Mid-American Conference Men s Basketball Propsectus

Transcription

1 Mid-American Conference Men s Basketball Propsectus Key MAC Notes MAC Media Day Oct. 24 at Gund Arena in Cleveland Bowling Green moves to West Division Four MAC teams in ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday on Feb. 22 MAC Tournament returns to Gund Arena March Final Standings East Division MAC Overall School W L W L Kent State Bowling Green# Ohio Miami Marshall Buffalo Akron # will move to West Division this year. West Division MAC Overall School W L W L Ball State Toledo Western Michigan Northern Illinois Central Michigan Eastern Michigan Mid-American Conference Media Day The 2002 MAC Men s Basketball Media Day is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 at Gund Arena in Cleveland. Each of the league s head coaches as well as a player from each school will be available for interviews beginning at 8:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow at noon. This year the MAC News Media Association will select a preseason All West Division team and an All East Division team with players selected comprising the bulk of those at media day. For further information contact MAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Gary Richter at grichter@mac-sports.com or (216) ext MAC Tournament Format Change A change in the format of the FirstEnergy MAC Men s Tournament has the No. 1 seed playing its first game Thursday (March 13) night at 7 p.m. as opposed to the opening game that afternoon. The previous three tournaments at Gund Arena had the No. 1 seed opening with the noon game. In the first two years of the tournament, the No. 1 seed lost that opening quarterfinal game at noon. The complete schedule is as follows: March 10: First round games on campus sites (highest seed hosts) March 13 at Gund Arena Noon: No. 2 vs. No. 7/No. 10 winner 2:00*: No. 3 vs. No. 6/11 winner 7:00: No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 winner 9:00*: No. 5/12 vs. No. 4/13 winner March 14 7:00: No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12/13 winner 9:00*: No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 winner March 15tba: Championship game (ESPN2) * or 30 minutes following completion of the first game. MAC In ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday A one-day, nationally televised event that has four Mid-American Conference teams among the field of 18 highlights the league basketball schedule. Created by ESPN, Bracket Buster Saturday, slated for Feb. 22, 2003, includes MAC schools Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State and Marshall in the prestigious contest. While pairings will be announced Feb. 3, Bracket Buster Saturday will be anchored by the Tulsa at Gonzaga game, which is scheduled for ESPN. This year s field of 18 teams includes 14 teams that made the post season last year, nine in the NCAA and five in the NIT. Twelve of the 18 schools posted 20 or more wins and six had 27 or more victories. Seven in the field finished in the top 50 of the RPI and 14 in the top 100. Four individuals in the field (including Ball State s Theron Smith) are on the John Wooden preseason watch list for national player of the year. As well, Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kyle Krover of Creighton returns. The 18-team field will feature four teams from the MAC, Missouri Valley Conference and Western Athletic Conference, three from the Horizon League, a Big West Conference team, plus Western Kentucky (Sun Belt Conference) and Gonzaga (West Coast Conference). Each conference selects their participating teams months prior to the beginning of the season and at that time determines the home teams for each of the nine games. Creighton, Gonzaga, Illinois-Chicago, Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky and UC-Santa Barbara will host games for the 2003 event. The nine visiting teams will include Ball State, Bowling Green, Detroit, Fresno State, Hawaii, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Tulsa and UW-Milwaukee. The field also has 25 NCAA Tournament berths, three Elite Eight and seven Sweet 16 appearances in the last four years. Five of the games will be televised on ESPN and ESPN2 with the remaining four contests carried by ESPN Regional. BGSU On The Move: Bowling Green moves from the East to the West Division beginning this year. With the University of Central Florida joining the MAC for football only and competing in the East Divsion, BGSU was shifted to the West in all sports. The Falcons have compiled a regular season record against West Division teams the last five years and with a 2-0 mark in the conference tournament. Top Players Returning: Two first-team all-mac players return from last year and both are on the John Wooden Award Preseason All- America list - Theron Smith of Ball State and Brandon Hunter of Ohio. Smith led the MAC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and double-doubles (23) last year. Hunter averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Bobcats.

2 MAC East Division Team Capsules Akron Zips Record: (5-13 MAC East, seventh place) Head Coach: Dan Hipsher (85-108, seven seasons at UA; , 13 seasons overall) Outlook: Despite just 10 wins last year, the Zips finished with a strong tournament performance, thus showing promise for the upcoming season. UA s win at Western Michigan, the No. 6 seed, was the school s first ever MAC Tournament victory. UA continued its strong performance with a near upset of No. 3 Bowling Green before falling Versatile forward Andy Hipsher returns (12.6 ppg/6.3 rpg) as does fellow junior Byron Thompson (6-6 F). Darryl Peterson, a 6-5 F, also established himself last year as a freshman, averaging 13.1 ppg, second best on the team, including a career high 29 points against West Division champion Ball State. The loss of guard Rashon Brown (16.7 ppg) and three-point specialist David Falknor (11.4 ppg, 44.4% from 3-point range) will challenge the Zips, however with 10 players and three primary starters back, the squad has plenty to build on. JUCO guards Jonathan Hollingsworh (Wabash JC in Illinois) and Derrick Tarver (City College of San Francisco) and freshman guard Mark Williams (IMG Academy in Sebring, FL) could team with the Zips returning front court to present formidable opposition and get the Zips even further in the post season. Marshall Thundering Herd Record: (8-10 MAC East, fifth place) Head Coach: Greg White (101-69, six seasons at Marshall; , 16 seasons overall) Outlook: The loss of seniors Tamar Slay (18.