Huskies and RedHawks named preseason MAC Favorites

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Oct. 23, 2003

CLEVELAND -- The Mid-American Conference announced today that Northern Illinois (West Division) and Miami (East Division) have been chosen as preseason favorites to win their respective divisions in men's basketball. Voting was conducted by members of the MAC News Media Association. The MAC announces only the top three teams in each division and the tournament winner in its preseason poll. The Huskies were also tabbed to win the MAC Tournament.

The Huskies return two all-MAC performers - first-team forward Marcus Smallwood and honorable mention P.J. Smith - from last year's West Division runner-up. Smallwood is the only returning player in the MAC who averaged a double-double in points and rebounds last year with his 13.3 ppg and 10.1 rpg. Smith led the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg and was an all-tournament selection. Smith's 33 points in NIU's 75-63 win over Western Michigan helped advance the Huskies to the tournament semifinal round. NIU is directed by third-year head coach Rob Judson.

Miami, under the tutelage of veteran sideline mentor Charlie Coles, who has 212 career victories, was the East Division runner-up last year and earned the MAC Tournament's No. 3 seed. Four starters are back for Coles' 2004 squad with all-MAC second-team honoree Juby Johnson leading the way. Johnson led the RedHawks last season with his 14.8 ppg. Miami returns its top six scoring leaders from last year, among them starters Danny Horace (11.5), Chet Mason (12.6) and Josh Hausfeld (7.4).

Top challengers in each division per the preseason voting are Akron and Kent State in the East and Bowling Green and Western Michigan in the West.

Akron, under ninth-year head coach Dan Hipsher, features the top two returning scoring leaders in the league with guard Derrick Tarver (20.6) and Johnny Hollingsworth (17.4). Tarver was a second-team all-MAC selection and Hollingsworth honorable mention all-MAC in 2003. The Zips have all five starters back from last year's 14-14 team.

Kent State will be directed by second-year head coach Jim Christian and is seeking its sixth straight 20-win season and fourth consecutive East Division title. Senior guard Eric Haut, an honorable mention all-MAC member last year, is the Golden Flashes' leading returning scorer at 14.2 ppg. KSU also has 7-foot center John Edwards (41 blocked shots) and veteran forward Nate Gerwig (7.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) returning.

Bowling Green returns all five starters for seventh-year head coach Dan Dakich. All-MAC second team selection Kevin Netter (15.3 ppg) and All-MAC Freshman team member Ron Lewis (12.1 ppg) returns as does the league's top three-point shooter in John Reimold (42.0%, 15.0 ppg).

Western Michigan is under first-year head coach Steve Hawkins, who previously had been the top Bronco assistant for three seasons. Honorable mention all-MAC selection Anthony Kann returns after pacing WMU is scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg) in 2003. Hawkins will also have 2002 MAC Freshman of the Year Ben Reed (7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 6-8 forward Mike Williams (13.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) to call on. -MAC-