It wasn't supposed to be this way. After a season where parity reigned supreme, with five teams crowded within a game of the top of the Mid-American Conference standings, it looked as if one team might sneak out ahead of the pack this season. Buffalo upset Central Michigan in the MAC Tournament final, and with three starters expected back, the Bulls seemed poised to gain some breathing room.
And then Bobby Hurley exchanged his Buffalo parka for Arizona State flip flops, and defending player of the year Justin Moss was dismissed from the team after he was charged with his second theft while on campus.
Suddenly the MAC is back to where it was last season with a pack of teams that could arguably win the conference. That should make league games fun to watch, but it might not help the conference make what continues to be a difficult argument for more than one NCAA tournament bid. It has been a long time since that happened -- 1999 to be exact -- and parity, alas, is in the eye of the beholder. The selection committee hasn't seen fit to change things up.
Favorite
You could make a case for Central Michigan or Buffalo here, but the Zips go from a young team that did well despite its youth (21-14 overall) to a dangerously more experienced one. Coach Keith Dambrot returns four of his top five scorers, including leading scorer and senior center Pat Forsythe (10 points per game) and sophomore point guard Noah Robotham. The Zips also have a decent nonconference schedule (at Arkansas and Villanova) that should make them tougher come conference season.
Sleeper
Hofstra transfer Jimmy Hall made an immediate impact for the Golden Flashes last season, averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in his first season, but he won't have the support he had last year. Derek Jackson, Kris Brewer and Devareaux Manley are all gone. Kellon Thomas is, however, back. The junior point guard fractured an orbital bone last year in December. If he, along with guys such as Chris Ortiz and Khaliq Spicer, can up their contribution, Kent State could be sneaky good.
Team that could fall on its face
The regular-season champions return everyone from a team that finished 23-9 last season. So why the doom and gloom? It's more anxiety than anything. The Chippewas are a potent offense, relying heavily on their 3-point shooting (47 percent of their shots came beyond the arc), and when those shots don't fall, there could be trouble. Case in point: that Buffalo game, where Central Michigan hit just 8-of-22 from the 3-point line.
Top pro prospect
Chris Fowler, Central Michigan
If the Chippewas repeat, it will be because of Fowler. A year ago, the senior guard led his team in scoring (16.2 points per game), assists (6.1) and added three rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. At 6-foot-1, he doesn't exactly scream NBA potential, but he certainly can make some money playing basketball overseas.
Projected all-conference team
G: Noah Robotham, Akron
G: Chris Fowler, Central Michigan
F: Jimmy Hall, Kent State
F: Sean Sellers, Ball State
C: Pat Forsythe, Akron