We’re approaching mid-February and things are starting to get wild on the #MACsketball court. All six teams in the MAC West are in play for a division crown, while no team has really set itself apart from the rest besides Akron (and technically Miami, but for different reasons). Now, let’s get this party started with your weekly POWER RANKINGS.

#12 Miami RedHawks

(Average Rank: 12, Highest vote: 12, Lowest: 12, Last week: 12)

A unanimous selection for the bottom of the MAC, and it’s safe to say that all hope is lost in Miami this season after the debacle on Tuesday night against WMU.

#11 Bowling Green Falcons

(Average Rank: 10.6, Highest vote: 10, Lowest: 11, Last week: 11)

The Falcons, meanwhile, are just a game under .500 and have won three straight. This week will be a test with Buffalo at home and the Broncos on the road.

#10 Western Michigan Broncos

(Average Rank: 10, Highest vote: 9, Lowest: 11, Last week: 10)

With the team being two games back in the MAC West, Western Michigan has some opportunities to make some hay with three straight home games coming up, two of which coming against division opponents.

#9 Toledo Rockets

(Average Rank: 9.2, Highest vote: 8, Lowest: 10, Last week: 6)

A loss to Bowling Green isn’t going to improve your standing, so that explains UT’s fall despite the impressive win over EMU on Tuesday. We’ll find out more about the Rockets this week after games with Kent State and at Akron.

#8 Kent State Golden Flashes

(Average Rank: 7.4, Highest vote: 5, Lowest: 9, Last week: 9)

KSU has been a streaky team this season, but we’re quite not sure what to make of the team following a loss to BG after winning four of its last five. The Flashes play some of the MAC’s bottom feeders in Toledo and Miami, so we won’t have a clear picture of this team until later.

#7 Eastern Michigan Eagles

(Average Rank: 6.6, Highest vote: 6, Lowest: 8, Last week: 3)

Slumping at the end of the season are the Eagles, who have dropped their last three games with the final two coming by double-digits. Akron and Ohio are coming to Ypsilanti this week, so there may be some opportunity for a big home win.

#6 Buffalo Bulls

(Average Rank: 6.4, Highest vote: 5, Lowest: 8, Last week: 8)

The defending MAC champions have been heating up down the stretch after three consecutive victories over good teams in CMU, Ball State, and NIU. The Bull have to hit the road against BG and the Chippewas, so we’ll have to see if they can maintain their momentum.

#5 Northern Illinois Huskies

(Average Rank: 5.2, Highest vote: 4, Lowest: 6, Last week: 4)

After starting the season as hot as anyone not named Akron, NIU has fizzled out a bit as it has lost four of its last six with the two wins coming against teams in the bottom half of our power rankings. The Huskies have a chance to get back on track with a road game at WMU and a home contest vs. Ball State.

#4 Ohio Bobcats

(Average Rank: 3.6, Highest vote: 3, Lowest: 4, Last week: 5)

Without the services of Antonio Campbell, Ohio done its best to make do as it knocked off Akron this week but still has lost six of its last nine contests. The ‘Cats will continue to be tested, as they hit the road for games against Ball State and EMU.

#3 Central Michigan Chippewas

(Average Rank: 3.2, Highest vote: 2, Lowest: 7, Last week: 7)

CMU has been the story of the conference the season that Marcus Keene is having, and team has been pretty good too as it has won six of its last eight. The Chips have an intriguing match-up with Buffalo on Tuesday, so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

#2 Ball State Cardinals

(Average Rank: 2.8, Highest vote: 2, Lowest: 4, Last week: 2)

The Cards had a tough go of it this week with a drubbing at the hands of Buffalo and a one-possession loss at Akron. BSU have a couple more tests this week with Ohio and a road game at NIU on deck.

#1 Akron Zips

(Average Rank: 1, Highest vote: 1, Lowest: 1, Last week: 1, First place votes: 5)

Akron maintains its stranglehold on the top spot in the rankings despite finally losing a MAC game with a loss at Ohio. With games at EMU and vs. Toledo coming up this week, it looks like the Zips will be #1 next week too.