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It's hard to give points with a 4-10 team, but in this spot, I will gladly do so with Eastern Michigan. EMU and NIU have both played teams of higher caliber in their preseason tour, and both have sorry records as a result. 4-9 vs 4-10 suggests two teams of equally low ability, but there is a reason that EMU was picked on most preseason boards as a top team in the MAC West, and NIU was picked to finish near the bottom.
Xavier Silas was supposed to be one of 5 seniors starting for NIU, but in the offseason 3 of their top players left the program, and now Silas is the lone star. It shows, as he averages 15 points/game more than any other starter. He is a big, powerful guard, but EMU has the talent and the bodies to double team him.
Conversely, NIU will have no answer for Brandon Bowdry, who is averaging a double/double against much tougher defenses than NIU. These are two teams who rely heavily on a single superstar, but the 6'7, 230 pound Bowdry presents a much greater challenge. EMU is the better team, playing at home, with a rebounding machine in Bowdry. NIU's top rebounder is Nate Rucker, a true freshman, who is going to be gravely outmatched by Bowdry, who was the conference's leading rebounder in his junior year.
Bowdry single-handedly took apart Toledo in the team's first conference matchup, and I look for him to do the same here.
Eastern Michigan -6 Large
Good luck all.
Xavier Silas was supposed to be one of 5 seniors starting for NIU, but in the offseason 3 of their top players left the program, and now Silas is the lone star. It shows, as he averages 15 points/game more than any other starter. He is a big, powerful guard, but EMU has the talent and the bodies to double team him.
Conversely, NIU will have no answer for Brandon Bowdry, who is averaging a double/double against much tougher defenses than NIU. These are two teams who rely heavily on a single superstar, but the 6'7, 230 pound Bowdry presents a much greater challenge. EMU is the better team, playing at home, with a rebounding machine in Bowdry. NIU's top rebounder is Nate Rucker, a true freshman, who is going to be gravely outmatched by Bowdry, who was the conference's leading rebounder in his junior year.
Bowdry single-handedly took apart Toledo in the team's first conference matchup, and I look for him to do the same here.
Eastern Michigan -6 Large
Good luck all.
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