At Kent State, Ford Hopes to Make Simpson a Star

KENT, Ohio – Wednesday night’s Bowling Green-Kent State game was the first time I’d seen BG in the Louis Orr era, in fact the first time since fairly early in the “Dakich Administration” (and no, I don’t much care for their current Brown uniforms). I had seen Kent State, the preseason favorite in the MAC’s Eastern Division, twice before in this Coach Geno Ford’s inaugural season. Sitting on press row next to a Kent administrator last night, I whispered that play appears down in the MAC from my short tenure with Dakich ten years ago, that BG has nobody on this year’s team like Antonio Daniels, Anthony Stacy or Keith McLeod, and that Kent State has no one the likes of Trevor Huffmann, Demetric Shaw or Antonio Gates. Clearly a fan of major conference basketball (and specifically Duke), that administrator made the case that college ball is down everywhere, implying that result to be the trickle down effect of so many prep players and underclassmen turning pro. The major programs have to take lesser, as do the mid-majors, low-majors, and so on. And I agree. And as a result, Ivy teams this decade remind me of Division III teams when I coached at that level in the early 80s.

But that wasn’t the whole story. Back in the 90s, the MAC was viewed as a strong and improving basketball conference, the best in the Midwest short of the Big Ten (and head and shoulders above the Horizon, then called the Midwestern Collegiate Conference). So good, in fact, that BG’s Antonio Daniels was – apparently – overrated in the 1997 draft, made the fourth pick overall by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. So good that there was little dispute that Jim Larranaga’s move from BG to George Mason in the spring of 1997 was a downward move. (To Larranaga’s credit, his 11+ years at Mason constitute a primary reason why the Colonial Athletic Association, like the Horizon, is now clearly above the MAC.)

With those observations as a backdrop, it was hardly surprising – and must be attributed to way more than home-court advantage – that in the battle of preseason MAC and Horizon League favorites earlier this season, Cleveland State beat Kent State 67-41, and the Vikings looked like they could name the final score.

Last on this, in sports as in life it often takes excruciatingly long for change to be recognized. For that reason, the MAC still convenes each year for a “big-time” conference tournament at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, while the Horizon has yet to “go public,” preferring to play tournament games at separate venues, hosted by higher seeds (and that’s only after protecting the first two seeds with that awful double-bye).

All of that said, the games are still played, and traditional rivalries respected. Perhaps the biggest these last ten years in the MAC’s Eastern Division is that between Miami and Kent State, which will be renewed this Saturday in Kent. Here’s hoping both Kent State-Miami games are great ones in this final season for Miami’s fine coach, Charlie Coles.

Coming into last night’s game against Bowling Green, we all knew what Ford had in his backcourt. Undersized senior second guard Al Fisher was last year’s Player of the Year in the conference, having averaged 14 points (over 16 in conference play), 4 assists, nearly 1.5 steals, and a remarkable 4 rebounds. This year he’s at 15 points, nearly 4 assists, nearly 2 steals, and 3 boards. Three inches bigger, stronger, and a better shooter, much-traveled former big-time recruit Tyree Evans joined Fisher in the backcourt in mid-December, and is averaging 17 points, and shooting 46 percent both in front of and behind the arc. 6-4 broad-shouldered junior Chris Singletary is more of a point guard than the aforementioned Fisher and Evans, like Fisher averages nearly 4 assists, scores 14, grabs 4 rebounds, and is the acknowledged team leader. (Ford calls Singletary “another coach in the huddle.”)

But the forward positions have been more problematic, with 6-9, 270-pound junior Brandon Parks often too low and too slow to help offensively, or on the boards. Lefty senior Julian Sullinger has proven clever near the goal, but while stout he’s closer to 6-3 than to his listed 6-5, and as his coach acknowledged often “too short to grab lots of rebounds.”

Enter newcomer and junior Anthony Simpson, a transfer from Illinois’ Highland Community College. Simpson can run and jump and looked more like a real basketball player than any other forward in the gym last night. This will make the point: I’d seen two of their games from start to finish before last night, had committed the names of six Kent State players to memory, and Simpson wasn’t any of the six. All I knew about him was that there was a JUCO transfer who split time with Sullinger at the power forward spot, who seemed to be taking a few minutes away from Julian, though apparently is more productive off the bench than as a starter. In Sunday’s loss at Ohio opening Kent’s conference season Simpson had played a total of six minutes, missed the only shot he’d attempted, and pulling down just one rebound.

He came into the BG game having started four of Kent’s 15 previous games, averaging 19 minutes, six points, and six boards (actually, six boards in 19 minutes is a terrific total; as a result of watching Cleveland State’s George Tandy, this writer has started to love the phrase – and the statistic I can’t find anywhere for the college game – “rebounds per minute played”). Ford said that he held Simpson to just six minutes at Ohio Sunday because “he couldn’t sustain playing competitively over any more minutes.”

In last night’s first half, Ford played Simpson 13 minutes, playing him more than previously along with Sullinger, largely in place of Parks due to Parks’ two early fouls. Simpson managed to contribute offensively near the goal, scoring eight in that half, on 3-4 shooting. But rather inauspiciously, Simpson managed a total of zero rebounds during those 13 first-half minutes. Combined with just one rebound for Sullinger in 16 first-half minutes, Kent State boasted a total of one rebound from the forward positions for the entire half. As a team BG out-rebounded KSU 23-14 in the half, grabbing 11 offensive boards to Kent’s nine defensive boards, and at halftime the game was tied at 33.

Then a new player came out of the locker room at halftime wearing uniform no. 21, and in a his best half of the season Simpson dominated the paint, scoring another eight points (on 4-6 shooting) and grabbing seven big rebounds. Kent State won the boards in that second half by four, and won on the scoreboard by 24, finishing with a convincing 72-48 win. Fisher contributed 23 points (many in the second half of the second half, after the issue was decided), but the story of the game was Simpson. And not a moment too soon with Miami in town Saturday.

I asked Ford what he said to Simpson at halftime to elicit that kind of play, and he responded only half-kiddingly that “Anthony may not have understood a word I said at halftime.” But Ford acknowledged that he needed that kind of game – that kind of half – from Simpson desperately, that to compete with the better teams in the MAC he needs Simpson to build on that performance, and live up to his “big, strong, athletic body.” And if he does, with the three quality guards we all know about, maybe this Kent group will be good enough to win the Eastern Division this down year in the MAC, maybe even win the MAC Tournament, and in post-season (the NCAA Tournament if they win the conference tourney), just maybe be good enough to give some team from another mid-major conference, one that’s passed the MAC in recent years, a run for its money. At least, that’s Ford’s plan.

A Big East and A-10 Hoops Day with Rocks and Ducks

STORRS, CT – Today’s task was to evaluate Rhode Island’s Ryan Center and UConn’s Gampel Pavilion. In addition, I was hoping to get enough material to write some kind of game story.

It was perfect. Akron, a very good MAC team with a coach that always gives me a good quote, coming in to try to steal a win from a strong Rams team from the A-10. That Mid-Major struggle was the early game.

The night cap was the Huskies taking on Big East foe, Rutgers. Sounds like a simple operation. Take care of the URI/Akron game then drive a little over an hour and knock out the late game.

Holy crap, did that plan go south in a hurry.

First off, the Rhode Island women played before the men and that game moved at the pace of some Post Office workers. The men’s game concluded with the Rams pounding Akron.

After the game I finish writing my evaluation then I stuck around and started to get some post-game comments and finally figured out it would take too long. I needed to get on the road to UConn.

The Rhode Island campus in Kinston is a good 10 miles on two-lane roads from I-95. It took me 20 minutes just to get to the highway and the whole trip is supposed to take 75 minutes.

After reaching I-95, it was a 25 mile drive down to the exit to start the cross country journey to Storrs.

I missed the turn off and it took me about 20 minutes to get turned around. Then it was too dark in my car to read the directions without pulling over to stop under a light, which I did every five minutes.

I finally asked a woman coming out of a gas station where UConn was from where we were. She knew, but explaining it to me in concise way was not something she could do easily.

She said, “Drive down this road until you get to the big rocks and turn right, then follow the signs.”

Of course, I wanted to know how far down it was and she explained she was not very good at miles.

So I asked how about in driving time. She thought for a few moments and said, “Drive for maybe 20 minutes.”

I then inquired as to what these rocks looked like.

“Not rocks, ducks! It is big ducks”

I said ducks and she said it back to me, only it still sounded a little like she was saying rocks.

So I said ducks again and she said something I could not understand but I thought it was either rocks or maybe ducks. I just couldn’t make it out for sure. I thanked her and proceeded to drive looking for some either big rocks or ducks.

After about 18 minutes I spotted a bridge that had big columns with big stone or cement ducks on top of them. So I guess she said ducks.

There was a sign for UConn and I went in the direction the sign was pointing and 10 miles later the campus appeared. I had no idea where the arena was located but I saw a line of cars and I figured it was in that direction.

So I decided to out-flank those cars by driving around the outside of the campus and coming in the back. I got around the back and there was a line of cars and I got in it. After about 10 minutes I inched up to a policeman and asked him where to find my correct parking lot.

In between directing cars he yelled out, “Up the hill and to the right.”

That was about as concise as telling me to turn at the duck or rock.

Thirty minutes later I inched up to Gumpel and there were no policemen, parking lot attendants or anyone that looked official.

There was a huge line of cars turning in next to the arena, so that looked like where I could park. If it was the wrong lot, I felt pretty confident I could talk my way in for free. I have done that earlier today at Rhode Island, at Butler several million times, UNC, NCSU, UGA, Maryland and a bunch more over the years.

But while I still about 150 feet away someone came out with a couple of barrels and closed off that parking area off to the right of the arena. To make it worse, he walked away.

Now there was nobody to talk into letting me park. I drove around outside the perimeter of the campus again and parked on the street about a mile from Gampel Pavilion and started walking toward the general direction of the arena.

I decided to shave some time off by cutting between two dorms. It was like a maze of dorms. I walked toward my right then back toward my left around another building and then right again and finally left around one more building and then I saw a fence.

That maze came to an abrupt end and I never found the cheese. I just walked 300 yards out of my way in 20 degree cold.

I was boiling mad at this point.

I finally got to Gampel and I was on the opposite side of the building from the gate I was supposed to enter. I walked around the whole building able to see inside the seating bowl each time I passed one of the three gates I had to go by before I got to the west gate.

I walked in still hopping mad and a guard told me I couldn’t bring a case into the building and that I should take it out to my car. You know, that car that is over a mile away on the other side of the maze of dorms.

I informed him it was my computer. He wanted to know why I had a computer. I told him so I could write about this crappy campus and piece of crap arena.

He said, “Oh, I thought you were a fan” I let him know that sports writers could be fat pigs too.

When I got in there was about six minutes left in the first half. I waited until half time and set my computer up. It took me one of the media people 15 minutes to figure how to get me logged on the wireless internet.

At this point I am a broken man. I have a lot of words to write and not much game left to do it.

So let’s see what we have here.

The Rams just took apart Akron. Rhode Island shot 55.8 percent (29-52) for the game and 57 percent from beyond the 3-point line (8-14).

Akron shot just 35 percent for the game and not a single Zip scored in double figures. Rhode Island’s strong defense had a lot to do with how poorly Akron played.

In the night cap, Connecticut beat the tar out of Rutgers 80-49. Rutgers shot just 28.8 percent (15-52) for the game UConn was big and fast. When they pulled down a rebound they shot out a quick pass and they were off to the races

Rhode Island against UConn might have been a better game today

And now for the arena comments.

Gampel Pavilion opened in 1989 and it is pretty underwhelming for a school from a Big Six Conference. It is not a dump, it is well kept, it is just the bare minimum in terms of a basketball venue.

It is a cement structure with a walkway around the inside of the seating bowl and that separates the upper seating section from the lower seating section. The upper seats on the ends are plastic bleachers and the rest are plastic chair backs. There is no outer concourse or lobby. In the four corners on the walkway level there are some concession stands that serve food. The score boards are attached to the wall above the seats. They are standard boards with video boards and player stats. I guess they don’t put more money and effort into making it nice because they play a fair number of games every year at the XL Center in Hartford and that is much bigger. The crowds at Gampel are big time. It holds 8000 and 2000 plus each game are screaming students. It is loud and intimidating.

Now Rhode Island built a much nicer arena. Ryan Center opened in 2002 with a thrilling overtime over USC.

It has a lower seating area with padded seats on the sides and upper seating consisting of plastic chairs with a beautiful carpeted concourse that runs under the upper seating section. The seats go up, rather than out, so the sightlines from the top row are great. It seats 7657 and every seat is a chair back.

Rhode island has pretty good parking nearby and they don’t charge to park I don’t think they have a maze of dorms either.

They just need more fans, it was at most, half-filled today.

So that is my East Coast swing for this year. Any day I can get two games in is a good day even with ducks, mazes and traffic jams.

Hey! Shouldn’t there be a cigar in this story?

Mid-American Preview

Mid-American Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

In the Mid-American Conference, multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament remain elusive. Last season, Kent State looked to have the resume to get an at-large bid, but the Golden Flashes won the conference tournament and were the only team to advance. The conference remained well-represented elsewhere, as Akron advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT and Miami received a bid to the College Basketball Invitational.

The end result masks the excellent basketball in this conference year in and year out. One might say it’s an innocent victim of the tendency to judge how good a conference is by the number of NCAA Tournament teams it produces, a questionable basis to be sure. The conference consistently has multiple teams that win over 20 games and picks up some good non-conference wins, but it’s rare that one or two teams dominate and pull away from the pack with the kind of resume that looks like that of an NCAA Tournament team.

As was the case last year, the strength appears to be in the East Division. In this case, the strength isn’t noticeable at the top so much as the bottom, as Bowling Green and Buffalo should be significantly improved, while the bottom teams last year in the West are in rebuilding mode. That could change before long, but for this season at least the East should reign supreme once again.

Three schools have new coaches this season, with two coming as a result of a coach leaving for another head coaching job. Kent State promoted Geno Ford to the top job, succeeding Jim Christian after he left to take over at TCU. Ohio hired John Groce to lead the program after Tim O’Shea took the head coaching job at Bryant University. Toledo fired Stan Joplin after the season, replacing him with former Notre Dame assistant Gene Cross.

Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Al Fisher, Kent State
Top Newcomer: Julian Mavunga, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Amos, Toledo
Best NBA Prospect: Al Fisher, Kent State

All-MAC Team
Michael Bramos, Sr. G-F, Miami
Al Fisher, Sr. G, Kent State
David Kool, Jr. G, Western Michigan
Carlos Medlock, Sr. G, Eastern Michigan
Jerome Tillman, Sr. F, Ohio

East Division

Kent State Golden Flashes (28-7, 13-3 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Al Fisher (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. G Jordan Mincy (2.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg)
Jr. G Chris Singletary (10.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. F Rashad Woods (5.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Jr. F Anthony Simpson (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: Not surprisingly, the Golden Flashes play a challenging non-conference slate, but also include eight home games. Highlighting the home games are Saint Mary’s (return from last year’s BracketBusters) and another BracketBusters game, and they’ll also host UNC Wilmington before traveling south for the remainder of the South Padre Island Invitational. Notable road games include Kansas, Horizon favorite Cleveland State and Temple. In MAC play, they have a stretch where they play five of seven on the road, with Western Michigan by far the toughest game. They get Ball State and Northern Illinois on the road only as inter-division games go.
Outlook: The Golden Flashes may have a new leader in Geno Ford, but this is a solid program and Ford was with the team as an assistant beforehand. Add to that the talent and experience in the backcourt, led by reigning Player of the Year Fisher and mates Mincy and Singletary, and you have the favorite in the conference once again. Woods has never played up to his billing coming out of high school, but has one more chance, and Simpson should anchor the inside. This team isn’t as deep up front with the personnel losses, so repeating their positive rebounding margin may not come easily. But the backcourt experience will help them navigate a tough non-conference schedule and the always challenging conference slate. This is a solid team as part of a solid program, and a coaching change isn’t going to alter that.

Miami RedHawks (17-16, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Kenny Hayes (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Sr. G-F Eric Pollitz (5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G-F Michael Bramos (16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. F-C Tyler Dierkers (6.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg)
Fr. F Julian Mavunga
Schedule Highlights: As is usually the case, the RedHawks’ non-conference schedule features some good challenges. They open in Los Angeles in the 2K Sports Classic with Weber State and could then face UCLA. They also have road games at Pittsburgh, Horizon contender Wright State, Xavier, Temple, West Virginia and Dayton, as well as a BracketBusters game. Only three non-conference games are at home, all in a row: Northwestern State (who they also play on the road), UW-Milwaukee and Valparaiso. Four of their first six MAC games are at home.
Outlook: Although Tim Pollitz is gone, the RedHawks have plenty returning in Charlie Coles’ final season before he calls it a career, and again have recruited well. Bramos will lead the way, with Hayes a good scorer and Eric Pollitz a fine blender as the other guard. Where they’ll miss the elder Pollitz is in the frontcourt, but Dierkers is solid and Mavunga could be the conference’s top freshman. They also have plenty of other bodies up front that are capable, like sophomores Dwight McCombs and Nick Winbush. The frontcourt is the place of most concern since they were out-rebounded last season, while they turned the ball over less than any other MAC team. The RedHawks play good defense and solid basketball, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are able to close Coles’ career out on a high note.

Bowling Green Falcons (13-17, 7-9 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Joe Jakubowski (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Sr. G-F Darryl Clements (7.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Nate Miller (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg)
So. F Chris Knight (10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Jr. C Marc Larson (4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Falcons’ non-conference schedule includes six home games, one of which is a BracketBusters game. The most notable of them is against Fordham to close out the non-conference slate. They open with three games in the NABC Classic in Minneapolis, with two tough ones to start in Colonial contender Georgia State and host Minnesota, then later have road dates with Ohio State and Missouri Valley contender Illinois State. Three of the first four MAC games are at home.
Outlook: The Falcons might be the sleeper team in the conference, as Louis Orr has quickly put this team in a position to contend and returns all 10 letterwinners from last season and has a redshirt returning. They are strong up front, with Miller leading a good unit that led the conference in blocked shots last season, led by Larson. Knight had a nice freshman season and looks to be en route to a nice career, and sophomores Otis Polk and Cameron Madlock both have nice potential, especially Madlock as he matures, and they also get back Eric Marschall after he had to redshirt last season. The perimeter is solid and unspectacular, with Jakubowski capably running the show and Clements and senior Brian Moten being the primary scorers on the wing. Moten could start, but had a fine year coming off the bench and thus will likely stay in that role. Though the Falcons led the MAC in blocked shots, they were out-rebounded last season. But their overall defense is good, as they were second in field goal percentage defense. Orr has this program already going in the right direction, and they could be contending as early as this season.

Ohio Bobcats (20-13, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Michael Allen (4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg)
Fr. G Stacey Waters
Sr. F Justin Orr (6.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. F Jerome Tillman (13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Jr. C Kenneth van Kempen (2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate features five home games and has plenty of challenges. They host Tulsa in early December, then close out the non-conference slate with three straight at home that includes Patriot League stalwarts Holy Cross and Bucknell. Road games include early ones at Ohio Valley contender Austin Peay and George Mason, three games in the Marques Maybin Classic at Louisville, Xavier, Colonial contender Delaware, and rapidly improving Marshall. The Bobcats will also go on the road for a BracketBusters game.
Outlook: After Tim O’Shea left to return to New England, the Bobcats hired John Groce, who had been ticketed for a head coaching job for a few years. He’ll inherit a tem with some good veterans and incoming talent, although a clear complement to Tillman doesn’t exist right away. Tillman will anchor the inside alongside van Kempen, who has shown promise in his first two seasons, and Orr is athletic and could break out to be the primary complement offensively. Allen very capably runs the show, while Waters is a solid shooter with an improved game off the dribble. Freshmen Steven Coleman and Frankie Dobbs could also see minutes there, as could holdover Tommy Freeman. With the departure of Leon Williams, they’ll be hard-pressed to post the second-best rebounding margin in the conference again, so it’ll be up to the guards to improve and grow up fast.

Akron Zips (24-11, 11-5 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Steve McNees (5.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. G Darryl Roberts (3.9 ppg)
Sr. F Nate Linhart (8.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. F Chris McKnight (6.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
So. C Mike Bardo (1.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Zips play six home games in non-conference play, opening with Canisius and Big South favorite Winthrop. They also host a game in the Legends Classic after opening at Pittsburgh, and later host Dayton. Other highlights of the slate include road games with MAAC contender Niagara, Colonial favorite VCU and Rhode Island, as well as a BracketBusters game. MAC play opens with three of four on the road, but a stretch with three of four at home immediately follows. They also got a break in inter-division games, getting Western Michigan and Central Michigan both at home only.
Outlook: The Zips appear to be in for a rebuilding year, but they have some players to start rebuilding around and a deep class of freshmen that they will have to tap into right away. Linhart is one of just two seniors on this team, and he’ll help lead a team that may start three sophomores. McNees and Roberts are the most experienced guards on the roster and could be pushed by four freshmen, especially point guard Anthony Hitchens. Chris McKnight and brother Brett will see time alongside Linhart, and Bardo will need to contribute more with increased minutes or give way to freshman Steve Swiech. Only two teams turned the ball over less than the Zips last season, something which they would do well to repeat if they want to keep up the good run they have going.