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and J.R. VanHoose (15.0 ppg, 10.6 rpg) signals a new era in Thundering Herd basketball. Slay was a second round draft pick of the New Jersey Nets while VanHoose became just the 13 th player in MAC history to reach the 1,000 plateau in both points (1,803) and rebounds (1,088). Guard Ronald Blackshear, a transfer from Temple, burst onto the scene with his MAC record tying 14 three-point goals in one game, averaged 19.6 ppg and returns as one of the league s top scoring threats. The guard trio of Monty Wright (84 assists), Ronny Dawn (68 assists) and Richard Wilson (72 assists) returns for a solid back court and are backed by Wake Forest transfer A.W. Hamilton. Inside, 6-10 F/C Ardo Armpalu returns and is joined by three newcomers who all are listed at 6-9, Mark Patton, the West Virginia High School Player of the Year; Ricardo Dixon from Hargrave Academy; and Serge Babo, who as a prepster led Indiana in blocked shots as a senior. Oklahoma State transfer David Anderson, a 6-8 forward, could also have an impact with the Herd this season. Buffalo Bulls Record: (7-11 MAC East, sixth place) Head Coach: Reggie Witherspoon (19-62, three seasons at UB; 63-85, five seasons overall) Outlook: The Bulls started strong last year and were 6-3 at one point. The team s seven MAC wins were the most since joining the league in 1999 and was actually more than its previous three years total (6). Guard Turner Battle was named to the league s all-freshman team and Darcel Williams was tabbed to the all-mac squad, both the first ever post season honors for the school. Although Williams (15.1 ppg/8.0 rpg) was a senior last year, Battle ranked among the league leaders in assists (108) and assist-turnover ratio (1.42). In addition to Williams, the Bulls will have to replace their second and third leading scorers, respectively, in Louis Campbell (12.6 ppg) and Robert Brown (9.6 ppg). Joining Battle as key returnees are 6-8 F Clement Smith (6.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-10 F Mark Bortz (5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and 5-10 G Davis Lawrence (3.9 ppg). Washington Post All- Metro first-team guard Calvin Cage, 6-3 guard Roderick Middleton (University Park, IL), 6-8 power forward B.J. Walker (Cincinnati) and 6-6 G/F Mario Jordan (Cleveland) will join the program as Witherspoon enters his fourth season overall and third full campaign as head coach. Kent State Golden Flashes Record: 30-6 (17-1 MAC East, MAC Champion and MAC Tournament Champion) Head Coach: Jim Christian (first year) Outlook: A loss of four starters from last year s Elite Eight and MAC record-setting squad will allow new head coach Jim Christian to put his stamp on the Golden Flashes program. Christian, an assistant coach with last year s team, does return talent in Antonio Gates (6-5, F) Nate Gerwig (6-9, C), Brian Bedford (6-4, F), Eric Haut (6-0, G) and John Edwards (7-0, C). Gates is a clutch performance and averaged 20.7 ppg in KSU s final three games of the NCAA Tournament. After Gates returning average of 16.0 ppg, KSU s next highest returning scorer is Gerwig s 4.8 ppg. The question of How to replace two-time MAC Tournament MVP Trevor Hoffman, twotime MAC Defensive Player of the Year and team sparkplug Andrew Mitchell? may not have an answer. Nevertheless, Kent State s program has established itself as the best in the MAC with 100 wins the last four years and returns a solid corp of players who will carry that championship desire for the 2003 season. Among the six newcomers is junior guard Matt Jakeway, a transfer from Austin Peay. Miami RedHawks Record: (9-9 MAC East Division, fourth place) Head Coach: Charlie Coles (107-78, six seasons at Miami; , 12 seasons overall) Outlook: For the first time since 1995, Miami has four starters returning as head coach Charlie Coles is poised to regroup the RedHawk talent that led Miami to five consecutive MAC Tournament championship games from Not returning, however, are the team s top two scorers (Alex Shorts, 13.6 ppg; and Doug Davis 12.1 ppg). Shorts was not in the starting lineup at the end of last year, thus leaving Juby Johnson (6-5 G), Chester Mason (6-3 G), Danny Horace (6-5 F) and Eugene Seals (6-6 F) as the returning starters. Mason and Horace averaged team highs 5.7 and 5.8 rpg per game, respectively. Mason was second on the team in assists (77) and steals (30). In the post, Miami has 6-11 Nate VanderSluis (a medical redshirt last year) and newcomer John Morningstar, a 6-10 F/C. A deep talent pool at guard and forward, combined with the inside play of the two near seven-footers, could propel the RedHawks back to the top of the MAC standings. Last year Miami showed its strength with an early season win over then No. 11 ranked Boston College. Ohio Bobcats Record: (11-7 MAC East, third place) Head Coach: Tim O Shea (17-11, one season at Ohio) Outlook: A disappointing season-ending loss at home to Central Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament should fuel the desire for this year s Bobcat squad. Led by two-time all-mac performer Brandon Hunter, a 6-7 forward who averaged 17.3 ppg last year, the Bobcats have a strong frontcourt presence. Hunter is joined by returning starters Steve Esterkamp (6-6 F) and the team s second leading scorer in Sonny Johnson (6-5 F). Johnson averaged 15.8 ppg off the bench in 24 games and Esterkamp posted 13.4 ppg while shooting 44.4% ( ) from three-point range. Jaivon Harris returns with a team leading 82 assists. Key losses include shot block specialist Patrick Flomo (53 bs last year) and Jon Sanderson (8.1 ppg). The Bobcats know how to win - last year they topped ACC member North Carolina in Chapel Hill on national television and scored a late season win over MAC power Bowling Green. After a 6-1 league start last year, the Bobcats went just 5-6 to fall off the pace. With more of a focus this year, the Bobcats may be the team to watch in the East Division.

