1. Kent State (28–7, 13–3); Postseason Prediction: One and done

With Jim Christian gone to TCU, there is a natural tendency for Golden Flash fans to worry whether things are going to change drastically under new boss Geno Ford. Out with the old, in with the new, and all that. Except Ford isn’t reckless. And he isn’t stupid, either. The four-year Kent State assistant understands the need for continuity, especially with a team that won the MAC tourney last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

“Jim was here for six years and left as the winningest coach in MAC history,” Ford says of Christian’s .704 winning percentage. “I was with him four years, and I know how we do things. I’m not making wholesale changes, but at the same time, I can’t be Jim.”

Ford’s mandate is to keep Kent State rolling on the same path it traveled during Christian’s tenure and Gary Waters’ before him. That means 20-win seasons and postseason appearances. Given what he has coming back this season, Ford believes it’s possible to succeed at that level. Provided, of course, he can find some people to play up front.

That’s the challenge at Kent State this year, fixing up the interior. The losses of stalwarts Mike Scott (13.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Haminn Quaintance (10.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg) have left the Flashes with a need for big men to produce. Junior college forwards Anthony Simpson and Frank Henry-Ala are versatile and should help immediately. Justin Greene, a 6'8" freshman, played on three city championship teams at Lincoln High School in New York and will get an opportunity from the start. Depth up front may be tricky, because 6'6" freshman Alex Grimsley suffered an offseason back injury, and 6'5" senior Julian Sullinger was a marginal contributor last year, after averaging 8.1 points as a sophomore. But 6'5" senior Rashad Woods is a solid finisher off the dribble.

If the frontcourt is a work in progress, the perimeter situation is looking good, thanks in large part to the presence of 2007-08 MAC Player of the Year Al Fisher, who averaged 13.9 points and 4.0 assists and was far more consistent in league games than he was out of conference.

Ford expects big things from 6'4" junior Chris Singletary in all regards except his waistline. Singletary lost 15 pounds from his 240-pound MAC season frame and is committed to doing big things.

Singletary’s emergence as an effort guy will no doubt make 5'10" senior guard Jordan Mincy happy. Though Mincy only averaged 2.2 points per game last year, he was the team’s unquestioned spirit and leader. He handles the ball well, plays great defense and makes sure his teammates hold themselves to a high standard.

Junior Mike McKee, a fine long-range shooter, rounds out the perimeter group. Ford had hoped 6'2" junior Rodriguez Sherman would be able to contribute at both guard spots, but he had offseason knee surgery and is doubtful for the year.

2. Miami (17–16, 9–7)

Charlie Coles spent the end of the ’07-08 campaign and almost the entire offseason recovering from a trio of health problems: open-heart surgery, a bleeding ulcer and the removal of his gall bladder. Other than that, Mr. Coles, how did you enjoy the summer? The good news is that Coles expects to be prowling the sidelines again this year.

He’ll have to deal with the loss of Tim Pollitz, the team’s second-leading scorer, top rebounder and best assist man. Although three starters return, Pollitz will be missed. Expect the RedHawks to build around 6'5" senior wing Michael Bramos, who led the team in scoring and was a threat from all over the court. He also proved his value on the defensive end with a team-high 42 blocks.

Senior Kenny Hayes mans the point — and needs to cut down on the turnovers — with senior Carl Richburg and freshman Kramer Soderberg in reserve. Miami had hoped to have Alex Moosmann back at the point, but he transferred. Soderberg has good shooting range and the ability to set up his teammates. Immediate production will be much appreciated. Senior Eric Pollitz provides solid reserve help at the 2.

Up front, Tyler Dierkers is a reliable man in the middle who rebounds well, finishes around the hoop and is a fine passer. Junior Adam Fletcher and sophomore Nick Winbush will get the chance to contribute more, as will burly 6'8" freshman Julian Mavunga, who may not score a lot but has the body to rebound and defend well.

3. Bowling Green (13–17, 7–9)

With everybody of consequence back, and Erik Marschall returning from a knee injury, second-year boss Louis Orr has the Falcons poised for a strong year. Of course, no real success comes unless the team’s offensive production improves, but there is hope.  The guard combination of senior wing Nate Miller and sophomore point Joe Jakubowski is solid, although both have work to do. Miller has to be more accurate with his shot, while Jakubowski has to cut back on the turnovers. Expect Dee Brown, a 6'2" freshman, to provide fortification at the point but also slide to the 2, while senior Brian Moten has a good shooting eye from the wing.