Buffalo Bulls (10-20, 3-13 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Byron Mulkey (6.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Sr. G Andy Robinson (13.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.8 spg)
Sr. G-F Greg Gamble (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.4 spg)
So. F Jawaan Alston (3.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Sr. C Vadim Fedotov (5.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg in 14 games)
Schedule Highlights: All five of the Bulls’ non-conference home games come right in a row at the end of November and start of December. Included are games with MAAC contender Niagara, Temple and Connecticut. The Bulls will hit the road for games at MAAC favorite Siena, a BracketBusters game, and three games in the Rainbow Classic. MAC play starts with four of six on the road, with the two home games being tough ones against Ohio and Kent State.
Outlook: The Bulls have more experience this time around and five starters returning, but still plenty of questions up front. The perimeter is fine, although Robinson was suspended during the off-season after posting a message on social networking site Facebook offering to pay someone to read a book and write a paper on questions that were assigned with it. Gamble is a solid do-everything wing and Mulkey is a capable floor leader. There is good depth, with junior Calvin Betts the first player off the bench and classmates Sean Smiley and Rodney Pierce in the mix as well. Betts could start for some teams in this conference. Alston played well at the end of last season, and the hope is that he carries it into this season. Fedotov will be coming back from a torn ACL and Kambi Laleye has shown some promise, but newcomers Mitchell Watt and Titus Robinson could push both. The Bulls led the conference in scoring last season, but did so while shooting just over 41 percent from the field, worse than all but two MAC teams. That negated the impact of forcing more turnovers than all but one team, although they also gave the ball back often. Improved efficiency at the offensive end will go a long way towards moving up in the standings.

West Division

Western Michigan Broncos (20-12, 12-4 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G David Kool (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Sr. G Shawntes Gary (8.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Sr. G Michael Redell (4.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Fr. F Flenard Whitfield
Jr. C Donald Lawson (2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in non-conference play, including a BracketBusters game. The Broncos will open the season in the Charleston Classic against TCU, then either Clemson or Hofstra in the second of three games. The toughest road games will be at VCU, UNLV and Southern Illinois. In inter-division MAC games, they get Kent State and Ohio at home only, but will have to travel to Oxford for the lone meeting with Miami.
Outlook: With the departure of Joe Reitz and complement Andrew Hershberger, the Broncos figure to be much more perimeter-oriented this season. That should suit them fine since they return an excellent duo in Kool and Gary, with a good complement in floor leader Redell. There’s good depth as well with Andre Ricks as the main holdover and a couple of freshmen who could get some minutes. Whitfield looks to be the best freshman, and he along with Muhammed Conteh could get a lot of minutes right away. Lawson is the main holdover up front and has a chance to be a good inside presence, which is the main thing they will need with the offense the guards will supply. There is additional size among the newcomers with 6’11″ LaMarcus Lowe and seven-footer Luke Adaline. The Broncos led the conference in field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin last season, and repeating the latter is likely to be a challenge. More importantly, they will need to cut down on turnovers after having 117 more of those than assists last season. The division isn’t very strong, so it should be theirs to lose barring a series of injuries and/or off-court issues this season.

Central Michigan Chippewas (14-17, 8-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Robbie Harman (5.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg)
So. G Jeremy Allen (7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Jordan Bitzer (8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.6 spg)
Sr. F Chris Kellerman (7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Fr. F Zach Saylor
Schedule Highlights: The Chippewas have six home games in their non-conference schedule, plus a game against Robert Morris at The Palace in Auburn Hills. The most notable home games are against Horizon contender Wright State, Missouri Valley contender Illinois State, and a BracketBusters game. They also have an unusual exhibition game on January 5 against Northwood. The Chippewas will hit the road to take on Marquette and Kentucky. After opening MAC play at home against Western Michigan, the slate gets very tough: five of the next seven are on the road. They could get off to a tough start to rebound from, even though they have five of the next seven MAC games are at home (the BracketBusters game is mixed in).
Outlook: Expectations were very high for the Chippewas last season, and they never lived up to them. But Ernie Ziegler has the program on a course of improvement, and though Giordan Watson isn’t a small loss, there is some good talent still around. The question on the perimeter is who becomes a floor leader, as Allen and Bitzer can score while Harman was a good reserve that will have to adjust to playing more. Kellerman leads a frontcourt that has a good addition in Saylor, who might now get to start since senior Marcus Van was thrown off the team in late October for a violation of team rules. The Chippewas were one of the worst defensive teams last season despite forcing the most turnovers in the MAC, and they were also out-rebounded.

Eastern Michigan Eagles (14-17, 8-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Carlos Medlock (14.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G Tyler Jones (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Sr. F Wendale Farrow (3.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
So. F Brandon Bowdry (redshirt)
Jr. F Justin Dobbins (10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Eagles will play six non-conference home games, highlighted by a visit from Atlantic 10 contender Temple and a BracketBusters game. Early on, they will play two games in Purdue in the NIT Season Tip-Off, starting with the Boilermakers, then later head to Michigan and Illinois. MAC play begins with two at home, but with inter-division games they didn’t get help in having to play Kent State and Ohio on the road only.
Outlook: Although the Eagles return three starters, they may not have enough complementing Medlock to seriously contend. Medlock is one of the conference’s top players, as he carried the team often last year. Dobbins is a fine complement, but after that the pickings get slimmer. Farrow is the only other returning starter and should be a little better after adjusting from junior college. If Jones can’t hold down the other guard spot, freshman Danny Barnes could grab it instead. Some defensive improvement would certainly help, as just three MAC teams forced fewer turnovers and the Eagles also allowed opponents to shoot over 36 percent from long range last season.

Toledo Rockets (11-19, 7-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jonathan Amos (12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.6 spg)
Sr. G Ridley Johnson (8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Sr. G Anthony Byrd (4.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Sr. G-F Tyrone Kent (16.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg)
So. F Mohamed Lo (1.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Rockets play five home games in their non-conference schedule, highlighted by visits from three Atlantic 10 schools (UMass, Dayton and Rhode Island) and Houston. They open the season at Florida in the CBE Classic, which then takes them to Miami for three more games after a trip to Cincinnati to play Xavier. They’ll also hit the road to take on America East contender UMBC, Horizon contender Wright State and Colonial contender Delaware, as well as a BracketBusters game.
Outlook: New head coach Gene Cross won’t be starting from scratch with this crew, as he inherits a team with four senior starters and all are on the perimeter. Leading the way is Kent, a solid scorer who isn’t selfish, and Amos can run the show and tied for seventh in the nation in steals last season. Johnson is a steady player and always a threat from long range, and Byrd is the complement to the other three. For good measure, their best freshman is a guard in Stephen Albrecht. But where they may need a freshman or two to help is up front, as sophomores Lo and Justin Anyijong didn’t do much last season, although Anyijong mainly needs to gain strength. Zac Taylor and Ian Salter could push both of them, especially since each offers more size. There are several areas for improvement, and a couple won’t come easily as they had the worst rebounding margin and have much of last season’s team back that lacks proven size, and they were also last in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense.

Ball State Cardinals (6-24, 5-11 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Brandon Lampley (4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Sr. G Rob Giles (2.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
So. F Malik Perry (6.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Sr. F Anthony Newell (16.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Fr. F Jarrod Jones
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in non-conference play, highlighted by visits from Purdue and Saint Joseph’s, as well as a BracketBusters game. The toughest road games will be at Butler and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and UC Santa Barbara doesn’t figure to be a cakewalk as well. In MAC inter-division games, they get Kent State and Ohio at home only and Miami and Akron on the road.
Outlook: After the bad ending to the Ronny Thompson era, most figured Billy Taylor’s first season in Muncie would be a very difficult one, and the record just about matched expectations. This season won’t be much better, but there are some building blocks in Perry and Jones to start with. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if a couple of newcomers, Maurice Hubbard and Randy Davis, grab a lot of minutes or even start in the backcourt. Newell joins Perry in the frontcourt and should anchor the front line, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to lead the conference in scoring or rebounding. Only Toledo shot the ball worse or was out-rebounded by a wider margin than the Cardinals last season, so there are a couple of areas for a lot of improvement. To their credit, the Cardinals turned the ball over less than all but one MAC team last season, and if they do that again they will get plenty of chance to shoot the ball better.

Northern Illinois Huskies (6-22, 3-12 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Michael Patton (6.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
So. G Darion Anderson (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Fr. G-F Dominique Johnson
Fr. F Tyler Storm
So. C Sean Kowal (transfer from Colorado)
Schedule Highlights: With just three home games on tap in non-conference play, the Huskies will be on the road often. They open in the 100 Club Classic, hosted by Kennesaw State, then close November in the Great Alaska Shootout. The big game in December is a visit to Air Force. Three of the first five MAC games are at home, and the inter-division games are basically a wash as they get Kent State and Akron at home only and Ohio and Miami only on the road.
Outlook: Ricardo Patton’s second season should bring some improvement, but it probably won’t come quickly since the Huskies figure to play newcomers heavily. Anderson and Patton were thrown into the fire last season, and that should help them now that they have a year under their belts. Johnson and Storm are solid additions, the latter being a nice face-up forward with a good touch from long range that can lead to some matchup problems. Kowal is the team’s tallest player and gives them a much-needed injection of size, as no one else is taller than 6’8″. With so many newcomers slated to play a lot of minutes, it’s tough to figure out how this team will look later in the season and at the end, although it’s not a bad bet that the number of wins will be in single digits once again.

Conference Outlook

Although the conference is sure to be quite competitive as usual, with no clear favorites, there is a pattern emerging. Kent State has become a contender every year, as has Western Michigan in the West Division, and one could also put Miami and Ohio in that category as well. The Golden Flashes and Broncos are favored in their divisions again, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Miami came out on top. Bowling Green is the sleeper, and Akron could surprise if their young talent comes around in time. As has been the case for a while, the East looks to be better than the West, although Central Michigan’s improvement and Toledo hiring Gene Cross, who can recruit the Midwest very well, could have the West challenging the East before long.

MAC Tournament Semifinals

MAC Semifinals

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – For second time in two days Akron has exacted some revenge against a team that beat them earlier in the season.

Tonight it was Western Michigan that felt the revenge wrath of the Zips as they fell to Akron 73-62.

In a game where Akron (23-9) consistently led and led by double digits starting at the end of the first half, it came down to the Zips’ strong shooting performance. Akron shot a blazing 58.7 percent (27-46) from the field versus 44.7 percent (21-47) for Western Michigan (20-12).

“I think we were able to shoot the ball well. One of the things coach emphasized was sharing the ball. I feel we didn’t run as many plays as we have because we were able to pass the ball around,” said Akron’s Chris Knight.

Akron coach Keith Dambrot thought his team turned up the intensity to pull out the win.

“We matched their intensity,” Dambrot said with a smile after the game.

Another key for the Zips was containing Western Michigan’s David Kool, who scored 24 points in yesterday’s win against Eastern Michigan. Akron managed to hold him under 50 percent (6-13) for the game, although he still got 17 points.

“We used a variety of people (on Kool), mostly (Nate) Linhart, who is very long. I thought the length bothered him,” explained Dambrot. “He gets a lot of points around the rim and at the line. I think Linhart gave him a little more trouble than he’s used to.”

The game started out with Akron’s Cedrick Middleton hitting a three-pointer at the 19:37 mark and the Zips never trailed in the game. Akron finally pushed the lead out to double digits at the 6:32 mark when Chris Mc Knight put in a layup to make it 25-15.

By the half Akron pushed their lead to 13 points at 37-24.

In the second half, the Broncos didn’t cut Akron’s lead to single digits until the 1:31 mark when Kool hit a three-pointer to make it 67-59. The Zips pushed the lead back to 11 by the end of the game at 73-62.

“They shot lights out. It was just too much for us to overcome,” said Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins. “We showed a lot of fight in the second half, but every time we came back they hit big shots.”

Miami/Kent State

Does history repeat itself? Miami attempted to answer that question in the semifinals against Kent State.

With 2 seconds left Miami inbounded the ball in front of their bench and got the ball to their ace, Tim Pollitz. He got it in the lane, about five feet from the basket, twisted, shot it and it bounced off the rim, and Kent State held on 49-47.

It was just a year ago that Doug Penno hit the game-winner against Akron as time expired to punch Miami’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

But tonight it was not to be for Miami.

With 34 seconds remaining in the game Miami’s Kenny Hayes put in a layup to tie the game 47-47.

After a Kent State (27-6) timeout, they began working the ball around the perimeter and they finally got it to Al Fisher. He drove down the lane, spun to his right and shot a floater over the out-stretched hand of Tyler Dierkers to put Kent State up 49-47 and that was stake the landed in Miami’s heart.

Fisher said he just was looking to get any shot when he got the game winner.

“We were just looking to get a shot up,” said the junior guard. “It’s easier when your coach and teammates have a lot of trust in you. It takes off a lot of the pressure.”

Miami actually out-shot Kent State 42.2 percent (19-45) to 35.8 percent (19-53) but Kent State coach Jim Christian thought it was experience and maintaining intensity that did the trick.

“We’ve been in many of these situations before. We’ve won many close games,” he said. “There is something to be said of the will to win. You have to be intense the whole time.”

Miami (17-15) scored the first basket a little over two minutes into the game on a layup by Hayes to go up 2-0. Aside from a brief one-point lead a little over two minutes later, Kent State led the whole first half and went into halftime up 25-23.

The second half was more back and forth with the biggest lead being four by the Golden Flashes at the 4:25 mark on a jumper by Rodriquez Sherman. The game was tied 12 times and there were nine lead changes.

A tired acting Miami coach Jermaine Henderson thought his team played hard and just came up short.

“I think we played hard and left it all out there,” he said after the game. The right guy got a shot off but it came up a little short.”

Notes

• I mentioned yesterday that Keith Dambrot is a great coach; he is also entertaining to watch during the game. His favorite position on the sidelines is bent over with his hands on his knees; with his tie hanging down like an outfielder waiting for the pitch to be delivered. Sometimes he runs the length of the bench clapping his hands. Bottom line, if you take a look over at the Akron bench there is a good chance Drambot will entertain you.
• Yesterday I ranked Ohio’s dance team as the best looking team in the MAC. Upon further review I would rank Western Michigan’s as number two and Akron’s as number three. There you have it, the MAC Hot Dance Team rankings.
• Former Miami great and current Cleveland Cavalier Wally Szczerbiak was in attendance for the Miami/Kent State game, sitting in the front row across from the Miami bench.
• The clock crew has had a tough tournament. They have consistently screwed up starting and stopping the clock at the proper time. I hope this is not the crew that works the clock for the Cavaliers’ games.

MAC Finals Recap

MAC Final Recap

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – It came down to two nearby rivals and a packed Quicken Loans Arena in the Mid-American Conference Championship, but in the end the No. I seed pounded the No. 3 seed as Kent State cruised by Akron 74-55.

Kent State (28-6) was the dominant team in the MAC this year and the Golden Flashes dominated Akron by almost every measure.

They out-shot Akron (23-10) from the field 50.9 percent (27-53) to 30.8 percent (18-52) and from the foul line 88.9 percent (16-18) to 54.3 percent (18-33). Both teams shot poorly from three-point land, but the Golden Flashes won that one, too, 33 percent (4-12) to 27.7 percent (5-22). Kent State also out-rebounded the Zips 36-27.

This year Kent State won the East Division title, they had the player of the year, the coach of the year and the best defensive player, Haminn Quaintance, who was chosen tournament MVP. Tonight he scored 16 points, pulled down six rebounds and had a blocked shot.

Kent State has an RPI of 21 and most likely would have been in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happened tonight. This game was probably for seeding purposes and the Golden Flashes made their case in convincing fashion.

For the second straight year, the Zips saw their Big Dance dreams shattered as they again lost in the championship game. Last year it was a buzzer-beater by Miami’s Doug Penno that sunk them.

It was a relatively tight game until Akron hit a dry spell toward the end of the first half that allowed Kent State to close out the first half on a 16-1 run that sent the Zips into the locker room at halftime down 13 points at 33-20.

In fact, a dry spell is putting it mildly. Akron went the final 7:46 without scoring, missing their last nine shots and three free throws to end the half.

Akron coach Keith Dambrot thought that his team’s poor shooting hurt them at the other end of the court.

“I think our offensive performance affected our defense,” said Dambrot. “I think we got inside on them better than we ever have. We got it at point-blank range, we just couldn’t make it, which is difficult.”

“We just wanted to put pressure on the ball and give them a hard time getting into their offensive sets. We wanted them to chance what they wanted to do,” explained Kent State guard Al Fisher.

In the second half Akron did make a run, cutting the Kent State lead to 10 points at 51-41 at the 8:20 mark on a basket by Nate Linhart. Kent State’s Mike Scott responded by making a jump shot. Right after that he was intentionally fouled on a steal play. He sunk both foul shots.

Then Kent State’s Chris Singletary converted a three-point play, but was knocked down after making the final foul shot by Linhart who backed into him.

Kent State coach Jim Christian had some choice words for Linhart after everyone got untangled.

“Singletary is a key person for us when putting pressure on the ball because he is so strong. That was a key for us to have an option like him to go to,” said Christian.

When the final horn sounded, Fisher, the MAC Player of the Year, provided an exclamation point on a good night by doing a back flip in front of the Kent State bench.

Notes

• LeBron James of the Cavaliers and Akron’s most famous native son was in attendance for tonight’s game.
• Tonight’s meeting was the 125th meeting between the two programs. Kent leads the all-time series 65-60. Akron won last year’s three games and Kent won this year’s three games.
• This is the seventh time in the past 11 years that Kent has played in the MAC Championship game. Kent has won five of those seven games.
• The all-tournament team:
  Joe Reitz, Western Michigan
  Jeremiah Wood, Akron
  Al Fisher, Kent State
  Mike Scott, Kent State
  Haminn Quaintance, Kent State

MAC Tournament Quarterfinals

MAC Tournament Quarterfinal Notes

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – With four games today I am just going to get the highlights of the quarterfinal games and try to give fans a flavor for what is going.

Game One

Led by David Kool’s 24 points No. 2 seed Western Michigan (20-11) beat No. 7 seed Eastern Michigan (14-17). In a game that Eastern Michigan never led, they did make it interesting when at the 10:34 mark they tied the game at 34-34 on two Jarrad Axon foul shots, but that was a fleeting moment of joy as the Broncos closed it out to end Eastern Michigan’s season.

Favorite quote:

“We weren’t talking well on defense and they are a great shooting team. With this being their first game of the tournament, we knew they were going to be pumped up and ready to go and we did not match their intensity and that hurt us in the long run.”
-EMU guard Travis Lewis.

• This is WMU’s first trip to the semifinals since 2005.
• WMU leads the all-time series with EMU 49-44.
• Western Michigan plays Akron at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Game Two

Akron, the No. 3 seed stayed true to form and whipped up on the No. 6 seed Central Michigan 81-60. This game was close for the first 23 minutes before the Zips opened up a double-digit lead at the 16:42 mark. Akron’s Jeremiah Wood led all scorers with 17 points. Akron (22-9) shot 56 percent (28-50) from the field and 58.8 percent (10-17) from beyond the three-point line. Central Michigan (14-17) shot just 34.5 percent (20-58).

Favorite quote:

“Today it was, ‘I just want to play basketball.’ Whatever I could do I wanted to do. We are in the part of the season where every game can be your last and I just wanted to leave everything out there.”
-You thought the quote was going to be Akron coach Keith Dambrot and nine times out of 10 it usually is, just not today.

• Akron leads the all-time series with CMU 23-13.
• Akron plays Western Michigan at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Game Three

No. 1 seed Kent State pounded No. 8 seed Toledo into submission 77-54. The first half was relatively close, with Toledo (11-19) getting their biggest lead at three at 7-4 at the 16:42 mark. At halftime Kent State (26-6) led 39-29. In the second Kent just enlarged their lead as they were led by Mike Scott’s 23 points.

Favorite Quote:

“On the court we do not think we should get any fouls. The officials made a few calls we did not necessarily agree with and the calls gave us a disadvantage and took away from us being aggressive.”
-Toledo forward Jerrah Young.

• Kent State had a nice crowd at the game and they made a lot of noise.
• Toledo leads the all-time series with Kent 78-41.
• Kent State plays Miami at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Game Four

It was a typical Miami (Ohio) game that No. 5 seed Miami pulled out over No. 4 seed Ohio 74-61. The game was a lot tighter than the score indicates. Miami (17-14) was led by Michael Bramos’ 23 points, and after getting pounded on the boards by 19 in their last game, the RedHawks out-rebounded the Bobcats 42-31. With 2:10 left it was still a close game with Miami clinging to a four point lead at 63-59. Ohio would score just one more basketball in the game.

Favorite quote:

“I think we won with our guards and we got solid contributions from everybody on the boards. Last night we got out-rebounded by 19, so to come back tonight and go plus-11 was a big thing.”
Miami forward Tyler Dierkers

• Ohio leads the all-time series with Miami 93-88.
• Miami plays Kent State Friday at 9:30 p.m.

