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MDZip...much like last year, I think the place to be will be the #3 spot, since that will allow you to face the #2 West Div. champ in the semis. And that's not a knock on last year's Western Michigan team. They were actually a very good team that throttled us at their place a few weeks earlier. We just played probably our best game of the season in that semi game. But I expect this year's #2 seed to be much less formidable than last year's.How do we get there? Well, winning the home games against OU, Miami, and BG could put us in a good position. And hope that Can't State doesn't continue to win before they get us at their place to finish the regular season. And Can't also gets Buffalo at home, while the 3 teams ahead of them (Zips, BG, and Miami) have to play them on the road. Every team in the East that has a shot at that #3 spot sits within 2 games of each other....and you can't count out WMU either since they will play their last 5 games against their own division. It could end up being a wild couple of weeks.

This makes me want to start to look ahead to the end of the regular season, and start to think of the scenarios....So....who will get those #3 and #4 spots in the MAC tourney????Assuming that Ball State wins the West and gets that #2 spot, that leaves 6 teams that currently sit within 2 game of each other battling for the last 2 spots...Miami at 6-2Akron and BG at 5-3Can't State, OU and Western Michigan at 4-4As much as I want to count WMU out of the equation, remember, they'll close their season playing 5 games against the much weaker side of the conference. And those of us in the East all have to play each other one more time.This should be interesting.

I'm more than happy to see us upgrade the level of talent on the defensive side of the ball. I'll leave the scheme up to the coaches. I'm just tired of seeing so many ball carriers slip out of the grasp of defenders.

UAZipsMan...I sure hope that's the case. Read my post earlier in this thread.

Uh oh...I have a feeling I know what the Rowdies are going to chant at her when she comes to town again....and is standing on the free throw line.

I sure hope "suspended indefinitely" means something more at BGSU than what it appears to mean over at Can't State

Right on Timmy. All I can remember about Charlie was that there was a HUGE article about him in the Beacon after he signed with us. So, although I can't remember what star rating he had, he certainly was considered a great recruit for us.

the LeFevour story is amazing. And he started his freshman year. I know I've heard people on here say things like "why can't we recruit a QB like him"? Well...it looks like CMU didn't know what they were getting either.

Here's the Rivals rankings this morning....for whatever it's worth.Can't State 62Akron 68Ohio 83Toledo 85Miami 88WMU 89NIU 91CMU 97BSU 104EMU 104BGSU 109Buffalo 109

Uakronkid...This is what surprised me.....if the medical redshirt is a serious consideration....I'm wondering why he was "dressed"?. Zipwatcher...that's the way I'm leaning. After making him sit for the better part of two seasons, how do you make him sit all the way until November? That would be nearly 3 years without playing competitive basketball (well...with the exception of a few games early this year). And is the medical redshirt even a sure thing if he doesn't play? And I really believe he'd be our best ballhandler...which we really needed BOTH this season and last season. Ok...I have to admit...I'm just really anxious to see him play.

I can't believe I forgot to bring this up...but....On Saturday at the CMU game, Ronnie was in street clothes.On Tuesday at EMU, I swear I heard Steve French say that he was "dressed" for the game.Did I hear correctly? Is this a good sign that his return to play is getting closer? Does anyone know anything that they can add to this?

WOW...that Henderson commit just shot us from #80 to #63 on the Rivals list. Can't still a few spots ahead of us.

I don't know Blue and Gold...If this Rivals info. means anything, we're doing better than every team in the MAC so far, except Can't State. And I'm sure we've been using the "we're getting a new stadium" line for years. Not just this year. Does it surprising anyone that Buffalo's recruiting class isn't looking so hot at this point?

I agree with you uafan...a 40+ yard punter would be a big help. We're one of the 100 or so best programs in the country. We should be able to get a good punter.

Good point pdt. It certainly worked out better to have a team of receivers, rather than one really good one. Although, I thought Jac made improvements, which certainly helped as well.

And the part that was the most impressive to me was that we put together such a good passing game...despite the loss of Jabari Arthur.

All I know is....I'll be extremely happy if JD and his staff can show that some positive improvements have been made to our defense between 08 and 09, as they did with our offense between 07 and 08. And anyone who can consistently make plays and tackle people would be a step in the right direction.

