Losses are not erased in the second half of the season, but, as many Mid-American Conference teams are learning, sometimes it is easiest to view the latter half of the season as a clean slate than to see it as a daunting uphill battle.
Before any team lined up for an opening tip-off in late October, the squads had set forth their goals for the season. As expected in such a competitive league, more than one team had its sights set on the top of its division.
After many weeks of conference play, the two most coveted spots are held by Akron and Eastern Michigan, meaning the process of re-evaluation and refocusing is taking place throughout the conference.
“They’re all good teams this year,” Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. “We’re not even trying to take it game by game, we’re taking it day by day”
In the East Division, where the Zips hold the top spot with a 10-1 conference record, Buffalo and Kent State are each striving to meet lofty preseason expectations as they jostle for second place.
While discussing the Bulls’ outlook for the final third of MAC play, Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon emphasized how much of a factor familiarity would play in the games. However, facing each divisional foe twice in a season can be a blessing and a curse.
The Bulls, a team that relies heavily upon its leading scorer Javon McCrea, must be prepared to react to a double-team defense on the sophomore forward. At Kent State, the Golden Flashes will be determined to stop McCrea after his 25-point performance in the teams’ last meeting propelled Buffalo to a narrow 66-65 victory.
In the case of Kent State, the close loss was a result of sloppy play, but when looking at the records of other teams such as Miami, close losses have not been as reflective of on-court performance.
The RedHawks, looking to change their fortune during the final five conference games, have seven conference losses despite having averaging only 2.4 points less than its opponent per game.
“We haven’t shown that we’re a good team executing when we need to execute,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “I think you can work on last-second shots, but I’d much rather work on us being better fundamentally, getting a little bit better, because that’s what it’s going to take.”
The West Division has more of a mixture of records than the East, although Eastern Michigan is the clear frontrunner with a 6-5 mark in conference action. Behind the Eagles with 4-7 records are Ball State and Western Michigan.
The Cardinals, losers of six in a row, will look to make up for their ineptitude against the East Division in the second set of games against their own division.
Elsewhere in the division, the Broncos are still looking for their first road win of conference play. The second swing through the MAC West will prove whether Western Michigan has what it takes to compete in the post-season.
mm938910@ohiou.edu
