The recent parity that has become commonplace in men's college basketball the past couple years has trickled into women's basketball in the Mid-American Conference West division. Four of the six teams that comprise the West received first-place votes in the pre-season poll, which should make the conference season as unpredictable as ever.
In the East division, Bowling Green State University is unanimously favored to three-peat as MAC tournament champion. Here's a look at the wide open wild, wild West and the team favored to win it all.
Eagles ready to erupt
Eastern Michigan University, who has reached the 20-win plateau the past three years, will be leaning on its experienced backcourt. Three of the Eagles' four guards from last year return for a club that paced the West with a 22-8 record [15-1 MAC].
Senior guard Patrice McKinney represents Eastern Michigan on the pre-season MAC West team, and senior guard/forward Sarah VanMetre is the team's top returning scorer. However, the glaring weakness Eastern Michigan has had the past couple of years is its lack of production in its frontcourt, and all indications say that trend will continue in 2007. If 6-foot-5-inch junior center Colleen Russell can improve her 2.5 points per game production, she could give Eastern Michigan a solid threat in the paint, and the Eagles could be a scary team come March.
Broncos riding under the radar
Although Western Michigan finished the 2006 campaign with an even 14-14 record, the Broncos came on strong in conference play, finishing the MAC season at an 11-5 mark. A major reason for the improved play was the production of senior guard Carrie Moore, who is the top returning scorer in the conference with 17.2 points per game.
Unfortunately for the rest of the West, Moore will have more than enough help this year. On the wing, senior forward Lindsey Brown can score points both in the paint and on the perimeter, averaging 14.7 points her junior year. Western Michigan's only glaring concern is replacing Casey Rost, who led the MAC last year with a 17.7 points per game average. However, the combination of Moore and Brown should be more than enough to spell Rost this year. By the time March rolls around, look for Western Michigan to have enough depth and talent to overtake Eastern Michigan in the West.
Cardinals calling on recent success
With two winning seasons the past two years, including a 17-12 overall record last season, Ball State University is optimistic about the 2007 campaign. While the Cardinals have decent depth, Ball State will go only as far as junior forward Julie DeMuth decides to take it. DeMuth, the lone junior on the all-MAC pre-season first team, averaged a modest 11.4 points per game last year. However, it was her rebounding that made the difference. DeMuth led the MAC with 8.9 rebounds per game and had more double-doubles than any other player with 10.
An interesting development to follow over the winter will be the progress of Ball State's stud freshman class. The Cardinals' Audrey McDonald, who led Kokomo High School to semi-state her senior year, was an Indiana All-star and made first team All-State last year. Kyleigh Jones [from Elwood High School] was also a first team All-State selection and Kalynn Proctor [Regina High School, OH] was an All-Ohio Honorable Mention. All three freshmen could wind up logging serious minutes for Ball State this year.
Huskies hoping for more highs
Though Northern Illinois University had a losing record last year at 12-17, the Huskies are optimistic about their chances in 2006. Returning more starters than any team in the West with four, Northern Illinois should have the one thing that has been missing the past couple years - experience. The Huskies are primarily a two-headed monster with senior guard Stephanie Raymond providing points on the outside and senior center Kristin Wiener posting a presence in the paint.
While the starting five compare favorably against any other team in the division, the Huskies have a major drop off in their bench. The Huskies top two reserves last year, guard/forward Whitney Lowe and forward Nikita Odom, combined to average less than 10 points a game. Unless Northern Illinois gets better production from its bench this year, it will be a long season for the dogs.
Rockets preparing to shoot up the rankings
After a 7-9-conference campaign, Toledo University enters the 2007 season as a possible sleeper. However, unlike Eastern Michigan, the Rockets will need more production in their backcourt. Outside of senior guard Danielle Bishop's 14 points per game, Toledo didn't get many points from its guards in 2006. In fact, only three guards are returning from last year's squad.
Led by Savannah Werner, the Rockets are deep out at the wing. Werner averaged 11.8 points and 6 rebounds per game as a junior. Toledo will be leaning heavily on its two seniors for whatever success it manages this year.
Chippewas set camp in the south
Few are expecting big things out of Western Michigan University this year. The Chippewas are ranked last in the West in the pre-season polls, and their season is predicated on the success of two seniors - forward Ann Skufca and guard Sharonda Hurd. After the loss of super-sub Casey Manning, who averaged 10.2 points per game last year, Western Michigan's most glaring weekend might be its lack of production on the bench.
Falcons look to fly away from field
Two-time defending MAC champions Bowling Green State University begins the season as the undisputed favorite to three-peat. In the past two years, the Falcons have combined a 51-11 overall record, including a 28-3 campaign in 2005. The Falcons have also received votes in national pre-season polls and return all five starters from a team that navigated last season with a perfect 16-0 conference record.
Bowling Green State is also the only team with more than one player on the pre-season all-MAC squad with Ali Mann, Liz Honegger and Kate Achter representing the team in the East division.
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