your Eastern Michigan. This team was dreadful last year, three hundred and thirty sixth in the country in terms of points scored on a pur possession basis at home three a fifty third in a free throws million on a per posession basis.
I'll say it.
I don't think that San and Eath is the world's greatest coach, but main rebounder Jalen Billingsley is back in the fold after he had eight points five point three rebounds per game and in the final fifteen games this season elevated a ten point three points and six point five rebounds per game. This for a team I was swearing forty fifth and opponent his two point shooting percentage of aeron twenty third an opponents three point shooting percentage. But Jalen Terry and DeShawn Nelson are big time gets. Now fully recognized the Paul sucked last year, but these guys played at a Big League East level and they put up numbers. Terry made forty five point two percent of his series, which ranked thirty ninth among qualifying Division One players. Chipped in their eight a half points, four boards, two and a half Assis n Aco per game. Nelson nine a half points, three and a half rebounds. He's a six point eight little bit of a do it all player that comes into Eastern Michigan. And then you bring in Julian Lewis from Miami of Ohio missed the entirety of last season. He looks good to get back to his form that he had during the twenty twenty one to twenty two seasons when he was over at William and Mary out there in the Coastal Conference seven a half points, four boards, two and half Asis has good versatility, and then USFG. HoTT is also back in the fold after he shot thirty eight percent from three part range. I see some upside here with Eastern Michigan. I love the pieces that they brought in. I think that they took some nice gambles on some of these guys. I've got Eastern Michigan number six terms of by a projector or finished, and number five, I'm going Toledo.
Toledo has been in the top.
Thirty five in terms of points scored on a per posession basis each out of the last four years. Todd Qualchuck just an absolutely incredible coach, but they have not been able to get to the NCAA tournament as all at all. As we were talking about with Rachel Lendzi, the team was two round forty seventh in terms of points a lot on a per possession basis or worse each out the last two seasons, three hundred and fifty ninth and opponent's two point shooting percentage last year, and they have to replace each out their top three scores from last year. Andre Lord tis Son hopefully I said that correctly. He shot forty seven point two percent from.
Three part range.
That was sixteenth and unqualifying D one players, But he only registered five point eight points per game. He's going to need to do that on a whole lot more volume. You've got Javon Simmons, Wu's the top returning score after he was able to give the team about twelve and a half points five rebounds per game. A season goal, but losing out on these guys like a Tante Maddox who was there a season goal that is going to be big. Sonny Wilson is going to need to pick up the slack. He averaged about eight points a little bit over two assists per contest. Bryce Ford was a forty six percent three point shooter off the bench, but again volume was low. You only have a two point six points per game. Like the fact that they go within the conference, they pick up Seth Hubbard from Western Michigan who averaged seven and a half points shot forty two and a half percent from three part range. But even if all these guys jell, including Isaia Adams who comes in for Buffalo. He should be able to give the team some rough and double down low six to six combo player thirteen points, four boards, three and emphasis steel per contest. This is a bunch that was twentieth in opponent free throw attempts per possession last season. I really think that this Toledo defense is gonna let them down. I just don't think that the shooting is the same that has been in past year. So as a result, I do have Toledo at number five in terms of my projector or finished a number four. I'm going with Ackron. Akron has made two out of the last three NCAA tournaments, but they have to replace each other. Top four scores from the season GOO. I do like the pickup of Isaiah Gray. Gray comes in after at Cornell. He did it all a little bit over a steal, three assists, four boards, nine and a half points per game. John Gross is just a good coach at being able to spot these guys in the transfer portal and have them performed. We saw what in riy K Freeman was able to become. But losing that guy in the ray K Freeman who was a double leble machine. That's rough now Josiah Harris coming over from West Virginia. He should be able to help this seam out quite a bit. Six foot seven, do it all sort of player, five points four boards per contest. He was a forty percent three point shooter two seasons ago, and James the Kunkable. He should be able to do some nice things down law as well. At six foot eight, A former top one fifty recruit that never really saw the floor at both West Virginia and North Carolina. Defon Jackson made nearly forty five percent of his series, but that was on bow volume, with about four points per contest. Bowen Hartman is a guy that they're gonna take a gamble on as well. Greer forty four point eight percent three point shooter, but verage one point eight points per game last season, and the team was just two hundred and ninety fourth in the country in terms of three point shooting percentage last season. Akron has never really been a knockdown shooting team, and I've got my question marks with James L. Kunkwoll going into that. Enriy K Freeman roles and Rey K. Freeman was actually for his size. I was a guy that was able to knock down a few threes of his own. A. I just don't think that Akron has quite as much depth as they did a season goal as well. So Akron is my number four team in terms of my projector or finished. This is going to surprise people, but really bullish on the guys out there in monthsly Indiana number three. I've got ball c They were twenty fifth in the country in made free throws per possession last year, and Peyton Sparks is back. Peyton Sparks a season to forget at Indiana last season glued to the bench, he just had too many big men for him to blc minutes. But last we saw him at Wall State, he was having thirteen and a half points, eight and a half rebounds per game. He joins Mikey Pearson when at six foot seven, is able to pump it in there from three points shot thirty six percent for three twelve point two points, five point one rebounds per game last season at a darn good free throw shooter at eighty five point nine percent. I like jan Sebastian Gordecito coming over after he was a part time starter Lanst two seasons over at Portland eight A half points two point six Sis shot thirty seven percent from three point in. Southern Indiana's top scorer in Jeremiah Hernandez also comes in after he logs seventeen points per game as well. Mason Jones is returning after making twenty three stars last