2-0 yesterday...4-0 start to the season...Let's keep it going...
Western Carolina +5
Being from the Cleveland area (in the heart of MAC country), I have watched as the MAC has gained a little more respect as a football conference. As for basketball, it doesn't seem to get the respect that I think it deserves. That being said, I am not seeing why the Falcons are favored on the road here.
Bowling Green loses Reimold (19ppg, 5rpg) and Almanson (17ppg, 5rpg) and bring back only one (Wright, 11ppg) player that average double digits last year. The other two returning starters average less than 11ppg between them, and none of the returning bench players averaged more than 2ppg last year. A decent batch of newcomers come in, but not sure if they can respond with this being their first game and being on the road.
The Catamounts have been picked by many to finish near the bottom of the North division of the SoCon. I think they may be a nice suprise this year. New coach Larry Hunter (former OhioU coach) knows the MAC and has only 2 losing seasons in 25 years as a head coach. WCar loses only one starter (Brempong 9ppg,6rpg) and will miss his shot blocking (SoCon career leader). BUT, they return big man Berghoefer (15ppg, 8rpg) and 3 other starters totaling 25ppg, 10rpg (Muirhead, Russell, Greathouse). 6th-man Hopkins returns also (10ppg). Besides Berghoefer and Muirhead, this team lacks in some size so some of the new F/C need to step up for some relief time.
I look for a close game with the Catamounts getting an outright win on their home court.
Sidenote:
It is hard for me going against BGSU as I had many a roadtrip to their campus in my own college days. For those of you who do not know, this campus has a great girl to guy ratio (about 3:1 back in the late 80s). So, if any of you Falcons are reading this, go to Howards or Uptown/Downtown (if they are still open) and raise a glass for SingleMalt. and for those KappaKappaGammas
Western Carolina +5
Being from the Cleveland area (in the heart of MAC country), I have watched as the MAC has gained a little more respect as a football conference. As for basketball, it doesn't seem to get the respect that I think it deserves. That being said, I am not seeing why the Falcons are favored on the road here.
Bowling Green loses Reimold (19ppg, 5rpg) and Almanson (17ppg, 5rpg) and bring back only one (Wright, 11ppg) player that average double digits last year. The other two returning starters average less than 11ppg between them, and none of the returning bench players averaged more than 2ppg last year. A decent batch of newcomers come in, but not sure if they can respond with this being their first game and being on the road.
The Catamounts have been picked by many to finish near the bottom of the North division of the SoCon. I think they may be a nice suprise this year. New coach Larry Hunter (former OhioU coach) knows the MAC and has only 2 losing seasons in 25 years as a head coach. WCar loses only one starter (Brempong 9ppg,6rpg) and will miss his shot blocking (SoCon career leader). BUT, they return big man Berghoefer (15ppg, 8rpg) and 3 other starters totaling 25ppg, 10rpg (Muirhead, Russell, Greathouse). 6th-man Hopkins returns also (10ppg). Besides Berghoefer and Muirhead, this team lacks in some size so some of the new F/C need to step up for some relief time.
I look for a close game with the Catamounts getting an outright win on their home court.
Sidenote:
It is hard for me going against BGSU as I had many a roadtrip to their campus in my own college days. For those of you who do not know, this campus has a great girl to guy ratio (about 3:1 back in the late 80s). So, if any of you Falcons are reading this, go to Howards or Uptown/Downtown (if they are still open) and raise a glass for SingleMalt. and for those KappaKappaGammas
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