3 MAC West Division Team Capsules Ball State Cardinals Record: (12-6 MAC West Champion) Head Coach: Tim Buckley (41-24, two seasons at BSU; 91-76, six seasons overall) Outlook: Three starters and seven letter winners return from last year s West Division champion and NIT participant. The Cardinals went deep into the tourney and were just one win away from a trip to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden before falling at South Carolina. Key players back are 6-8 F Theron Smith and 6-3 G Chris Williams. Smith, who finished a close second in MAC Player of the Year voting last season, paced the league with 23 double-doubles and in rebounding (10.9 rpg) while also averaging 19.6 ppg. Williams set a school record with 90 three-point goals, leading BSU s MAC record 310 threes. Guard Matt McCollom, a sophomore, returns after starting 32 games as a freshman. Key to the Cardinals incoming class is JUCO All-American Cameron Echols, a 6-8 F out of Kennedy King CC. Echols averaged 8.0 blocked shots and recorded 11 triple-doubles for KKCC. Another key loss is G Patrick Jackson (16.6 ppg, 118 assists), however experience returns in guards Rob Robbins and Michael Bennett as well as Williams. Robert Owens, a 6-7 F, also saw action in all 35 games last year. With loads of talent back from last year s team that won three postseason (NIT) games for the first time in school history, as well as scoring in season wins over No. 3 ranked UCLA and No. 4 Kansas, Ball State could again find itself in a high profile position at the end of the season. Bowling Green Falcons Record: 24-9 (12-6 MAC East, second place) Head Coach: Dan Dakich (89-57, five seasons) Outlook: A move from the MAC East to West Division and the loss of four starters signals an adjustment for the Falcons. MAC Player of the Year and league scoring (23.9 ppg) leader Keith McLeod is one of those four starters. Others include MAC assist leader (209) Brandon Pardon, MAC FG pct. leader (59.4%) Len Matela and Brent Klassen (6-8 F). Eric Crawford, a 6-4 G who averaged 3.7 ppg, is the lone BGSU starter back from last year. Crawford s 29 starts are the most ever for a freshman under Dakich. Veterans Cory Ryan (6-5 G), Josh Almanson (6-8 F), Kevin Netter (6-10 C) and Jabari Mattox (6-1 G) will be called upon to step into the spotlight. Sophomore guard John Reimold completed his redshirt year after transferring from Loyola (MD). Reimold was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in 2001 while averaging more than 15 ppg. Despite the loss of four starters, two facts should alarm fellow West Division teams - 1.) BGSU is 30-6 at home in MAC games the last four seasons; 2.) Dakich s last four squads have finished either first or second in the MAC in field goal shooting. The Falcons will again be in the thick of the MAC race for the 2003 crown. Central Michigan Chippewas Record: 9-19 (5-13 MAC West, fifth place) Head Coach: Jay Smith (50-87, five seasons at CMU; 73-93, six seasons overall) Outlook: The Chippewas were looked as a favorite to contend for the league crown last year after their league championship of Two close league losses to open the season, one by one point to Bowling Green and another in overtime to Miami, spiraled into a 5-13 MAC record by the end of February. CMU did respond with a stunning opening round tournament win at Ohio, stopping the No. 5 seed Bobcats Head coach Jay Smith will have to replace former MAC Player of the Year David Webber (17.7 ppg) and Chad Pleiness (11.2 ppg). Pleiness left following his junior year after being drafted by MLB s Toronto Blue Jays as a pitcher. Pleiness led the nation last year with 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Chris Kaman, a 7-0 C, is the team s leading returning scorer and rebounder with respective averages of 11.8 and 8.3. CMU also returns its floor directors in guards Whitney Robinson and J.R. Wallace, with 6-8 F/C Gerrit Brigitha the third returning starter. Mike Manciel, the 1999 MAC Freshman of the Year and a 6-5 F, brings his 8.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg of last year back to the team. In addition, G T.J. Meerman started the last four games last year and was instrumental in the win at Ohio with a career high of 11 points and five rebounds and just one turnover in 37 minutes. Eastern Michigan Eagles Record: 6-24 (2-16 MAC West sixth place) Head Coach: Jim Boone (9-39 two seasons at EMU; , 16 seasons overall) Outlook: With all five starters back and the league s second returning leading scorer in the MAC, EMU has a chance to build around the talents of sharp shooting Ricky Cottrill (19.4 ppg) for the season. Cottrill tied for fourth in the league with point games and tied for third with three 30-point games. Joining Cottrill from last year s regular lineup are two seniors - Steve Pettyjohn (6-8 F) and Ryan Prillman (6-9 F) - and two sophomores - Michael Ross (5-10 G) and Marcus Austin (6-6 F). Pettyjohn led the team in rebounding (7.3) and was second in scoring (11.7). Newcomer JaQuan Hart, a 6-6 G/F, may provide much needed talent to boost the Eagles into contention. A transfer from Ohio State, Hart was ranked as one of the Top 40 high school players by several publications, including The Sporting News, prior to signing with OSU. Hart will be eligible for fulltime action Dec. 19. Two years ago Central Michigan went from last place to MAC Champion in one year. With that in mind, anything is possible with this EMU team. As a bonus, Head coach Jim Boone will get extra time to work with his team as they take a two-week summer tour to Canada in August (16-27). Northern Illinois Huskies Record: (8-10 MAC West, fourth place) Head Coach: Rob Judson (12-16, one season) Outlook: A new $38.5 Convocation Center opens on the NIU campus this year and could also signal a turn in the fortunes of the Huskie basketball program. Second year head coach Rob Judson has the program on track as NIU rebounded from a 1-5 start to finish at last year, including an 8-10 league mark. The eight wins are the most in the five years since NIU rejoined the MAC for the campaign. The loss of the school s fifth leading all-time scorer, Leon Rodgers, leaves a void. Rodgers posted 21.3 ppg, the second highest total in the MAC. The good news in Huskie land is that four starters return and only one of those, 6-0 G Eugene Bates, is a senior. He is joined by juniors Marcus Smallwood, a 6-6 F, and P.J. Smith, a 6-4 G, and sophomore Jamel Staten, a 6-6 F. Smallwood averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds last year, the best numbers of any returning Huskie, and he paced the squad with 40 blocked shots. Al Sewasciuk returns after a team leading 55 three point goals last year as a sophomore. Mike Morrison, a 6-9 C, adds veteran play inside. Too early to tell is how the class of five freshman newcomers will blend in with the NIU vets, but Judson s troops were the lone MAC team to win at West champion Ball State last year. Six of the team s eight league losses were by 10 points or less. With a new environment and a year s experience, this year s Huskie squad may be a little closer to taking that next step in challenging for the upper echelon of the West Division.

