MAC Men's Basketball Open Thread: Thursday, Jan. 23

Last night on As the World Turns: MAC Basketball edition, we were privy to a boat load of drama. Can tonight live up to it? With Western Michigan and Kent State we get a battle of two teams desperate to end recent skids. The Golden Flashes started the season as one of the hottest mid-majors in the nation, but have recently fallen into a funk and have many ready to proclaim the Flashes as phonies. WMU has been flirting with being an upper-level MAC team all season, but rough performances (including a 37-point outing against EMU) have hurt the Broncos reputation.

Buffalo and Ball State appears much more one-sided on the surface. The Bulls are an underrated team that has taken Toledo to the wire, knocked off Kent and EMU and had a strong showing in non-conference play. Javon McCrea is playing the best basketball of his already impressive career, and Buffalo is fully entrenched in the early race for the MAC East crown.

Ball State isn't having such a swell season. The Cardinals are one of two winless teams in the MAC and have won just one game against a Division I opponent this season. Ball State is desperate for a win though, and still features dynamic pieces, such as Majok Majok, Chris Bond and freshman stud Zavier Turner. A impact win is exactly what BSU fans need, and a win over Buffalo could be just what the doctor ordered.

Join us as we chat about tonight's action, right here in our open thread.