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MAC East Basketball Report

MAC basketball mid-week recap from February 6, 2009

The East is dominating the West through the slate of inter-division play, as I take a look at each team’s performances through the past week.

*DISCLAIMER: The MAC West is less than stellar and big point differentials should be taken with a grain of salt. Of the West, only Ball State has more than seven wins overall; Buffalo has seven conference wins. Losses against the West, however, are of concern.

Akron Zips

This Week: 2-0

MAC: 5-3, Overall: 14-8

Neither Central nor Eastern Michigan could manage to get far past 40 points against Akron’s tough defense. Nearly symmetrical defensive performances were put forth as Central shot 32.6% from the field and Eastern 32.7%. Akron shot over 50% against Central, with four scoring in double digits. Daryl Roberts led the way with 13 points. The win over Eastern Michigan was just an ugly affair. The Zips held a 41-18 lead and led by as many as forty. The Eagles have only three wins but Akron’s mauling is still impressive. A key figure in both contests was turnovers. Akron scored twice as many points off turnovers as Central Michigan and forced 23 turnovers from Eastern Michigan.

Akron has now won 5 straight and been competitive throughout the MAC season. Its only losses are an overtime defeat at Miami, a two-point loss to Buffalo and an overtime fall to Ohio. The Zips have really found their stride with Nate Linahrt, the McKnights, Roberts and Hitchens creating a good rotation. This team is surging and emerging as a contender.

Buffalo Bulls

This week: 2-0

MAC: 7-1, Overall: 15-5

An escape Tuesday night against Central Michigan leaves Buffalo atop the MAC for another week. Calvin Betts’ layup with 1:38 left turned out to be the deciding score but Central squandered chances in the closing. First, Jacolby Hardiman missed a layup, then the Chippewas could not take advantage of Andy Robinson’s missed dunk or Greg Gamble’s two missed free throws. Jeremy Allen failed to convert the front end of a one-and-one and although Marcus Van got the rebound, he could not put in a layup. Buffalo did everything it could to give away this game but Central Michigan would not take it. The Bulls’ mistakes in the last twenty-one seconds are worrisome and they need to learn from these as they could face more close games if they hope to advance through Cleveland.

Buffalo’s Saturday game, televised on ESPN2, was one in which the Bulls shot only 30% but beat Toledo by 13. Buffalo lead by only five at the half but pulled away thanks to a 16-4 run to begin the second. Greg Gamble had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. A nice all-around performance from him. Vadim Fedotov contributed 11 points. Turnovers helped offset the shooting woes, as the Bulls forced 17 and only gave it away themselves seven times.

Bowling Green Falcons

This Week: 2-0

MAC: 5-3, Overall 12-9

69-61 and 68-61, Bowling Green did it the almost exactly the same in both wins. Nate Miller scored 15 points and pulled down nine boards in Saturday’s win over Northern Illinois. Miller was even more impressive Wednesday, recording a double-double, tying a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds, as the Falcons soared over Western Michigan. Otis Polk has been picking up his game of late and was more than solid this week. He scored 10 points against the Huskies and 16 points and nine rebounds against the Broncos. Venture into 6-9, 285 Polk’s house and you may be rejected. Polk has recorded a block in all but one MAC game and had five against Western Michigan.

Like most of the East, the Falcons are finding success against the West. Although they are not blowing these teams out, they are winning. Falcons fans have to be happy with the very good play of both Miller and Polk this week. With this season’s MAC short on dominant big men, utilizing Polk could be a key for Bowling Green to exploit.

Kent State Golden Flashes

This Week: 2-0

MAC: 4-4, Overall: 11-11

Kent State has won each of its last three games by 20-plus point margins; commanding, to say the least. The Flashes defeated Western Saturday with 13 point showings from Chris Singletary and Tyree Evans. Western could not find any rhythm from three, going 2-19 from out deep and only 30% from the field. Coming home Wednesday was just as swell for Kent State, beating Toledo 81-53. The Flashes were firing successfully from three, hitting 46% of their triples and hitting 56% of shots from the field. Two consecutive games shooting over 50% for Evans, which was something he needed to turnaround. He scored 14 against the Rockets. All 12 of Mike McKee’s points came from past the arc. When he’s on from three he can be a real sparkplug.

Kent State should be very happy with the improved shooting in the past three wins. Rebounding after three straight losses is significant even in doing it against less than stellar opponents. Maybe first year coach Geno Ford and this team are starting to gel. They’ll have a test this weekend on the road against the MAC West’s best, Ball State.

Miami Redhawks

This Week: 2-0

MAC: 6-2, Overall: 13-7

The Redhawks took care of business both on the road and at home. First they traveled to Ypsilanti and came away with a 66-51 win over Eastern Michigan. Back home Wednesday night they put away Ball State 59-41. Tyler Dierkers was the leader against Eastern, putting up a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds). Dierkers’ six offensive boards were three more than the entire Eagles squad. Adam Fletcher netted a career-high 16 points.

Like the Eastern Michigan game, Miami held a slim lead at the half against Ball State, up only three. However, fueled by Michael Bramos, the Redhawks ran out 49-31 lead just past the 5:30 mark. Bramos finished the day with 14 points. Tyler Dierkers put in another good performance with 12 points and six rebounds. Miami’s lynchpin is its defense but could use some better shooting from three. It has shot less than 30% from beyond the arc in two of its last three games.

Ohio Bobcats

This Week: 1-1

MAC: 4-4, Overall: 11-10

The Bobcats scored only 44 points, their lowest point total in 18 years, in a 51-44 loss to Ball State Saturday. Ohio made just one of its 19 attempted three point shots. That is 5.3% from three; you did not win many games shooting that poorly. After a poor defensive showing against Central Michigan, this time it was the shooting that was nonexistent. DeVaughn Washington scored 8 points in the first three minutes but only two the rest of the game. A bad showing from the Bobcats, who are the only East team to lose to the West thus far this season.

Thursday night, however, Ohio flipped the script, back at the Convocation Center. It handed Northern Illinois an 89-59 stomping. Jerome Tillman regained the groove, scoring 24 points and earning seven rebounds. The real breakout performance of the night belonged to Kenneth Van Kempen. He had a season-high 12 points, knocking down five of his six shots in 21 minutes. The Bobcats could really use productive minutes from Van Kempen at the 5, a position from which they have struggled. Another interesting development is walk-on sophomore Adetunji Adedipe getting the start. Adedipe brings a real energy to the floor and Justin Orr played better off the bench scoring 16 points.

MAC East Beast of the Week: Otis Polk, Bowling Green

Polk put together two of his best performances of the season this week (as well as last week’s game against Ball State). He had 10 points against Northern Illinois but really excelled against Western Michigan with 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

Wait, Really?!: In its game against Eastern Michigan, Akron scored 41 points in the first half. Eastern Michigan scored 41 in the entire game.

MAC East record vs. MAC West: 16-2

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MAC East Weekend Forecast

Look for:

• Kent State to pull out a tough defensive battle against Ball State
• Buffalo to have no problems with Northern Illinois
• Toledo to give Miami a decent game at home before succumbing to the Redhawks’ superior D
• Ohio to wax Eastern Michigan at home
• Central Michigan to possibly pull an upset over Bowling Green in Mount Pleasant

By Connor Kiesel
VanDelay Sports Staff Writer