While some of the preseason Mid-American Conference men's basketball preseason favorites, namely Bowling Green (6-8 overall, 2-2 MAC) and Miami (6-5, 2-1 MAC), have struggled out of the gate during the non-conference season, other teams have taken up the banner of the conference.
Western Michigan (10-1, 4-0 MAC) is currently leading the pack at the early point of the MAC season. The Broncos can boast of wins against two Pac-10 teams, Arizona State and Southern California, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham of Conference-USA. Western Michigan's only setback came against Detroit of the Horizon League.
The Broncos' undefeated league start continued with an 88-65 home thrashing of Marshall on Monday night. Forward Mike Williams led the way with 22 points. Williams (20.0 points per game) along with guard Ben Reed (20.1 ppg) are providing a two-headed scoring punch for the Broncos. The squad's four conference wins have come at an average margin of victory of more than 21 ppg.
Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins hopes the Broncos' strong start translates into NCAA recognition down the line, even if the team does not win the MAC.
Well
Hawkins said, of course I'm biased but we did play a pretty tough non-conference schedule.
It is not surprising to see Kent State (10-2, 4-0 MAC) also atop the overall MAC standings. The Golden Flashes have spent the past number of years dominating the conference with their potent mix of tough post play and accuracy from the three-point stripe. Both were on display during last Saturday's 80-71 win over the Bobcats.
Kent State's resume is not as impressive as Western Michigan's, with no wins against major college opponents, but nonetheless the team is finding a way, as it always seems to do, to be a consistent power in a tough league.
Kent State is finally getting major production from developing big man John Edwards, who averages 11.8 ppg, 6.8 rebounds per game and an impressive 2.8 blocks per game.
Kent State coach Jim Christian said last week that Edwards is developing into a key cog for the Flashes, especially without injured center Nate Gerwig.
[John] is more confident now Christian said. He understands he's the guy to go to.
Unheralded Akron QB sticking around for senior season
Akron may have the best unknown-player in the country, and the team can count on his services for one more season.
Charlie Frye, Akron's record setting yet unheralded quarterback, decided to stay for his senior season. He hopes to flourish in new coach J.D. Brookhart's wide-open attack.
Frye said NFL scouts told him he would be a third or fourth round pick in the April draft. Last season he joined Marshall and current NFL quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington as the only MAC players to throw for 3,000 yards or more three consecutive seasons.
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