Akron, Central Michigan Selected As Preseason Men's Favorites
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CLEVELAND - The Akron Zips and the Central Michigan Chippewas have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2009-10 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. The poll was announced during the league's preseason media teleconference and was determined by a 24-member MAC News Media Panel. The Zips also received 19 votes to win the FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament. Ten of the league's top men's basketball players were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office.
Akron Head Coach Keith Dambrot will welcome back 13 letterwinners, including four starters to a team that posted a 23-13 overall record (10-6 MAC) and claimed its first ever FirstEnergy MAC Tournament title last season. The Zips earned a No. 13 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament and fell to Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament First Round. Leading the Zips will be junior Brett McKnight who led the Zips in scoring last season with 11.2 ppg.
The Zips were followed in the East Division preseason predictions by Kent State, while Buffalo was picked to finish third. Miami was tabbed to finish fourth, while Bowling Green and Ohio rounded out this year's selections.
Central Michigan was picked to finished first in the West Division after claiming a share of the West Division title last season and Head Coach Ernie Zeigler will welcome back four letterwinners, including three starters to a team that finished the season with a 12-19 overall record (7-9 MAC). The Chippewas will be led by junior guards Jordan Bitzer (12.1 ppg.) and Robbie Harman (11.4 ppg.).
Northern Illinois followed Central Michigan in the preseason rankings in second, while Eastern Michigan was selected to finish third. Ball State was picked to place fourth, while Western Michigan and Toledo rounded out the West Division selections.
The West Division preseason All-MAC representatives are David Kool of Western Michigan, Jarrod Jones of Ball State, Brandon Bowdry of Eastern Michigan, Darion "Jake" Anderson of Northern Illinois and Carlos Medlock of Eastern Michigan.
The East Division squad is comprised of Miami's Kenny Hayes, Akron's McKnight, Buffalo's Rodney Pierce, Kent State's Chris Singletary and Akron's Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens . All of this year's Preseason All-MAC selections have been either an All-MAC first, second, honorable-mention or All-Freshman team selections at the conclusion of a previous season.
The MAC regular season gets underway on Friday, November 13 as four teams will take the court. Northern Illinois takes on Northwestern (8 p.m. - Big Ten Network), while Kent State hosts Samford in the Hispanic College Fund Classic. Ball State also opens up at home against Valparaiso, while Ohio will take on Ohio Valley. Conference action begins on Saturday, January 9 as all teams will start to fight for position in the FirstEnergy Men's Basketball Tournament that will take place on March 10-13 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
MAC East Division Preseason Media Poll
1. Akron - 190 points (19)
2. Kent State - 108 points (3)
3. Buffalo - 97 points (1)
4. Miami -- 78 points
5. Bowling Green - 54 points (1)
6. Ohio - 32 points
MAC West Division Preseason Media Poll
1. Central Michigan - 113 points (10)
2. Northern Illinois - 102 points (4)
3. Eastern Michigan - 94 points (3)
4. Ball State - 87 points (3)
5. Western Michigan - 79 points (4)
6. Toledo - 29 points
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)
East Division All-MAC Preseason Team
Kenny Hayes, G, Miami
Brett McKnight, F, Akron
Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo
Chris Singletary, G, Kent State
Anthony "Humpty" Hitches, G, Akron
West Division All-MAC Preseason Team
David Kool, G, Western Michigan
Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State
Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan
Darion "Jake" Anderson, G, Northern Illinois
Carlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan
