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MAC Basketball - Hot or Not
With the start of a new year, now seems like a good time to check in around the Mid-American Conference to see who’s hot and who’s not.
Who's Hot
John Bowler
Bowler is leading the MAC in points and rebounds (19.7/9.4 per contest). Everyone expected Bowler to be a beast this year, but he has actually exceeded expectations so far. Bowler has been a force so far this season, leading the lowly Eagles to wins over Cal, Youngstown State, and Tulsa.
If there was any supporting cast what-so-ever around Bowler, Eastern Michigan could actually contend out West this season. As it is however, Bowler is leading the rebuilding efforts that are underway in Ypsilanti. Also, Bowler has to be one of the first three names to come to mind when thinking about the MAC POTY, even though we’re only through a little over one month of the season.
Nathan Peavy
At the beginning of the season, I had Peavy pegged as one of those guys on the cusp. Peavy looked like the classic up and coming guy who was going to be very important if Miami wanted to contend for the conference this season. Talk about understatements.
Peavy is an athletic player with a quick first step, long arms, and explosive hops. He plays the small-forward spot for the RedHawks, but is long enough to be a presence in the frontcourt for this slightly undersized Miami team.
Peavy has been a team leader, along with William Hatcher, this year for the Redhawks. Peavy is scoring over 11 points a game. What’s more Peavy has picked up some of the slack on the boards left with the graduations of Danny Horace and Chet Mason and is averaging a team best 8.2 rebounds per night. Those are some pretty impressive stats considering Peavy got very ill near the end of December, and only played sparingly in two of the RedHawks’ games.
The Buffalo Bulls
They’ve posted a 10-1 OOC record. Sure, they’ve played the 293rd weakest schedule out of the 334 DI teams this season, but nine and one is nine and one, I don’t care if they’re playing The Ladies of the Heart.
In all seriousness, the Bulls have beaten some good (Fresno St., Rutgers) and some feisty (Jackson St., Detroit) teams to put together their aforementioned 10-1 record and 37 RPI. In the meantime Yassin Idbihi has continued his evolution into one of the stars of this league, while Calvin Cage has also looked excellent replacing Turner Battle. Parnell Smith, Roderick Middleton, and Mario Jordan have all submitted solid performances and freshmen Greg Gamble and Andy Robinson have all looked reliable.
Who's Not
Peyton Stovall & Jeremiah Wood
Both are top players in the MAC. Both tore their ACL’s last season. Both are out again for the remainder of this season with ACL tears. Stovall was Ball State’s point guard, he only played two games before going back with his knee injury. Wood, a big man at Akron, would have really helped Romeo Travis bang inside this season.
There are whispers going around both campuses that each player may not have rehabbed quite as diligently as he could have. If that’s true, it’s a real shame. In past years the MAC has churned out some real star players. The conference seems to be void of many guys with real star power this season. These two could have been near the top of the list.
Toledo Rockets
The Rockets were picked by many, including yours truly, to win the West. Toledo had a solid OOC performance, going 7-1, but has fallen down in MAC play. So far, they’re 0-2 in the MAC with losses to NIU and Kent State.
If Stan Joplin can’t start winning some MAC games he’s going to need to start getting his resume together. Time has just about run out for him in Toledo. Justin Ingram and Keonta Howell have looked like players for the Rockets. However, Sammy Villegas has looked somewhat lost again and Kashif Payne hasn’t added as much as hoped. Things are going to get tougher for Toledo before they get easier. Their next two contests are @Akron and at home versus Buffalo.
Jeremy Fears
Fears hasn’t really been a hopeless case for the Bobcats, but ever since his 1-12 shooting performance at Cincinnati he hasn’t really been lighting the world on fire. This was highlighted with 7 turnover games against Kentucky and Shippensburg. Fears was expected to be a great player for the Bobcats this season. Instead he’s ranged from good to suspect.
Ohio expected their fabulous freshman duo from last season to continue to improve their play as sophomores. Leon Williams has looked good when not in foul trouble, especially when the Ohio offense can fire well enough from the outside to open things up for him inside. Fears, has been less impressive making as many mistakes and poor decisions as good, solid plays.
Fears showed last year that he definitely has the talent and gamesmanship to be a spectacular player in this league. To reach the next level, or even to return to the level that he played at during the end of last season, Fears needs to cut down on the mistakes and poor decisions. And for Ohio to reach the next level as a team, they need Fears to get off the “Who’s Not” list. |
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By Dan Whitmyer, VanDelaySports.com Head Basketball Writer