4 MAC West Division Team Capsules Toledo Rockets Record: (11-7 MAC West, second place) Head Coach: Stan Joplin (103-73, six seasons) Outlook: Toledo losses its top assist man and second leading scorer last year in Terry Reynolds (14.1 ppg, 4.2 apg) but Stan Joplin can count on four returning starters from last year s second place West Division finishing team. Nick Moore pumped in 45 three-point goals, including an NCAA best 7-for-7 in one game last year (vs. Akron). Moore led the league in three-point shooting percentage (45.3%). Moore will team with fellow returning guard Keith Triplett (9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and forwards 6-9 A.J. Shellabarger and 6-7 Ricardo Thomas. Milo Kirsh, a 6-7 F, is back and adds quality depth. J.T. West, a transfer from Alcorn State, is the frontrunner to replace Reynolds at point guard. Joplin has a deep bench to call on and has always found a way to weave talent into a winning program. UT is one of two MAC schools (Ball State) to win 10 conference games in each of the last five seasons with Joplin at the helm each of those seasons. Western Michigan Broncos Record: (10-8 MAC West, third place) Head Coach: Robert McCullum (24-34 two seasons) Outlook: The Broncos flourished in 2002 under second year head coach Robert McCullum, posting a 10-8 league mark for its best MAC finish the last four years. Leading the returning talent in Kalamazoo are four starters guards Ben Reed and Robby Collum, forward Terrance Slater and center Anthony Kann. Reed was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year in 02 after leading all frosh in scoring (14.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg). Collum, an honorable mention all-mac selection, led the MAC in steals (72 total, 2.4 spg) and free throw accuracy (86.4%). The loss of leading scorer Steve Reynolds (16.9 ppg) could be offset with the addition of JUCO players Bobby Madison (6-6, Southern Union State CC) and Mike Williams (6-8, Schoolcraft College). Kann (8.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg) Reggie Berry (6.9 ppg) and Slater (5.7 ppg) provide balance to the Bronco squad. In his first two seasons, McCullum has guided the Broncos to a better spot each year in the MAC standings. If that holds true, the Broncos will be in the thick of the MAC West title race until the end. McCullum will receive extra time fine tuning his team as the Broncos have an August trip to Europe scheduled and will benefit from the additional practice and game action Men s Basketball Contacts Akron: Gregg Bach (gbach@uakron.edu) Office: Home: tba Fax: Press Row: Website: Ball State: Chris Taylor (ctaylor@bsu.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Bowling Green: J.D. Campbell (jdcampb@bgnet.bgsu.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Buffalo: Jon Fuller (jfuller3@buffalo.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Central Michigan: Don Helinski (donald.helinski@cmich.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Eastern Michigan: Jim Streeter (Jim.Streeter@emich.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Kent State: Brian Deitz (bdeitz@kent.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Marshall: Randy Burnside (burnsid@marshall.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Miami: Angie Renninger (renninal@muohio.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Northern Illinois: Michael Smoose (msmoose@niu.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: /0629 Website: Ohio: Derek Scott (scottd2@ohio.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Toledo: Steve Easton (seaston@pop3.utoledo.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website: Western Michigan: Scott Kuykendall (scott.kuykendall@wmich.edu) Office: Home: Fax: Press Row: Website:

5 KENT STATE MAKES FINAL POLL - Based on its success throughout the entire year and run to the Elite Eight, the Kent State Golden Flashes received a No. 12 national ranking in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches poll released April 2. It marked the highest ranking by a MAC team since Western Michigan finished No. 10 in the 1976 season. KSU also finished 9th in the final Power Poll conducted by The Sporting News. NCAA TOURNAMENT TIME - Kent State made its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years as the lone MAC entry in the field of 65. The Golden Flashes took a school-record 27 wins into the first round on March 14. KSU blitzed through the MAC Tournament by beating Marshall, 82-70, Toledo, 86-61, and Bowling Green, KSU entered the NCAA Tournament on a schoolrecord 18-game winning streak. The Golden Flashes became the first No. 1 tournament seed since Eastern Michigan in 1996 to win the MAC Tournament. KENT STATE SETS MAC RECORDS - In its overtime win against Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament, Kent State set two MAC records - most consecutive wins (21) and most wins in a season (30). CHILLING - In its first two NCAA Tournament wins, Kent State has held its opponents to an ice cold 38.8% shooting (40-of-103) from the field. Oklahoma State was 21-of-53 (39.6%) and Alabama 19-of-50 (38.0%). MAC TEAMS MAKE LEAGUE HISTORY - Ball State s 23rd win of the season March 19 at LSU gave the league three 23-win teams in a season for the first time in history. The Cardinals join Kent State (30) and Bowling Green (24) in that category MAC Year In Review NCAA First Round Kent State became just the second team in MAC history to win back-to-back opening round NCAA Tournament games in successive years (Ball State 1989 and 1990) with a triumph over Oklahoma State (23-9). Demetric Shaw pumped in a career-high 21 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Shaw, the league s two-time defensive player of the year, made 7-of-11 (63.36%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75.0%) from three-point range and 4-of-6 (66.7%) from the line. Trevor Huffman added 18 points, Antonio Gates 13 and Andrew Mitchell 10. NCAA Second Round Kent State won its 20th straight game and 29th of the season, tying two MAC records, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history with a manhandling of SEC Champion Alabama (26-8). The Golden Flashes jumped to an 18-8 lead 10 minutes into the game and built it to at the half. The Crimson Tide had 11 first half turnover and eight first half field goals. Trevor Huffman paced KSU s attack with 20 points and five assists while Antonio Gates added 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Andrew Mitchell produced 11 