NCAAB Mid American
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2007-08 Mid-American Conference Hoops Preview
MAC EAST DIVISION
Kent State
The Golden Flashes finished the regular season with a 21-11 SU, 17-11 ATS overall record and 12-4 MAC mark. The year before they were the best team in the MAC and claimed a well-earned automatic bid, before losing to Pitt in the Big Dance. The Kent State Golden Flashes are off another strong campaign, another 20-win season for this fine program. They lose two senior starters, both in the backcourt, in Omni Smith and Armon Gates.
Stepping up in the backcourt will be sophomores Chris Singletary and Rodriguez Sherman, both freshmen last season who played 18 and 20 minutes per game. They were named to the MAC All-Freshman Team. Sherman was second on the team in games started with 26 and averaged 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He added 24 steals and 22 assists and was usually called on to guard the opposing team's top perimeter scoring threat. He scored in double figures five times and had a career-high seven rebounds on three occasions.
Singletary played in 26 games and started 16 of them (KSU was 13-3 in those games). He also averaged 5.7 ppg and had 24 steals. He grabbed 2.9 rpg and had the fourth highest assist total with 48. He reached double figures in points four times. They have plenty of experience up front with 6-7 senior Mike Scott, who received All-MAC Honorable Mention. Scott led KSU in rebounding, averaging 6.4 boards per game to rank eighth in the MAC. He also averaged 9.3 ppg to rank third on the team. He was the only Golden Flash to start every game. Scott posted three double-doubles on the season, including two in the final three games.
He averaged 12.0 rpg in the last three contests, including a career-high-tying 15 at Ohio Feb. 24. They were 17-11 under the total playing tough defense. 6-7 junior Isaac Knight and 6-5 junior Julian Sullinger all played last season and add depth and experience. Kent was 5-3 ATS as a dog, and 9-5 ATS their last 14 as a dog. Kent was also 16-4 SU, 12-8 ATS as a favorite and 34-7 SU, 26-15 ATS their last 41 as a favorite. They will be very good again.
Akron
Akron Zips coach Keith Dambrot has one of those small conference teams you see each year with veteran junior and senior starters and a fierce defense. Akron allowed 60 points per game with a defensive intensity because of their powerful inside game behind Romeo Travis, Jeremiah Wood and Quade Milum, an athletic trio. They helped the Zips to a 26-7 SU, 17-11 ATS season.
For this season, they lose 6-7 Romeo Travis (13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), but return 6-6 245-lb senior Jeremiah Wood (7.3 rpg) and 6-7 senior Quade Milum, who are strong at crashing the boards and play tough defense. Throw in junior forward 6-7 Nate Linhart to add more height off the bench. The deep and experienced backcourt has senior Cedrick Middleton (11.0 ppg), last year's MAC 6th Man of the Year, and senior Nick Dials. Dials is a former transfer from Ohio State. Two years ago they had a win over Mississippi State!
This physical, unselfish group has been outstanding on the road and the offense averages 75 ppg. They lost just 73-71 to Nevada last season and were a +16 dog against Gardner-Webb and won 89-61! They are not a team coming out of nowhere, either, going 23-10 SU, 20-11 ATS two years ago. After going 18-12 over the total last year, they were 13-15 under last season allowing just 61 ppg. They should be a force in the MAC again.
Ohio
The Ohio Bobcats (19-13) have busted out the last two seasons, winning 19 games each year. Coach Tim O'Shea's team excels on the defensive side allowing 65 and 70 ppg the last two seasons. They will have a good team again, led by an experienced frontcourt, and their three top scorers. The low post has 6'-8", 255-lb senior Leon Williams (14 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and 6'-6", 240-pound junior Jerome Tillman (14.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg). That's a big frontcourt and lots of scoring options. They were 19-11 over the total last year.
Senior guard Bubba Walther (12.4 ppg) was the third leading scorer and returns to run the backcourt. The backcourt also has senior guard Antonio Chatman, while the frontcourt has a good role player in 6-9, 250-pound sophomore Kenneth van Kempen. There is plenty of returning depth and talent. Ohio was only 4-8 SU/7-5 ATS as a dog, and 11-2 at home, 4-9 SU, 5-8 ATS on the road. Ohio is 45-10 SU/31-16 ATS at home the last 4 seasons! They have a shot at 20 wins this season with their balance and deep frontcourt.
Miami
Miami of Ohio's 12-year head coach Charlie Coles knows how to teach defense. The Redhawks held opponents to just 57 ppg with a slow down, tough defensive style. Miami of Ohio (18-15) used that 'D" for another strong season. Miami of Ohio made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999 last year. After finishing third in the MAC East, the Red Hawks got hot in the tourney, winning two games by 5 and one point. Doug Penno banked Miami into the NCAA tournament as the RedHawks guard made a controversial 3-pointer off the glass as the horn sounded to give Miami a stunning 53-52 win over Akron in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament. So they went o the Big Dance on a wing and a prayer!
Defense is their calling card, playing a slow-down style that allowed 57 ppg. Senior forward 6-6 Tim Pollitz is back after carrying the team all year, leading in scoring (15.7 ppg) and second in rebounds. He was hot in the MAC tourney. He had 25 in the quarterfinals against Ohio and 22 points in the semifinals against Toledo. Pollitz missed just four shots in those games from the floor in 75 minutes of action, going an impressive 22-of-26 (.846)!
6-5 junior Michael Bramos helps form a tough frontcourt for Miami, a fine defender. Sophomore Alex Moosmann and 5-9 junior Carl Richburg anchor a young backcourt. Miami has been a terrible road team at 3-11 SU, 6-8 ATS. They slow the pace down, which is what they did in losses to Kentucky (57-46), Illinois (51-49) and Michigan (62-56). Miami went 2-1 ATS in those losses, and they are 14-9 ATS as a dog the last two years. They also started 12-4 under the total before oddsmakers caught up. Defense will lead the way in another winning season for this strong team.
Bowling Green
The Bowling Green Falcons have been rebuilding, going 9-21 and 13-18 the last two seasons. There is a new coach in town, too. Ohio native Louis Orr is the new head men's basketball coach. Orr, 48, most recently was the head coach at Seton Hall University, where he compiled a record of 80-69 in five seasons (2001-06) for the Pirates and is 100-80 in six overall seasons as a head coach. He was the first former Big East player to coach at a conference institution. He was named the Big East Conference's Coach of the Year in 2003.
Orr takes over a BGSU program that will return 10 of its top 12 scorers from the 2006-07 season, with nine of those players entering their sophomore or junior seasons. 4 starters are back, led by 6-4 junior Nate Miller. Miller averaged 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, ranked sixth in the MAC in scoring, seventh in rebounds and fourth in steals in conference games. He scored in double figures in 15 of 20 games and had a season-high of 21 points at Miami and 14 rebounds at Kent State. He also shot 51.5% from the field. His 100 free throw attempts in MAC play was the most taken by any Falcon.
6-5 senior Ryne Hamblet (10.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.2 apg) and 6-7 junior Erik Marschall (9 ppg) round out a very good frontcourt, though a bit undersized. Junior guard Brian Moten works the backcourt along with 6'-4" junior Darryl Clements, a former All-State guard from Detroit's Rogers Academy. The new coach has to improve a 3-10 road record. They will struggle because of a lack of height in the rugged MAC West.
Buffalo
After winning 23 and 19 games, Buffalo was rebuilding last season and fell to 12-19. Unfortunately, they are rebuilding again, losing their top two rebounders in 6'-10" Yassin Idbihi (15.8 ppg, 9 rpg) and 6'-6" Parnell Smith (9 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Idbihi was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Honorable Mention Team. Idbihi led the MAC in rebounding and ranked third in scoring.
He is not easily replaced. Former role players will try to fill his frontcourt shoes in 6-9, 275-pound junior Vadim Fedotov (3.3 ppg), 6-8 sophomore Max Boudreau and skinny 7-foot senior Andrew Atman. All played less than 14 minutes per game, however. Buffalo struggled badly on the road at 2-11 SU, 5-8 ATS. Which makes them 8-20 SU, 10-15 ATS on the road the last two years. All of which means the backcourt is going to have to lead the way. Junior Eric Moore (12.5 ppg) was productive, but left the team as his playing time diminished late last season. So, the backcourt will look to sophomore Byron Mulkey (9.3 ppg), who impressed at the point.
The Bulls have a decent backcourt depth with junior Andy Robinson (10.3 ppg), 6-4 junior guard Greg Gamble, while sophomore Calvin Betts saw time last season. Betts had offseason knee surgery and may take some time to heal. Buffalo loves to push the ball up the floor (68 ppg) and was the MAC's No. 1 scoring team three years ago, but the defense gave up 72 ppg last year. That's why they were 18-11 over the total. They should be a good up-tempo team with all the backcourt experience, but with such a thin frontcourt, wins (and defense) will be tough to find.
MAC WEST DIVISION, 2007-08
Western Michigan
After three straight 20-win seasons, a letdown was expected and Western Michigan plummeted to 14-17 SU, 9-18 ATS two years ago before bouncing up to 16-16 last season. The Western Michigan Broncos return an ace in junior Joe Reitz (13.9 ppg). For a second straight season, junior center Joe Reitz has been named Second Team All-MAC. The 2007 ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-American was among the conference leaders in scoring (13.9-12th), rebounding (8.5-3rd) and field goal percentage (.573-5th).
6-2 guard Shawntes Gary was named Honorable Mention All-MAC after having a breakthrough year in his sophomore season. In conference games, Gary averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Gary ranked 20th in the conference in scoring and 14th in steals (1.38) in conference games. He also led WMU with 35 steals and 12 blocks. David Kool led the five-player MAC All-Freshman Team after being named MAC Freshman of the Year. Kool led all freshmen in scoring with 11.2 points per game and led the MAC in free throw shooting (.911) and was third in three-point shooting (.437).
Throw in junior guards Michael Redell and sparkplug bench player Andre Ricks, and there is a lot of talent returning. A player to watch is 6'-7" senior Andrew Hershberger. He struggled last season, but two years ago as a sophomore he was a force with 11 ppg, 8.8 rpg. They plan to get him back into the offense more. Senior 6-5 Derek Fracalossi adds depth along with 6-5 junior Derek Drews. Western Michigan was 11-2 SU, 8-4 ATS at home, 3-10 SU/8-5 ATS on the road last season. Offense is not a problem with all these gunners, averaging 71 ppg last year: The Broncos were 22-9 over the total! With the returning experience, look for a winning season.
Toledo
The Toledo Rockets (19-13) are off another terrific season, getting to the NIT. However, they lost 3 starters, all who led the Rockets in scoring. Still this program has topped 19-wins three times in the last four years under Head Coach Stan Joplin. This is a guard-oriented squad, led by 5-9 senior guard Kashif Payne who was the Rockets' "Best Defensive Player" award. The recipient of 2006-07 MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, Payne helped the Rockets lead the MAC for a third straight year in steals per game (9.9 spg), turnovers forced per game (19.9), turnover margin (+4.88). He was fourth in the MAC with 4.2 assists per game and also ranked third in the conference with a 1.71 assist/turnover ratio.
Kashif Payne also led the Rockets in assists for the second straight season with 4.2 per game. Junior guard Jonathan Amos was tabbed for the Rockets' Top Scholar-Athlete Award. The award goes to the player with the top grade-point average and Amos possesses a 3.37 cumulative GPA. He was the fifth leading scorer and returns to anchor the backcourt. Toledo's 14-2 league record equaled the most conference wins in school history, but UT saw its dream of making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1980 end with a 58-53 defeat in the conference semifinals to eventual tournament champion Miami.
Head Coach Stan Joplin was named MAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his 11-year tenure on the Rocket bench. He possesses a 192-136 overall mark and ranks seventh on the MAC's all-time coaches win list. Up front, senior forward Jerrah Young and 6-5 junior Tyrone Kent will have to step into the frontcourt vacated by Keonta Howell and Florentino Valencia. Young received the Rockets' Scholar-Baller of the Year award, which is given to the player who has demonstrated the greatest commitment to academic success through his diligence and performance in the classroom. Young possesses a 3.21 GPA. Toledo was 10-1 Su/6-5 ATS at home, though they were just 4-9 SU/8-6 ATS on the road. The Rockets should be tough again, but probably won't top 19 wins.
Eastern Michigan
After a disappointing 13-19 SU, 10-17 ATS season, Eastern Michigan should have no excuses this season under head coach Charles E. Ramsey. The third-year coach was an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Michigan for four seasons. And he welcomes back all 5 starters to a team that went 5-4 SU, 7-2 ATS to end last season. This is not a tall team, so the backcourt will be the focal point of the attack.
Senior Jesse Bunkley, a 6-foot-5 junior-college transfer, turned in an outstanding first season for the Eagles, finishing second on the team in scoring at 11.0 ppg and leading the squad in three-point field goals with 81-for-216 for 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Bunkley's 81 triples is the third-best in EMU single-season history. Junior Carlos Medlock, a 6-foot point guard, was one of the key players on the team in 2006-07 before suffering a season-ending broken ankle against Buffalo (Jan. 27, 2007). Despite playing just 19 games, Medlock led the team in scoring at 13.2 rebounds and his 63 assists was good for second on the squad.
In addition, the frontcourt returns its top two rebounders. Sophomore 6-6 Brandon Bowdry was named to the 2007 Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team, and led the team in rebounding at 5.4 per game while finishing third on the team in scoring at 8.3 ppg. 6-8, 240-pound sophomore Justin Dobbins made 57-of-115 field-goal attempts for 49.6 percent. The 6-foot-8 Dobbins averaged 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Senior guard Travis Lewis was the recipient of the team's Earl Boykins Defensive Player of the Year Award and accumulated 68 assists. A starting wide receiver on the EMU football team, Lewis joined the team after the football season was completed and played in 25 games, earning 20 starts. He averaged 2.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. Sophomore guard Devon Dumes, a 6-foot-2 guard, was another one of the outstanding group of Eagle freshmen and finished with an 8.1 scoring average. Young teams often struggle on the road and Eastern Michigan did, at 3-9. They were also 17-10 UNDER the total. Eastern Michigan is 6-21 SU, 15-10 ATS on the road the last two season, but with all the returning talent, they could be an improved MAC team.