MAC Notes

• Miami has a four-man broadcast team, which is by far the biggest in the MAC. Steve Baker delivers the play-by-play, Joe Berry adds the color, Tim Bray gives sideline updates and Tommy Leugers engineers the whole deal. Some MAC schools simply have one guy that does all four jobs.
• And yes, Tim Bray actually does something besides carry Steve Baker’s luggage. At 1:30 p.m. today he was in the media room hard at work doing research for tonight’s game Miami/Ohio University game. Tommy Leugers calls him “Tidbit Tim” for all the great research he does that provides his reports. I would put that broadcast team up against any from the BCS programs.
• They are playing the woman’s tourney here at the same time as the regular tourney, so it makes for a lot of downtime especially on Friday and Saturday for the fans and writers.
• Akron coach Keith Dambrot is one of the best quotes in college coaching. After I finished interviewing him, he looked at my rather large stature and told me to come up to Akron to take a look at his program and he would take me to one of the best restaurants ever. That may just cost him a boatload of money someday. He also is not very PC, which makes for a better interview.
• Ohio University has the best looking dance in the MAC.
• Miami’s coach Charlie Coles is not with the team. He had a heart procedure performed in a local hospital and there is no word as to when he might return. Assistant coach Jermaine Henderson is coaching the team for the remainder of the season.

Mid-American Preview

Mid-American Conference 2007-08 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

The Mid-American Conference remains one of the most notable mid-major conferences in America. Year in and year out, the conference is marked by tough competition all the way through and high-quality basketball, with several teams standing out. In an era where conference success is often judged by the number of teams in the NCAA Tournament and in overall postseason play, this quality tends to get lost in the discussion.

The MAC is an interesting departure from the rest of college basketball in that it looks like it is a frontcourt-dominated conference. College basketball is about guards to a large degree, but a number of the best players in the MAC play up front. Four of the five preseason All-MAC selections here are frontcourt players, and a number of others who would make a second team if we did one play up front. That’s one reason why a couple of teams are surely hoping that new recruits in the frontcourt are able to contribute right away.

Both divisions offer something. The East Division looks to be deeper, as defending champion Miami (Ohio) looks to be the favorite and Akron may not be far behind, but it wouldn’t be a shock if Kent State or Ohio emerged as the division winner and Bowling Green should knock off a contender or two along the way. The West Division, meanwhile, has arguably the two best teams in Western Michigan and Central Michigan, although Toledo isn’t too far behind despite several key personnel losses.

Three schools have new head coaches this season, although one was the most noteworthy in the off-season. The new coaches that grabbed the least attention are new Bowling Green head coach Louis Orr, who was previously the head coach at Seton Hall, and new Northern Illinois head coach Ricardo Patton, who was the head coach at Colorado until last season. Although they didn’t get most of the publicity, they are noteworthy in that they were previously head coaches at BCS conference schools. The most noteworthy change came from the resignation of Ronny Thompson at Ball State after one season and multiple NCAA rules violations. He is succeeded by former Lehigh head coach Billy Taylor.

Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Giordan Watson, Central Michigan
Top Newcomer: Nate Minnoy, Central Michigan
Top Freshman: Dwight McCombs, Miami (Ohio)
Defensive Player of the Year: Kashif Payne, Toledo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Tim O’Shea, Ohio
Best NBA Prospect: Giordan Watson, Central Michigan

All-MAC Team
Tim Pollitz, Sr. F, Miami (Ohio)
Joe Reitz, Sr. C, Western Michigan
Giordan Watson, Sr. G, Central Michigan
Leon Williams, Sr. F, Ohio
Jeremiah Wood, Sr. F, Akron

East Division

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (18-15, 10-6 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Alex Moosmann (4.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Jr. G-F Michael Bramos (11.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 bpg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. F Tim Pollitz (16.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F Tyler Dierkers (2.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Fr. F Dwight McCombs
Schedule Highlights: The RedHawks will certainly be challenged in a non-conference slate that includes four home games. They open at home with Xavier, then later host Dayton and Indiana State. After the opener, they head west to play in the Anaheim Classic against South Alabama, then either USC or San Diego. Other challenging road games include Louisville, Wright State, Illinois, Kansas and Cincinnati, along with a BracketBusters game. MAC play starts with tough road games at Akron and Ohio.
Outlook: The RedHawks came alive in the MAC Tournament last year behind Pollitz, and he’s back to lead them once again. The inside-outside combination he forms with Bramos will be an excellent one, and Moosmann showed plenty of promise as a floor leader last season. Moosmann will have a little help behind him with Carl Richburg now healthy and newcomers like junior college transfer Kenny Hayes and freshman Rodney Haddix. The best of a talented freshman group is McCombs, who should start immediately and should give them some defense and rebounding, which is primarily what they will need from him right now. Dierkers, sophomore Adam Fletcher and freshman Nick Winbush will also see time in the frontcourt. The RedHawks won with their defense last season, and expect that to be their path to success this season as well. McCombs and the more mature frontcourt should also improve on the team’s negative rebounding margin, which will aid the defense.

Akron Zips (26-7, 13-3 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Cedric Middleton (11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G Nick Dials (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. F Jeremiah Wood (10.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Sr. F Quade Milum (6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg)
Jr. F Nate Linhart (5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 spg)
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in non-conference play, including two three-game stretches and an appearance in the BracketBusters. After opening in the Top of the World Classic, the Zips come home for three straight, including Temple and Wyoming. Their road games are all noteworthy, as they play at Winthrop, Ohio Valley contender Austin Peay and Dayton. In MAC play, they have a chance to get off to a good start with three of their first four at home. Prior to the BracketBusters game, they will play four of five on the road. In terms of West Division opponents, they make out just okay: they get Western Michigan and Central Michigan on the road and Toledo at home.
Outlook: The Zips had a legitimate gripe after being left out of the NIT despite 26 wins last season. Although they lost key players Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis, they return a team with seven seniors and two juniors that should be in contention once again. Middleton and Dials are good offensive threats, although both will need to show some floor leadership as well with Joyce’s departure. Freshmen Steve McNees and Ronnie Steward will get a chance at the job as well. Wood will lead the way inside, with Milum the most likely candidate to join him and Linhart in a front line that doesn’t have great size but will be effective. Sophomore Chris McKnight should also figure into the mix. The Zips led the MAC in scoring and field goal percentage last season, as well as field goal percentage defense, all of which they can certainly duplicate this season. With Joyce’s departure, turning it over less than anyone else will be tougher to repeat, but it will be essential.

Kent State Golden Flashes (21-11, 12-4 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Jordan Mincy (3.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 3.6 apg)
So. G Chris Singletary (6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Jr. F Rashad Woods (junior college transfer)
Sr. F Mike Scott (9.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Sr. F Haminn Quaintance (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 bpg, 1.7 spg)
Schedule Highlights: The Golden Flashes did quite well here, getting eight non-conference home games, including hosting two games as part of the Chicago Invitational. The home dates include MEAC contender Hampton, Saint Louis, Colonial favorite George Mason and Southland contender Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Notable road games are in Chicago against Xavier and either Indiana or Illinois State in the Chicago Invitational, at North Carolina, and a BracketBusters game. In MAC play, mid-January will pose a test as they take on Miami (Ohio) and Ohio on the road, then come home for Akron and Western Michigan.
Outlook: If you look solely at numbers, one might wonder how the Golden Flashes project to be a contender in the division or to win close to or over 20 games again. They have five starters back, though none averaged double figures in scoring, but they’ll also get a good talent boost from newcomers. Although they lose Omni Smith and Armon Gates, the two combined to start 29 games, so they return plenty of experience. Mincy and Singletary will anchor the backcourt, with Mincy posting a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio last season. He’ll be backed up by junior college transfer Al Fisher, who started his college career at Siena and can put up points as well. Rodriquez Sherman returns, but Woods, who started his college career at DePaul, figures to move him out of the starting lineup. Scott and Quaintance form a nice frontcourt, with Scott doing things other than scoring to help a team win and Quaintance being capable of impacting a game in several ways. Junior college transfer Gabe Garcia and sophomore Brandon Parks give this team more size inside. The Golden Flashes don’t do any one thing exceedingly well, but they didn’t have a glaring weakness last season, either. Should they repeat that, look for them to contend in the East once again.

Ohio Bobcats (19-13, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Michael Allen (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Bubba Walther (12.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. F Justin Orr (transfer from Murray State)
Jr. F Jerome Tillman (14.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Leon Williams (14.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.0 spg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule has its share of tough games, with five coming at home including a BracketBusters game. They open the season with two tough ones at home against WAC favorite New Mexico State and Ivy League contender Cornell. Then they go on the road to play at Patriot League favorite Holy Cross and Temple, then later head to Maryland and Kansas right before the Rainbow Classic, where they open with St. John’s. They finish up at Bucknell. They got a break in the MAC schedule in terms of who they play from the West, as they get Western Michigan and Central Michigan at home only. Early on, they have a tough three-game stretch with Miami (Ohio) and Kent State at home sandwiched around a game at Akron.
Outlook: The Bobcats have plenty of talent and enough veterans to take home the title, making them a good dark horse pick. The starting lineup looks excellent, with Tillman and Williams forming the top frontcourt duo in the conference as both do solid work inside and out. Add Orr to them and you get a frontcourt unit that should be second to none, especially since there is some depth with sophomore Kenneth van Kempen and freshmen DeVaughn Washington, Maurice Pearson and Zack Nagtzaam. The question mark on the perimeter isn’t off the ball, where Walther and junior Andrew Vroman hold down the fort. Instead, it’s at the point, where a couple of unexpected departures make Allen the likely starter, although Bert Whittington has a chance as well and could see some minutes off the ball since he can shoot from long range. The Bobcats should approach the 20-win mark again at the very least, and if the point guard spot can be resolved, this team could find its way to the top of the division before the season is out.

Bowling Green Falcons (13-18, 3-13 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Ryan Sims (2.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
Sr. G Ryne Hamblet (10.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg)
Jr. F Nate Miller (14.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.0 spg)
Jr. F Dusan Radivojevic (3.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Jr. F Erik Marschall (9.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Schedule Highlights: Five home games are on tap in non-conference play, highlighted by Temple, Illinois State and Duquesne. The Falcons open against Western Carolina and Belmont in the Peggy Cronin Classic in Cincinnati, then take on Cincinnati there in a separate game. Other notable road games include Summit League contender Oakland and a BracketBusters road game. In MAC play, four of the first six games are at home.
Outlook: The cupboard isn’t bare for new head coach Louis Orr, but Hamblet is the only senior and they might be a year away from contention in this strong division. With Miller and Hamblet, there aren’t any concerns on the wing, with Hamblet being a big intangible player who will have to help with ball-handling duties. Sims is the incumbent, but he’s inexperienced and will get a trial by fire if he starts there. Inside, there are fewer questions but still some to be answered beyond Marschall and Radivojevic. One area there that isn’t a concern is a lack of size, as sophomores Otis Polk and Marc Larson each stand 6’9″ and freshman Cameron Madlock is 6’8″. The Falcons tied for the worst rebounding margin in the conference last season.

Buffalo Bulls (12-19, 4-12 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Byron Mulkey (9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.1 apg in 11 games)
Jr. G Andy Robinson (10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G-F Greg Gamble (6.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg)
So. F Max Boudreau (2.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Jr. F-C Vadim Fedotov (3.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Bulls will be in two in-season tournaments in non-conference play, opening at Connecticut in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic and later heading to El Paso for the State Farm Sun Bowl Tournament, where they will play Wyoming in the opener. South Florida and Tulane are the highlights of five home games, which include a BracketBusters game in February. Pittsburgh is the most notable road opponent. In MAC play, three of the first four games are on the road, with the only home game in that stretch being Akron. Later, they have four straight at home prior to the BracketBusters game.
Outlook: With just one senior on the roster, the Bulls look to be a year away from being contenders again. They have some talent on the perimeter, with Mulkey emerging late last season and now looking like their floor leader of the future. Robinson and Gamble are good scorers, with Gamble capable of joining his teammate in double-digit scoring. The frontcourt, a strength last season when they had the best rebounding margin in the MAC, has been hit hard by graduation. The Bulls have plenty of size and no shortage of bodies, but they haven’t played well and that’s the biggest question mark for this team. Fedotov is their best holdover there and didn’t do much last season, while the so-so play of Boudreau and Kambi Laleye might have been freshmen adjusting to college. If the holdovers don’t get better, junior college transfer Brian Addison and freshman Jawaan Alston, both of whom stand 6’8″, may grab their minutes. The Bulls struggled to score last season in making just 41 percent of their shots, but the bigger issues are on defense as opponents shot over 46 percent from the field against them.

West Division

Western Michigan Broncos (16-16, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Michael Redell (8.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.4 apg)
Jr. G Shawntes Gary (10.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 spg)
So. G David Kool (11.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. G-F Derek Fracalossi (5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. C Joe Reitz (13.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate opens up with Pacific, Pepperdine and host Oregon at the World Vision Invitational. Four home games are on tap, including Southern Conference favorite Davidson, Northwestern and Southern Illinois. A couple of notable road games include San Diego State and likely Summit League favorite IUPUI, and they also have a road game in BracketBusters. In February, they have a tough three-game stretch with Akron, Ohio and Miami (Ohio), but only Ohio is on the road.
Outlook: The Broncos have a terrific perimeter unit and excellent class balance that make them the team to beat coming into the season. They also boast good experience with a starting lineup of upperclassmen and a sophomore who started last season in Kool, who should be the go-to scorer on the perimeter while Redell runs the show and Gary plays the complementary role. Juniors Andre Ricks and Derek Drews provide depth, and the lone newcomer, junior college transfer Juston Hairston, should also figure into the mix backing up Fracalossi. Reitz had his appendix removed during the summer but should be ready for the season, while senior Andrew Hershberger could grab the starting job alongside Reitz. Sophomores Jon Workman and Donald Lawson showed some potential last season, with Workman missing half of last season due to an ankle injury. It goes without saying that health is a major question mark for this team, but the pieces are in place to take the division and be the best team in the conference. It would also help if they can cut down on turnovers, particularly the guards as Gary had more turnovers than assists and Kool had just one more assist than turnovers.

Central Michigan Chippewas (13-18, 7-9 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Giordan Watson (18.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.6 spg)
So. G Jordan Bitzer (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Nate Minnoy (junior college transfer)
So. F Marko Spica (7.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Jr. F Chris Kellerman (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: A challenging non-conference slate begins with the College Basketball Experience at Missouri, where the Chippewas could play Fordham after playing the Tigers. They’re on the road for two more, at Niagara and Minnesota, before coming home for the first of just three non-conference home games, the most notable of which is against Big West contender Cal State Fullerton. Other road dates of note are at Northeast contender Robert Morris and Michigan. In MAC play, the Chippewas play consecutive home games only once, at the end of the regular season. Their toughest stretch looks to be at the end of January, when a home date with Akron is sandwiched between games at Western Michigan and Ohio.
Outlook: The Chippewas appear to have the best talent in the conference, so the main question is how long it will take for the players to gel and in some cases adjust to new roles. Minnoy and freshmen Chase Simon and Jeremy Allen make the perimeter even more dangerous, as Watson is one of the conference’s best players and Bitzer showed some promise as a freshman. Simon and Allen could push Bitzer out of the starting lineup. The frontcourt players won’t score a ton, but they should develop enough to balance out the guards and keep defenses from keying on them too much. Both Spica and Kellerman are good at what they do and need to get better, with Brandon Ford being the primary backup inside if he’s healthy. The Chippewas need to improve their shooting, as they made less than 42 percent of their shots last season, and cutting down on their 17.5 turnovers per game from last season will also go a long way towards success. But scoring doesn’t figure to be a major issue, meaning the bigger issue is defensively, where opponents shot 46 percent from the field last season.

Toledo Rockets (19-13, 14-2 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Kashif Payne (7.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.1 spg)
Jr. G Jonathan Amos (6.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G Ridley Johnson (4.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Sr. F Jerrah Young (2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Fr. F Mohammed Lo
Schedule Highlights: The Rockets have a very tough non-conference schedule that features five home games, none of which will be easy. They open up with Missouri State and Vanderbilt at home, then hit the road for six straight games and none will be easy: Old Dominion, Dayton, Rhode Island, an improved UNC-Wilmington team, Pittsburgh and Houston. Later, they host Drexel, head to UMass and host Summit League contender Oakland, and will also host a BracketBusters game. In MAC play, three of the first five are on the road, but three straight games plus the BracketBusters game are at home in February and early March.
Outlook: The Rockets lose their three top scorers from last season, so they may take a step back this season. But they won’t be an easy out with the veterans on the team, starting with their leader in Payne, one of the top floor leaders in the conference and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Amos and Johnson have been regulars, but Johnson came in with a reputation as a shooter and struggled from behind the arc last season. Junior Tyrone Kent could start on the wing and will at least be one of if not the first player off the bench. Freshmen Paul Becklens and Corey Bingham should help, although Becklens’ minutes might be limited since he’s a point guard and going with him and Payne together hurts them since Becklens isn’t a big scoring threat. In the frontcourt, there is talent, but not much of it is proven. Young can defend, but will need to give them more offense, and Lo should start right away and classmate Justin Anyijong is very long and could get some minutes, although he needs to get stronger. With the scoring they lost from the departed players, the Rockets will need to improve on defense if they are to remain a contender, as allowing opponents to shoot over 48 percent from the field again won’t be enough.

Eastern Michigan Eagles (13-19, 6-10 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jarred Axon (6.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Jr. G Carlos Medlock (13.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. G Travis Lewis (2.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. F Jesse Bunkley (11.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.6 apg)
So. F Justin Dobbins (5.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in a challenging non-conference slate, including a BracketBusters game and one against Missouri Valley contender Illinois State. The Eagles will also play in the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islander Classic against Atlantic 10 contender Rhode Island and either the host (a strong Southland contender) or Georgia Southern. Other notable road games include Summit League contender Oakland, MAAC contender Manhattan, Notre Dame and Temple. MAC play isn’t kind right away with the first two coming against Central Michigan (road) and Western Michigan (home), then two more road games right after them.
Outlook: If there is a sleeper team in this division, it is the Eagles, who have a senior-laden team and some good new talent coming in to support them. A healthy Medlock should spearhead the offense and get everyone else going, including seniors Axon and Lewis, the latter of whom they could use more scoring from. Junior Zane Gay and freshman Soloman Farris are among the main reserves. Bunkley leads the way in the frontcourt, and could play on the wing at times for a bigger lineup. Dobbins played well once he was healthy last season and should start inside, with seniors James Matthews and Nenad Banjamin also in the mix. Junior college transfer Wendale Farrow and freshman Marvin Skipper should push the seniors, as could sophomore Kyle Dodd after he played limited minutes last season. The Eagles have several areas for improvement, but taking better care of the basketball would be a good start since they turned it over almost 18 times per game last season, a figured exceeded by just two MAC teams.

Northern Illinois Huskies (7-23, 4-12 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ryan Paradise (10.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.9 apg)
So. G Cody Yelder (9.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Sr. G Zach Pancratz (8.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Sr. F Shaun Logan (7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Sr. F Egan Grafel (1.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Patton’s first non-conference slate will have some challenges and includes five home games, one of which is a BracketBusters game. They open the season in Iowa at the BTI Tip-Off Tourney, where they take on host Northern Iowa, UMass and Big West contender Cal Poly. They then stay on the road for a tough matchup with Southern Illinois, then later travel to Notre Dame and Wisconsin-Green Bay. The most notable home games are against Southland contender Lamar and Air Force. After opening up MAC play at Western Michigan, they have six of eight at home, including three straight at the end of that stretch.
Outlook: New head coach Ricardo Patton doesn’t inherit a bare cupboard, as there is a good deal of experience among the holdovers as the roster has six seniors. The one underclassman who projects to start, Yelder, had a solid freshman season and should continue to grow this year alongside Paradise and Pancratz. There isn’t as much depth there as in the frontcourt, where Logan should start and Grafel may be the incumbent but will be pushed by classmate Ben Rand and sophomore Bristan Kelly, along with newcomers from the junior college ranks in Najul Ervin and Sean Smith. With the scoring they lost, the Huskies will need to improve on their defense to win games this season, as no MAC team allowed more points and opponents shot nearly 46 percent from the field against them last season.

Ball State Cardinals (9-22, 5-11 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Laron Frazier (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Peyton Stovall (8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg)
Fr. G Rashaun McLemore (redshirt)
Jr. F Anthony Newell (11.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
Sr. C Micah Rollin (6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Cardinals start the season with four of their seven non-conference home games, highlighted by Butler and Georgetown. Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara and Missouri Valley contender Illinois State are part of a three-game home stretch to close out December. Notable road games in non-conference play are at Saint Joseph’s and Purdue, and they will be on the road in the BracketBusters. The MAC slate has three straight home games after opening at Miami (Ohio), but that may be deceptive since Central Michigan and Western Michigan are the first two games.
Outlook: What went on off the court made most of the news in Muncie this off-season, as Ronny Thompson and his staff violated NCAA rules once again and Thompson eventually resigned in July. New head coach Billy Taylor has some work to do, and it won’t be easy initially as several recruits who formed what was once considered the best class in the conference won’t be there now. Stovall is a good building block, while Rollin and Newell will make sure the frontcourt doesn’t have many concerns. From there, newcomers are at every position and there won’t be much depth, and this team will be down in numbers all year. Meanwhile, the NCAA investigation will affect recruiting, so Taylor will need a few years to get the program going again.

Conference Outlook

Western Michigan and Central Michigan appear to be the two best teams and should battle it out in the West Division. But Miami (Ohio) shouldn’t be too far behind them, and there isn’t too much separating the next three teams from the RedHawks in the East, so this promises to be another season of highly competitive basketball in the MAC. In the meantime, teams like Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green don’t project to contend, but don’t be surprised if they knock off a contender or two along the way and play spoiler late in the season.

