Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams Announced
Oct. 8, 2003
Cleveland, Ohio -- Ten of the league's top men's basketball players have been selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office. Voting for the teams was conducted among members of the MAC News Media Association.
The West Division representatives are Marcus Smallwood and P.J. Smith of Northern Illinois, Kevin Netter of Bowling Green, Keith Triplett of Toledo and Anthony Kann of Western Michigan.
The East Division squad is comprised of the Akron guard duo of Derrick Tarver and Johnny Hollingsworth, Turner Battle of Buffalo, Eric Haut of Kent State and Juby Johnson of Miami.
The preseason All-MAC teams will be available for interviews at the conference's Basketball Media Day, which is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23 at Gund Arena in Cleveland. The media portion of the schedule is set to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Smallwood is the lone first-team All-MAC selection from last year to return. Smallwood averaged a double-double with his 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds a contest. The only other MAC players in that double-double category last year are now in the NBA - Central Michigan's Chris Kaman (Clippers) and Ohio's Brandon Hunter (Celtics). Smallwood's teammate P.J. Smith, a returning honorable mention All-MAC member, led the Huskies with 59 three-point goals last year while leading the team with his 14.7 ppg average.
The three other preseason All-West selections - Kann, Netter and Triplett - were also All-MAC honorable mention selections last year.
Kann helped Western Michigan into the postseason as the Broncos advanced to Gund Arena for the first time ever in the MAC Tournament and won one game in the NIT. Kann was the team leader in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg) in WMU's 20-win season. Netter led the Falcons in scoring (15.3) and field goal shooting (54.7%). Triplett was a mainstay for the Rockets with his team-highs in points (16.8), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.4).
The combination of All-East selections Tarver (20.6), a second-team All-MAC selection in 2003, and Hollingsworth (17.4), an honorable mention All-MAC member, are the top two returning scoring leaders in the league. All five-guard All-East squad also includes the versatile Johnson, a second team All-MAC member in 2003, who posted a team-high 14.8 ppg and was second on the team in steals (22 total) and third in rebounds (3.0). Haut helped the Golden Flashes to its third consecutive MAC East title with his 14.2 ppg and 64 assists and was an honorable mention All-MAC selection. Battle, the league's 2002 Freshman of the Year, averaged team highs in points (12.7), assists (4.5) and steals (1.9). Battle was an All-MAC honorable mention selection and also was voted to the Academic All-MAC team, the only player in the league voted to both squads.
2003-04 Preseason All-MAC Teams
West Division
Name, School Ht. Wt. Cl. P Hometown/Previous School
Kevin Netter, BG 6-10 215 Sr. C Richmond Dale, Ohio/Southeastern HS
Marcus Smallwood, NIU 6-6 215 Sr. F Elgin, Ill./Elgin HS
P.J. Smith, NIU 6-4 197 Sr. G Maywood, Ill./Proviso East HS
Keith Triplett, UT 6-3 183 Sr. G Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher HS
Anthony Kann, WMU 6-7 245 Sr. F/C Davison, Mich./Davison HS
East Division
Johnny Hollingsworth UA 6-1 175 Sr. G Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley JC
Derrick Tarver, UA 6-4 210 Sr. G Akron, Ohio/Buchtel HS
Turner Battle, UB 6-3 190 Jr. G Kernersville, N.C./East Forsyth HS
Eric Haut, KSU 6-0 195 Sr. G Lansing, Mich./Walter French Academy
Juby Johnson, MIA 6-5 215 Sr. G Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights HS