points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds. NCAA Regional Semifinals Kent State won its MAC record 21st consecutive game and 30th this year with a thrilling overtime conquest over Big East co-champion Pittsburgh. The Golden Flashes became the second MAC team ever to make the Elite Eight and first league team to do so in a field of 64. Antonio Gates led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds, although it was Trevor Huffman s driving layup in OT that gave KSU the lead for good. Huffman finished with 17 points while Andrew Mitchell and Eric Thomas chipped in with 12 points each. NCAA Regional Final Like its MAC counter part in 1964 that lost its Elite Eight game to a Big 10 school by 12 points (Ohio lost to Michigan 69-57), Kent State fell by a score to hot shooting Indiana. The Hoosiers connected on 15-of-19 three-point goals, including the first eight of the game. Down by as many as 20 points, KSU could cut the lead to as close as six points but no further. Antonio Gates paced the Golden Flashes with 22 points and Andrew Mitchell with 19, but the IU defense keyed on Trevor Huffman and limited him to eight points on just seven shots from the field. KSU conluded its season with a 30-6 mark. NIT - Two Mid-American Conference teams were selected to compete in the NIT. Regular season West Division champion Ball State and MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green were tabbed after not receiving an NCAA at large berth. NIT First Round Ball State came back from a halftime deficit to post a win over South Florida in Muncie. Chris Williams popped in a career high 40 points for the Cardinals while Theron Smith added 26 points and 10 rebounds. Williams was 10-of-19 from the field, 6-of-10 from three-point range and 14-of-16 from the line. Altron Jackson led USF with 30 points. The 98 points is the second most ever for a MAC team in an NIT game behind the 119 scored by Marshall in the 1967 quarterfinals in a win over Nebraska. Bowling Green was a victim to Horizon League champion Butler, at historic Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis. BG seniors Len Matela (31 points) and Keith McLeod (23 points) did the most damage for the Falcons, who ended their season at BG held a first half lead at before the Bulldogs forged a halftime tie. MAC NCAA Quick Facts All-time record: Last Sweet 16 team (before KSU this year): Miami, 1999 (beat Washington and Utah, lost to Kentucky) Last Elite Eight team: (before KSU this year) Ohio 1964 (beat Louisville and Kentucky, lost to Michigan in a 25-team field) NCAA Record by School: Akron: 0-0 Ball State: 3-7 Bowling Green: 1-5 Buffalo: 0-0 Central Michigan: 2-3 Eastern Michigan: 3-4 Kent State: 4-3 Marshall: 0-1 Miami: 6-18 Northern Illinois: 0-1 Ohio: 4-11 Toledo: 1-4 Western Michigan: 2-2 Did You Know...? The six wins by MAC teams in this year s postseason - three each by Kent State (NCAA) and Ball State (NIT) are the most in league history? The previous highest total was two on many occasions, most recently 2001 (one each by Kent State (NCAA) and Toledo (NIT). Quick Notes: In 1999, Miami s Wally Szczerbiak led the NCAA Tournament in scoring by averaging 30.0 points per game in three games (Washington, Utah and Kentucky)... the 1990 Ball State squad lost a game in the Sweet 16 to eventual national champion UNLV... the first MAC team to win an NCAA game was Miami in 1958 with an triumph over Pittsburgh... the top two rebounding bests in NCAA Tournament history belong to MAC players by Nate Thurmond in 1963 (70 rebounds in 3 games vs. Notre Dame, Illinois and Mississippi State) and 21.3 by Ohio s Howard Joliff in 1960 (64 in 3 games vs. Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky)... the 1958 NCAA Tournament featured its leading scorer from Miami in Wayne Embry, who averaged 27.7 ppg in 3 games (vs. Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Indiana). NIT Second Round Ball State overcame a halftime deficit to win at St. Joseph s Patrick Jackson fired up 28 points, making 8-of-12 (67.7%) from the field, 6- of-8 (75.0%) from three-point range and 6-of-8 (75.0%) from the line. Theron Smith had his 23rd double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. NIT Third Round Ball State ended LSU s season with a triumph over the Tigers Tuesday night in Baton Rouge. Chris Williams nailed six 3-point goals, giving him 15 triples in the Cardinal s three-game NIT set. Williams 25 points led all scorers. Theron Smith had 19 points and nine rebounds and Patrick Jackson contributed 19 points and five assists. BSU nailed 14 3-point goals in the game. NIT Quarterfinals South Carolina ended Ball State s run in the NIT with an triumph in the last game ever played at Frank McGuire Arena in Columbia, S.C. The Gamecocks took control early and led at the half. The Cardinals were led by Theron Smith s 12 points and eight rebounds and Patrick Jackson s 11 points. BSU was playing its third consecutive road game (Philadelphia and Baton Rouge) in the NIT. McLEOD EARNS NATIONAL HONOR -Bowling Green s Keith McLeod was named March 13 to the All-American Honorable mention team from Associated Press. The lone MAC representative on the team, McLeod became the 13th BGSU player to earn national honors and first since Antonio

6 National Rankings Associated Press (3/11/02) note - A.P. does not conduct a poll after the Final Four. 1. Duke (58) (29-3) 1, Kansas (10) (29-3) 1, Oklahoma (2) (27-4) 1, Maryland (1) (26-4) 1, Cincinnati (30-3) 1, Gonzaga (29-3) 1, Arizona (22-9) 1, Alabama (26-7) 1, Pittsburgh (27-5) 1, Connecticut(24-6) 1, Oregon (23-8) 1, Marquette (25-7) Illinois (24-8) Ohio State (23-7) Florida (22-8) Kentucky (20-9) Mississippi State (26-7) USC (22-9) Western Kentucky (28-3) Oklahoma State (23-8) Miami (Fla.) (24-7) Xavier (25-5) Georgia (21-9) Stanford (19-9) Hawaii (27-5) 130 Others Receiving Votes: Indiana 128, N.C. State 108, California 92, Kent State 74, Texas Tech 49, Pepperdine 44, Wake Forest 24, Texas 12, UCLA 12, Michigan State 7, Central Coon. 5, Penn 5, Wisconsin 4, Notre Dame 3, Butler 1, Creighton 1, Southern Illinois 1, Tulsa 1. USA TODAY/ESPN (4/2/02) 1.Maryland (30-4) (31) Kansas (33-3) Indiana (24-11) Oklahoma (31-4) Duke (31-4) 606 t-6. Connecticut (27-7) 586 t-6. Oregon (26-9) Cincinnati (31-4) Pittsburgh (29-6) Arizona (24-10) Illinois (26-9) Kent State (30-6) Kentucky (22-10) Alabama (27-8) Missouri (24-12) Gonzaga (29-4) Ohio State (24-8) Texas (22-12) Marquette (26-7) UCLA (21-12) Mississippi State (27-8) Southern Illinois (28-8) Florida (22-9) Xavier (26-6) N.C. State (23-11) 86 Others Receiving