Central Michigan
Where have you gone, Chris Kaman? Kaman is doing fine in the NBA, and the Central Michigan Chippewas have certainly missed him, off seasons of 4-24 and 13-18. Central Michigan went from a brilliant overachieving season five years ago as MAC champions, to the bottom of the barrel the last four seasons, finishing 6-24 straight up and 2-17 against the spread four years ago and 10-18 three years ago. Losing C Chris Kaman to the NBA certainly forced them into a major rebuilding mode.
The run and gun strategy worked with Kaman, but they've fallen apart without him. Some good news is that lose only one starting senior. They have an ace scorer in 5'-10" senior Giordan Watson (18.8 ppg, 4.2 apg) back, who led the team in scoring and assists. Watson was named to the all-tournament team at the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Watson averaged 23.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in CMU's two games against Buffalo and Akron. The point guard scored 34 points in the first round win over Buffalo for the top scoring output of the entire tournament. He added 12 points and four assists in the loss to Akron.
Sophomore Jordan Bitzer teams with Watson in the backcourt, while the frontcourt returns much of its top players. 6'-8" junior Chris Kellermann (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-9 sophomore Marko Spica along with 6'-6" junior Eddie Spencer are fine along the boards. This team was 6-7 SU, 5-7 ATS at home, but 5-9 SU, 8-5 ATS on the road. In fact, they are 9-49 SU, 22-31 ATS on the road the last 4 seasons. There is experience and a better season is likely.
Northern Illinois
After a 7-23 season, the Northern Illinois Huskies made a change at the top. Veteran head coach Ricardo Patton is the new head basketball coach. Patton led Colorado to new heights in 11-plus seasons at the helm of the Buffaloes' men's basketball program, joins the Huskies after averaging nearly 17 wins per season and taking CU to six postseason berths, including a pair of NCAA appearances, between 1995-96 and 2006-07. Colorado advanced to postseason play in three of the last five seasons.
It's a rebuilding job for the new coach, too, with the Huskies' top two players gone in guard Mike McKinney and frontcourt force 6-10 James Hughes. The Huskies have a deep backcourt anchored by senior Ryan Paradise (10 ppg) and sophomore Cody Yelder. Yelder led Northern Illinois with 20 points in its final game last season. The frontcourt doesn't have anyone to replace Hughes, but has options with 6'-6" senior Ben Rand (4.9 ppg) and 6-7 senior Shaun Logan.
6-3 junior Guard Jarvis Nichols is a JUCO transfer who sat out last season but can play this year. He has a good long range shooting touch. 6-7 transfer Najul Ervin will have 3 years of eligibility to play. The Northern Illinois offense struggled on the road, averaging 65 ppg, where they went 2-11. All in all, wins should be tough to come by.
Ball State
Ball State has had only one winning season the last 5 years, and went 9-22 SU, 9-19 ATS last season. Ball State ended its 2006-07 season under first-year head coach Ronny Thompson with a 9-22 overall record and just 5-11 in Mid-American Conference play. But things went even worse, and Thomson is out after a year of dissension, potential NCAA violations and player defections. So Billy Taylor is the new coach, after he just completed his fifth season as head coach at Lehigh University. He is a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year.
The new coach said, "We commit very heavily on the defensive end of the floor. My teams at Lehigh were very successful, nationally-ranked in terms of field goal percentage defense and points allowed defense. Offensively, we want to push the ball down the floor. We want to be aggressive with the basketball in transition. But we really want to make sure we lock down on defense, understanding that in order to win MAC Championships and to win games late in March, you have to be able to play good, solid half court defense."
They have been money-burners at 18-35 ATS the last two seasons. Their best player and scorer, senior Skip Mills, is gone, so there is more rebuilding to do. They scored 60 ppg and allowed 64 ppg last season (16-12 UNDER the total). 6-5 Junior Anthony Newell averaged 11.9 points per game and was also the team's top rebounder with 8.0 rebounds per outing. Newell recorded his seventh double-double of the season and the eighth of his career with 20 points and 13 rebounds in the season-ending loss to Eastern Michigan March 7. Newell scored in double figures in 11 of BSU's final 12 games and in 24 of BSU's 31 games in 2006-07.
Senior guard Peyton Stovall (8.8 ppg) is a fifth-year senior who is good at driving to the hoop, though he has battled injuries and two ACL repairs. Stovall played in only two games the previous season before a major injury. His loss was big, as when he was a freshman Stovall averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game. The senior class of guard Jarelle Redden and 6-10 Micah Rollin and will support them. Ball State was only 2-11 SU, 5-8 ATS on the road averaging 55 ppg. Depth will be a problem again, so the new coach has work to do.
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