The MAC attack is back at Burton Coliseum.

McNeese State (5-4) hosts its second Mid-American Conference opponent in three days as Central Michigan follows in league rival Toledo’s footsteps to face the Cowboys.

It will be another challenge with the Chippewas (8-1) off to their best start since 1974-75.

“We know that they’re going to be a tough team, just as Toledo was,” said senior forward Desharick Guidry. “We’ll have to come out all together.”

Much of Central Michigan’s damage has been done against no-names like Alma, Concordia and Grand Canyon. But, the Chips served notice their start isn’t an illusion with an 80-67 win at Big Ten opponent Northwestern.

CMU is led by coach Keno Davis, who has experienced most of the highs and lows available to a coach given the relatively short length of his career.

Davis was the Associated Press Coach of the Year in his first year on the job, leading Drake to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 37 years in 2008.

That landed him the job at Providence, where he was fired after going 46-50 in three seasons, 18-36 in the Big East. After spending a season as a TV analyst, Davis took over at Central Michigan in 2012.

Things weren’t pleasant for him in Mount Pleasant, Mich., his first two seasons as the Chippewas won 11 and 10 games respectively. Now, CMU is in position to equal last year’s win total before conference play even starts.

The Cowboys, of course, intend to stand in the way of that goal and bounce back from Saturday’s 83-69 defeat to Toledo.

“We showed spurts (against Toledo) of being a real good team,” said Guidry, who is leading the nation with a streak of eight straight double-doubles. “We need to put it all together as a team and maybe we’ll come out of here with a win.”(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman