The Bracketology Report: Western Michigan

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Editor's note: Each week Bracketology Insider will take an in-depth look at teams headed for the NCAA Tournament ... or not.

Week in review
Streaking Western Michigan (No. 38 RPI, No. 211 SOS) continued to play well last week, posting victories over IPFW (No. 234 RPI, No. 36 SOS) on Wednesday and Eastern Michigan (No. 286 RPI, No. 279 SOS) on Saturday to run its winning streak to 11 straight, the school's longest in 28 years.

In its 77-48 stomping of non-conference (and independent) foe IPFW in Kalamazoo, the Broncos took advantage of a career-high 19 points from reserve senior Reggie Barry, as well as atrocious shooting from the thoroughly outclassed Mastadons. Returning to MAC play with a road game against Eastern Michigan, the Broncos faced what should have been an equally modest test. But in a contest marked by lopsided runs for each team, WMU coughed up nearly all of a 20-point lead before hitting its foul shots to seal the win.

Coming up
Western Michigan visits Kent State (No. 90 RPI, No. 233 SOS) Wednesday night, then opens a three-game home stand which will bring Ball State (No. 126 RPI, No. 98 SOS), Ohio (No. 254 RPI, No. 194 SOS), and Eastern Michigan to Kalamazoo.

East Division-leading Kent will have had a week to stew in the sour juices of its first conference loss, so the Broncos will have to be wary. Ball State is shaping up to be a divisional contender; the Cardinals have played some tough non-conference games and should be stoked for their visit to WMU on Saturday.

Ohio appears to be still finding its way, giving the Broncos a chance next Wednesday to beat up on an East Division foe at home.

"Planting seeds"
The Broncos are No. 30 this week on The Bracketology Report national seeding chart. That should make Western Michigan a No. 8 seed, but because Vanderbilt can't be placed in this bracket position, the Broncos get a permissible bump to No. 7 and manage to sidestep an undesired 8/9 matchup. WMU is the only MAC team in the projected NCAA field at this time.

Western Michigan has won a lot of games, but its own profile is so-so. Its conference's profile is so-so, as well. The Broncos, who also project as an at-large team this week, likely will have to rely on a glittering road/neutral record to avoid dropping too far in the bracket.

Season breakdown (12-1, 5-0)
All RPI data through Monday, Jan. 19

Date      Opponent            Result     Opp.RPI    Opp.SOS
11/21     USC                 83-65        91         48
11/24     @Detroit            43-64 (L)    110        59
12/6      Miami               61-38        146        287
12/13     Fordham             88-67        169        28
12/15     N-UAB               69-62        36         11
12/20     @Loyola             79-61        325        296
12/29     N-Winthrop          76-71        178        224
12/30     @Arizona State      81-76        120        116
1/3       @Akron              83-75        128        108
1/10      @Buffalo            84-54        175        139
1/12      Marshall            88-65        139        73
1/14      IPFW                77-48        234        36
1/17      @Eastern Michigan   72-63        286        279
1/21      @Kent State                      90         233
1/24      Ball State                       126        98
1/28      Ohio                             254        194
1/31      Eastern Michigan                 286        279
2/4       @Central Michigan                260        114
2/7       Bowling Green                    240        281
2/11      @Ball State                      129        98
2/15      @Marshall                        139        73
2/18      Toledo                           81         225
2/21      @Bracket Buster (TBA)
2/25      Central Michigan                 260        114
2/28      @Toledo                          81         225
3/1       @Bowling Green                   240        281
3/6       Northern Illinois                279        303
3/8-13    MAC Tournament

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