In all, eight MAC teams (including four with new head coaches) rank in the bottom 18 in returning production. UMass returns to the MAC with a new coach (former Rutgers assistant Joe Harasymiak) and almost no expectations, and four of the bottom five slots in the recent SP+ projections went to MAC teams. There are fewer questions on defense, where Kehres' unit has averaged a 55.0 defensive SP+ ranking over the last three seasons. NIU has averaged a top-40 defensive SP+ ranking over the last two seasons but basically returns 2.5 starters on that side of the ball. Still, Creighton brought in seven defensive transfers (plus four JUCOs) to assure a rebound for a unit that collapsed from 67th to 115th in defensive SP+.