MAC Championship Recap

Mid-American Conference Championship Recap

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – As the game ended, Miami coach Charlie Coles jumped into the air as his RedHawks had just won on a last-second shot to beat Akron 53-52.

As the team, cheerleaders and fans ran onto the court to celebrate the win, the referees gathered around the monitor to check the last shot.

As the time dragged on it became apparent that the officials found something that was not kosher so maybe the RedHawks did not win.

A no-longer celebrating Coles started asking whoever might listen, “Did we win?”

Akron Coach Keith Dambrot wandered over by the monitors and embraced Coles as they watched the officials try to figure out what happened.

The miracle play that caused this Texas-sized stink went as follows: Miami’s Doug Penno faked to his right and went left, then released a shot with Akron’s Nick Dials’ hand in his face as he said a quick prayer. The ball banked off the backboard and into the basket as time ran out for a three-pointer to erase a two-point deficit and win the game.

“I said a prayer while it was up in the air and God answered that prayer. I don’t think I will ever forget that shot. I just put it up and had faith,” explained a drained Penno.

For almost 10 minutes the officials reviewed the monitor using a stop watch, as MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst joined the huddle.

On one end of the court were the Miami (18-14) players hugging each other, and on the other end of the court were the Akron players standing around anxiously hoping for one more shot to win this game.

Dambrot argued that the clock didn’t start on time giving Miami and Penno some extra time to get the shot off.

“I never got a good explanation. I hope they got it right, I’ll be man enough to admit it if they are right,” said Dambrot. “But if they are wrong, it is inexcusable.”

Finally the officials issued a bizarre ruling that the basket was good, .6 seconds should be put on the clock, and Akron would get the ball under the Miami basket.

When Akron (26-7) tried to inbound the ball to Nick Goddard, it went out of bounds and the officials declared the game over. The RedHawk players and fans again celebrated the win.

For the second straight night Miami’s Tim Pollitz had a big night as he scored 19 points to lead his team. He was named tournament MVP. Penno and Bramos both put in 11 points.

Jeremiah Wood led the Zips with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Romeo Travis added 14 points to the effort.

Penno’s shot was made possible when Akron’s Cedrick Middleton missed a foul shot that Bramos came up with and passed it to Penno.

Akron led 28-21 at the half, and in fact the Zips led for most of the game.

With this heart-breaking loss, Akron’s fine season will almost certainly continue in the NIT, although that didn’t stop both Coles and Dambrot from doing a little lobbying for a Zip NCAA at-larger birth.

“How can you win 26 games and not be hearing things for an at-large? Something’s got to be wrong with the system,” pleaded Coles. “My heart goes out to Akron. They have been a phenomenal team a year long.”

MAC Happenings

• The MAC Tournament draws real well, yet the conference averages just 2,921 game. I can’t figure how they get people to go to Cleveland to watch a tournament while most schools can’t get people to come to campus to watch games. Last night for the semi-finals there were 13,000 people in the house and tonight there were 10,045.
• The Miami Sports Network has the largest staff of any team in the MAC. They have four guys in Cleveland at the MAC Tournament. There is Steve Baker (play-by-play), Joe Barry (color), Tim Bray (lead-ins/stats) and Tommy Luegers (production engineer). When they have their matching red shirts they look like a bowling team. The quality of the production is second to none.
• Miami leads the all-time series between the schools by a 22-14 margin after Saturday’s win.
• Charlie Coles is 23-15 all-time in the MAC Tournament.
• Miami is the only team in Division I to hold every opponent under 70 points this season.
• Akron’s 26 wins this year ties the most in school history.

Tournament MVP
Tim Pollitz (Miami)

All-Tournament Team
Romeo Travis (Akron)
Jeremiah Wood (Akron)
Giordan Watson (CMU)
Tim Pollitz (Miami)
Michael Bramos (Miami)

MAC Quarterfinal Recaps

Mid-American Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Recap

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – On of the more interesting things to happen yesterday on a rather uneventful day was Bowling Green coach Dan Dakich’s entertaining “farewell” press conference, or maybe it was just a “media availability.”

I don’t know if it is his last. He is on somewhat shaky ground, having had losing seasons four of the last five years and a ton of players transfer out.

Okay, it looks like he is dead meat. He is at the end of his contract and vultures have been circling over the Quicken Loans Arena.

In a very entertaining and at times light-hearted way, Dakich took questions from a large contingent of gathered media who all knew that this was the end of the line for Coach Dan.

Dakich is at times profane, he can be stand-offish, but he can turn on the charm. There are times he could charm a bulldog out of his last pork chop. As the losses mounted and the fans stayed away from Anderson Arena it started to look bad for Coach Dan. Then there is the famous incident at Buffalo. For those who have not seen it or somehow missed it, here is what happened.

As time ran out, Bowling Green held a 77-75 lead when Buffalo’s Parnell Smith took a shot that missed. The buzzer sounded and Dakich pulled his team off the court when the official closest to him signaled that time had expired and they went to the locker room. The officials stayed on the court to review the time on a monitor. They put .6 seconds back on the shot clock and Bowling Green administrative assistant Art Furman was dispatched to inform the team to come back out.

It gets a little fuzzy at this point, but it took some time to get the Falcons back on the court. They were charged with a technical. Buffalo’s Yassin Idbihi hit both free throws to send the game into overtime, where Bowling Green eventually fell 98-90.

That game was an exclamation point on a bad season.

Did Dakich refuse to bring them back on the court in a timely fashion? I don’t know, but he is the coach and responsible for what happens.

He said, “I told the team, I’ve got to resign. I am not supposed to hurt you. I’m supposed to help you.’”

But he obviously he did not resign. He is a coach, what else is he going to do?

“This is more fun than what I am going to do next,” said Dakich.

Since he got hired by West Virginia as their coach and then backed out of it in the spring of 2002, things have gone downhill for Dakich.

As the larger than usual crowd of media crowded into the interview area, Dakich talked about the good things he has going for his team. He mentioned that he loses just two seniors and that the team should be pretty good next season. But nobody in the room was buying it. I don’t think he believed it either.

He didn’t say he should be back or will be back; that, he said, is not in his hands. He did say he wanted to be back next year.

After a very promising start at Bowling Green, Dakich’s tenure as coach fizzled out with defections, injuries and bizarre behavior.

The merciful thing for Bowling Green to do would be to do pull the curtain on this act and let Coach Dan get on with that next thing that won’t be as fun.

No. 1 Toledo 62, No. 8 Eastern Michigan 54

In a conference tournament dreams can live and can come alive for a lower seed trying to knock off a higher seed. Today for No. 8 seed Eastern Michigan, they were dreaming big for the first eight minutes of the first half while they had the lead. Then No. 1 seed Toledo settled down and took the win, 62-54.

“They got all the loose balls and hustle points. They were competing and I thought we were standing around watching and that was disturbing,” said Toledo coach Stan Joplin.

When Toledo (19-11) started to pressure the Eagles on defense, they started forcing turnovers, and that is when they pulled ahead. When the dust settled Eastern Michigan turned it over 21 times.

Justin Ingram’s steal at midcourt and Keonta Howell’s dunk topped a 9-0 run that propelled the Rockets to an early 24-15 lead at the 8:40 mark in the first half.

The Eagles did get the deficit down to three points right before the half on a three-pointer by Devon Dumes at 35-52.

Eastern Michigan briefly regained the lead at 36-35 on Justin Dobbins’ jumper shortly after halftime, but the Rockets regained control when Florentino Valencia scored six straight points, all right around the basket. Toledo then went on a 13-2 lead to go up by 12 points at 54-42.

Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey said, “They are the class of the conference, and hopefully they will be able to go and finish up the season.”

Eastern was led by Dobbins with 16 points and Ingram led the Rockets with 14 points.

No. 4 Miami 70, No. 5 Ohio 51

In the second game of today, Miami lives to play another day and RedHawks coach Charlie Coles gets to keep his room key for another night as Miami rolled over Ohio 70-51.

That’s right – Coles said the best part about winning is he doesn’t have to go through the heartache of turning his key in since his team stays to play tomorrow in the semi-finals against Toledo.

Just last week, Ohio (19-13) beat the RedHawks 52-45, so Coles wanted to just play or run their offense and not try to keep track of the defenses that the Bobcats were running.

“I think our movement without the ball was much better. I don’t think we gave much credit to the changing defenses, by that I mean we just kept playing,” said Coles. “We came out with one thing that we going to do against all their zones.”

This revenge win for Miami (16-14) was led by junior Tim Pollitz, who scored 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

The win was deeper than just beating Ohio after losing to them. The Bobcats have knocked Miami out of the MAC Tournament three of the last four years.

Miami was hot from the field, shooting 60.4 percent for the game (29-48), while the Bobcats shot just 38.1 percent (16-42).

Pollitz hit a jumper at the 18:53 mark to start the scoring. Just 22 seconds later, Ohio’s Stephen King came back and hit a three-pointer to give the Bobcats their only lead of the game at 3-2.

The RedHawks slowly increased their lead until it hit 18 points at the half 89-21.

Ohio coach Tim O’Shea thought the extra day the RedHawks had off due to their bye was a real key in his team’s sub-par performance.

“I thought Miami was a fresher team than we were,” said O’Shea. “We didn’t have the legs to really make shots when we needed to.”

When the second half started, it was more of the same. The RedHawks kept a consistent lead in the mid-to-high teens. With 5:09 left in the game Miami cracked 20 points when Michael Bramos hit a jumper to make it 63-43. Less than a minute later Miami’s Alex Moosmann buried a three-pointer to give the RedHawks their biggest lead at 66-43.

The best the Bobcats could do was get it down to 17 points on a lay up by Leon Williams with 48 seconds left. Miami’s Geno Harris hit a jumper with five seconds left to get it back to 19 points when the buzzer sounded to end the game.

Williams was the only Bobcat to score in double digits with 22 points on a 7-9 shooting performance.

Miami plays Toledo on Friday night at 7 p.m. on Ohio FSN.

No. 2 Akron 82, No. 7 Central Michigan 53

The Zips spread the scoring around and did what a high seed usually does to a low seed: they whipped them, as Akron beat Central Michigan 82-53.

Akron (25-6) had five players score in double figures in a game where the Chippewas held a brief lead when Jordan Bitzer hit a three-pointer at the 19:07 mark.

But 22 seconds later the Zips’ Nick Dials hit a jumper to make it 3-2 and then Romeo Travis hit a three-pointer to give Akron the led for good at 5-2.

The Zips finally got the led to double digits at the 8:33 mark when Cedrick Middleton hit a three-pointer to make it 26-16. When the teams left the court at halftime, Akron led by 11 points at 39-28.

Part of Central Michigan’s problem was shooting. In the first half, they shot just 30 percent, and it was not much better latter in the game either.

Central Michigan’s coach Ernie Zeigler said, “The mark of any good team, when you look across the country, is if you can hold them to an average of 40 percent defensive field goals or less. If you look at Akron’s stats, they are doing that.”

Coming out of the half, it did not take the Zips long to increase their lead as they went on a 16-3 run to make it 55-31 lead at the 14:07 mark. Central Michigan (13-18) showed some signs of life as they went on a 12-4 run, making the score 59-43 with a little over 11 minutes left to play.

“We did a better job of getting the ball inside in the second half. Defensively we were pretty good,” said Akron coach Keith Dambrot.

Akron’s five double digit boys were: Travis with 16 points, Jeremiah Wood and Dials had 11 points and both Dru Joyce and Middleton had 10 points.

Central Michigan was led in scoring by Watson with 12 points and Andre Smith with 10 points.

Akron plays Kent State at 9 p.m. and the game is on FSN Ohio.

No. 3 Kent State 75, No. 6 Western Michigan 66

In a game of runs it took a strong second half surge for Kent State to get by Western Michigan 75-66.

Kent State held a three point lead at 38-35 at the half. After five minutes of play, Western Michigan (16-16) went up by five points at 45-40. Then it happened, as the Golden Flashes went on a 16-3 run to take a 56-48 lead, capped off by a jumper by Chris Singley.

“You have to find ways to get big stops and have poise at the offensive end,” said Kent State coach Jim Christian.

Kent State got the lead up to 70-58 before the Broncos scored eight straight points to cut the deficit to four points on two free throws by David Kool with 1:34 left. That made it 70-66. The Golden Flashes made five free throws to seal the win and advance to the semifinal round.

“Kent State played a terrific game and deserved to win. For awhile there, we were able to get it stopped to make a run at them, but they were able to get to the rack a lot more in the second half and we went dry,” explained Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins.

Western Michigan’s Joe Reitz led all scorers with 16 points and Omni Smith led the Golden Flashes with 14 points.

MAC Semifinal Recaps

Mid-American Conference Tournament Semifinal Recap

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – Each day, the crowds get progressively bigger and for tonight’s games the arena is about half-full at the start of the first game and packed with 13,000 people by the second game.

One of the downsides about playing in a pro arena like the Quicken Loans Arena is that you are paying NBA prices for food and parking. The seating bowl is pretty sweet and comfortable, but boy do the fans pay for that with the outrageous prices.

At the end of the bench

Geno Harris is a scholarship player for Miami, only his scholarship is in football and he is a freshman wide receiver. At 5’11″ he also is a guard in basketball.

Harris joined the team in December as a walk-on and since then he has played in five games for a total of 10 minutes and scored eight points.

He does know what he is doing on the court though. He played basketball in high school in Atlanta and he even attracted interest from the University of Georgia as a basketball player.

His role at Miami is to push the other players, especially the guards, to prepare them for upcoming games. With his speed, I am sure he really helped prepare the RedHawks for Toledo. He usually runs the upcoming opponent’s offense and defense to prepare the starters for what they will see.

Prepare, prepare, prepare, just in case he is needed and just to help all the other players get better.

He got in for a couple of minutes in the quarter-final victory over Ohio University and he was ready to come in the game tonight if the call went came from coach Charlie Coles.

It didn’t come.

Harris said he was headed back to his room to relax and maybe watch a little of the Kent State/Akron game. He said he might even do a little studying.

But sometime tonight the coaches will have the scouting report ready for the players and he will start studying that report to get ready just in case that call comes from Coach Coles.

The life of a back-up, walk-on player is tough and not very glamorous. The biggest contributions they usually make are far away from the screaming crowds, but they are crucial to the success of the team.

Harris is the just-in-case guy. He puts hundreds of hour of hard practice in just to play 10 minutes.

For most people, it would not be worth it, but it works for Harris because he doesn’t crave the spotlight, he craves team success and he is a big part of that even if the fans don’t know it.

No. 4 Miami 58, No. 1 Toledo 53

It finally happened in the ninth game of the MAC Tournament: a lower seed upset a higher seed.

Tonight, it was No. 4 seed Miami beating the No. 1 seed Toledo Rockets 58-53, a win that took a Herculean effort by Tim Pollitz to get it done.

Did Hercules play basketball? I doubt it, and if he did, he never went 11-12 from the field like Pollitz did tonight. Not only did Pollitz score, but he made some key plays off the ball too.

Case-in-point: with Miami ahead by just four points at 54-50 with 12 seconds left, Pollitz stole the ball from Justin Ingram, drove to the basket and layed it in to make it a six-point lead. Just four seconds later Toledo’s Kashif Payne hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to three at 56-53.

Pollitz then streaks down the court past his defender as Doug Penno hit him with a long pass, and he dunked it just before the buzzer sound to seal the victory.

Case-in-point number two: Toledo (19-12) trims the RedHawks’ lead from seven points to one at 43-42, and with 8:40 left in the game Miami’s Nathan Peavy picked up his forth foul.

With 8:00 left Pollitz took a pass from his brother Eric and layed it in, then proceeds to score four more unanswered in a little over a minute to get the lead back to seven points at 49-42.

By the time it was over Pollitz scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

In the first half the lead went back and forth four times until Miami grabbed the lead for good at the 13:18 mark when Michael Bramos popped in a three-pointer to make it 12-10. By half time the RedHawks held a 33-23 lead.

In the second half the Rockets applied even more pressure, forcing Miami into 12 turnovers that resulted in 11 points as they got the lead down to a single point. Then Pollitz came to the rescue as it was chronicled above.

Toledo coach Stan Joplin said, “We fought back and had it down to one, but we couldn’t get over the hump. We had five or six chances to take the lead, and I thought if we got the lead we would be in great shape.”

A contributing factor in Miami’s win was their strong rebounding edge. The RedHawks out-rebounded Toledo 29-18.

“In the first game, they had 16 offensive rebounds against us and we told them we did not want that to happen under any circumstances. I thought we did a good job of that, especially in the late stages of the game,” explained Miami coach Charlie Coles.

For Toledo, Florentino Valencia went 6-9 and scored 14 points. No one else scored in double figures.

No. 2 Akron 61, No. 3 Kent State 54

If at first you don’t succeed try again. And if you don’t succeed that time then try again.

That is exactly what Kent State did. After losing twice to Akron this year, including an overtime loss five days ago, Kent State tried to get a win. For the third time, they failed, losing 61-54 on Friday.

Kent State (21-11) played a strong first half, led by Mike Scott’s 10 points, and took a 33-19 lead into the locker room at half time.

But the Flashes got whipped in the second half, as they were out scored 42-21. Akron (26-6) held Kent State to just three field goals in the first 19 minutes of the second half.

“It was a game of two halves for both teams. We dominated the first half and they dominated the second,” said Kent State coach Jim Christian. “They made a great run at us and we came unglued a little bit.”

In the second half, Akron finally tied the score at the 11:03 mark at 40-40 when Jeremiah Wood (19 points) sunk two free throws.

The Zips got the lead up to nine points with 4:30 left on two more free throws by Wood.

The closest Kent State could get the rest of the game was five points with just 22 seconds left on a tip-in by Haminn Quaintance to make it 57-52.

Akron coach Keith Dambrot said, “It was very simple to me what we had to do to get back in the game. First, defensively we had to pick up our intensity level, and offensively, it was very simple, throw the ball to the block.”

In the first half Kent State shot 46.4 percent (13-29) and Akron shot 26.1 percent (6-23). In the second half Akron shot 52.9 percent (9-17) and Kent State shot 23.1 percent (6-26).

For Kent State Mike Scott scored 14 points.

MAC Opening Round Recaps

Mid-American Conference Tournament Opening Round Recap

by Bill Kintner

CLEVELAND – This year there are some changes at the Mid-American Conference Tournament. For one, all games are in Cleveland at the Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund Arena), as in the past there would be opening round games at campus sites.

Second, 24 teams are now playing here. If you guessed that they are having both the chicks and the dudes play here you win a cigar. Well, actually I smoked your cigar on the way up here this morning, but rest assured it was good.

They have the men playing four on Wednesday, four on Thursday, the semi-finals on Friday and the Championship game Saturday night at 7 P.M.

The women are kind of fitted in and around the men in the schedule. They started with four games on Sunday, four games on Tuesday, then come back to play two games before the men on Friday and on Saturday they play their championship (the Chick Championship) early in the afternoon.

Day one was not an exciting day of hoops, but it will get better.

No. 8 Eastern Michigan 51, No. 9 Ball State 48

Up by 15 points with 11 minutes to go in the first half, it looked like Eastern Michigan was in the driver’s seat until they took their foot off the gas. When they finally regained control, they pulled out a 51-48 win over Ball State.

The game started going south for the Eagles when Ball State went on a 13-5 run to close out the first half. That made the halftime score 32-25, a still respectable seven-point lead.

Coming out of the half the Eagles pushed the lead up to 12 points in the first six minutes. At the 8:44 mark it was still 12 points. Then Ball State (9-22) went on a 15-6 run.

Eastern Michigan (13-18) got two crucial free throws from Brandon Bowdry with 13 seconds left, along with a steal, to earn their first MAC Tournament victory in nine years.

“Well it’s been nine years since we’ve been in this position, and we’re elated about being in the next round,” said EMU coach Charles Ramsey.

EMU was led by Jesse Bunkley, who scored 15 points on 5-6 shooting from three-point land. Justin Dobbins put in 11 points and Jarred Axon scored 10 points.

Ball State’s Anthony Newell led all scorers with 20 points.

No. 5 Ohio 69, No. 12 Bowling Green 59

Ohio University coach Tim O’Shea reached 100 wins, as the Bobcats got 19 points from Bubba Walther en route to a 69-59 win over Bowling Green.

The Falcons suffered from poor shooting, as they shot 36 percent (21-61), while Ohio (19-12) shot 45 percent (21-47). Bowling Green should be used to losing to Ohio since this is the third time they have lost this season.

Both teams came out cold at the start of the game. Ohio was just 2-6 and the Falcons 1-5.

The Bobcat got the lead at 5-4, but Bowling Green’s Martin Samarco put up five straight points and a Nate Miller free throw gave Bowling Green (13-18) a 10-5 lead six minutes into the half. After allowing a basket, the Falcons went on a 7-2 run to go up 17-9.

The Bobcats’ Stephen King stopped the run with a three-pointer and Walther followed with another three-pointer to narrow the gap to 17-15.

Whitney Davis made it 11 unanswered Bobcat points with a lay up and a shot from 3-point land to give Ohio the lead at 20-17. A Troutman basket and a Williams tip-in extended the run to 15 straight Bobcat points and a 24-17 lead.

The Falcons came back and used an 8-2 run to pull within a point at 26-25. Sonny Troutman scored the last basket of the half with 2:00 left on the clock to give Ohio a 28-25 lead going into the half.

Bowling Green started the second half on a 9-4 run, but the Bobcats came back with nine unanswered points, capped off by a Walther three, to take a 52-43 lead with a little over nine minutes left in the game. That shot got Bowling Green to take a timeout.

“I think the game turned when Walther hit his three threes. I think we were in the process of gaining momentum at that point,” said Bowling Green coach Can Dakich.

Ohio’s Coach Tim O’Shea agreed that Walther’s sharp shot made the difference.

“I think Bubba (Walther) was the key today. When we were struggling he hit those three threes in a row and that got our energy going,” said O’Shea.

After the timeout, Ohio made it an 11-0 run on a lay up by Kenneth Van Kempen for the Bobcats’ first double-digit lead of the game. With Ohio up 58-49, Troutman stole a Falcon pass and went all the way down court to score and give Ohio a 60-49 lead with 3:54 left in the game.

Bowling Green tried to stage a comeback and got within 64-59 with under a minute left. Ohio held on to grab the win and stay alive to play another day.

No. 7 Central Michigan 80, No. 11 Buffalo 74

Central Michigan (13-17) let Buffalo get back into what had been a blowout, and held on for an 80-74 win.

The highlight of this game was Central Michigan’s Giordan Watson scoring 34 points, including going 5-7 from 3-point land. Buffalo (12-19) had their own human highlight film in Andy Robinson when he dropped in 27 points on a 9-13 shooting spree and Byron Mulky scored 19 points for good measure.

Just the facts ma’m.

In the first half the Chippewas got their lead up to 21 points at the 3:19 mark. Buffalo got it back down to 40-23 at the half.

They key for Central Michigan was that they took more shots (28 to 20), made more shots (13 to 7) and made more three-pointers (8 to 3).

In the second half they came out on fire and got the spread up to 30 points at 57-27 with 13:06 left in the game.

Rather than detail the million shots that both teams took in the last 13 minutes, Buffalo went on a 47-23 run to close out the game. They shot 62.5 percent in the second half.

That was enough to scare Central Michigan, but not enough to win.

No. 6 Western Michigan 67, No. 9 Northern Illinois 62

Western Michigan completed the sweep of higher seed today by holding off Northern Illinois 67-62.

Northern Illinois (7-23) scored the first point when Cody Yelder made one out of two foul shots. Twenty seconds later David Kool put in a layup to give the Huskies the lead, which they would hold for the rest of the game.

At the 13:26 mark Northern Illinois got within one point when Zach Pancratz hit a three-pointer to make it 11-10. By halftime Western Michigan (16-15) had the lead up to 30-25.

In the second half the Huskies once again pulled within one when Shaun Logan hit a three-pointer with 16:22 left on the clock. That was as close as they would get.

The Broncos got the led up to 13 points a couple of times before Northern would make one more run at them. The Huskies got the deficit down to three points with 11 seconds left when Yelder put in a lay up. But David Koop hit four straight foul shots in the last 10 seconds to put the game out of reach.

The sights and sounds of the MAC Tournament

• Ball State’s record in MAC Tourney is 35-20 with seven tournament championships, the most of any team in the conference.
• Eastern Michigan averaged 841 fans per game this year at a school with 24,000 students, and they play in a pretty nice arena (the Convocation Center) that seats 8,824.
• In what has been a subpar year for Dan Dakich’s Bowling Green team, the Falcons did have some out-of-conference success as they defeated Horizon League Champion Wright State on the road by a 59-56 margin. That was the Raiders’ only home defeat this year. The Falcons also defeated the Sun Belt East champ South Alabama at home 65-64.
• The Quicken Loan Arena is a nice hockey arena with a great seating bowl. The top level of seats had curtains blacking them off to give it a more intimate feel.

Where The MAC Stands

Miami, Akron, the MAC, Money and Mid-Majors

by Bill Kintner

OXFORD, Ohio – Tonight it is the Mid-American Conference at its best as the first place Akron Zips come to do battle with the Miami RedHawks.

Miami came in at 13-12 and 8-4 in the MAC. They took their lumps in the non-conference schedule going 4-8 against a very tough schedule that included Wright State, Kentucky, Illinois, Xavier, Illinois State, Michigan, Dayton and Cincinnati.

Since that grueling stretch, the RedHawks have gone 9-5 in the conference plus a win at Indiana State in the Bracket Busters. The question is did the early season games toughen Miami up for MAC play or is the MAC not that tough this year? Chew on that for a bit and we will come back to it in a moment.

As for Akron, they came in 20-5 and 10-2 in the MAC. They went 9-3 in their pre-conference games. The toughest team they played was 10th-ranked Nevada at home, a game they lost 73-71. Oral Roberts was a tough road opponent that they beat 61-59. The rest of their games were against opponents that are fairly weak, including Tiffin University, Gardner-Webb, Binghamton, Winston-Salem State, St. Francis and Loyola Marymount.

Since starting conference play the Zips have gone 11-2, including a home win against Austin Peay in the Bracket Busters.

So what we have learned is the team that struggled with a killer pre-conference schedule is doing well in MAC play. The team that did well in a much easier pre-conference schedule also is doing well in the MAC.

Am I beginning to see a pattern? Let’s keep looking.

There is no doubt that the MAC is down a little this year. But they have been somewhat down for awhile now. Hasn’t it been eight years since the MAC has gotten multiple bids to the NCAA? The last time that happened was in 1999 when Miami and Kent State went to the Big Dance. That is the year that Wally Szczerbiak led the RedHawks to the Sweet sixteen.

Well, let’s look at the conference RPI. The RPI is not perfect, but at least it is an apples-to-apples comparison. This year the MAC is ranked 15th.

How about similar conferences?

The CAA is 13th, the Horizon League is 12th and the Missouri Valley is 7th.

And last year the RPI had the MAC at 16, the Horizon League at 15, the CAA at 10 and the MVC was sixth.

So the two-year RPI average is MAC 15.5, Horizon 13.5, CAA 12.5 and the MVC 6.5.

The two prior years the RPI average was the Horizon League 15.6, CAA 14.6, MAC 12 and MVC 10.3.

So is it just a cycle? The MAC is a little down the past several years compared to the other three similar conferences?

That is how Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone explains it. He was attending tonight’s game as a member of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee taking a look at Akron.

“It is hard to tell because everything is cyclical,” said LeCrone. “The MAC certainly has a great reputation as a basketball conference. They have been successful in the past and they will continue to be successful. We have had years in the Horizon League where people would say the league is down and we’ve had a breakout team get in and do very well. I think all four of the leagues you mentioned, the MAC, Horizon, CAA and even the MVC are all very similar.”

Back to the question you were chewing on.

“I think we may slipping in the eyes of those people that pick teams, but how can you say we are not good? Like two years ago, we should have gotten in the tournament,” explained Miami Coach Charlie Coles. “We played the schedule, our RPI was high and then they come up with a new RPI.”

For the record, Miami was 18-10 that year with an RPI of 43.

And Coles is right that the MAC had been slighted by the NCAA Selection Committee a few times in the last few years. In 2002, the year Kent State went to the Sweet Sixteen, Bowling Green was 23-7 with an RPI of 59 and they went to the NIT. In 2000, Ball State went to the Big Dance, but Kent was 19-7 with an RPI of 36 and Bowling Green was 21-7 with an RPI of 56. Both went to the NIT.

So it is not like the MAC is in the toilet, but they seem to be a step behind the MVC and the CAA. They have never put three teams in the NCAA like the Horizon League did in 1998, when Butler, Detroit and UIC went to the dance.

Let’s do another comparison between our four so-called Mid-Major conferences.

• In attendance this year the MVC averages 7,680 per game and the lowest in attendance is Indiana State at 4,341 per game.
• The Horizon League averages 3,606 per game, with the lowest in attendance being Detroit at 2,364.
• The CAA averages 3,574 per game, with the lowest in attendance being Georgia State at 1,167 per game.
• Then we have the MAC at just 2,921 per game, and the lowest is Eastern Michigan with just 841 per game. That is not a typo. That 841 per game are what you might see at a women’s game, yet Eastern has a nice new arena.

So the fan support is a little lower than those that of a few other conferences, too. Does that mean the teams are slipping? Better teams do tend to draw a little better at the gate.

Now on the other hand, Akron Coach Keith Dambrot thinks the MAC has emphasized football and not funded basketball.

“You have to put resources into a business to make it grow. I think the CAA and the Missouri Valley have put a big investment into basketball. I think years of neglect have caught up to our conference. If you check the history of our league we have put many more players into the pros than those other leagues,” explained Dambrot.

“The MAC made their investment in football, which is fine, but when you look at basketball they are paying the price for it. It is salaries, budgets and buildings. We played at Creighton and we played at Temple. You look at Wichita State’s and George Mason’s buildings. Our fans expect us to be as good as those teams, but in realty we don’t have as good as buildings as the Horizon League.”

Plain Dealer Sportswriter Elton Alexander, who has covered the MAC since 1986, agrees that the emphasis on football in the MAC has hurt basketball, but he pins it on the entrance of football power Marshall into the MAC in 1997.

“When Marshall came into the league, had Marshall been as good in basketball as they were in football, I think schools in the MAC would have matched that across the board, like they tried to do in football. But basketball was doing pretty good anyway,” said Alexander.

How about coaches? This year the Horizon League hired two new coaches and they both were Division I head coaches in their most recent job, Gary Waters at Cleveland State and Brad Brownell at Wright State. Waters was the coach at Kent State and Rutgers, Brownell was the coach at UNC Wilmington.

Brownell is making about $220,000 a year. Butler’s Todd Lickliter, UIC’s Jimmy Collins, Loyola’s JimWhitesell and USM’s Rob Jeter are making in that ballpark or a little more.

As for recent hires in the MAC, prior to this season Ball State hired Ronny Thompson and Central Michigan hired Ernie Zeigler. Both were assistant coaches in their most recent job.

In fact, I think the last MAC coaching hire who was previously a Division I head coach was Coles and that was 17 years ago.

The only coaches making in the $200,000 range per year in the MAC are Jim Christian at Kent and Tim O’Shea at Ohio University.

So what does all this add up to? I am not sure, but it looks like the MAC will need to invest a little more money in basketball in the future to keep up with the Joneses of the Mid-Major World.

The Game

That’s right, you wanted to know about tonight’s game.

Miami beat Akron 64-62 in overtime. That game was worth the investment in a ticket.

MAC Preview

Mid-American Conference 2006-07 Preview

by Joe Speranza

In a conference where at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament have been few and far between, one would assume that competition is lacking and spirit is not far behind. Right? Well, not in the MAC, as far as I’m concerned. Ball State and Buffalo have two of the best student sections, relative to size of arena, in the country. “The Nest”, as the student section is called at Ball State, is a scary conglomeration of red and white t-shirts, hats, and bare chests. Buffalo’s student section doesn’t slack either; in 2006, fans were reprimanded countless times for inappropriate behavior. I’m not saying that it’s cool to suggest that the sister of an opposing player is a prostitute, but merely stating that the enthusiasm is there.

This year, fans in Akron and Toledo will have something to get excited about. Last year, Akron went undefeated at home, and they return four starters from that team. Toledo surprised a lot of people in the MAC by making a run to the MAC championship game, and they, like the Zips, return four talented players. If Toledo and Akron don’t play each other in the MAC championship game, it would be quite a surprise.

The top two returning scorers this year are Martin Samarco from Bowling Green and Skip Mills from Ball State. James Hughes, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last year, also returns, and he should help Northern Illinois in the post this year. Here are some other players who should make an impact in the conference.

All-MAC Team
F Romeo Travis, Akron
F Skip Mills, Ball State
C Yassin Idbihi, Buffalo
G Martin Samarco, Bowling Green
G Giordan Watson, Central Michigan

Player Of The Year
Joe Reitz, Western Michigan

Defensive Player Of The Year
James Hughes, Northern Illinois

Team Predictions

MAC East
1. Akron
2. Kent State
3. Buffalo
4. Miami (Ohio)
5. Ohio
6. Bowling Green

MAC West
1. Toledo
2. Western Michigan
3. Ball State
4. Northern Illinois
5. Central Michigan
6. Eastern Michigan

MAC East

1. Akron Zips (23-10 Overall, 14-4 MAC, T-2nd MAC East)

The Zips were a young, scary team last year and finished the season with the second best record in the conference. They played an impressive non-conference schedule for a MAC team, going against Cal, Louisville, Clemson, and Nevada during the season. Nobody in the MAC played a tougher non-conference schedule, and if you take away those four losses, a 23-6 record looks very nice. The Zips set the pace early in the season, winning their first 6 conference games, and maintained a steady course throughout the season, finishing 14-4 in the MAC. They were led by forward Romeo Travis, who averaged almost 14 points per game and was a first team all-MAC selection. It helps to have a passer, and the Zips had the most efficient point guard in the league last year in Dru Joyce, who led the MAC in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Despite having a really annoying nickname, the Zips are the best team in the MAC right now. They return 4 starters from last year, and have been ranked as high as No. 20 in the country in preseason polls. Also, nobody should plan on beating them at home, as they went a perfect 13-0 last year at Rhodes Arena. There is no reason why Romeo Travis shouldn’t be selected to the all-MAC first team again, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dru Joyce made a case for himself at the end of the year also. The Zips should have no trouble winning the MAC regular season, and their experience in the playoffs should allow them to dance in March.

Returning Starters – Dru Joyce, Sr., G, 6-0, 165; Romeo Travis, Sr., F, 6-7, 220; Nick Dials, Jr., G, 6-1, 175; Jeremiah Wood, Jr., F, 6-6, 245

Projected Starting Lineup
F Romeo Travis
F Jeremiah Wood
G Dru Joyce
G Nick Dials
G Jimmy Conyers

Players to Watch: Jeremiah Wood, Jr., F, 6-6, 245; Steve McNees, Fr., G, 6-2, 185
It’s sometimes hard to tell how a high school player will adapt to the college game, but McNees could be big for the Zips this year. He had a monster senior year in high school, averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, but will come off the bench for Akron.
Wood redshirted last year while rehabbing an ACL injury he suffered in the 2004-2005 season in which he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds. If he is healthy this year, he adds another talented player to an already loaded Akron team.

Big Game: Nevada, 12/22

2. Kent State Golden Flashes (25-9 Overall, 15-3 MAC, 1st MAC East)

The Golden Flashes owned the MAC last year. After getting off to a shaky 6-5 start that included losses to Rutgers, Saint Mary’s, and Syracuse, the Flashes broke out and won 16 of their last 19 regular season games. Sporting a 15-3 record in conference play, their regular season success carried over into the postseason and the Flashes went on to secure a bid in the NCAA tourney. DeAndre Haynes won MAC player of the year, and head coach Jim Christian was named MAC Coach of the Year, becoming the fourth coach in Kent State history to win the award.

This year, the Flashes lost Guards Jay Youngblood and Haynes, who combined to average 27 points per game. This means that returning starters Mike Scott and Armon Gates might shoulder a heavier load this year. Scott, a tall, lanky Forward shoots the ball well from outside and has the ability to score in the paint. Gates, who had an impressive MAC tournament in which he shot 73% from behind the arc, led the team in three-point shooting and can play either Guard position. Haminn Quaintance, a transfer from Jacksonville where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Sun athlete, is eligible to play this year and brings a lot of size and athleticism to the forward position. The Golden Flashes look good this year, and should extend their 20-win season streak to 9 after the season.

Returning Starters – Mike Scott, Jr., F, 6-6, 175; Armon Gates, Sr., G, 6-1, 185

Projected Starting Lineup
F Haminn Quaintance
F Mike Scott
C Isaac Knight
G Armon Gates
G Jordan Mincy

Player to Watch: Omni Smith, Sr., G, 6-4, 195
Besides holding the distinction as being the only player in the MAC to have a first name beginning with “O”, he was also the team’s top reserve last season. Look for Smith, an explosive offensive player, to challenge Gates and/or Mincy for a starting spot.

Big Game: at Duke, 12/19

3. Buffalo Bulls (19-13 overall, 8-10 MAC, 5th MAC East)

You can’t spell Buffalo without I-N-C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T. Well, I guess you can, but their 2006 season brought a whole new meaning to the word. They started the season by going 11-1, including impressive home victories over Rutgers and Fresno State, and started to get some votes in the AP poll. After a disappointing home loss to a weak Central Michigan team, the Bulls won a big game against rival Ohio, but then dropped seven of their next eight games including a 93-75 blowout against Iona on Bracket Buster Saturday, all but eliminating any chances of an at-large bid. Shifty guard Calvin Cage averaged 18.5 ppg, which was fourth in the MAC. Their season came to an end against Kent State, who eventually went on to win the MAC.

This year, the Bulls have a strong young group of players who will be expected to make a big contribution. Calvin Betts, the All-Greater Rochester player of the year in 2004, joins the team this year and should make an impact immediately. The Bulls return only two starters from last season, including Senior Yassin Idbihi, a 6’10″ Forward who had a career year last season, averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds. Idbihi, if he plays to his potential, could be the MAC Player of the Year. He wants to make it to the NBA, and he knows he will need a monster year for that to happen, but he is serious and if he remains motivated throughout the season he could carry the Bulls pretty far. Coach Reggie Witherspoon, who has become an icon on campus, signed a three year contract extension in May and should lead the young Bulls to another winning season. Without Cage this year, the Bulls don’t have enough talent to compete with Akron or Kent State, but Witherspoon knows how to get the most out of his players and UB should finish near the top.

Returning Starters – Parnell Smith, Sr., F, 6-6, 230; Yassin Idbihi, Sr., F/C, 6-10, 260

Projected Starting Lineup
F Parnell Smith
F Greg Gamble
C Yassin Idbihi
G Calvin Betts
G Eric Moore

Player to Watch: Sean Smiley, So., G, 6-1, 165
Smiley is instant offense off the bench. As a freshman last year he saw limited playing time, but should be one of the first players off the bench this year. He is deadly from long range, and is athletic enough to get up above the rim.

Big Game: vs. Pittsburgh, 12/9

4. Miami RedHawks (18-11 Overall, 14-4 MAC, T-2nd MAC East

Miami’s season last year can be summed up in one word: streaks. After losing their opening game to No. 15 Alabama in the Preseason NIT, the RedHawks won their next four, dropped their next four, won their next five, lost their next three, and then won their next seven. After all of that, they had a 16-8 overall record, going 12-3 in the MAC. They went 1-2 to finish the regular season, lost to Ohio in the first round of the MAC, and lost to Butler in the opening round of the NIT to conclude their season. The RedHawks were led by senior William Hatcher and sophomore Tim Pollitz, who averaged 14.3 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. At home, the RedHawks were an impressive 11-2, losing only to Xavier and Kent State. A 14-4 conference record is usually enough to win the division outright, but it was only good enough for a tie for second, as Akron and Kent State also put up convincing records.

Head coach Charlie Coles is entering his 11th year with the team, and he emphasized that the forwards will be the team’s best position this year. Returning to the RedHawks’ starting lineup is Nathan Peavy, who is the team’s top returning rebounder (6.9 rpg) and second leading returning scorer (11.2 ppg). Pollitz is the top returning scorer from last year, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the offense revolves around those two. Guard Doug Penno, who started half of Miami’s games last year, returns to the lineup and brings good size to the guard position. Monty St. Clair is Coles’ best bet at the center position, having played in all 29 games last year, and Michael Bramos, who started four games for the Hawks last year, should get the start at guard. Although anything can happen over the course of the season, Miami is unfortunate to have to play in the tough MAC East, and shouldn’t finish higher than third in the division.

Returning Starters – Nathan Peavy, Sr., F, 6-8, 218; Tim Pollitz, Jr., F, 6-6, 237; Doug Penno, Sr., G, 6-5, 211

Projected Starting Lineup
F Nathan Peavy
F Tim Pollitz
C Monty St. Clair
G Michael Bramos
G Doug Penno

Player to Watch: Monty St. Clair, Sr., C, 6-9, 249
St. Clair actually started in his freshman and sophomore seasons, but an injury prevented him from starting last season for the Hawks. He got a much-needed haircut over the off-season, and he has the talent to be a huge presence down low this season. Coles describes him as the kind of guy who does everything you ask, and his experience and attitude should allow him to put up solid numbers this year.

Big Game: at Kentucky, 11/15; vs Illinois, 11/24; at Cincinnati, 12/27

5. Ohio Bobcats (19-11 Overall, 11-8 MAC Conference, 4th MAC East)

For Buffalo fans, the simple utterance of the word “Ohio” strikes a nerve. Few forget the tip-in with .7 seconds left that gave the Ohio Bobcats the MAC Championship and an NCAA Tourney berth in the 2004-2005 season. The 2005-2006 Bobcats weren’t as good, however, which was somewhat surprising since they didn’t lose many players after their successful campaign a year prior. Last year, they jumped out of the gates quicker than Barbaro and won 12 of their first 15 games. But with a 70-51 loss at Buffalo, their season took a turn and they were a .500 team for the rest of the year. It didn’t help that Jeremy Fears, a starting guard, took a leave of absence from the team with 11 games left. They made it to the semifinals of the MAC tournament, but were bounced out by eventual champion Kent State in their final game of the year.

