10-11-2002, 07:50 AM
No BG players? That will change by the end.
MAC men's basketball preseason All-MAC teams announced
Ball State's Theron Smith and Ohio's Brandon Hunter highlight selections
Oct. 9, 2002
Ten of the league's top men's basketball players have been selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for each of the East and West Divisions as announced today by the league office. Voting for the team was conducted exclusively among members of the MAC News Media Association.
Key selections include two players who were members of the All-MAC first-team in 2002 - Theron Smith (6-8, 225, Sr., F) from Ball State and Brandon Hunter (6-7, 260, Sr., F) from Ohio. The two are also on the preseason list for the prestigious John Wooden Award for the national player of the year.
Smith, part of the Cardinals squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT in 2002, led the MAC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and double-doubles (23) and is the top returning scorer (19.6 ppg) from last year. Hunter is a two-time first team all-MAC selection and averaged 17.3 ppg and 9.1 rpg as a junior.
Joining Hunter on the All-East team are Antonio Gates (6-5, 240, Sr., F ) from defending MAC Champion Kent State, Andy Hipsher (6-8, 209, Jr., G/F ) from Akron, Ronald Blackshear (6-5, 210, Jr., G ) from Marshall and Juby Johnson (6-5, 203, Jr., G) from Miami.
Smith's West team counterparts are Chris Kaman (7-0, 255, Sr. C ) from Central Michigan, Ricky Cottrill (6-3, 195, Jr., G) from Eastern Michigan, Nick Moore (6-1, 188, Sr., G) from Toledo and Robby Collum (6-1, 205, Sr., G) from Western Michigan.
Of the All-East selections, Gates is the league's second leading returning field goal shooter at 56.4%, a second team all-MAC selection and an All-MAC Tournament selection from last year's Elite Eight Golden Flashes team. He averaged 16.0 ppg and a team-high 8.1 rpg. Blackshear tied a MAC record with 14 three-point goals in a single game while averaging 19.6 ppg and shooting 45.6% from three-point range (because he did not play in 75% of his team's games, Blackshear did not qualify for final rankings in NCAA or MAC statistical leaders). Hipsher, a member of the MAC All-freshman team two years ago, battled back problems to average 12.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg for the Zips who claimed their first ever MAC Tournament win last season. Johnson is Miami's top returning scorer (10.5 ppg) while playing in all 31 games and was also a MAC All-Freshman team member in 2001.
From the West talent, Collum led the league last year in free throw percentage (86.4%) and steals (2.4 spg) and was second in assists (4.5 apg). Moore led the league in three-point shooting (45.3%) and tied a league mark with a 7-of-7 three-point effort in a single game. Moore and Collum were both honorable mention All-MAC last year. Cottrill lit up EMU foes for an average of 19.4 ppg and was third in the league in free throw accuracy (84.6%). Kaman is the Chippewas top returning scorer (11.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.3 rpg) and finished fourth in the MAC last season with 1.6 blocked shots per game.
The preseason All-MAC teams, will be available for interviews at the conference's Basketball Media Day, which is slated for Thursday, Oct. 24 at Gund Arena in downtown Cleveland. The media portion of the schedule is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. The All-MAC women's preseason team will be announced tomorrow (Oct. 10).
MAC men's basketball preseason All-MAC teams announced
Ball State's Theron Smith and Ohio's Brandon Hunter highlight selections
Oct. 9, 2002
Ten of the league's top men's basketball players have been selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for each of the East and West Divisions as announced today by the league office. Voting for the team was conducted exclusively among members of the MAC News Media Association.
Key selections include two players who were members of the All-MAC first-team in 2002 - Theron Smith (6-8, 225, Sr., F) from Ball State and Brandon Hunter (6-7, 260, Sr., F) from Ohio. The two are also on the preseason list for the prestigious John Wooden Award for the national player of the year.
Smith, part of the Cardinals squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT in 2002, led the MAC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and double-doubles (23) and is the top returning scorer (19.6 ppg) from last year. Hunter is a two-time first team all-MAC selection and averaged 17.3 ppg and 9.1 rpg as a junior.
Joining Hunter on the All-East team are Antonio Gates (6-5, 240, Sr., F ) from defending MAC Champion Kent State, Andy Hipsher (6-8, 209, Jr., G/F ) from Akron, Ronald Blackshear (6-5, 210, Jr., G ) from Marshall and Juby Johnson (6-5, 203, Jr., G) from Miami.
Smith's West team counterparts are Chris Kaman (7-0, 255, Sr. C ) from Central Michigan, Ricky Cottrill (6-3, 195, Jr., G) from Eastern Michigan, Nick Moore (6-1, 188, Sr., G) from Toledo and Robby Collum (6-1, 205, Sr., G) from Western Michigan.
Of the All-East selections, Gates is the league's second leading returning field goal shooter at 56.4%, a second team all-MAC selection and an All-MAC Tournament selection from last year's Elite Eight Golden Flashes team. He averaged 16.0 ppg and a team-high 8.1 rpg. Blackshear tied a MAC record with 14 three-point goals in a single game while averaging 19.6 ppg and shooting 45.6% from three-point range (because he did not play in 75% of his team's games, Blackshear did not qualify for final rankings in NCAA or MAC statistical leaders). Hipsher, a member of the MAC All-freshman team two years ago, battled back problems to average 12.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg for the Zips who claimed their first ever MAC Tournament win last season. Johnson is Miami's top returning scorer (10.5 ppg) while playing in all 31 games and was also a MAC All-Freshman team member in 2001.
From the West talent, Collum led the league last year in free throw percentage (86.4%) and steals (2.4 spg) and was second in assists (4.5 apg). Moore led the league in three-point shooting (45.3%) and tied a league mark with a 7-of-7 three-point effort in a single game. Moore and Collum were both honorable mention All-MAC last year. Cottrill lit up EMU foes for an average of 19.4 ppg and was third in the league in free throw accuracy (84.6%). Kaman is the Chippewas top returning scorer (11.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.3 rpg) and finished fourth in the MAC last season with 1.6 blocked shots per game.
The preseason All-MAC teams, will be available for interviews at the conference's Basketball Media Day, which is slated for Thursday, Oct. 24 at Gund Arena in downtown Cleveland. The media portion of the schedule is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. The All-MAC women's preseason team will be announced tomorrow (Oct. 10).