season as well, only saw about four and a half points per game. But Joey Hart, he spent some time with the Kentucky program. He comes in probably not going to be a guy that lives up to the Kentucky building. I believe that he was a walk on. But Ben Hendricks, He's also a guy that made ten starts a season ago. Should be able to have some nice chemistry with these guys. Should be able to hop out a little bit down low as well. I'm very bullish on this ball State team. I think that Peyton Sparks are turning back to ball State is really going to result in this scene being able to elevate. So I've got ball State number three in terms of by projector or finish and number two gonna be going with Ken State. You know, Golden Flashes had a disappointing year after two years ago making the NCAA Tournament. As a matter of fact seventeen and seventeen was a record last year that was the worst win percent since the nineteen ninety seven to ninety eight season. This team is not gonna say down for long now. They do lose all but one of their top eight scorers so many seas ago as von Cameron Davis. He returns after registering fourteen points, five boards, and a coeal per game. But I love the Seon Medley pickup from Saint Louis. He was able to run the show for Saint Louis. Not a guy that scored a lot. He averaged four point three points per game, but doled out for assists per game as a true freshman starting at the point guard spot over at Saint Louis, and when he needed to shoot, he was able to shoot. He shot thirty five points percent from three points. I think that he's going to score on a little bit more volume. Marquise Barnett. He enters from Presbyterian where he did it all nearly two seals, two an emphasis, four and a half rebounds, fourteen a half points per game. Anthony Morales had some versatility after he at Boston. You was able to give the team a block shot thirty eight and a half percent for three eleven points per game at six foot eight. Mike Bejaka hopefully I said that correctly. He made nineteen starts last season. Was in a little bit more of a reserve role, but they also went to the junior college level. Jamal Sumblin, he was over at JUCO Recruiting dot Com rated as their number seventy five junior college transferred for the class of twenty twenty five. He played at a powerhouse in northwest Florida. Was able to be very versatile there as well, three in emphasis ten points per game. So Ron Hornbeak also returning after he registered about a block per contest. You've got the nice big guys down low that should be able to do a solid job. In Barnett a lot of Hornbeak and Hornbeak not too much to the score, but he's going to be playing a little bit more defense oriented. You've brought in a lot of guys to be able to help restore the roar of being able to generate the turnover set led to the team's success of making the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago. So Verry Bull shunkin State have them number two in terms of my projector or finished. But I don't think that their backcourt matches up with my projected number one team, and that would be the Ohio Bobcats. They have had a winning record in all five season under Jeff Bowls and they looked at Jackson Pavelski to be able to put them over the top. Paveltski glued to the bench last year at I was State three and a half points out forty percent three point shooting. Last we saw him in a starter's role at Wall for two seasons ago, though shot thirty nine point three percent for three, fifteen points, three point seven assists per game from the man from Kimberly, Wisconsin.
Absolutely love this pickup.
And you bring in AJ Shelton, who was twenty third in the country among qualifying D one players in three point shooting percentage have forty six point three percent.
You bogged a little bit over five points per game. Got both the AJ's back in the fold as well. AJ Brown was limited just nine.
Games with nine points in four boards per contested season goal, but shot thirty seven a half percent for three. AJ Clayton shot forty percent three point in defense. Is going to need to pick it up a little bit for Ohio. It has been a little bit touch and go under bowls last few seasons. But I do think that Aiden Hardaway, who made twenty four starts last season, is going to be able to lein some really nice versus totally as we saw blossom in the back half of the season. Overall for the year, he average a point three points four and a half rebounds per game on about thirty four percent three point shooting those last eleven games so up to three point shooting percentage close are about thirty four and a half percent eleven point two points five point nine rebounds per game. That's going to be big because they do have a little bit of a size disadvantage. Download they do lose some of these guys with some size that we're able to help them out in past seasons. But Elmore James, even though he converted just twenty seven a half percent of his series eight season ago, he made forty point five percent of his series two seasons ago. I think that he's going to be able to shoot it a little bit better from three parrange than the team was eighteenth among qualifying Division One players. There's the fewest turnovers committed on a per possession basis a season ago. They should be getting Tariff Mitchell.
Back as well.
He's a guy that I think is going to be able to off for double figures as well. And they were twenty sixth in the country and turnovers for us on a per possession basis on the road last season. Love that Ohio backcourt. I've got them number one in terms of my projector or finish. And that'll wrap things up for the MAC Conference preview edition right here on costcues Seats now part of the Vson family of podcasts. Big thanks of Rachel Lindsay. She does a tremendous job over at the Buffalo News. She's joined me in the last segment. If you do like for hearing from this fine podcast costco Seats, You're able to subscribe wherever your podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Google, Blake, Spotify, Sitter and Tune, And if you have a question comment segment idea what I have you for this podcast? You have one of two a's vl fur listen. First one is my Twitter slas checks simeline at you and at under forty one. Keep in mind Lyricum maybe does on matters, so it's pretty well, please just send these into the timeline. Any other ways, find an Apple podcast review. If you rate this podcast I starts it is very much appreciated them from there, arable fire and whatever you'd like. You're on this podcast via that five star review, and I'm with you guys every single day on this podcast, regular season and off season, doing a preview for every single one of these wonderful conferences and or taking a look at all the news of college basshold to make you guys a successful better for the upcoming twenty twenty four to twenty five seasons. So please send in those Twitter slish texts questions that we do want to be hearing you on the podcast, and I'll.
Be back with you work to get a mile.
Thank you,