The Bobcats look to make it back to postseason play this year, and they have a strong core of players returning to the team. They will be without Fears, who transferred to Bradley in the off-season, and Mychal Green, who led the team in scoring and three pointers. Returning to the team are Sonny Troutman, Leon Williams, and Antonio Chatman. Troutman, a three year starter, brings experience and strong perimeter play to the Bobcats, and could make a case for himself as one of the better guards in the conference. Williams is Ohio’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and is hard to stop if he gets the ball in the post. Chatman, who emerged as the starting point guard in Fears’ absence last year, is an efficient guard with one of the better assists-to-turnover ration in the MAC.
The Bobcats have the talent, but their attitude and consistency have been a lingering problem over the last few years, and they could finish anywhere between 3rd and 5th in the conference.

Returning Starters – Leon Williams, Jr., F/C, 6-8, 255; Sonny Troutman, Sr., G, 6-6, 220; Antonio Chatman, Jr., G, 6-1, 175

Projected Starting Lineup
F Jerome Tillman
C Leon Williams
G Antonio Chatman
G Whitney Davis
G Sonny Troutman

Player to Watch: Sonny Troutman
Troutman is a crafty player without any major weakness on the floor. He shoots the ball well, and is extremely shifty in the paint. Without Mychal Green and Jeremy Fears, Troutman will be asked to do the majority of the scoring this year, and definitely has the ability to put up big numbers. At 6’6″ he is big for a guard, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him average over 17 points per game.

Big Game: at Cincinnati, 12/30

6. Bowling Green Falcons (9-21 Overall, 5-13 MAC, 6th MAC East)

The Falcons didn’t get off to a bad start last year, going 7-8 through their first 15 games. They also went 3-2 in their first 5 conference games, but, after beating Eastern Michigan 79-72 on January 18, the Falcons won only 2 games the rest of the year. A noteworthy statistic is that the Falcons actually led in 17 of their 18 conference games, despite their dismal record. If there was one positive to take away from the season it was the outstanding play of junior guard Martin Samarco. Samarco was second in the MAC last year in scoring and led the league with 100 three-point field goals.

The Falcons return 3 starters from last year, and look to improve on their record from last year. They would have returned 4, but John Floyd, the team’s starting point guard, left the team after an off-court incident. Samarco is the top returning scorer in the MAC, and if he keeps up the pace he could make a run at MAC Player of the Year. Their non-conference schedule looks weaker than last year, which should allow the team to get off to a good start. The problem with Bowling Green is that they play in the very competitive MAC East where, last year, the top 4 teams in the conference played. Also, they have no experience at the point guard position, as all three left the team this summer for various reasons.

Even if they double their MAC win total from last year, it might only be good enough for 4th place. The Falcons will have more talent this year, but don’t count on the Falcons finishing above any other team in the MAC East.

Returning Starters – Martin Samarco, Sr., G, 6-2, 195; Erik Marschall, So., F, 6-7, 235; Matt Lefeld, Sr., C, 6-11, 260

Projected Starting Lineup
F Erik Marschall
F Dusan Radivojevic
C Matt Lefeld
G Martin Samarco
G Ryan Sims

Player to Watch: Dusan Radivojevic, So., F, 6-7, 215
Radivojevic, a sophomore from Serbia and Montenegro, could make a big impact on the Falcons this year. He has good size for a perimeter player and had a decent freshman year for the Falcons. In 2004, he was the top 3-point shooter for the Belgrade Sports Gimnasium, and led the league in scoring with 35 points per game. His freshman year was a transitional year, and if he can play consistently, he has the tools to become a great player in the MAC.

Big Game: at Marshall, 12/22

MAC West

1. Toledo Rockets (20-10 Overall, 10-8 MAC, T-2nd MAC West)

The Rockets had an interesting season last year, to say the least. After going 7-2 in non-conference games to start the season, they got off to a slow start in MAC play and showed up at Central Michigan on February 4th with a 3-8 conference record. Well, last year there was no better remedy for struggling teams than playing Central Michigan. After beating them by 16, Toledo went on to win their next 9 conference games, and eventually made it to the conference finals where they lost to Kent State by 5. Second team All-MAC selection Justin Ingram was their go-to guy, leading the team in points (14.6) and steals (1.9) per game.

The big news out of Toledo this off-season was the sudden death of Center Haris Charalambous. During a practice, the 6-10, 270 pound Charalambous collapsed after a blood vessel to his heart ruptured and died immediately. While Charalambous wasn’t expected to make a huge impact on the court, it will be interesting to see how Toledo begins the season. Such an unfortunate incident, while tragic and sad, can often help a team come together and play with great emotion. The Rockets return 4 starters from last year, including Ingram, Keonta Howell, and Florentino Valencia. The team has something to play for this year, and with a lot of talent returning, they can be pretty scary. Look for the Rockets to finish at the top spot in the MAC West.

Returning Starters – Kashif Payne, Jr., G, 5-9, 155; Keonta Howell, Sr., G/F, 6-4, 218; Justin Ingram, Sr., G, 6-2, 182; Florentino Valencia, Sr., F, 6-5, 244

Projected Starting Lineup
F Florentino Valencia
F Keonta Howell
C Allen Pinson
G Justin Ingram
G Kashif Payne

Player to Watch: Tyrone Kent, So., G/F, 6-5, 194
Head coach Stan Joplin declared Kent the most talented player on the team, but he will probably come off the bench this year for the Rockets. His reputation is such that competitors need moon shoes to keep up with his leaping ability. 6’5″ is the perfect height for a dunker, and he will definitely provide some highlights throughout the season. As is par for a talented, exciting, and raw young player he will need to work on his consistency and competitiveness before he makes a big impact for the Rockets.

Big Game: at Kansas, 12/9

2. Western Michigan Broncos (14-17 Overall, 10-8 MAC, T-2nd MAC West)

Despite finishing 2nd in the MAC West with a 10-8 record, finishing with a losing record is never an ideal season for a team. The Broncos’ non-conference schedule proved too much to handle, as they started the season 3-7 before losing to Ohio in their first conference game. Over the course of the season, the Broncos lingered around the .500 mark but never exceeded it, and their season concluded with a loss at Akron. Senior guard Brian Snider finished his career by leading the MAC in steals and assists in 2006, and Stane’s Bufford also went out in style by averaging almost 10 points a game.

This year, the Broncos return three starters and should be a threat to win the MAC West. Coach Steve Hawkins has compiled an impressive 60-35 record over three years and needs only 3 more wins to reach the 200-win milestone. Their formidable frontcourt should be even better than last year. Joe Reitz, who as a sophomore last year averaged 15.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, has become a legitimate candidate for MAC Player of the Year and the team will only go as far as he takes them. Joining Reitz in the frontcourt is classmate Andrew Hershberger, who started almost every game last year and finished second on the team with just under 7 rebounds per game. It will be interesting to find out if anyone can replace Snider at the point guard position, but that should be the only place for concern among fans in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area.

Returning Starters – Shawntes Gary, So., G, 6-2, 208; Andrew Hershberger, Jr., F, 6-7, 223; Joe Reitz, Jr., F, 6-7, 256

Projected Starting Lineup
F Andrew Hershberger
F Derek Fracalossi
C Joe Reitz
G Shawntes Gary
G Andre Ricks

Player to Watch: Silver Laku, Jr., G, 6-2, 180
Because of a shoulder injury, Laku received a medical redshirt for the season after only appearing in five games for the Broncos. Laku was a dangerous scorer in high school, averaging over 30 points per game in his last two years. He hasn’t broken out in the NCAA yet, but this year could be the year that he emerges, as the Broncos can’t rely solely on frontcourt scoring if they want to win.

Big Game: at Indiana, 12/20

3. Ball State Cardinals (10-18 Overall, 6-12 MAC, 4th MAC West)

The Cardinals got off to a poor start in MAC conference play, losing their first five conference games, and never really recovered. A big reason was losing Peyton Stovall, the MAC’s leading returning scorer from the year before. After he suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Wright State in the second game of the season, the team was forced to play without their top scorer for the rest of the year. After losing their first five games, they played the rest of the season around the .500 mark, and their season came to an end with a loss at Buffalo. During Stovall’s absence, Skip Mills emerged as the team leader and finished the season averaging 18.6 points a game, good for third in the MAC.

This year, the Cardinals are a totally new team. The changes start with new head coach Ronny Thompson, who added six new players to the team in the off-season. Thompson, in his first year of head coaching, is the brother of Georgetown coach John Thompson III and son of coaching legend John Thompson. He is excited about the team this year, both because of the recruiting class and the returning players. Ahmaad Cook and Rashuan McLemore join the Cardinals last year, coming from basketball powerhouses Westchester High School and Mt. Zion Academy, respectively. If Stovall remains healthy, the Cardinals have a very legitimate scoring tandem in Stovall and Mills, as they both have the ability to put up 20 a game. Along with the new faces, the returning starters and the tough schedule will revive the team and possibly make them a contender in the weaker MAC West.

Returning Starters – D’Andre Peyton, Sr., F, 6-6, 220; Skip Mills, Sr., F, 6-3, 205; Peyton Stovall, Jr., G, 6-1, 190

Projected Starting Lineup
F D’Andre Payton
F Skip Mills
G Jalon Perryman
G Peyton Stovall
G Brandon Lampley

Player to Watch: Peyton Stovall
An ACL injury is brutal for a basketball player, and Stovall went through it not once, but twice. He put up very impressive numbers as a sophomore, averaging 16.7 points per game which ranked him fifth in the MAC. His health is the only concern coach Ronny Thompson has right now, but if he is 100% by the time the season starts, as he is expected to be, watch out.

Big Games: Kansas, 11/24; at Georgetown, 11/27; at Indiana, 12/30

4. Northern Illinois Huskies (17-11 Overall, 12-6 MAC, 1st MAC West)

Despite having the seventh-best overall record in the conference, the Huskies finished first in the MAC West. They had an average season as far as upsets go, winning the games they were supposed to win and losing the games they were supposed to lose. The Huskies matched up particularly well against Eastern and Western Michigan, winning those four games by a combined 96 points. They key to the Huskies’ MAC success was simply that they made their shots, shooting a MAC-best 48.5% from the field, which ranked 12th in the country. Forward Todd Peterson led the Hawks in scoring with 12.1 ppg, but the theme of the offense seemed to be balance, as nobody else on the team averaged double figures. Their season ended with a loss to Toledo in the Quarterfinals of the MAC tournament.

Returning to the Huskies this year is center James Hughes and guard Mike McKinney. Hughes averaged almost 10 points a game last year, and is one of the tallest guys in the MAC at 6’11″. McKinney won the Mike Korcek Slam Dunk award for the second consecutive season, and is one of the most exciting players in the conference. Other than that, however, the team is pretty thin. Guard Ryan Paradise should expect to see time as a starter this year, but he only played 15 minutes a game last year and averaged only 5 points. Swingman Ben Rand could see time this year after playing over 20 minutes a game last year, but an ACL injury suffered late last season might keep him off the court for a while. If Hughes and McKinney don’t carry the team this year, it’s hard to see a lot of scoring coming from anywhere else. The team is a pretty big question mark right now, but they won’t finish lower than fourth in the conference.

Returning Starters – James Hughes, Sr., C, 6-11, 217; Mike McKinney, Sr., G, 6-4, 210

Projected Starting Lineup
F Ben Rand
F Zach Pancratz
C James Hughes
G Mike McKinney
G Ryan Paradise

Player to Watch: Quintan Lipkins, So., G, 5-8, 168
In high school, Lipkins led the state of Texas (class 4A) in scoring and finished second in assists. Texas is a big state, so it’s hard to ignore those numbers. There was a logjam last year at the guard position, and as a freshman, Lipkins didn’t see much time. This year, with two starting guards gone, Lipkins could be the first player off the bench, and may challenge Paradise for the starting point guard spot.

Big Game: vs Winthrop, 12/2; at Michigan, 12/16

5. Central Michigan Chippewas (4-24 Overall, 1-17 MAC, 6th MAC West)

On January 21, 2006, the Central Michigan Chippewas came into Buffalo and beat the Bulls by 10. That game was 25% of the Chippewas’ 2006 victories, as the 2006 Chippewas’ squad was terrible, and it must have been extremely frustrating for guards Sefton Barrett and Giordan Watson, who both had strong seasons averaging just under 14 points a game. There other three victories came against teams I like to call “who?” teams: Wisconsin-Green Bay, Rochester College, and Morehead State. They lost by an average of 14 points a game, so their losses weren’t close.

The best part about Chippewas’ 2005-2006 season is that it’s over. After finishing last in both the MAC West and the MAC, coach Jay Smith resigned after nine years and the void was filled by UCLA assistant Ernie Ziegler. The Chippewas will have exciting seniors Barrett and Watson back for one more year, and if they play well they both have the potential to be one of the best guard tandems in the MAC. Ziegler brings big time experience to a program that needs revival, and Watson gives the Chippewas a legitimate scoring threat. They didn’t lose a single starter, and this team could, could, become very competitive in the MAC West this year.

Returning Starters – Justin Blevins, Sr, F, 6-7, 255; Chris Kellerman, Jr., F, 6-8, 240; Eddie Spencer, Sr., G/F, 6-6, 200; Giordan Watson, Sr., G, 5-10, 175; Sefton Barrett, Sr., G/F, 6-6, 205

Projected Starting Lineup
F Eddie Spencer
F Chris Kellerman
C Justin Blevins
G Giordan Watson
G Sefton Barrett

Big Game: Cincinnati, 11/25

6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-21 Overall, 3-15 MAC, 5th MAC West)

Eastern Michigan got off to a good start last year, beating Pac-10 opponent California in the opening game. That game, however, was the best win of the season. They went 2-4 over their next 6 games, then went about a month and a half before winning their next one. By that time, nothing could be done to salvage the season and it was over well before the playoffs started. Senior John Bowler made the all-MAC team, and was the only player in the MAC to average a double-double (20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds) for the season, but he couldn’t carry the team alone and the Eagles struggled to find production elsewhere. The season ended with a loss at Western Michigan.

Eastern Michigan had a lot in common with Central Michigan last year. They both had ugly seasons, but they both have young teams that can only get better with experience. Head coach Charles Ramsey, entering his second year with the program, is excited about the upcoming season and notes that the recruiting class should blend in nicely with the returning players. They will not find a replacement for Bowler, but their scoring should be a little more balanced this year. Sophomore Carlos Medlock had a surprisingly productive freshman season, starting 26 out of 27 games at the point guard position. Along with Medlock, Nick Freer, Zane Gay, and James Matthews all return and could be better with another season under their belt. However, if the team went 7-21 with Bowler, it’s hard to see them doing any better without him.

Returning Starters – Carlos Medlock, So., G, 6-0, 170; Nick Freer, Jr., G/F, 6-6, 195

Projected Starting Lineup
F Craig Cashen
F Nick Freer
C James Matthews
G Zane Gay
G Carlos Medlock

Player to Watch: Kyle Dodd, Fr., F, 6-11, 210
Dodd redshirted last year but played for the Great Britain under-20 team over the summer at the FIBA games. He doesn’t have much experience at the college level, but it’s hard to ignore his height. At 6-11, he has the potential to dominate against smaller MAC opponents, and though it will be tough to replace Bowler, he has the size to put up big numbers.

Big Game: at Michigan, 11/12

MAC Tournament Recaps

Mid-American Conference Tournament Recap

by Matthew Moll

First Rounds

There were no surprises in the first round of the MAC tournament with all the higher seeds advancing to the quarterfinals. Buffalo, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, and Ohio all avoided upsets to keep their seasons alive.

Games of note included No. 8 Bowling Green sneaking past No. 9 Ball State. The Falcons’ John Reimold’s 38 points were not nearly as rousing as his defensive stop to end the game. Reimold impeded the Cardinal’s Julien Mills’ move to the basket, forcing Mills into a low-percentage shot, which caromed harmlessly off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

No. 5 Kent State hit on 11 three-pointers during a 91-60 bludgeoning of No. 12 Central Michigan. The Golden Flashes story of the game was the shooting, connecting on 55.7 percent from the field.

Quarterfinal Recaps

It was much of the same for the second round as three (Western Michigan, Miami, and Ohio) of the four higher seeds advanced to the semi-finals. The only exception was Team First Time Buffalo, who set a team record for D-I wins with 20 in the first round. No. 7 seed Buffalo defeated No. 2 seed Toledo 85-72. Calvin Cage went for 23 to aid the Bulls to their first MAC tournament semifinal since joining the conference in 1997.

Western Michigan nearly had to be sent home early in the quarterfinals before they prevailed in overtime 66-60 over No.6 Akron. The Zips were limited to two points in the extra session by Western en route to dropping to 0-5 in the MAC quarterfinals.

Semifinals

No. 4 Ohio 63, No. 1 Miami 56

Despite recovering from early offensive woes thanks to numerous outside shot misses in the first half, the No. 1 seed Miami received an early exit from the MAC tourney because they hit another slump late in the game, in turn granting the Bobcats their first trip to the MAC final since 1994.

The final minute was particularly painful for the Redhawks because of three missed opportunities to tie and another opportunity to cut into the lead before the game was placed out of their reach.

The Bobcats did not have a great game shooting either, starting the game 1-19 and finished the game shooting 35 percent from the field. This futility from the field included missing their first 14 shots from beyond the arc.

Ohio’s Sonny Troutman led all scores with 19.

No. 7 Buffalo 75, No. 3 Western Michigan 68

Buffalo advanced to the MAC tournament finals for the first time since joining in 1997. The Bulls also added to the school-record win count, increasing to 22 their highest total since becoming a D-I school in 1991.

The Bulls did it with Yassin Idbihi, a 6-10 sophomore, scoring 17 from in the paint and outside to lead Buffalo into the finals. Idbihi capped a 14-2 run, which gave the Bulls a 51-50 lead. The spurt was followed soon after by a Daniel Gilbert three, which put Buffalo and its long suffering fans ahead for good with over six minutes remaining in the game.

Western Michigan had four starters score in double figures, but only received eight points from its bench in the upset.

Championship

No. 4 Ohio 80, No. 7 Buffalo 79 (OT)

Only one team’s period of exiguousness ended while the other’s continued. Ohio was down by as many as 19 points in the second half before bolting back and earning their first automatic bid since 1994.

For Buffalo it was a devastating loss and an un-storybook type ending to its historic season. Buffalo most likely will make a visit to the NIT with an at-large birth not usually relegated to smaller conferences.

The Bulls looked to have the game in had on two difference occasions. With 16 minutes remaining, Buffalo was rolling and up 57-38, before Ohio awoke and went on a 22-3 run. In the overtime session, Buffalo’s Turner Battle gave the Bulls their last lead of the game with 11.5 seconds left in the extra session. But the Bobcats responded. MAC tourney MVP Leon Williams rebounded a teammate’s miss and his put back with five-tenths remaining put dancing shoes on the ‘Cats.

The duo of Williams and Jeremy Fears combined for 50 points in the win.

MAC Notebook

Mid-American Conference 2003-04 Season Recap

by Ryan Lyle Commings

The change in weather and the sighting of face paint can mean only one thing: it’s time for college basketball. Last week, the MAC’s basketball programs opened their programs for their 2004-2005 seasons. The first two weeks has whet the appetites of the MAC fans for the upcoming season with some big upsets and stellar performances.

Surprisingly, the very experienced Toledo Rockets have started their season 0-2. The Rockets opened their season against Vanderbilt, where the SEC’s Commodores took it to the Rockets in defeating them 74 – 64 on Nov. 19. Then on Nov. 27, the Rockets fell to Wright State, 74 – 64. With all five starters returning, the Rockets were picked to win the MAC and even received preseason AP Top 25 Poll votes. The Rockets returned first team All-MAC performer Keith Triplett, who has had two pretty good performances in averaging 19.6 points per game for the Rockets.

The biggest surprise so far has been the upset of the Big Ten’s Purdue Boilermakers by the Miami RedHawks. The RedHawks defeated the Boilermakers 81 – 71, Nov. 19, then had another big win on the road against Xavier on Nov. 22 in defeating Xavier 66 – 54. The RedHawks have opened the season 2-1 with a loss to Butler on Nov. 27.

The Kent State Golden Flashes have opened up with the best record in the MAC, starting the season 4-2. The Golden Flashes have had wins against Shawnee State, Binghamton, Florida State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The win against the Seminoles was very big for the Golden Flashes, proving they can compete and be successful against teams from major conferences.

MAC players of the week

Forward John Bowler, from Eastern Michigan and forward Danny Horace, from the Miami RedHawks have won the first Player of the Week honors in the MAC for this season. Horace put up his eighth career double-double in a win against Purdue, adding four assists and two steals in 38 minutes of action. In his first two games, Bowler has averaged 15 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Eastern Michigan Eagles. He helped the Eagles advance to the finals of the Paradise Jam with wins over St. Louis and Austin Peay.

Mid-American Preview

Mid-American Conference 2004-05 Preview

by Ryan Lyle Commings

The Mid-American Conference is most certainly the Mac of the mid-major conferences around the country. There is a lot of little known talent in this league and there will be a lot of interesting surprises from the conference throughout the year.

The MAC just signed an agreement with Fox Sports Ohio to broadcast many of their men’s basketball games this season. The MAC signed a three year deal with FOX and football, basketball, and Olympic sports are to be televised to nearly 4.5 million viewers to the regional audience. There could possibly be 100 conference events televised including several basketball games.

