Preseason Men's Basketball All-MAC Team Announced
Oct. 5, 2001
CLEVELAND -
A tie in the voting resulted in a six-team men's
basketball preseason all-MAC team, announced today by the league
office. Voting for the team was conducted by members of the MAC News
Media Association.
The six members of the team are: Theron Smith, Ball State (6-8, 225,
Jr., forward), David Webber, Central Michigan (6-2, 210, Sr., guard),
Trevor Huffman, Kent State (6-1, 190, Sr., guard), Tamar Slay, Marshall
(6-9, 210, Sr., guard), J.R. VanHoose, Marshall (6-10, 255, Sr.,
forward/center), Brandon Hunter, Ohio (6-7, 260, Jr., forward).
Webber, Huffman, VanHoose and Hunter were first team all-MAC selections
last year. Smith and Slay were second team all-MAC selections in 2001.
Webber, the MAC Player of the Year last season, led the conference with
a 18.4 scoring average while leading the Chippewas to the league
championship. CMU was 20-8 overall and 14-4 in capturing the league
title and West Division crown. The Chippewas turnaround from the
previous year's last place MAC finish was the first time in league
history that a team went from last place one season to first place the
next.
Huffman led Kent State to its second MAC Tournament title in the last
three years and captured tournament MVP honors with 27 points in the
championship game. Huffman then carried the Golden Flashes to their
first ever NCAA Tournament win with a 24-point outing in a 77-73 triumph
over Indiana. Huffman averaged a team-high 16.8 ppg and also led KSU
with 153 assists, becoming the only MAC player to lead his team in
scoring and assists.
Hunter proved to be a dominant player in the league as he ranked among
the leaders - fourth in scoring (18.1), second in rebounding (9.4),
third in field goal percentage (51.0%) and 15th in assists per game
(2.67), - as well as setting a MAC Tournament record with most free
throws attempted (32). Ohio tied Marshall for the second spot in last
year's East Division race.
VanHoose led the MAC in rebounding (11.1) and field goal percentage
(57.8%) and finished seventh in scoring (16.6) as the Thundering Herd
posted their most MAC wins ever with 12. VanHoose, a three-time all-MAC
selection, posted a league-high 20 double-doubles. Teammate Slay, a
two-time all-MAC selection, led Marshall and finished fifth in the
league in scoring (17.3). Both VanHoose and Slay started all 27 game for
Marshall. Slay was the MAC scoring leader in 2000 as a sophomore (19.9).
Smith continued to be a key component to Ball State's storied
basketball tradition. The Cardinals won 18 games and advanced to the MAC
Tournament semifinals for the 17th time in the tournament's 22-year
history. Smith led the team and finished ninth in the MAC in scoring
(16.3) and his 40-points in a win over Texas Tech was the best single
game production of any MAC player last year. Smith also finished among
league leaders in rebounding (8.1, sixth) and field goal percentage
(46.2%, eighth). Smith was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2000.
The preseason all-MAC team, along with at least one player representing
each MAC school, will be available for interviews at the conference's
Basketball Media Day, which is slated for Thursday, Oct. 25 at the
Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. The media portion of the
schedule is set to begin at 9:00 a.m.