Votes: USC 80, Miami 66, Wake Forest 54, Notre Dame 44, Georgia 44, California 35, Tulsa 20, Wisconsin 17, Hawaii 15, Wyoming 11, Texas Tech 8, Memphis 6, Creighton 5, N.C. Wilmington 5, Butler MAC Year In Review Daniels received similar recognition in McLeod was also named MAC Player of the Year and led the league in scoring at 22.9 ppg. MAC ATTENDANCE RECORD - For the second consecutive season the MAC Tournament established records for championship game attendance (14,106) and overall attendance (35,095) for the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship sessions. The MAC ranked ninth nationally among the 30 conference tournaments in championship game attendance. ACC ,895 Big East ,528 Big ,996 Pac ,995 Big ,848 SEC ,501 C-USA ,242 Mountain West ,347 MAC ,106 Atlantic ,111 WAC ,355 JONES SETS MAC RECORD - Ball State s Lonnie Jones set a MAC career record for blocked shots Feb. 2 as his six rejects in a win at Eastern Michigan boosted his career total to 265. Jones effort eclipsed the former standard of 262 held by Ohio University s Jason Terry from Jones had 89 blocks on the season and has since upped his record to 301, becoming the first player in league history to reach 300 or more blocks. Ohio s Patrick Flomo, who last year set a MAC single season record with 105 blocked shots, had 53 rejects this season and eclipsed the 200 barrier with three blocks in the Bobcats win over Miami on Jan. 19. The all-time MAC leaders are as follows: *Lonnie Jones (BSU) Jason Terry (OU) John Deveraux (OU) *Patrick Flomo (OU) *active through 2002 season. MVP AGAIN - Kent State s Trevor Huffman was named as the First Energy MAC Men s Tournament MVP for the second consecutive year. Huffman averaged 19 points and three assists while shooting 58.6% (17-of-29) from the field in pacing the Golden Flashes to the title. Huffman joins Ball State s Billy Butts (1989 and 1990) as the only twotime tournament MVP winners. KENT WINS FIRST EVER TITLE - Kent State clinched its first ever MAC Championship on Feb. 19 with a win over Marshall and a Ball State loss to Western Michigan the next night. The Golden Flashes have won two of the last three MAC Tournaments but never a regular season crown since beginning competition in the league with the season. Kent State did win the East Division last year. BALL STATE WINS WEST - Ball State won its first ever outright West Division title with a 12-6 mark, one game in front of Toledo. The Cardinals also have co-west Division titles in 1998 (with Western Michigan) and 2000 (with Toledo). Ball State s league mark included an 8-1 home record. Last year BSU was only 4-5 at home in MAC games, but 7-2 on the road. MAC FANTASY - If you would have had the following players in your MAC Fantasy League for the March 4th opening round MAC tournament games - Marshall s J.R. VanHoose, Tamar Slay and Ronald Blackshear and Akron s Rashon Brown and David Falknor - you would have scored 146 points, shot 61.1% (44-of-72) from the field, 53.8% (14-of-26) from three-point range, 88.0% (44-of- 50) from the free throw line and grabbed 40 rebounds. WELCOME - Akron, competing in its 10th MAC season, captured its first tournament game with March 4th s win at Western Michigan. The Zips had been 0-4 in previous MAC Tournament contests. UNDERDOG - Central Michigan has had great success in its role as an underdog the past two tournaments against the higher seed. In 2000, as the No. 13 seed, the Chippewas knocked off No. 4 Akron and this year as the No. 12 seed they topped No. 5 Ohio In 2001, as the No. 1 seed, CMU dropped a quarterfinal game to Miami CARDINALS CLAIM MAC RECORD - With 11 three-point field goals in the Feb. 23rd win over Miami, Ball State increased its season total in 3s to 250, which sets a MAC record. The former standard of 246 was set in the 2000 season by Marshall. BSU finished its season with a record 310 three-point goals. REACHING Two MAC head coaches reached the 100 plateau the final week of the regular season. Toledo s Stan Joplin recorded his 100th career victory in a win at Ohio on Feb. 27. Marshall s Greg White captured his 100th career win at Marshall with a triumph at Akron on Mar. 2. White won 20 of those games in , the Herd s last season in the Southern Conference prior to joining the MAC. KSU SETS MAC RECORD - In 56 years of MAC basketball, no team has won more league games than this year s Kent State squad, which produced 17 triumphs in 18 outings. Only a one-point loss at Buffalo marred the Golden Flashes record. The previous standard of 16 was reached three times by Miami , 1986 and The last MAC team to lose just one game in a season was the 1976 Western Michigan squad that went Kent State s 56 MAC only wins the last four years are also the most in league history over that period of time. EAST vs. WEST - The last five years of divisional play have seen MAC East Division teams with a (.603 pct.) advantage over the West Division in regular season games, and a 14-8 (.636) edge in tournament games. The West Division has won two of the four tournament titles since going to divisional play, with Eastern Michigan (1998) and Ball State (2000) taking the prize from the West and Kent State (1999, 2001 and 2002) the post season title from the East. Beginning with the season, Bowling Green will move to the West Division. BURNING THE NETS - Marshall s Ronald Blackshear had his or anyone elses best game ever when he tied an NCAA record and a MAC record Mar. 2 in the Herd s win at Akron. Blackshear tied an NCAA mark by making 11 consecutive 3-point goals and equalled a MAC standard with 14 3-point goals in the game. His 14 threes tied Ohio s Dave Jamerson, who accomplished the feat Dec. 21, 1989 versus Charleston. Blackshear, a transfer from Temple, is the leading scorer for Marshall at 19.2 ppg but has not played in the required 75% of the Herd s games to qualify for NCAA or MAC rankings.

