Highly Anticipated ZipsNation MAC Power Poll

[Captain Kangaroo]

Highly Scientific, Undeniably Accurate Lunchtime Analysis:#1 – Akron (17-9)Previous Rank #2Last week:The Zips have won 8 of 9. And in those 8 wins they've trailed for a total of 15 game minutes (I made that stat up, but it has to be pretty damn close). The toe-stubbing in DeKalb looks to be an aberration, as the Zippers bounced back to suffocate Charlie Coles' RedHawks last night. To paraphrase the AK-Rowdies - I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE (#) 1! Large conference tests loom with surging K.e.n.t., OU and enigmatic BG. #2 – K.e.n.t. (15-11)Previous Rank #7 Teams rarely stay the same over the course of a given season. They either regress (like OU & Buffalo), or improve (like UA, BG and K.e.n.t.). 4-0 in their last 4 games and ran roughshod over the MAC West. New players...new coach...but shaping up to be the same ol' dangerous K.e.n.t.#3 - Buffalo (17-7) Previous Rank #1Last week:In the last Power Poll the question was posed: "Do the close wins vs. WMU and CMU signal a chink in their armor?" The answer appears to be "Yes." The Bulls looked to be hitting the wall two weeks ago eeking out skin-of-their-teeth wins vs WMU and CMU. Now they're losing. Back-to-back losses to BG and Ball State drop the Bulls from the #1 slot they've held since early January. It was a nice run by Reggie and Co., but they are reeling.#4 - Miami (15-9)Previous Rank - #4Redhawks are 2-2 in their last 4 games, including a 9-point loss to the Zips in Akron. You can only ride Bramos and "The Not-So-Gifted" Politz for so long. Miami seems to be slipping just a little.#5– Bowling Green (15-10)Previous Rank # 5What the hell is up with these guys? 3-1 in their last 4 games, including a big win @ Buffalo...their second win vs the Bulls this season. But their loss...was to EASTERN MICHIGAN? I am in no way a believer that BG is for real. Louis Orr's mojo has to wear off sometime, right? Can't move 'em up.#6 BSU (11-13)Previous Rank #61-3 in their last four games, Ball State's youth appears to be catching up with them. They're still tied for the MAC West lead at 6-6 (with WMU) and they did beat fading Buffalo. They also lost to 5-21 Toledo.#8 WMU (9-16)Previous Rank #82-2 in their last 4 games, which in the MAC West conjures up realistic visions of a #2 overall seed in Cleveland. They were crushed by Miami, but put the wood to OU and held EMU to 38 points in a 46-38 win last night. #8 – OU (13-12)Previous Rank #7Drubbed by K.e.n.t. and WMU, the BongCats appear to be intent on wasting Jerome Tillman's senior season. OU apologists will point to youth as the issue, but it is more than that. These guys are underachieving BIGTIME. If they were placed in the MAC West, they might actually DROP that division's RPI. #9 NIU (7-17)Previous Rank #91-3 in their last 4 games, but the win was a shocker against the #1 Zips. But don't let the Zips win fool you...these guys are horrible. They just have the Zips "number" for whatever bizarre reason. BTW - They followed up their big victory over the Zips with a 19 point loss to CMU.#10 Akron Women’s Team (9-15)Previous Rank #101-2 in their last 3 games. Road loss to WMU was a big disappointment. A tenuous hold on the #10 spot. #11 Toledo (5-21)Previous Rank #13Last week:1-3 in their last 4 games, including a 33-point loss to OU. Shocked Ball State by four on Wednesday night to keep them from dropping.#12 EMU (4-22)Previous Rank #12Whipped BG by 8, but could only muster 38 points in their loss to WMU. How tough is it to be an Eagles fan? Earl Boykins is wearing a brown lunch bag over his tiny head.#13 CMU (8-16) Previous Rank #13Played K.e.n.t. tough in a 4-point loss, and beat NIU by 19. They're probably playing as good a basketball as anyone in the West. But I promised to keep them in the basement and I'm a man of my word! It is personal.

[bigzipguy]

Capt:I agree with your analysis, with one exception: I would flip the positions of Miami and Can't. Why?1.) Miami was able to go to Can't and win. Will Can't be able to go to Oxford and get the job done? Yes , I know that Miami's win at Can't was some time ago and Can't is playing much better now. But Can't, not to take anything away from them, got on a roll against the West. (As of course most of the East did) I am skeptical Can't can win at Oxford, due primarily to Ford being a rookie head coach vs CC. 2.) Jordan Mincy, not to take anything away from his recent performances, can't keep this up. (not even close to the 27 points he scored on OU - not even REMOTELY CLOSEShould be an interesting race to the finish.

[72 Roo]

Sorry Capt'n, in the spirit of complete objectivity I've got to drop the Lady Zips to #11. There loss to WMU moves the UT men ahead of them. Take heart ladies, next year you'll kick their butt.

[Dave in Green]

Can't argue with the rankings based on recent performances. But it sure is tight at the top. Any of the top teams has the potential to get on a roll at the end of the regular season and ace the MAC tournament. When the season began, I wasn't sure I'd be able to say that about the Zips. They are on a nice upward curve right now.

[pdt1420]

Ok, I literally LOL'd for the first time on this board when I read "BongCats"... I've got some friends that go to OU, and it's perfect.