Up front, the Falcons have plenty of options. Sophomore Chris Knight proved last year he could rebound and score well close to the basket, and 6'9" junior Otis Polk is a strong defensive force and good rebounder. Senior Darryl Clements is undersized (6'4") at the 3, but he can pass and defend. Trouble is, his shot was a mess last year; he hit .377 from the field and .281 from three. Junior Marc Larson is reliable inside, and Marschall is a 6'7" junior who has double-figure scoring potential and the ability to grab five or six boards per game.

4. Ohio (20–13, 9–7)

The Bobcats were shaken over the summer when coach Tim O’Shea left to take over the program at Bryant, which is making a gradual move to Division I. It didn’t take long for Ohio to find a replacement, and it appears as if it grabbed a winner in former Ohio State assistant John Groce. He’ll be an aggressive recruiter, and his teams will play up-tempo, high-energy offense.

The trouble is, he doesn’t have a lot of weapons to make that happen this year, since three of Ohio’s top four scorers from last season are gone. The main returnee is 6'6" senior forward Jerome Tillman, who averaged 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds last year. He’s a reliable finisher inside who can also hit a mid-range jumper, and he’ll look for help up front from 6'6" senior Justin Orr, who works well outside in. DeVaughn Washington is a 6'7" sophomore who is athletic but skinny, while Kenneth van Kempen goes 6'10", 265 but prefers to play outside. Redshirt freshman Zach Nagtzaam is 6'11" and should help out in the paint.

The backcourt will rely heavily on senior point Michael Allen, who averaged 4.4 assists last year, although he’ll need to be more aggressive getting his own shots, since the rest of the guards are young. Steven Coleman is a touted freshman combo guard with good scoring skills off the dribble. Sophomore Tommy Freeman can shoot well from outside, and freshman Frankie Dobbs should be the backup point man.

5. Akron (24–11, 11–5)

The Zips have had some good luck and bad the last couple years, winning a bunch of games but finding little postseason love. Two years ago with 26 wins, there was nothing, and last season, despite 23 wins and a berth in the MAC title game, only the NIT came calling. That would be a great destination for Akron this year, since the Zips’ three top scorers are gone, and there are big needs throughout the lineup. The arrivals of six newcomers should help, but maybe not quickly enough for Akron to be a MAC contender.

The frontcourt will be the scoring focus, at least early on, as senior Nate Linhart and junior Chris McKnight try to reach into double figures on a consistent basis. Though both 6'7", they have different games. Linhart likes to shoot from the outside, while McKnight works inside. Expect 6'8" freshman Andrew Parrish to help out defensively, although he can face and fire, while senior Jimmy Conyers can help off the bench close to the basket. Sophomore Steve McNees will likely run the point, with freshman combo Alex Sullivan helping out and sliding to the 2 to support junior Darryl Roberts, a strong perimeter shooter.

6. Buffalo (10–20, 3–13)

We can do the old “good news/bad news” joke about the fact that Buffalo returns practically everybody from a 10–20 team, but instead we’ll focus on the team’s opportunity for improvement. With all five starters back and a couple newcomers who should help inside, the Bulls ought to be able to score better and tighten up the D.

Buffalo’s strength is clearly in the backcourt, home to five of the team’s top six scorers last year. The sixth is 6'4" senior swingman Greg Gamble. Senior Andy Robinson is a threat from all over the court and a fine defender, while Gamble is a solid distributor, finisher off the dribble and a thief on defense who gets help setting the table from juniors Rodney Pierce and Byron Mulkey. None of them, however, exactly lights it up from outside. Calvin Betts is tough going to the hoop, while Sean Smiley has the potential to be a good shooter.

Senior Vadim Fedotov and junior Max Boudreau are adequate around the basket, and sophomore Jawaan Alston showed some potential inside last year. But they’ll be happy to see freshman Titus Robinson, who goes 6'7" and has substantial upside, and 6'9" Michael Watt come to town.