7 MAC In NCAA Stats (as of March 11) Individual Scoring 7. Keith McLeod, BG Leon Rodgers, NIU Theron Smith, BSU Ricky Cottrill, EMU Field Goal Percentage 12. Len Matela, BG Marcus Smallwood, NIU Point Percentage 3-Point FG Percentage 14. Nick Moore, UT t-23. David Falknor, UA t-23. Steve Esterkamp, Ohio Rebounds 7. Theron Smith, BSU J.R. VanHoose, MAR Assists 17. Brandon Pardon, BG Blocked Shots 20. Lonnie Jones, BSU Steals 21. Robby Collum, WMU Team Scoring Margin 11. Kent State Rebound Margin 19. Kent State Scoring Defense 30. Kent State Field Goal Percentage 5. Bowling Green Ohio Kent State Free Throw Percentage 13. Akron Bowling Green Ball State Miami Point Field Goals Per Game 13. Ball State Marshall t-30. Western Michigan Point Field Goal Percentage 2. Marshall Bowling Green Won-Loss Percentage t-9. Kent State t-27. Bowling Green Superlatives Team 3-Point FG Percentage 1. Kent State of-17 versus Buffalo/Jan Bowling Green of-16 versus Defiance/Nov. 24 Individual 3-Point FG Percentage t-1. Nick Moore of-7 versus Akron/Feb. 13 Most 3-Point Field Goals Ronald Blackshear...14 versus Akron/March MAC Year In Review 20 POINT CLUB - Two MAC players averaged 20 points per game this season, which may not seem like such a large number until you consider that the last MAC player to average 20 ppg or more for an entire season was Wally Szczerbiak of Miami in when he posted 24.2 ppg. Last year s MAC scoring champion David Webber of Central Michigan averaged 18.4 ppg and the year before Marshall s Tamar Slay averaged 19.9 ppg. This year Keith McLeod of Bowling Green led the MAC with 22.9 ppg followed by Leon Rodgers of Northern Illinois at PRIME TIME SUCCESS - Ohio University became the second MAC school to win back-to-back games on national television this year when it stopped North Carolina, 86-78, Feb. 20 on ESPN2. The previous Saturday the Bobcats downed Marshall In November Ball State captured successive ESPN televised wins over Kansas, 93-91, and UCLA, 91-73, in the Maui Classic. A FIRST FOR UB - Buffalo s win over Marshall on Feb. 23 marked the first series sweep for the Bulls since joining the MAC four years ago. UB had defeated the Herd earlier this year in Huntington, The Bulls resume this year includes wins against the No. 1 (Central Michigan), No. 2 (Kent State) and No. 3 (Marshall) seeds from last year s MAC Tournament. A MONSTER GAME - Ohio forward Brandon Hunter had never played well at the Henderson Center in Huntington, W.Va., until Feb. 16, that is. Hunter busted loose with a memory maker with 27 points and 22 rebounds to lead Ohio to a win on national TV (ESPN). Hunter became the first MAC player with a game in a league game since Northern Illinois T.J. Lux had 36 points and 20 rebounds on Jan. 22, 2000, also against Marshall. On Dec. 6, 2001, Ball State s Theron Smith had a with 29 points and 21 rebounds in a win over IPFW. MAC PLAYERS ARE HONORED - Five MAC players were recognized in late Feb. with NABC All-District honors. For District 10, Bowling Green s Keith McLeod and Ball State s Theron Smith were named first-team with Ohio s Brandon Hunter and Kent State s Trevor Huffman on the second team. Marshall s Tamar Slay was picked on the first team for District 4. SMART PLAYERS - Four MAC student-athletes from men s basketball were named to the Verizon Academic All-District team. Ball State s Patrick Jackson, Kent State s Demetric Shaw, Marshall s J.R. VanHoose and Buffalo s Gabe Cagwin were named to their respective District teams. On March 7, Jackson was named to the national first-team Verizon Academic All-America team while VanHoose was named third-team. HOOSE IN THE HOUSE - On Feb. 5, Marshall s J.R. VanHoose grabbed 18 rebounds against Akron to boost his career total to 1,002. VanHoose, who concluded his career with 1,803 career points and 1,088 rebounds, became just the 13th player in MAC history to join the 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds category. The most recent MAC player to do it was Miami s Devin Davis ( ) with 1,828 points and 1,027 rebounds. 20 AGAIN - Kent State s win Feb. 16 against Miami vaulted the Golden Flashes into elite company in MAC history. For only the fifth time in 56 years of MAC basketball, a school has won 20 games four years in a row. KSU has fashioned a record the last four seasons, including a MAC slate. MAC SCHOOLS WITH CONSECUTIVE 20-WIN SEASONS (3 OR MORE) 5 Toledo Ball State Kent State Ohio Eastern Michigan Miami (twice) / MAC HISTORY NOTE - Stan Heath became the first coach since Charlie Coles and Milton Barnes, both in , to inherit a team that won 20 games the year before and still win 20 games in his first season. Only four previous coaches in MAC history have taken over a 20-win team and sustained that many wins the next year. The list follows: Coach/record/yr....Prev. Year Jerry Peirson (MIA) 20-11/ Dick Hunsaker (BSU) 26-7/ Charlie Coles (MIA) 21-9/ Milton Barnes (EMU) 22-10/ Stan Heath (KSU) 30-6/ BG AND BSU HIT 20 - Bowling Green became the second MAC team (Kent State) to win 20 games this year. The Falcons reached the 20-win mark on Feb. 20 with a win over Miami. It also marked the second time in the last three years that the Falcons have won 20 games in a season as the 2000 squad had a 22-8 record in its MAC Championship season. Ball State reached 20 wins with a win over Miami on March 7. NICK AT NIGHT - Toledo s Nick Moore tied a MAC single game record by connecting on 7-of-7 three point field goal attempts in Feb. 13th s win over Akron. Moore s hot shooting puts him in the company with Bowling Green s DaMar Moore, also 7-of-7 on Jan. 3, 1998 versus Western Michigan. FIRST YEAR WINS - Only six head coaches in league history have reached the 20-win plateau in their first year in the MAC. Stan Heath joined the club Feb. 16 in Kent State s triumph over Miami. Coach/yr...Wins Stan Heath (KSU) Dick Hunsaker (BSU) Milton Barnes (EMU) Jerry Bush (Toledo) Darrell Hedric (MIA) Jerry Peirson (MIA) MAC TRIO GETS INVITE - Ball State center Lonnie Jones, Kent State guard Trevor Huffman and Bowling Green guard Keith McLeod accepted Invitations to the prestigious Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational April 3-6. The four-day tournament is for 64 of the nation s top collegiate seniors who are looking to pursue a professional basketball career. The 64 players will be broken up into eight teams and play in a tournament format for the four-day event. RATING THE FLASHES - Kent State s record the last four years ranks as among the best over a four-year period in league history. To follow are some of the top runs from MAC schools. BSU/ KSU/ BSU/ EMU/ UT/ UT/