In the East, the Buffalo Bulls look to rise to the top of the division. They return a very talented and experienced squad and are led by their superstar guard Turner Battle. They also have a dominating presence in the middle in their big man Yassin Idbihi. They will have to survive some tough division competition with Kent State and Miami (OH) looking pretty strong as well. These two teams have a shot at taking home the title in the East.

The West is packed with talent this year. Teams like Toledo and Western Michigan have great players returning. Toledo should take home the title in the West. They return all five starters and have an extremely aggressive and talented backcourt, led by projected player of the year in the MAC, Keith Triplett. However, Western Michigan and maybe even sleeper Ball State could make a campaign for the top team in the West.

One thing is for sure in the MAC conference this season, it’s going to be an exciting one. The MAC could even produce three to four teams who could earn bids the NCAA Tournament. This is a talent packed conference that is not to well known, but come March some of these teams will be glued together and ready to run, so watch out, MAC teams could play some big roles in the post season.

First Team All MAC
Toledo – Keith Triplett
Ball State – Matt McCollom
Kent State – DeAndre Hayes
Buffalo – Turner Battle
Western Michigan – Ben Reed

Player of the Year

Toeldo’s Keith Triplett will take honors as the top player in the MAC this season. He led the MAC in steals last year with 2.5 a game. He was second in scoring with 19.6 ppg. He also was 11th in the conference in assists with 3.1 a game. He was named to the All MAC team and All MAC Tournament team last year.

Coach of the Year

Reggie Witherspoon. Last year the Bulls went 17 – 11, their best record since joining the MAC in 1999. This year they are projected to win the East Division, behind the frontcourt play of their star Turner Battle. Witherspoon could see a breakthrough year if the Bulls can get a bid to the big dance.

Defensive Player of the Year

Keith Triplett is a feisty guard defensively with quick hands and even quicker feet. Last year he led the MAC in steals with 2.5 spg. He is a virus defensively, shutting down any backcourt competitor. His steals will lead to run outs and easy buckets for the Rockets this season, and his intense and exciting effort on defense will land him this honor.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Eastern Michigan’s Jim Boone has been the coach of the Eagles for the past five seasons. He has had the chance to bring in some of his own recruits and install his style of play into the program. This year he signed a one year contract extension with Eagles, to let his program pan out. If he and the Eagles do not perform well this year and finish better than a mediocre 5th in the West, like last season, Boone will feel the heat.

Eastern Division

1. Buffalo Bulls

17 – 12 (11-7), 3rd in East Division

Returning Starters: G Turner Battle, F/C Yishin Idbihi, F Mario Jordan, Jr., F Mark Boltz, G/F Daniel Gilbert

The 2003-2004 MAC coach of the year Reggie Witherspoon welcomes back five starters for this season. Included in these starters are his two big guns, Turner Battle and Yassin Idbihi. Idbihi, a 6 foot 10 inch sophomore forward, was named to the All MAC team last year. This year Idbihi looks to return for the Bulls as their weapon in the middle. Reggie Battle brings back exciting play offensively for the Bulls. Last year Battle averaged 15 ppg. Behind the strong play of Battle and Idbihi and the leadership of Witherspoon the Bulls are going to win the Eastern division this year in the MAC.

2. Kent State Golden Flashes

22 – 9 (13-5), 1st in East Division

Returning Starters: G DeAndre Hayes, C Nate Gerwig

This season the Kent State Golden Flashes will be looking to win their fifth straight division title in the East of the MAC. They are also looking to have their seventh straight 20 win season. The Golden Flashes will have to overcome their loss of 7 foot center, John Edwards, who holds the school record for all time blocks. They also have to overcome the loss of veteran guard Eric Haut. They should be able to do this with strong backcourt play from returning guard DeAndre Hayes. Hayes made the All MAC team last year, led the MAC with 5.7 assists per game and was second in steals with 2.32 a game. Also returning is 6 foot 8 inch center Nate Gerwig who is returning from missing all of last season with a knee injury. In 2002 – 03 he averaged 7.1 ppg and averaged 4.3 rebounds per game. Hayes and company look to repeat their success of last year in the 04 – 05 season.

3. Miami Redhawks

18 – 11 (12 – 6), 2nd in East Division

Returning Starters: G Chet Mason, F Danny Horace, G Josh Hausfeld, C Monty St. Clair

Depth is the word at Miami, Ohio. From last year’s successful squad the Redhawks return 10 letter winners and four starters. The talent pool in the MAC is very strong this year and head coach, Charlie Coles, enters this season with some cautious optimism. The Redhawks are going to have to deal with the fact that they lost their leading scorer from last year and All MAC first teamer Juby Johnson. Leading the charge for the Redhawks campaign this season are three returning seniors. Chet Mason, Danny Horace, and Tim Schenke will be the sparkplug for the Redhawks’ run. These three have been named the captains of this year’s squad. Monty St. Clair, a junior, has developed into a solid inside presence and gives the Redhawks some size. The Redhawks look to have another successful, above .500 season and may have the chance to make an impact somewhere in the postseason.

4. Akron Zips

13 – 15 (7 – 11), 5th in the Eastern Division, 11th Seed in Conference Tournament

Returning Starters: F Jeremiah Wood, C/F Matt Futch

The Akron Zips look to turn things around this year after a sub par performance last season. The Zips have brought in a new head coach, Keith Dambrot, and along with him a whole new attitude for the program. “Thing big” and a new team first mentality have been the main inspiration for the Zips this off season. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Zips, but the new attitude of the coach, players, and program has created a new, exciting buzz around Akron basketball. The Zips return two starters and 12 letter winners from last year’s team. After suffering the loss of leading MAC scorer from a year ago, Derick Tarver, they look to rebound behind the solid play of a potent sophomore class. Matt Futch looks to be a force inside for the Zips and junior red shirt Darryl Peterson looks to step up and fill the loss of Tarver’s 22 ppg. A new coach and a new buzz may be the formula for a decent season at Akron.

5. Marshall Thundering Herd

12 – 17 (8 – 10), 4th in East Division

Returning Starters: G A.W Hamilton, G Ronny Down, C/F Mark Patton

The Thundering Herd Had the toughest schedule in the MAC conference last year. This year their schedule is much of the same, except that a lot of Marshall’s tougher opponents will be coming to Huntington to play the Herd at home. The Herd will face 8 teams that made the postseason last year. The Herd, in head coach Ron Jirsa’s second year, are bringing in some new talent to give Marshall a new look this year. The Herd signed Collins Okafor, a 6′ 7″ 225 pound forward from Nigeria. They have five seniors returning and their starting backcourt coming back. Behind their strong and experienced guard play, the Thundering Herd look to make a move in the MAC’s East Division.

6. Ohio Bobcats

10 – 20 (7 – 11), 6th in East Division

Returning Starters: F Sonny Troutman, F Terren Harbut

After a horrible season last year there isn’t much chatter about Bobcat basketball in Athens. In the third year of the Tim O’Shea era, the Bobcats look to turn this basketball program around. O’Shea’s groundwork for the program is established. The first recruiting class he had is now seniors. His defensive and offensive systems are in place, with players coached under those styles and the Bobcats face a schedule molded to their coach’s image. The Bobcats’ starting lineup from a year ago took a pretty big hit with the loss of their two leading scorers Jaivon Harris and Thomas Stevens. They also lost an inside presence in Delvar Barrett. They look to rebound behind strong play from two of their returning frontcourt members, Sonny Troutman and Terren Harbut. These two youngsters are the bright spots for the Bobcat team as they look to turn their program around after three mediocre seasons.

Western Division

1. Toledo Rockets

20 – 11(12 – 6), 2nd in West Division

Returning Starters: G Keith Triplett, G Sammy Villegas, G Justin Ingram, C Allen Pinson, F Florentino Valencia

The Toledo Rockets are everyone’s favorites to win the MAC this year. Head Coach Stan Joplin returns all five starters from last year. Among these players, is MAC standout and favorite for player of the year honors in the MAC is guard Keith Triplett. He was an All MACFirst teamer last year and has the Rockets looking to make big strides in the NCAA tournament. The Rockets have an exceptional backcourt, along with Keith Triplett they return a very young point guard in Justin Ingram. Last year Ingram as a true freshmen won the starting job at the point. His vision and ability to run the fast break will make it an exciting year at Toledo. With the Rockets talent and experience they could possibly make a run into the second or third round of the NCAA tournament.

2. Ball State Cardinals

14 – 15 (10 – 8), 3rd in West Division

Returning Starters: G Matt McCollom, F Terrance Chapman, G Michael Bennett, G Dennis Trammell

The big theme this year for the Ball State Cardinals is “finish.” Last year, according to their head coach, Tim Buckley, there were at least seven games where his Cardinals lost because they failed to finish out the game. Last year the Cards were a very young team and had opportunities to win big games on the road but just couldn’t close the deal. This year the Cards look to have success when they are in those situations again. This success falls on the backs of four returning seniors. Michael Bennett, Terrance Chapman, Matt McCollom, and Dennis Trammell will be the impact players for the Cards. Senior guard Matt McCollom will lead the Cards this season. He has already been named to the All MAC team twice in his career and has had 12 appearances in which he scored in double figures, including three over twenty.

3. Western Michigan Broncos

26 – 5 (15 – 3) 1st in West Division

Returning Starters: G Brian Snider, G Ben Reed, G Rickey Willis

The Broncos are going to be very experienced in the backcourt department. They have three returning starters all three of which are guards. The standout returning player is Ben Reed. Reed made the All MAC team last year, averaging 16 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Western Michigan will have to deal with the loss of two key players from last year’s record setting team. The Broncos lost Mike Williams who averaged 18.9 ppg and nearly eight rebounds per game, and they also lost Anthony Kann who averaged nearly thirteen points per game. They did win the West Division last year, but with a somewhat inexperienced front court and the loss of two key players they will most likely finish in the middle of the pack in the West this year.

4. Bowling Green Falcons

14 – 17 (8 – 10), 4th in West Division

Returning Starters: F Josh Reimhold, F Corey Eyink, G Josh Almonson

The Falcons start their eighth season under head coach Dan Dakich. They welcome back eight lettermen and three returning starters. Last year, under Dakich, they advanced to the MAC Quarterfinals for the fifth straight season. The Falcons will turn to their three returning seniors this year, Josh Almanson, Cory Eyink and John Reimold. These three will lead a crew who led the MAC in free throw shooting percentage last year. BGSU will also have to turn to juniors Steven Wright and Germain Fitch. These two will have to step up and be at the top of their games in order for the Falcons to succeed.

5. Eastern Michigan Eagles

13 – 15 (7-11), 5th in West Division

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are hoping to ride the coattails of a returning frontcourt player for success this season. The Eagles junior forward, John Bowler is an All MAC player. He had a great season last year tying for the lead in most double doubles for the season. He finished second in the league in rebounding, averaging 8.2 rpg. He also averaged 13.2 ppg. The Eagles will be under the leadership of head coach Jim Boone. Boone just signed a one year contract extension with the Eagles and has spent the past four seasons rebuilding the program. This year, Boone and the Eagles look to improve their mark in the MAC after last year’s 7 – 11 conference record.

6. Northern Illinois Huskies

10 – 20 (5-13), 6th in West Division

Returning Starters: G Anthony Maestranzi, F Todd Peterson

With only one senior on the roster, youth will be the big thing for Northern Illinois. Last season 9 out of 13 players with only two years of experience or less suffered the lessons that make college basketball what it is. Putting a bunch of young inexperienced players on the floor showed in their record from the 03 – 04 campaign. This year head coach, Rob Judson, will again be playing with a very young squad. However, many of them are coming back a year older and with more experience under their belts. The Huskies have some versatile weapons on the floor offensively, especially around the perimeter. With four swing players on the team, they have size on the perimeter, which can be very dangerous. Included in this group of four is returning starter Todd Peterson who led the Huskies in three point field goal percentage last year.

7. Central Michigan Chippewas

6- 24 (2 – 16), 7th in West Division

Returning Starters: F Tony Brown, G Kevin Nelson

This is the second straight season the Central Michigan Chippewas have the daunting task of replacing the team’s overall scoring on their plate. They also have to deal with losing a dominating big man in the middle. Gerrit Brigitha was CMU’s go to guy. He led them in scoring and rebounding last year, now they have to turn to Sefton Barret. Barret returns as the top rebounder for the team, with 3 per game last year. Jay Smith, head coach, returns only six letter winners and two starters. CMU’s returning starters are their utility player Tony Brown and their sharpshooter Kevin Nelson. Nelson is the top returning scorer from last year, averaging 12.2 ppg.

Mid-American Recap

Mid-American Conference 2003-04 Season Recap

by Matthew Moll

MAC run by Six

The Mid-American Conference had six teams with double digit conference wins (Kent State, Miami, Buffalo, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Ball State) three of which had 20 win seasons (Western Michigan, Kent State, Toledo), placing the MAC, once again, atop the Mid-Majors in terms of victories.

Western Michigan won the West Division’s regular season title for the first time since joining the conference. The East Division was led by Kent State, although Miami was within a game of having a share of the title.

Two teams had surprising finishes, one of the positive realm the other of the negative. Buffalo’s win output was its largest since joining the MAC and changed the landscape of MAC possibly giving them another major player in the major Mid-Major MAC. Few expected Central Michigan to match their success of the Chris Kaman era, but fewer expected them to drop off the MAC map. Central could only manage six wins after a season where they won 25 and went the NCAA tourney.

MAC Tourney

For the sixth straight season the MAC tournament final saw the Kent State Flashes fight for the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. For the second year in a row a Michigan team defeated KSU for that coveted spot.

State defeated Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio before being sent to the NIT compliments of Western Michigan.

Western Michigan defeated Marshall and Toledo before meeting the Golden Flashes in the final game. The 77-66 win over the Flashes was the first MAC tournament title for the Broncos.

The Postseason

The MAC had three representatives in the post season. Western Michigan lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Vanderbilt 72-58. Kent State lost 65-54 in the first round of the NIT to the Mountaineers of West Virginia, while Toledo was sent home in the first round of the NIT by Marquette 87-72.

Coach of the Year

Buffalo’s Reggie Witherspoon was able to help the Bulls regroup after starting the season 0-3. Under Witherspoon the Bulls had a 12 win improvement from the season before, the second best in the nation. The Bulls also went to the MAC quarterfinals, the furthest the team has went in the MAC tournament since joining the conference five years ago, this after amassing 11 wins in conference play, only four shy of the previous four years combined. Witherspoon and the Bulls are now among the Mid-Major programs in the MAC that will contend for national respect.

Player of the Year

Western Michigan’s Mike Williams was the best player on the best team in MAC. During the MAC tournament Williams averaged 23 ppg to lead his team to the NCAA tournament where he played well in the loss to Vanderbilt, scoring 24. Williams had seven double-doubles on the season and averaged 18.9 points, 7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game respectively.

First Team
Juby Johnson (Miami)
John Edwards (Kent State)
Keith Triplett (Toledo)
Ben Reed (Western Michigan)
Mike Williams (Western Michigan)

Second Team
Derrick Tarver (Akron)
Ron Lewis (Bowling Green)
Turner Battle (Buffalo)
Eric Haut (Kent State)
Marvin Black (Marshall)

Honorable Mention
Chet Mason (Miami)
Kevin Netter (Bowling Green)
Cameron Echols (Ball State)
Gerrit Brighita (Central Michigan)
DeAndre Haynes (Kent State)
Marcus Smallwood (Northern Illinois)
P.J. Smith (Northern Illinois)
Jaivon Harris (Ohio)
Sammy Villegas (Toledo)
Anthony Kann (Western Michigan)

East

Kent State (22-9, 13-5)

The Golden Flashes continued several streaks this season, two of which they wish they did not. Regular season highlights included a 10 game winning streak and their sixth consecutive twenty plus win season. For the fourth straight year the Golden Flashes won the eastern division of the MAC.

The Flashes added to the post season tally in a positive way by making it to the MAC tournament final and appearing in a national tournament for the sixth straight year. Both marks turned sour for Kent State, marking post season reoccurrences the Flashing would prefer to see fade. The tournament final ended in a loss for the second straight time, this time watching Western Michigan cut down the nets, while for the second time in as many years the K-State would have been better off seeking the council of Paulo Coelho in the NIT, but rather tarnish showed instead of flash.

Team MVP: John Edwards, Sr., team’s leading scorer and rebounder

Top Scorer: Edwards, 13.2 ppg
Top Rebounder: Edwards, 6.7 rpg
Top assists: DeAndre Haynes, So., 5.8 apg

Starters leaving: Edwards

Key players returning: Hayes

Kent State will need to find away to fill the void left in the middle by the Sacramento Kings newest center and will miss the timely shooting of Bryan Bedford. Nevertheless the Flashes will remain one of the best programs at the Mid-Major level.

Miami (OH) (18-11, 12-6)

The Redhawks season was defined by consistent play, which was represented by wins that were strung together at most to three at a time and losses peaking at three in at row as well. Losses for the Redhawks rarely came in double-digit form, with the exception of NCAA bound local teams such as Xavier (OH) and Cincinnati and MAC rep Western Michigan.

Rare double-digit losses and convincing victories over MAC opponents gave this team a shot not seen since Wally World led them to the Sweet 16 in 1998. Coach Charlie Coles’ teams have still been successful in making it within a win away from a MAC tournament championship and thus a NCAA birth, but have fallen short each time they had a sniff. In the two seasons since the Sweet 16 run Miami have been seeded eighth and ninth respectively. This season they would earn a three-seed and fall a game short of their 21st MAC regular season title.

In the MAC tournament Miami defeated Ball State to advance to the semi-finals where the Redhawks fell to the Golden Flashes of Kent State. Tied at half, the Flashes smothering defense propelled them into the finals and ended the Hawks run.

Team MVP: Julius Johnson, Sr., leading scorer, 4.4 rpg

Top Scorer: Johnson 17.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Chet Mason, Jr., 7.9 rpg
Top assists: Mason, 2.9 apg

Starters leaving: Johnson

Key players returning: Mason, Tim Schenke, Jr.; Josh Hausfeld, So.; Monty St. Clair, Fr. (These two went to my high school, so I have to mention them. Not only that they were on the team that handed LeBron James his last loss in the high school ranks, March 23, 2002 71-63 Roger Bacon to win the Ohio Division II state championship.)

Coles will be entering his ninth season as head coach and will have most of his 18 win team in tact. The loss of Johnson will require a more balanced attack, but the Hawks should be ready to make a run at their first NCAA appearance since 1998.

Buffalo (17-12, 11-7)

This season marked many firsts for the Bulls. First time ranked, first time defeating Ball State, first double digit conference wins, first home MAC tourney, first trip to the conference quarterfinals, and the list goes on.

Although these firsts made for a successful season the Buffalo Bulls still could not manage an NIT birth, nor did they win with consistency. An eight game winning streak was their longest stretch of the season and of their history at the DI level, attributing nearly half the teams wins to a hot streak.

In all winning sparked interest in the Buffalo program and strengthened the MAC, while at the same time earning the Bulls respect within a conference in which they struggled for four years.

Team MVP: Turner Battle, Jr, led team in points and assists

Top Scorer: Turner Battle, Jr., 14.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: Yassin Idbihi, Fr., 5.8 rpg
Top assists: Battle, 4.1 apg

Starters leaving: None

Key players returning: Battle, Daniel Gilbert (16 ppg, last six games), Idbihi, but no player is leaving due to graduation or transferring

With core players and role players all returning the attendance records will continue to break if coach Witherspoon can herd his Bulls. Success will bring the added pressure of being expected to win. No longer will the Bulls be a surprise team. Whether the Bulls catch the matador will depend on their consistency, not just showing up for the big ones.

Marshall (12-17, 8-10)

The Thundering Herd failed to get rolling despite having promising games even in defeat to teams such as Kentucky and UNC Wilmington. But soon the promise faded and Marshall spiraled into a sub.500 team.

Marshall still played many close games with conference elite. Falling by three and four points respectively to Miami and losing to Kent State in the finals seconds during a regular season bought. The season though took a turn for the not so good when the Herd lost eight of 10 games in the month of January.

Marshall did manage a win over Eastern Michigan in the MAC tournament, but was booted handily by Western Michigan in their last game of the season 96-62.

Team MVP: Marvin Black, Sr., Cleveland native led team in points and rebounds

Top Scorer: Black, 14.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Black, 7.8 ppg
Top assists: A.W. Hamilton, Jr., 5.4 apg

Starters leaving: Black

Key players returning: Hamilton, Tre Whitted, Fr.

Oliver Purnell project Ron Jirsa will be entering his second season as Herd head coach and should make his now more experienced team at the very least a “spoiler” in the league.

Akron (13-15, 7-11)

When the gates opened to the 2003 season the Zips were zinging, ripping eight wins in their first 11 games. Akron was unable to maintain the momentum built during the infantile stages of the season and ended in an 11-seeded lurch. The Zips won only five more games after the early season surge including losing five of their last seven games.

For the second straight year the Zips saw their season end in the first round of the MAC tournament. The loss would be the last as head coach for Dan Hipsher who elected to be reassigned within the administration rather than continue his previous duties.

Hipsher’s nine year career was highlighted by a 17-win season in 1998, earning him MAC Coach of the Year.