WEST DIVISION

1. Western Michigan (20–12, 12–4); Postseason Prediction: NIT

When it comes to the 2008-09 season, Broncos coach Steve Hawkins is sure about one thing and completely up in the air about another. That might not seem like the best formula for a championship, but given everything at his disposal, he can probably live with a little uncertainty.

The sure thing is junior guard David Kool, while the thing that keeps him from a perfect night’s sleep is the condition of his frontcourt. “I have no earthly idea who will develop inside,” he says.

First, Kool. He averaged 16.3 points per game last year and has the potential to score 20 a night. He shoots it well from the outside (37.6 percent from three) and can take people off the dribble. He does turn it over a little too much, but Kool is a fine passer and will also check his man.

“When the ball is in his hands, the world feels okay,” Hawkins says. “He took over some games last year and willed us to a win.”

Trouble was, Kool was saving too many of his heroics for the last five minutes or so of contests. So, Hawkins had a little sit-down with him and told his guard to get more aggressive. To stop waiting. This year, expect Kool to score earlier and more consistently throughout games.

Expect senior Michael Redell to reprise his role as the team’s main point guard, after averaging nearly four assists per game last year. Like Kool, he has to cut back on the turnovers, although Hawkins blames part of the carelessness on the dribble-penetration offense he installed, a la Memphis. With all that dribbling, there will be more cough-ups than usual.

Andre Ricks is a 5'9" off guard who can shoot it well at times, although consistency is his main concern, while senior Shawntes Gary is a tough interior player who will make the occasional 3-pointer. He was second on the team with 5.3 rebounds per game last year. Junior Martelle McLemore has good size (6'5") and can help on the backboards. Expect freshman Mike Douglas to provide much-needed support at the point, despite his relatively lithe (6'0", 165) frame, while fellow rookie Demetrius Ward is a strong scorer from outside and off the dribble.

Now for the trouble spots. The loss of Joe Reitz (15.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) took the Broncos’ main interior weapon. Although he fouled out nine times and committed bushels of turnovers, Reitz was a big reason the Broncos enjoyed a plus-4.9 rebounding edge and held opponents to 40.7 percent field goal success. Although 6'5" senior Derek Drews is back, he’s more of a long-range threat, while 6'9" junior Donald Lawson still has to develop his offensive game. He’ll help on defense and the boards, though. That’s it for the frontcourt holdovers.

Hawkins refuses to gush over 6'11" freshman LaMarcus Lowe, who has a long, athletic body and tremendous potential. He’ll definitely see some time. So will 6'7" freshman Flenard Whitfield, while redshirt freshman Juston Hairston, who is athletic and energetic, will help at the 4-spot.

2. Eastern Michigan (14–17, 8–8)

Finishing second in the West will be no huge accomplishment, particularly if the rest of the division holds form from a year ago. But the Eagles have the potential to rise above their personnel-challenged brethren, provided they can score more successfully.

The good news is that last year’s two top producers, senior guard Carlos Medlock and junior forward Justin Dobbins, return. Medlock doubles as the team’s main point, although too many minutes there robbed him of his productivity. Redshirt freshman L.J. Frazier, a 5'10" dynamo, will take some of the ball-handling chores from Medlock and make him more effective. Freshman Danny Barnes will help at the 2-spot, while senior Zane Gay scores well close to the hoop.

Dobbins’ return is good news, provided he can cut down on the foul trouble that made him so erratic last year. When on the court, the 6'8" power forward can score inside, though he needs to grab some more rebounds. Sophomore Brandon Bowdry, who was a MAC All-Freshman choice in ’06-07 but missed last year with a stress fracture, is another banger, and senior Wendale Farrow showed he could rebound last year. Look out for 6'8" freshman Branden Harrison, who could grab a starting position, thanks to his size and athletic ability.

3. Toledo (11–19, 7–8)

New coach Gene Cross has some challenges this season, most notably in the post and at point guard, but his reputation as a first-rate recruiter, built while at DePaul, Virginia and Notre Dame, should serve him well going forward. Cross showed his recruiting prowess quickly by adding three newcomers who should help the Rockets immediately. The first is junior college transfer Ed “Boomer” Tucker, who can handle the point duties but also thrive off the ball. Tucker and freshman Larry Bastfield, a good shooter and ball-handler, help the Rockets upgrade the position. Next up is combo man Stephen Albrecht, a proven prep scorer. Finally, 6'10" Ian Salter is a solid post man who can also face up.

