The 2005 Mid-American Conference schedule is more than half over. However, nothing is close to being settled.
All 13 teams in the league have played at least 11 conference games, and nine teams have lost six games or fewer.
Miami is ahead of the league with fewer losses than any other team. They lead a tight MAC East, in which Marshall is the only team under .500.
Miami head coach Charlie Coles said this season is the best balance he's ever seen in the MAC.
The best teams in the league may not be as good as the best teams we've had in past
Coles said. But we've got the best eight or nine teams that have ever been in this league together.
Western Michigan, the defending champions, looked to be heads and shoulders above the rest of the league again after a 6-0 conference start. However, four losses in six games dropped the Broncos down with the rest of the pack.
It really couldn't be more balanced Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said. There are so many teams that are capable of winning at any place on any given night.
Marshall is an example of any team being able to win on any given night. Last Sunday, Marshall traveled to Ball State with a conference record of 0-10. Ball State was undefeated at home and looking to claim a one-game lead in the MAC West. The Thundering Herd proceeded to hand the Cardinals a 90-81 defeat.
There are no holidays
Coles said. Everybody you play is very good. It's just a remarkable league. Everywhere you go you're in for a fight.
A road victory is not a common occurence for any team in the league, as home court is a tough obstacle to overcome in the MAC. Ten teams in the conference have lost two or fewer conference home games.
The home court has become such an advantage that whoever is able to steal some wins on the road might be the team that finally separates themselves a little more
Hawkins said.
Western Michigan's Ben Reed leads the MAC in scoring average per game at 18 points. Josh Almanson and John Reimold of Bowling Green are both averaging more than 17 points per game. Ball State also features a tandem of scores in Dennis Trammell and Peyton Stovall, who are both averaging about 17 points per game. And Central Michigan's Kevin Nelson is having a good season for the Chippewas, averaging 17.5 points per game.
Toledo and Buffalo were the pre-season picks to win the West and East Divisions. Both teams have struggled with conference records hovering around the .500 mark.
Two surprise teams in the conference have been Akron and Ohio, who were picked next to last and last in the MAC East, respectively.
Those two teams have been very good
Coles said. They've just added to the quality of the league. Ohio University and Akron. Boy
oh boy
are they good.
Hawkins also said that Ohio and Akron are two of the biggest surprises this season.
Ohio coach Tim O'Shea has been at Ohio for four seasons, and said the league has never been as balanced as it is now.
It makes everybody feel like
hey
we have something to work for
he said. We have a chance. And I think it's going to be a wild ride the rest of the way for everybody involved.
