CSNbbs

http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1004624

October 21, 2009
Steve Megargee

Quote:What the Mid-American Conference lacks in star power, it makes up for in balance.

Last season, five of the six teams in the East Division were separated by a single game. The West Division featured a three-way tie for first. But a league known for its competitive balance does feature one obvious tilt: All the best teams are in the East Division.

Last year, five of the six teams in the East went 10-6 or better within the conference. Four of them won at least 19 games overall. Every team in the West finished below .500 in conference play and overall. And all the first-team all-conference players were from the East.

That formula could hold true again this season.

PROGRAM ON THE RISE
Akron: Perhaps it's cheating a little to hand this honor to a team that already has compiled four consecutive 20-win seasons, but the Zips seem ready to separate themselves from the rest of the conference. Akron returns four starters from last season's tournament champions.

PROGRAM ON THE DECLINE
Bowling Green: The Falcons won a share of the East Division regular-season title last year, but they lose their top three scorers and don't return anyone who averaged more than 7.7 points per game last season.

COACH ON THE HOT SEAT
Charles Ramsey, Eastern Michigan: The Eagles had made steady progress in each of Ramsey's first three seasons in Ypsilanti, but they took a big step backward last season by going 8-24 and finishing the season with an RPI of 318th. Eastern Michigan owns a 42-81 record in Ramsey's four seasons.

BIGGEST SNEAKERS TO FILL
Forward Jerome Tillman, Ohio: Tillman ranked third in the MAC in scoring (17.9) and second in rebounding (8.1) as a senior, so his departure creates a huge hole in the Bobcats' frontcourt. Ohio will use a committee approach to replace Tillman, but DeVaughn Washington shoulders the biggest responsibility.

MOST OVERRATED PLAYER
Guard Tyree Evans, Kent State: Evans, a former four-star prospect, originally signed with Maryland before his off-court baggage caused the Terps to shy away from him. He instead enrolled at Kent and averaged 11.7 points per game last season. That's not bad, but we expected such a highly touted recruit to make more of an impact.

MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER
Guard Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan: Medlock failed to earn first- or second-team all-conference honors two years ago despite ranking eighth in the MAC in scoring (14.8) and fourth in assists (4.1). When he sat out the 2008-09 season with a broken foot, his turnover-prone team went 8-24.

Quote:PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
East
1. Akron
2. Buffalo
3. Kent State
4. Miami
5. Bowling Green
6. Ohio

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

PRESEASON PICKS
First team
F/C Jarrod Jones, 6-9/230, Soph., Ball State
F Brandon Bowdry, 6-6/235, Jr., Eastern Michigan
G Darion Anderson, 6-2/203, Jr., Northern Illinois
G David Kool, 6-3/213, Sr., Western Michigan
G Rodney Pierce, 6-2/200, Sr., Buffalo
Second team
F Brett McKnight, 6-6/245, Jr., Akron
F Chris McKnight, 6-7/225, Sr., Akron
G Armon Bassett, 6-2/180, Jr., Ohio
G Kenny Hayes, 6-2/183, Sr., Miami
G Chris Singletary, 6-4/220, Sr., Kent State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
G David Kool, 6-2/213, Sr., Western Michigan
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
G Armon Bassett, 6-2/180, Jr., Ohio

AT A GLANCE
Regular-season winner last season: Bowling Green and Buffalo in the East; Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan in the West
Tournament winner last season: Akron (lost in first round of NCAA tournament to Gonzaga as a No. 13 seed)
2010 conference tournament: March 7, 11-13. First round at campus sites, then Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.
New coach: None.
Best frontcourt: Akron.
Best backcourt: Northern Illinois.
Coach on the rise: Ernie Ziegler, Central Michigan.
Last NCAA tournament win: 2003, Central Michigan won a first-round game as a No. 11 seed.

Just out of curiousity does anyone know if Kent has been chosen to win the conference in the last ten years? It may just be me remembering wrong but it seems they always get thrown into the 3rd or 4th spot.

Picked to win in '02, and '07. Won both of those. Maybe last year?

(10-27-2009 11:51 AM)axeme Wrote: [ -> ]Picked to win in '02, and '07. Won both of those. Maybe last year?

lets just hope the MAC media doesnt pick us. That is the true kiss of death. I will take being picked 3rd or 4th, it all comes down to 3 days in March anyways.

AKR, BUF and Kent will battle to the end.

GO FLASHES!!!!!!!!!!

I expect Tyree Evans to make a much bigger splash. Kent State has had a lot of success with transfers in their second year in the program — Edwin, Youngblood, Quaintance to name a few.

yo idk how much you watch kent state basketball but from the looks of it you dont. Tyree evans is a tremendous athlete and the guy can score from anywhere on the floor. Calling him overrated is an out rage. Yea he only averaged 11.7 pts per game last year but he only started around 8 games and missed the first month of the season because of transfer issues. So before you go saying he is overrated go watch a few games you wont be disappointed. Last year he wasn't even a starter and only played about 20 mins a game and he had to earn every minute of playing time. So if you watch this year when he actually starts and plays most of the game you will see the four star recruit that he once was.

[quote='epasnoopy' pid='4755802' dateline='1256650739']
http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1004624



MOST OVERRATED PLAYER
Guard Tyree Evans, Kent State: Evans, a former four-star prospect, originally signed with Maryland before his off-court baggage caused the Terps to shy away from him. He instead enrolled at Kent and averaged 11.7 points per game last season. That's not bad, but we expected such a highly touted recruit to make more of an impact.

I don't follow BB, but picking OHIO last seems kinda strange. I know they had a really good recruiting class.

Also saying NIU will have the best back court in the conference and will finish 5th doesn't balance.

armon bassett as newcomer over the yr, instead of the 7 foot stud akron brought in, a guy who rivals ron harper and gary trent as the top mac recruit in a generation?

Akron with the best frontcourt? Can't agree there, I like Buffalo's more.

Zeke Marshall will not make an immediate impact this year.

Ohio homecourt advantage and Bassett make them no average last place team. They rest of East has more back than Ohio.

(11-05-2009 01:49 AM)OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote: [ -> ]Ohio homecourt advantage and Bassett make them no average last place team. They rest of East has more back than Ohio.

Junk in the Trunk.