I think it's great to have a non-scholarship player contribute the way that he does. And his free throw shooting, along with his efficiency handling the ball, are big reasons why I like seeing him with the ball in his hands at the end of close games.I know that the numbers aren't there right now for him to get the scholarship. But, all it will take is for someone to transfer. And with so many young guys all the same age playing together, it may only be a matter of time until at least one of them gets disgruntled over playing time and will leave.

I did read their board, and saw a couple of interesting things....1) We have only beaten 1 team with a winning record? Is that really true? (sorry..don't have time to look it up).2) If there is any silver lining on this...despite their poor record, they do have a #37 SOS.If it's true that they will lose 3 senior starters this year, it won't provide us with a good return matchup at home next year, which won't give us the opportunity that would have saved this situation.So much for the thought that the bracketbuster matches similar opponents. I do like that OU is facing Eastern Kentucky...a team that beat us by 12 on a neutral court. That should take care of any confidence they might still have left this year.

Yes sir Dave. Every little bit of motivation helps. Not only am I not understanding Ball State's sudden rise, but I am not understanding the rise of BG either. I know they are inconsistent, and thankfully, we got the "bad" BG when we played them on the road. But I guess when you think about Ball State...someone...anyone...had to eventually emerge from the West as a team that was going to decide to at least be competitive this year. I hate Can't as much as anyone, but they have the talent to make a run if they get their s%#t together soon enough. It seems like when they do this poll, it's a matter of "well, we had to put someone in that spot". I'm still just amazed at how weak the overall strength of this conference has become.

Zipwatcher....I had a few minutes, so decided to look it up.Now..I've always been of the impression that Ben has had poor years throwing the ball when he didn't have a top notch running game to back him up, and vice versa. I never bothered to look it up, but it looks like the numbers show it.He had a QB rating of at or near 100 in 3 different years...when their running attack was ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in the league.On the other hand, he had much lower ratings and a poor td/int ratio in 2006 and 2008 when the Pittsburgh running attack ranked 23rd and 10th in the league.Maybe this doesn't tell the entire story, but it sure looks like a correlation.

First...let me preface what I say by telling everyone that I not a Browns or Steelers fan.Personally, I compare Ben's luck to that of a rich kid who was fortunate enough to be born into a rich family. He stepped in to QB a team that had all the offensive weapons you could have wanted. And a great defense to help you out too. And pay particular attention to his awful stats in 2006....the year he lost his running game, and the pressure fell squarely on his shoulders. This year was not all that much better than 2006 either. He threw almost as many INTs as TDs. I think he "appears" to be a better quarterback than he is because he has super talented people on this team, and they win. But, just because a team is winning does not mean that all of their players are the best at what they do. I think he's a "good" NFL QB, but I'll have to wait at least another 5 years to deem him HOF worthy.

Can't State..that shot was amazing. Everyone I was with had already turned to head towards the concessions...and didn't even see it. By the time they turned around, they missed the whole thing. Goes to show you...wait until the horn...or you might just miss something.

I don't want to let this go without a discussion....After 30 years of watching Akron Women's Basketball, I've come to brace myself to see the inevitable outcomes year in and year out. Even last year, when we started out pretty good early, some posters felt some optimism. I wasn't seeing it..and the season eventually ended like so many others over the past decades.BUT...What I saw yesterday was my first ever indication that there might be light at the end of the tunnel. We knocked off a good MAC team, with a history of winning, and a surprisingly good following of fans for a MAC women's team. I saw a team that has talent, plays with a desire to win, and was in no way intimidated by who they were playing. I see people like Baumgartner and Murphy becoming big stars who will anchor the program in the coming years. This was the 2nd time this year that I have gone to one of their games...and I think I'll have an interesting in going to a few more before it's over. And I haven't felt like that in quite a few years.

Zips Fan...I'm thinking the same thing. I don't understand a statement claiming that Buffalo has given us trouble in football. Buckzip...not only is there a good chance that Buffalo could fall into obscurity again with a coaching change, but...in case nobody noticed, Their so-called "breakout" season this year ended up having a less-than-spectacular ending with the loss to Can't, and in their bowl game to finish with only an 8-6 record. And it will be very interesting to see how they do this year after having many key losses.