Senior Tyrone Kent is back at the wing spot after scoring 16.9 points per game last year, but his shooting must improve. Jonathan Amos is another senior shooting guard who scored well last year (12.1 ppg) but must cut back on the turnovers. Ridley Johnson can hit the three ball, but he was too erratic last year. The same is true for another senior, Anthony Byrd.

Salter, a freshman, will be surrounded by other youngsters inside. Zac Taylor is a 6'9" freshman who thrives in the post, while redshirt freshman Terrance Tubbs has the body (6'5", 220) to bounce some people around down low.

4. Central Michigan (14–17, 8–8)

Given the instability of the Chippewas’ offseason, it’s tough to tell what’s in store for the upcoming campaign. First, super-sized, 6'3", 260-pound swingman Nate Minnoy took his sizeable self (and 8.8 ppg and 3.9 rpg) elsewhere, doing his best to stick with the one-year-per-school plan. (His next stop will be his fourth.) Then, senior big man Marcus Van (5.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), who started 12 times last year, was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. Combine that with the graduation of top scorer Giordan Watson (16.4 ppg), and CMU could be in some serious trouble.

The Chippewas aren’t bereft of talent; it’s just that everyone returning was a complementary part last year. There’s no proven point man, although junior Jordan Bitzer showed some potential last year and shot pretty well, too. Sophomore Jeremy Allen is pretty good off the dribble from the wing, although he’ll have plenty of competition from junior college newcomers Jacolby Hardiman and Antonio Weary, neither of whom is a huge scorer, although both are top-shelf athletes.

Up front, 6'8" senior Chris Kellerman can score inside and out, and 6'9" junior Marko Spica is solid close to the hoop. The 6'7" Van’s return from suspension would help greatly on the boards, as could 6'8" freshman Zach Saylor, a banger inside.

5. Ball State (6–24, 5–11)

The Cardinals have plenty of experience returning, but that didn’t stop Billy Taylor from loading up on the recruiting class. Seven new Cardinals will challenge for work, and with two of the team’s top three scorers gone, they should find plenty. But don’t look for immediate miracles, since all but two newcomers are freshmen, proving Taylor is looking primarily to the long term.

The main man for Ball State will be senior forward Anthony Newell, who averaged 16.9 points last year despite shooting only 40.1 percent from the field. Malik Perry, a 6'4" sophomore wing, is tough inside. Guards Laron Frazier and Brandon Lampley are back for their senior seasons, and while both can score and distribute, neither did so with overwhelming success in ’07-08.

That’s why 5'11" freshman Randy Davis should expect to see plenty of time, after a high-scoring prep career. Junior college import Brawley Chisholm is a fine shooter, and freshman Pierre Sneed is an athletic wing. Up front, expect 6'10" freshman Zach Fields to provide needed rebounding and defense, as should 6'8" junior college vet Eric Wormley. Freshmen Maurice Hubbard and Jarrod Jones can score and board.

6. Northern Illinois (6–22, 3–12)

If you didn’t like last year’s Huskies, don’t worry. This season’s edition is almost all new. NIU has eight recruits and a transfer on its 15-man roster, ensuring some early season confusion among fans and plenty of alchemy work for coach Ricardo Patton. After last year’s 6–22 performance, Patton probably doesn’t mind the mixing-and-matching.

At least last year’s top scorer, sophomore guard Darion Anderson, the ’08 MAC Freshman of the Year, is back, though he must improve his shooting accuracy and cut down on the turnovers. Sophomore Michael Patton, the coach’s son, joins Anderson in the backcourt, but he’ll have to shoot better to avoid losing time to junior college newcomer Jerwin Callaway, an excellent marksman. The point spot should feature an interesting competition between freshmen Keith Smith and Mike Dinunno. Yet another freshman, Bryan Hall, can play both backcourt positions.

Up front, senior Sean Smith can score fairly well close to the bucket. He’ll get help from 6'7" freshman Tyler Storm, an excellent shooter, and Ante Dzepina, a 6'8" junior college pivot.