8 HUSKIES MAKING TRACKS - Northern Illinois captured its eighth MAC win of the year, its most since rejoining the league for the season. Under first year head coach Rob Judson, NIU finished overall and 8-10 in conference games after a 5-23 record last season. The Huskies best league mark the last four years was 6-12 in the campaign. NIU had a combined (.264 winning percentage) the last four years in conference play prior to Judson s arrival. STREAK CONTINUES - Kent State s 21-game winning streak is not only a MAC record, but was the longest in the nation this year. Earlier this year, Bowling Green had a 12-game win streak before losing at Ball State. The Falcons winning skein was tied for third nationally with Oklahoma and Gonzaga, all of whom trailed Cincinnati s 15- game and Florida s 13-game streaks. All-time MAC Win Streaks Wins School Year(s) 21 Kent State W. Michigan / Ball State Toledo / Toledo Ohio Miami Bowling Green Toledo BRONCOS BURN NETS TO TIE MAC RECORD - Western Michigan s victory over Ohio on Jan. 26 was fueled by a MAC team record 17 three-point field goals. WMU tied the standard of 17 held by three MAC teams (BGSU 1989, Marshall 1999 and Ohio 2000). For the Broncos, who attempted 31 threes, Robby Collum hoisted 7- of-8 and Steve Reynolds 6-of-9. MAKING THE GRADE - Seven MAC teams Surpassed their win totals from last year. Those teams are: Team Difference WMU BGSU Buffalo NIU KSU BSU EMU COLES ON COURSE - Miami head coach Charlie Coles began the season with 186 wins and racked up 13 more to close to within one of the 200-win plateau. Next year, Coles will become the fifth coach in league history to reach 200 wins. Coles previously coached 176 games at Central Michigan, going Coach, School Wins Bob Nichols, Toledo 375 James Snyder, Ohio 355 Darrell Hedric, Miami 216 Larry Hunter, Ohio 204 Charlie Coles, CMU/Miami 199 Dick Parfitt, C. Michigan 193 HUFFMAN SETS KSU RECORD - Kent State senior Trevor Huffman became the school s alltime scoring leader March 7th by scoring 24 points versus Marshall, boosting his career total to 1,724. Huffman passed Burrell McGhee (1,710). Since then, Huffman increased his total to 1,820, which ranks 19th highest all-time in MAC history MAC Year In Review SMITH IS DOUBLE TROUBLE - Ball State s Theron Smith (19.6 ppg/11.0 rpg) and Marshall s J.R. VanHoose (15.0/10.6) were the only MAC players averaging double figures in points and rebounds. The MAC list of players with at least five double-doubles is below. Theron Smith, Ball State 23 J.R. VanHoose, Marshall 16 Brandon Hunter, Ohio 10 Antonio Gates, Kent State 10 Len Matela, BG 10 Darcel Williams, Buffalo 9 Leon Rodgers, Northern Illinois 9 Latece Williams, Marshall 7 Chris Kaman, Central Michigan 7 Anthony Kann, Western Michigan 6 Marcus Smallwood, Northern Illinois 5 THE GREAT ONES - Among those in Bowling Green history who have led the MAC in scoring are Antonio Daniels (1997, 23.5), Howard Komives (1964, MAC record 36.7) and Al Bianchi (1954, 25.0). Etching his name among the greatest all-time Falcon players this year was senior Keith McLeod, who led the MAC in scoring with his 22.9 average. McLeod also led the league with 10 games with 30 or more points. PERFECT AT HOME - The last four teams to win the MAC Championship - Miami (1999), Bowling Green (2000) and Central Michigan (2001) - all produced undefeated records at home in league play. Each team went 9-0 on their home court. This year s MAC Champion Kent State was also 9-0 at home. NEARING THE TOP - As listed below, several MAC players ended their career among the league s top point producers. The MAC all-time leading scorer is Ball State s Bonzi Wells ( ) with 2, Bonzi Wells (BSU)... 2, Ken Epperson (UT)... 2, Craig Thomas (UT)... 1, Anthony Stacey (BGSU)... 1, Keith McLeod BGSU)... 1, Derrick Dial (EMU)... 1, Allen Rayhorn (NIU)... 1, Wally Szczerbiak (MIA)... 1, Howard Komives (BGSU)... 1, Devin Davis (MIA)... 1, Trevor Huffman (KSU)... 1, J.R. VanHoose (MAR)... 1, Tamar Slay (MAR)... 1, Antonio Daniels (BGSU)... 1, Manny Newsome (WMU)... 1, David Webber (CMU)... 1,774 Most Rebounds In A Career 1. Charlie Slack (MAR)... 1, Nate Thurmond (BGSU)... 1, Ron Harper (MIA)... 1, Wayne Embry (MIA)... 1, J.R. VanHoose (MAR)... 1, Allen Rayhorn (NIU)... 1, Cornelius Cash (BGSU)... 1, Gary Trent (Ohio)... 1, Dan Roundfield (CMU) Devin Davis (MIA)... 1,027 MAC IN THE RPI - (as of end of season)* Kent State Bowling Green Ball State Miami Ohio Toledo Western Michigan Marshall Northern Illinois Central Michigan Buffalo Akron Eastern Michigan *from The College Basketball News RPI College Basketball Ratings. As a conference, the MAC is 11th. GOING OUT IN STYLE - The last game at Chick Evans Field House in DeKalb, Ill., home of the Huskies, was a success as the Huskies handed Central Michigan an loss Feb. 23. Chick Evans Field House opened Dec. 3, NIU will open its new arena, the 9,100 seat (for basketball) Convocation Center, this fall. CARDS PLAY THEIR ACE - With early-season knockoffs of No. 3 UCLA and No. 4 Kansas, Ball State earned the right to be listed among the nation s elite. In the polls of December 2, BSU was listed at No. 15 by the Associated Press and No. 20 by the USA Today/ESPN top 25 poll. The Cardinals ranking was the highest by a MAC team since November 28, 1994, when Ohio was listed No. 14 by the AP. The No. 15 ranking in the AP poll is the highest ever for a BSU squad. MAC Tournament Review - First Round Monday, March 4, 2002 Two upsets marked the opening round of the 2002 First Energy Mid-American Conference Men s Basketball Tournament played March 4. No. 12 seed Central Michigan stunned No. 5 Ohio, 65-56, in Athens while No. 11 Akron surprised No. 6 Western Michigan, 90-83, in Kalamazoo. Elsewhere No. 4 Toledo disposed of No. 13 Eastern Michigan, 89-53, No. 7 Miami held off No. 10 Buffalo, 70-61, and No. 8 Marshall outscored No. 9 Northern Illinois, Central Michigan s stunning win over Ohio was fueled by center Chris Kaman, who had 13 points, 14 rebounds four blocked shots and three assists. David Webber led CMU in scoring with 15 points and was joined by T.J. Meerman and Chad Pleiness with 11 each. Ohio s Steve Esterkamp paced all scorers with 18 points, but Ohio s leader during the year, Brandon Hunter, was held to four points on a 2-of-7 shooting performance. Akron s upset of Western Michigan was the Zips first-ever MAC Tournament win. Two Zips scored 30 points - 31 by Rashon Brown and 30 from David Falknor. The duo combined to go 18-of-29 from the field and 21-of-23 from the line. UA shot 76.2% from the field in the first half and 61.9% for the game. The Zips tied a MAC Tournament record by making 33 free throws. Anthony Kann led WMU with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Toledo s domination of Eastern Michigan was led by 25 points from Keith Triplett and 14 each from Terry Reynolds and Nick Moore. UT led by 12 points at the half before going on a second half scoring advantage. Ryan Prillman led the Eagles with 12 points. Miami broke away from a halftime lead to outscore the Bulls in the second half. Juby Johnson and Chester Mason took RedHawk scoring honors with 15 points each. Freshman Turner Battle led the Bulls with 16 points.