Happy Halloween

The only good thing about switching clocks back an hour is that college hoops is on the horizon. If there was no college basketball, I don't know how I would get through winter, seriously. In Michigan, since we're further north obviously, the days are shorter. The sun is up about 7:10 and it is down about 5:30, a little more than 10 hours' worth. And it's only October 31st. It feels like it should be late November/early December, but it's only the last day of October. I don't like it when I know the day of sunlight begins and ends while I'm at work. Maybe it's just me, but I think that's wrong.

One more week until Election Day, and it can't come sooner. Earlier today, 12 consecutive political ads were broadcast on TV. 12?!?!?!?! It's so bad, I yearn for the days of Alligator Arms girl from Victory Toyota and Dayna Alexander selling Weather Guard windows. When I was in Ohio this past weekend, I swear I wasn't bombarded by political ads like I am every day here.

Well since I have time to blog, I have time to talk MAC Basketball. It should be another competitive year, with everyone beating up on one another resulting in just one NCAA team. In the MAC, you really do have to defend your home court and steal games on the road because winning on the road, even in Ypsilanti and Mt. Pleasant, is a challenge:

MAC East
1. Akron. My NCAA pick and the consensus NCAA pick from previews that I've seen. Dru Joyce and Nick Dials are one of the best backcourts you'll find. Both can shoot and defend. Dials is a little small for a 2 guard, but he can make up for it with his shooting and intensity. Cedrick Middleton is the swingman, who can shoot and take it strong to the goal. Again, small for a swingman, but tough and athletic. Romeo Travis will probably win Player of the Year. He's almost impossible to defend 12 feet in. Jeremiah Wood adds some bulk inside. Nate Linhart has some size, but he's more of a step-out shooter. Akron is small, but they're deep, confident, and motivated to finally win the league and go dancing.

2. Miami. Who will take the clutch shots and handle the ball now that William Hatcher is gone? There's talent at point guard, but it is young and inexperienced. Sophomore transfer Carl Richburg gives Miami quickness they severly lacked last year and will push the pace. Freshman Alex Moosman will see the floor as he possesses deceptive quickness, shooting ability, and toughness. Doug Penno will be at shooting guard. Mr. Deadeye needs to be a little more consistent. Nathan Peavy will push Romeo Travis for Player of the Year. He needs to have a big year, and he's more than capable of it with his athleticism and inside/outside capabilities. Tim Pollitz is one of the savviest basketball players out there. An undersized power forward, he knows how to score and rebound despite not being blessed with great physical attributes. Monty St. Clair is healthy finally and should have a strong year at center. Mike Bramos could start also. The 6'5 swingman can shoot it, put it on the floor and hang in the air. Eric Pollitz is ready to contribute off the bench. Adam Fletcher and Tyler Dierkers give Miami some inside depth.

3. Ohio. Not a good regular season team because they turn the intensity on/off too much, but definitely not the team you want to play in the MAC Tournament (just ask Miami). The distraction that was Jeremy Fears is gone, so Antonio Chatman is the full-time point guard, who played well down the stretch. Whitney Davis can light it up, but he needs to become a more consistent shooter and put the ball on the floor, he has the ability to do so. Same goes for Sonny Troutman, who at 6'6 can post most big guards/small forwards up and shoot over them. Leon Williams needs to stay out of foul trouble. When he is on the floor, OU is tough to beat. Jerome Tillman is a good inside player now with experience. Bubba Walther is available after transferring from Akron and should give the Bobcats a solid night in-night out player who won't do anything eye-popping except give you 10 points, 4 rebounds, and a couple of assists a night.

4. Kent. The Golden Flashes lost a lot, but don't discount Jim Christian's ability to coach the young players up. Besides Armon Gates and Omni Smith, Kent doesn't have much experience. Jacksonville transfer Haminn Quainatance will help, Mike Scott played well in limited playing time, and Julian Sullinger needs to contribute. You want to get Kent early while they're still getting their feet wet because by tournament time, they'll be tournament tough. They'll be quick, good shooters, well-coached by the end of the year.

