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As we close out the first month of MAC basketball, we've seen some crazy stuff happen already. Ball State was kinda good, then kinda bad. Eastern Michigan was really bad, but are starting to be kinda good now. Kent State started the season 6-1 and everyone scratched their head a little bit.
Now, everything is getting sorted out at least a little bit. There are 6-7 teams with a legitimate shot at the regular season title. Eastern Michigan may be in the mix as well as they are playing better the last few times out. There are really only four "bad" teams, but they're really not that bad. Yeah the overall records might not be impressive but they can still beat anyone, like NIU beating Akron or Ohio beating Buffalo. Hopefully be next week we'll have a much clearer picture of where teams stand.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previously | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akron | 15-6 (6-2) | 1 | W - Ball State, W - at Bowling Green |
| 2 | Buffalo | 14-6 (5-3) | 7 | W - Western Michigan, W - Kent State |
| 3 | Kent State | 15-6 (6-2) | 3 | W - Central Michigan, L - at Buffalo |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 15-4 (5-3) | 5 | L - at Kent State, W - Ohio |
| 5 | Toledo | 13-8 (5-3) | 6 | W - Miami, W - at Northern Illinois |
| 6 | Bowling Green | 13-6 (5-3) | 4 | W - Northern Illinois, L - Akron |
| 7 | Western Michigan | 13-8 (4-4) | 2 | L - at Buffalo, L - at Eastern Michigan |
| 8 | Eastern Michigan | 14-7 (3-5) | 10 | W - Ohio, W - Western Michigan |
| 9 | Miami | 8-13 (3-5) | 12 | L - at Toledo, W - Ball State |
| 10 | Northern Illinois | 8-11 (2-6) | 10 | L - at Bowling Green, L - Toledo |
| 11 | Ohio | 7-12 (2-6) | 8 | L - at Eastern Michigan, L - at Central Michigan |
| 12 | Ball State | 7-12 (2-6) | 9 | L - at Akron, L - at Miami |
So, there's a lot to talk about here.
Akron stays at the top spot after an impressive win at Bowling Green. The Falcons hadn't lost at the Stroh Center all season to Division 1 opponents (lost to Ferris State) and the Zips came in and stole a victory in the waning seconds of the contest.
Buffalo and Western Michigan traded places after the Bulls won twice and the Broncos lost twice. UB's dominating victory over Kent State certainly pushed them up the rankings while WMU has now lost three in a row.
Toledo proved that they (like Touchdown Tom) should never be counted out, as the Rockets are on a three-game winning streak after winning two games they should have this week. Central Michigan and Bowling Green are the other two 5-3 teams and are both right there in the hunt.
In the bottom third of the rankings sit the teams that just can't figure it out. Miami has the best record of the bottom four, but didn't put Ball State away until the end of the game. Ohio had the worst week imaginable, losing by 36 at Eastern Michigan and followed that up with a 5-point loss at Central. Ball State is on a four-game losing streak now, and host Buffalo and Toledo in their next two outings.
BG too low? Buffalo too high? Let us know!