Team MVP: Derrick Tarver, 15 games of 20 or more points

Top Scorer: Derrick Tarver, 22.7 ppg
Top Rebounder: Jeremiah Wood, Fr., 7.3
Top assists: Johnny Hollingsworth, Sr., 4.5 apg

Starters leaving: Tarver, Hollingsworth

Key players returning: Wood

New coach Keith Drambrot inherits a team that was supposed to improve on their previous season and did not. Drambrot must work with a young team, with only three seniors making the roster. This is Drambrot’s first head coaching job at any level. Drambrot was a three time letter winner in baseball at Akron from 1978-1982.

Ohio (10-20, 7-11)

Bobcat country had little to cheer about, particularly in non-conference matching winning only three games out of the MAC.

Although the season did not lend itself to many high points there the Cats did manage some excitement. The season was highlighted by two straight overtime wins at home against perennial MAC powers Miami and Ball State. Ohio overcame an 11 point deficient to send the battle of large public-schools-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-in-Ohio to OT where the Bobcats would prove they are capable of winning. Ohio had to stave a Ball State second have surge and win 88-84 in overtime. Proving that the Bobcats not only could score, but were capable of winning though their record would argue otherwise.

The last two games that Ohio would play in 2004 also had the taste for drama. The Cats slain another MAC super-power the last game of the regular season, Kent State when a last second three rattled out for the Flashes, the Cats prevailed 60-59. In the MAC tournament Ohio erased a 10 point differential and can within a three from advancing past Bowling Green, but the shot was off, much like the Cats game for most of the season.

Team MVP: Jaivon Harris, Sr., Lead team in points and rebounds

Top Scorer: Harris, 15.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Harris, 4.6 rpg
Top assists: Thomas Stephens, Sr., 3.2 apg

Starters leaving: Harris, Stephens

Key players returning: Sonny Troutman, Fr.

Ohio showed what it was capable of doing when they were playing in heated games. Without Harris the Cats will need to find leadership and points if they are to turn things around.

West

Western Michigan (26-5, 15-3)

First year coach Steve Hawkins had the Bronco faithful convinced from the get-go that this was going to be a special season. Starting with a double digit defeat of USC, the Broncos would win a school record 26 games, highlighted by an 11 game winning streak. They would then win the West Division regular season title in the MAC, then the MAC tournament title for the first time and send the school to its third NCAA appearance.

The season did end on a disappointing note. Western hoped to upset sixth seeded Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but fell short after a flurry of threes fell in the second half for the Commodores. This marked the first time Western made it to the tournament, but did not advance to the second round.

Team MVP: Mike Williams, Sr., First team All MAC

Top Scorer: Williams, 18.9 ppg
Top Rebounder: Anthony Kann, Sr., 7.2 rpg
Top assists: Brian Snider, So., 4.8 apg

Starters leaving: Williams, Kann

Key players returning: Snider

Williams could be going from Bronco to Raptor if he can perform well for the NBA’s Toronto team in summer league.

Following the successful 2004 campaign Western will need to have some pleasant surprises if they are to make strides toward becoming a perennial Mid-Major competitor. The loss of the leagues best player will force Brian Snider to look for his shot more and for Hawkins to find himself a new star.

Toledo (20-11, 12-6)

For the third time in the last six seasons Toledo found itself in the step sister of national tournaments. The Rockets push for a NCAA birth was thwarted in the semifinals of the MAC tournament by Western Michigan after defeating the surging Buffalo Bulls in the first round. Following a 20 game regular season performance the MAC’s third best team had another chance at post season glory, in the form of the NIT.

There was no glory for Stan Joplin in company as they fell for the second time in three tries in the first round of the NIT. This time losing to C-USA’s Marquette in a battle between former Tom Izzo assistants Tom Crean and Joplin. The Rockets took their hot shooting from the previous five games with them to Milwaukee, but could not find a defensive rhythm in the 87-72 loss.

Team MVP: Keith Triplett, Sr., team leader in points and rebounds, 3.1 apg

Top Scorer: Triplett, 19.6 ppg
Top Rebounder: Triplett, 4.7 rpg
Top assists: Justin Ingram, Fr., 3.6 apg

Starters leaving: Triplett

Key players returning: Ingram, Sammy Villegas, So.

Coach Joplin’s recruiting class coupled with his relatively young core should put Toledo in the position where few teams in the MAC can compete with their talent. The loss of Triplett will be the largest vacancy to fill, but Villegas looks to be on the verge of a break out year after avoiding the sophomore slump.

Ball State (14-15, 10-8)

The 2003-2004 season began with a win over eventual Elite Eight participant Xavier, but this would prove to be the highlight of the season. What would follow would be a sub .500 season with the most noted stretch a five game losing streak.

There was a chance at the end of the regular season to turn the corner and be hot for the MAC tournament, when they played Central Michigan into overtime, but fell short.

Ball State managed to win in the first round of the MAC tournament, but was sent home by Miami in the second round.

Team MVP: Dennis Trammell, Jr., team leader in points second on team in assists

Top Scorer: Trammell 13.2 ppg.
Top Rebounder: Cameron Echols, Sr., 6 rpg.
Top assists: Peyton Stovall, Fr., 3.8 apg.

Starters leaving: Echols

Key players returning: Trammell, Stovall

Two seasons removed after a successful Maui Invitational Title, a MAC regular season title, and an NIT run Tim Buckley’s team will need to rebound from the first losing season under his tutelage.

Bowling Green (14-17, 8-10)

The young Falcons showed promise throughout the season, capped off by a surprising first round win in the MAC tournament.

Bowling Green’s regular season was highlighted by a three game winning streak and a run where the Falcons won five of six from the end of December through the beginning of January.

Team MVP: Ron Lewis, So., leader in points, 2.9 apg

Top Scorer: Lewis, 17 ppg
Top Rebounder: John Reimold, 4.8 rpg.
Top assists: Steven Wright, Fr., 4.0 apg.

Starters leaving: None

Key players returning: Lewis, Reimold, Wright

Dan Dakich will be entering his eighth year as the Falcon’s coach. His core group remains intact and they could be the surprise team of the MAC next year.

Eastern Michigan (13-15, 7-11)

Eastern Michigan’s season was highlighted by wins over Akron and Buffalo and lowlighted by a string of nine losses in 12 games.

The season culminated when the Eagles suffered a 78-59 loss to eighth-seed Marshall in the first round of the MAC tournament.

Team MVP: John Bowler, So., team high in double doubles

Top Scorer: Marcus Austin, Jr., 13.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: John Bowler 8.3 rpg.
Top assists: Michael Ross, Jr., 2.9 apg.

Starters leaving: none

Key players returning: Bowler, Austin, Ross

Coach Jim Boone received a one year contract extension. Boone’s tenure will be decided on how his young team can grow and flourish in the MAC.

Northern Illinois (10-20, 5-13)

Youth was evident throughout the Huskies’ season leading to an unimpressive 2003-2004 regular season. Northern’s most impressive win came early in the season over tournament bound University Illinois Chicago. The rest of the season would prove contrary to the early positive signs. At the end of January the Huskies were rattled, losing 10 straight games and 12 of 14 at one point.

As expected the team did not perform well in the MAC tournament losing handily to Buffalo 90-73.

Team MVP: Marcus Smallwood, Sr., Top two in all major offensive categories

Top Scorer: P.J. Smith, Sr., 14.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: Smallwood, 9.3 rpg
Top assists: Anthony Maestranzi, So., 3.8 apg.

Starters leaving: Smith, Smallwood

Key players returning: Maestranzi

Rob Judson will be sporting a young though versatile team that will need a floor leader to emerge in the form of a seasoned Maestranzi. If the puppy Huskies can play together Judson’s fourth season could be his most successful.

Central Michigan (6-24, 2-16)

Chris Kaman University hit snags this year posting its worse showing in the MAC since joining. The Chippewas just a year ago set a school record of 25 wins in a season, won the MAC regular season West Division, the MAC tournament, and upset Creighton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

This season most noted for its lows. The last 24 games of the season, the Chippewas lost 20 games including an 11 game losing streak.

The season was highlighted by a senior night overtime win the last night of the regular season over Ball State. The momentum quickly disappeared in the first round of the MAC tournament where Toledo ended Central’s consecutive trips to the MAC quarterfinals at four.

Team MVP: Gerrit Brigitha, Sr., team leader in points and rebounds

Top Scorer: Brigitha, 17.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Brigitha, 6.9 rpg
Top assists: Tony Bowne, Jr., 3.0 apg

Starters leaving: Brigitha

Key players returning: Tony Bowne

Hung over from the success of two years ago Jay Smith hopes to remove the moniker of successful when having a big named player.

Mid-American First Round Recap

Mid-American Conference First Round Recap
		Preview by Jeremy Speer Every top-seeded home team was victorious in the play-in round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Monday. Toledo, Buffalo, Ball State, Bowling Green and Marshall all will travel to Cleveland Thursday for the quarterfinals of the tournament. Western Michigan, Kent State and Miami all received first round byes into the quarterfinals. No. 4 Toledo 91, No. 13 Central Michigan 88 The Chippewas almost made good on a disappointing season with an upset at Toledo. With as many as a 13-point lead in the first half, it took a strong second half effort for the Rockets to put the feisty Chippewas away. Sophomore Sammy Villegas had a career-high 28 points and put the Rockets up three with six seconds left. CMU senior guard T.J. Meerman dribbled the ball up court and had a good look from three-point range, but it rimmed out allowing Toledo to slip into Cleveland. It was a rough game for Meerman, who missed the front end of a one-and-one late in the game that would have tied the score. The Chippewas could have taken a lead were Meerman to hit the foul shots. Central senior center Gerrit Brigitha closed out his career in style, hitting for a career-high 33 points. He averaged 29 points in three contests against Toledo this season. Kevin Nelson scored 16 points on four three-pointers for CMU while Sefton Barrett added 10 points. Keith Triplett, a likely All-MAC selection, netted 17 points for the Rockets while freshman Florentino Valencia contributed a clutch 14 points. No. 5 Buffalo 90, No. 12 Northern Illinois 73 The MAC’s hottest team will now roll into Cleveland after a convincing victory against Northern Illinois. The win marked Buffalo’s first ever in the MAC Tournament. It also was also its eighth straight victory. Yassin Idhibi, fresh off being named to the MAC’s All-Freshman team, led the charge with 23 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Turner Battle chipped in 16 points for the Bulls, who had five players hit double figures, including Calvin Cage (15), Jason Bird (13) and Mark Bortz (10). Buffalo used 16 Huskies turnovers to convert into 22 points. Northern Illinois was led by its strong senior duo of Perry Smith and Marcus Smallwood. Smith netted 28 points while Smallwood added 15 points. No. 6 Ball State 76, No. 11 Akron 72 The Cardinals bounced back from a regular season-ending loss to Central Michigan with a hard fought victory against Akron. A 7-0 Cardinals run spurred by three-pointers from Terrance Chapman and Matt McCollom broke a late-game tie and put Ball State ahead for good. Robert Owens led the Cardinals with 20 points and nine rebounds while Dennis Trammell added 18 points and Chapman 15. Senior Derrick Tarver, the MAC’s leading scorer, led the Zips with 25 points. Dru Joyce III and Rick McFadden added 15 and 14 points, respectively. The game featured 11 lead changes. No. 7 Bowling Green 56, No. 10 Ohio 54 Sophomore Ron Lewis was the hero as Bowling Green survived a late charge from the Bobcats. Up two with three seconds left, Ohio’s Jaivon Harris missed a three-pointer. Thomas Stephens raced to pick up the rebound and his shot attempt was blocked by Lewis. Ohio’s Jeff Halbert quickly picked up the loose ball and hoisted a shot at the buzzer, which was again blocked by Lewis. Lewis also was important on the offensive end. He scored 19 points, all of which came in the second half. A 14-3 run late in the game gave Bowling Green the lead for good. Junior John Reimold and senior Kevin Netter each added 11 points for the Falcons. Terren Harbut led Ohio with 24 points while Stephens added 14 points. No. 8 Marshall 78, No. 9 Eastern Michigan 59 The Thundering Herd used its homecourt advantage to its favor in a blowout victory against Eastern Michigan. Marshall shot 63 percent from the field in the first half to bust open an insurmountable lead. The Eagles would not get closer than nine points in the second half. The Eagles have not won a game in the MAC Tournament in six seasons. The last time time they did, the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament behind Earl Boykins. Senior Marvin Black collected 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Herd, while guard A.W. Hamilton also scored 16 points. Junior JaQuan Hart led the Eagles with 19 points while John Bowler had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Mid-American Quarterfinals Preview

Mid-American Conference Quarterfinals Preview
		Preview by Jeremy Speer Eight teams will participate in a battle for an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament during the MAC Tournament beginning Thursday at Cleveland’s Gund Arena. Western Michigan, the No. 1 seed, is the only team with a legitimate shot at an at-large bid into the tourney if they were not to win the tournament. The Broncos are hoping not to leave it to the committee and stand as the favorites for the three-day competition. No. 1 Western Michigan vs. No. 8 Marshall Revenge will be on the mind of Western Michigan as it plays against Marshall. On the verge of reaching the top 25 two weeks ago, the Broncos went into Huntington, W.Va. and left with a crushing 82-76 loss that put a damper on Western’s dream season. Marshall (12-16, 8-10) will have its hands full in an attempt to spring its first quarterfinal victory since 2000. Mike Williams has been the MAC’s best player this season and will attack the Herd defense with his mid-range game. Williams averages 18.4 points and 7.3 rebounds on the season. Junior Ben Reed has been the conferences best outside threat, and posts 16.5 points per game behind 47 percent three-point shooting. Thick-skinned senior Anthony Kann presents a strong presence in the middle. Kann put up 12 points and seven rebounds per game this season. Western (23-4, 15-3) also has a solid collection of role players, including steady point guard Brian Snider and three-point specialists Reggie Berry and Rickey Willis. Senior forward Marvin Black, who carried the Herd into the quarterfinals with a victory against Eastern Michigan Monday, leads Marshall. Black posts 14 points and seven rebounds per game. Point guard A.W. Hamilton is among the MAC’s leaders in assists while Ronny Dawn stretches defenses with his three-point shooting. The game will feature a matchup between first year coaches – Western’s Steve Hawkins and Marshall’s – Ron Jirsa. No. 2 Kent State vs. No. 7 Bowling Green With their hopes for an at-large bid slammed shut, the Golden Flashes know the road to the NCAA Tournament must now go through Cleveland. KSU (20-7, 13-5) struggled mightily throughout the final portion of the season with four consecutive losses. They will look to reverse the trend against Bowling Green, another team that struggled in the latter part of the season with three straight losses. MAC Defensive Player of the Year John Edwards leads Kent. The seven-footer leads the team with 13 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Senior Eric Haut also contributes to the Flashes’ balanced offense. Haut puts up 12 points per game on 41 percent three-point shooting. Sophomore point guard DeAndre Haynes leads the MAC with 5.9 assists per game. Ron Lewis carried the Falcons on his back during the team’s Monday victory against Ohio. Lewis scored all of his 19 points in the second half and had two blocked shots in the final two minutes to preserve a 56-54 victory. Lewis is the team’s leading scorer at 17 points per game. John Reimold’s outside shooting and Kevin Netter’s inside play give BG (14-16, 8-10) solid complementing players. No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Ball State RedHawks coach Charlie Coles has his team aiming for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the Wally Szczerbiak era. The quest begins Thursday against the balanced Cardinals. Coles’ crew employs stifling defensive pressure, spearheaded by senior captain Juby Johnson. Johnson, one of the MAC’s best all-around players, also averages 17 points per game. Despite standing less than 6-foot-5, Chet Mason and Danny Horace form one of the MAC’s best rebounding tandems. The two combine to average 20 points and 14 rebounds per game. Miami’s key could be the streaky outside shooting of Josh Hausfeld, whose percentage dipped as the season went along. Ball State coach Tim Buckley trusts his fortunes in the hands of an even six-man rotation. Dennis Trammell leads the team on the stat sheet with 13 points a game, but Cameron Echols, Robert Owens, Matt McCollom, Terrance Chapman and Peyton Stovall also provide key contributions. Stovall, the point guard, was named to the MAC’s All-Freshman team. Miami won the previous meeting between the teams 62-55 on the road. No. 4 Toledo vs No. 5 Buffalo Buffalo may be the No. 5 seed, but there are no doubts the Bulls are the favorite against Toledo Thursday. Coach Reggie Witherspoon has completed a miraculous turnaround in Buffalo this season. After finishing last in the MAC East last season, Buffalo posted 17 overall wins and 11 in the conference. A darkhorse to supplant Western Michigan, the Bulls have won eight straight games heading into the Toledo game. Junior Turner Battle leads a solid seven-man rotation with 14 points and four assists per game. Freshman Yassin Idhibi (9.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) has been a force inside, as has junior Mark Bortz. Mario Jordan and Daniel Gilbert are valuable swingmen while Jason Bird and Roderick Middleton provide deadly and accurate three-point marksmanship. Toledo (19-9, 12-6) is no slouch. All-MAC candidate Keith Triplett who posts 20 points and five rebounds per game leads the Rockets. Sophomore Sammy Villegas averages 14 points and had a career-high 28 points in UT’s narrow play-in victory against Central Michigan Monday. Freshman point guard Justin Ingram was named the MAC’s Freshman of the Year and posts 10 points and 3.5 assists per contest. Toledo won the only meeting between the teams, 88-83 in January. The winner will likely lock horns with Western Michigan in the semifinals.

Mid-American Notebook

Mid-American Conference Notebook

by Jeremy Speer

It was a black weekend for the top teams in the Mid-American Conference, as the top three teams in the conference fell to lesser opponents.

The losses especially hurt Western Michigan and Kent State, who were looking at potential NCAA Tournament at-large bids, if they were not to win the upcoming MAC Tournament.

With Western’s loss to Toledo and Kent State’s to Akron, both teams may now have to win the tournament in order to be included in the field of 65, even despite the MAC’s recent solid track record in the tourney.

Buffalo continues to be the best story in the conference, and with its victory against Miami, the Bulls now are still alive to secure second place in the MAC East.

This is coming in an era of mediocrity in Buffalo. The Bulls had only won 14 conference games the past four years combined, but carry a 9-7 MAC record into the conference’s final week.

Williams injured in Broncos loss

Western’s disappointing defeat to Toledo in a game at Savage Hall may not be the Broncos biggest loss of the weekend.

During the first half of the game, MAC Player of the Year front-runner Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury. His status is unknown for this week’s games against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois.

Western obviously was affected by Williams absence, and the Rockets took advantage with a 93-84 victory.

Keith Triplett, the MAC No. 3 scorer, was limited to just eight points in the first matchup between the teams, a Broncos’ victory. Triplett avenged his performance Saturday, putting up 29 points. The Rockets shot 58 percent in the game.

Western’s second-leading scorer, Ben Reed, attempted to pick up the pace with 26 points. The junior reached the 1,000 point plateau in the game.

Western and Kent State are now deadlocked with identical 13-3 MAC records. What happens the next two games will determine which team receives the No. 1 seed in Cleveland’s MAC Tournament. Both have clinched first round byes.

Toledo jumped into the front-runners’ seat for the third and final first round bye of the tournament. With an 11-6 record, Toledo is a half game ahead of Miami for the important spot.

All seeds higher than the top three must win a play-in game at a campus site in order to receive an invitation to Cleveland. Seeds four through eight will have home first round play-in games.

The Rockets close the season Wednesday at Central Michigan, looking to secure the bye.

Miami falls in crucial contest

At the beginning of the week, the Miami RedHawks thought they may receive a first round bye. This may be not be the case now, however.

Buffalo took care of the RedHawks 87-73 victory in Oxford, Ohio – one of the toughest places in the conference to spring a victory.

Reserve Calvin Cage netted 22 points on four triples to lead UB’s cause. Junior leader Turner Battle added 18 points in the victory.

All-MAC candidate Juby Johnson pitched in 27 points to lead the RedHawks.

Miami could help itself with wins this week at Kent State and Ohio. If the RedHawks win both games, they would receive the bye, as they defeated Toledo earlier this season.

Any Miami loss coupled with a Toledo win against Central Michigan would give the bye to the Rockets.

With its recent surge, Buffalo is looking at a home play-in game, something it has not had since joining the MAC six seasons ago.

Having won five consecutive games, the Bulls enter the MAC Tournament as a potential darkhorse who could ruin the Tournament hopes of Western Michigan or Kent State.

Zips flash past Kent State

Kent State was on the verge of hopping into the Top 25 last week, but now may be on the verge of an NIT bid if it does not win the MAC Tournament.

The Flashes came short in a disappointing 64-61 loss to Akron Sunday.

Derrick Tarver, the MAC’s No. 2 scorer was the Zips catalyst all game, netting 33 points. His lay-up late in the game put Akron ahead for good.

Dru Joyce III and Tarver combined to 6-for-6 from the foul line late in the game to seal the victory.

Tied with Western, Kent State still could clinch the No. 1 with victories against Miami and Ohio. The Flashes earlier victory against Western gives them the tie-breaker.

The rest of the seeds

If the MAC Tournament were to start today here’s how the seeds would fall.

No. 1 Kent State, No. 2 Western Michigan and No. 3 Toledo would have first round byes.

No. 4 Miami would host No. 13 Central Michigan

No. 5 Buffalo would host No. 12 Northern Illinois

No. 6 Ball State would host No. 11 Ohio

No. 7 Bowling Green would host No. 10 Eastern Michigan

No. 8 Akron would host No. 9 Marshall

Play-in games are Monday March 8 with the quarterfinals beginning Thursday, March 11 at Cleveland’s Gund Arena.