5. Bowling Green. BG returns 3 starters led by gunner Martin Samarco. If you let him touch the ball, he will shoot it and make it from wherever he is on the floor. Erik Marschall was a solid contributor at the forward spot until he wore down late in the year. Center Matt Lefeld has some ability inside, but needs to be more athletic and stronger with the ball. As has been the case recently, BG will need some of its young players to step up. Ryan Sims looks to be the strongest candidate. He has the makings of a solid combo guard, good ballhandler/shooter.

6. Buffalo. Da Bulls lost a lot. The starting backcourt of Calvin Cage and Roderick Middleton are gone. Sean Smiley played some last year, but was inconsistent. Darwin Young will step into the other guard role. Greg Gamble and Parnell Smith will be asked to carry the load inside along with Yassin Idbihi. Idbihi has 3 point range, but he needs to stay on the block and rely on his baby hook, which is unguardable. When Idbihi doesn't get involved early in the game, he starts to wander offensively and gets into foul trouble. Smith can bang with the best of them inside. We've learned Reggie Witherspoon is a good block, and Buffalo has become a tough place to play.

MAC West.
1. Northern Illinois. I'm taking the Huskies over Toledo because NIU has proven size returning for them. NIU returns 5 players who started for them at one time or another. Ryan Paradise and Zach Pancratz give NIU a solid backcourt. Paradise is a 46% 3 point shooter. Pancratz is a guy who can do a little bit of everything. Mike McKinney is the best player on the team. He needs to average at least 15 points a game. Ben Rand played well last year before getting hurt. He and McKinney both are better than 50% shooters from the floor. Center James Hughes needs to provide double figure scoring, as well as the tall inside presence who rebounds and blocks shots. There's no reason NIU shouldn't go undefeated at home since DeKalb is the longest road trip for most of the MAC. NIU also has 3 junior college transfers coming in that should contribute immediately.

2. Toledo. In the middle of last year, there was talk coach Stan Joplin was on his way out. After winning 10 of their last 11 and finishing 20-11, losing to Kent in the MAC finals. Joplin got an extension and Toledo will battle for the MAC Championship. Justin Ingram leads the way with his clutch offensive play. Kashif Payne is lightning quick and keys the attack. Keonta Howell takes it to the goal strong for only being 6'4. Tyrone Kent is the lockdown defender, and Florentino Valencia is the post man who battles inside. The problem: Valencia is 6'5, and he's the best inside player Toledo has unless a couple of guys step up. Allen Pinson was hurt last year, he would give UT a 6'10 presence. If he's still hurt, it's up to 6'7 freshman Shane Ross. Small lineups have worked, but they work up to a point.

3. Ball St. If Peyton Stovall is anything close to what he was before injuring his knee last year, Ball St. will have a good year under first year coach Ronny Thompson (yes, related to that Thompson). Add in Skip Mills and Ball St. has a very good backcourt. D'Andre Peyton is a poor man's Carl Landry. He can score in the post, hit the 15 footer and get to the foul line. If Charles Bass can give them anything inside, this will be a tough team to beat. The rest of the team is young and/or inexperienced, making for a short rotation most likely.

4. Western Michigan. Dan Hess and Joe Reitz give Western two dependable post players. Unspectacular, but they'll do the grunt work. The guy to watch is freshman David Kool, the first Mr. Basketball from Michigan to go to a MAC school. He wound up at Western due to some concerns over a bum knee, but if he turns out to be healthy, what a steal he could be.

5. Central Michigan. Just a few years removed from a MAC title and NCAA berth, Central went 4-24 last year. Ouch. But a new coach brings new optimism. 14 point scorers Giordian Watson and Sefton Barrett are back, as is Chris Kellerman who gives the Chips something inside. Central has 6'9 Marko Spika from Serbia, who ended up at Central after not qualifying academically at UCLA. He could be the wild card in how fast Central's improvement progresses.

6. Eastern Michigan. All everything John Bowler, gone. Gino Smith, transferred. Danny McElhinny, gone. Carlos Medlock and BJ Ford are back, two sophomore guards who give Eastern something to fall back on. But Coach Charles Ramsey likes his new players and if they turn out to be solid contributors this year, Eastern has a bright future.

Well, the end of the month means time to pay the bills. Happy Halloween!!!!