2008 MAC East Preview
By Zach Swartz, Staff Writer
William Strome, Staff Writer
Britton Dove, Staff Writer
January 19, 2008 | 10 p.m.
It's the middle of January, which means college football is over and we can turn our full attention to the collegiate hard court. Conference play is under way across the nation and the Mid-American Conference is no different. The East Division has won the conference tournament each of the last three years (Ohio, Kent State, and Miami respectively) and this year should be no different. The East is stacked with talent, while all six teams in the West Division have a losing non-conference record. The sports writers of Speakeasy teamed up to preview the dominant division in the MAC, as conference play heats up.
Editor's note: All records and statistics through games played on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Akron Zips by Zach Swartz
Coach: Keith Dambrot (4th season at Akron)
Record: 12-3 (2-0)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 4th
Key Non-conf. Wins: Temple (home, 67-65); Wyoming (home, 96-71); Austin Peay (away,64-55)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Portland State (home, 66-63); Winthrop (away, 68-58)
Team Leaders: Scoring & Rebounding- Senior forward Jeremiah Wood (15.0 PPG, 8.8 RPG); Assists- Senior guard Nick Dials (3.9 APG)
The process, not the results, is key to Zips’ winning mentality
Last season the Zips won the Mid-American Conference East Division and were 24-5 overall. The team was 6.6 seconds away from winning the MAC Tournament and heading to the NCAA Tournament when University of Miami forward Michael Bramos rebounded Akron guard Cedrick Middleton’s missed free throw and passed upcourt to Doug Penno, who banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Miami, not Akron, to "The Big Dance."
A year later, the Zips have rebounded and are back on the floor and ready to go. Akron (12-3, 2-0 MAC), which lost star players Romeo Travis, the 2006-2007 MAC Player of the Year, and Dru Joyce in the offseason, has taken its heart-breaking loss and used it to improve a team that so far is playing past its expected potential.
“Well we weren’t [predicted to do well] early according to everybody, so I guess things changed, but we have experienced guys who have done a good job of knowing how to win,” Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. “I think our team is better now than it was early in the year, and I think it’ll continue to get better.”
“I think we can play with anybody in the league,” Dambrot added, “but we can lose to anybody in the league also.”
Losing in the league is something that the Zips have yet to do, however. On Jan. 5 the Zips put together a 69-54 victory at home against none other than the Miami RedHawks, who have been predicted by some to win the MAC East this season. A week later the Zips traveled to Buffalo and put together an impressive eight-point win on the road. But perhaps Akron’s biggest test was on Jan. 2 when the team went on the road to face the now nationally 14th-ranked Dayton Flyers. The Zips lost the game 83-81, but not before they took the Flyers to two overtimes in a hard-fought match.
“I think [the Dayton game] just showed us that we could play with people,” Dambrot said. “To play in that environment and come so close to winning and really compete hard showed us that we’re not far off of last year.”
Six players on Dambrot’s team average over 20 minutes a game, but no player is more important than Jeremiah Wood, a 6-foot-6-inch, 235-pound fifth-year senior. Wood, a 2007-2008 MAC Player of the Year candidate, who missed all but 10 games of the 2004-2005 season and the entire following year with a torn right ACL, is back at the center of the Zips’ offense. His presence on the floor has been a huge boost for his team.
“He’s worked very hard to make himself a good player, and he’s our go-through guy,” Dambrot said. “Everything we do goes through him, so it’s very important that he’s on the floor in good physical condition.”
While everything may go through Wood, the Zips would not be the team they are without the rest of their experienced players on their senior-laden squad. Nick Dials, a 6-foot-1-inch senior, ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game while also shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range and dishing out 3.9 assists per game. Cedrick Middleton, a 6-foot senior who has averaged over 20 minutes a game each of the past three seasons, brings experience as well as quickness, averaging a steal and a half a game. Six-foot-seven-inch senior forward Quade Milum rounds out the veteran playmakers with 52.3 field goal percentage and 11 blocks in 15 games.
The Zips as a team are also averaging just fewer than eight and a half three-pointers a game, a stat that ranks first in the MAC.
“I don’t really have to try for results because much of that is due to process,” Dambrot said, “and the process for me is getting at it hard every single day, defending on every possession, playing together as a team, and just really caring about winning. We’re working on that process every day. The closer we get to perfection in the process, the more wins we’ll have.”
Bowling Green Falcons by Zach Swartz
Coach: Louis Orr (1st season at Bowling Green)
Record: 7-8 (1-1)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 6th
Key Non-conf. Wins: Cincinnati (away, 69-67)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Western Carolina (neutral, 63-60); Oakland (away, 90-80); Northern Colorado (away, 64-60 OT)
Team Leaders: Scoring- Junior forward Nate Miller (13.7 PPG); Rebounding- Freshman forward Chris Knight (7.1 RPG); Assists- Sophomore guard Ryne Hamblet* (5.4 APG), Freshman guard Joe Jakubowski (2.8 APG)
*Academically ineligible for remainder of season
Falcons try to rebound in MAC East through winning habits
Despite its losing record, Bowling Green has already come up with impressive wins in its pre-MAC schedule, including a 69-67 victory at Cincinnati on Jan. 11 and a 78-67 win against Belmont the previous day.
The Falcons, who had just three Mid-American Conference wins and finished dead last in the conference last season, opened the 2007-2008 MAC season with a 52-49 win against Ohio (10-5, 1-1 MAC) on Jan. 5. It was the ninth consecutive year that the Falcons have started their MAC schedule with a victory.
For the most part, Bowling Green has relied on its defense to win games. Overall, the team is holding its opponents to just 40.2 percent shooting from the field, and in the team’s seven victories the Falcons have given up just 57.6 points per game compared to 72.4 in their eight losses.
“I thought we have competed at a real level, so that’s something that we want to hold onto and build on,” said Bowling Green coach Louis Orr, who is entering his first season as head coach of the Falcons. “We have to continue to play tough, hard-nosed, Bowling Green basketball, and that’s to defend and rebound.”
The Falcons’ defense and rebounding has largely been provided by underclassmen who, statistically, could be fifth-year seniors. Averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, the team’s leading rebounder and third-leading scorer is Chris Knight, a 6-foot-7-inch, 210-pound redshirt freshman. Knight has started every game but one this season. Two spots above Knight at the top of the scoring column is fellow freshman Nate Miller, a 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound forward putting up 13.7 points as well as 1.7 steals per game. Ryne Hamblet, a 6-foot-5-inch sophomore, , was tallying 5.4 assists along with 12.6 points per game until he was declared academically ineligible for the remainder of the season on Dec. 20. Freshman guard Joe Jakubowski has helped pick up the slack, draining 15 three-pointers in just 14 games.
Coach Orr credits the success his team has had to hard work both on and off the court, and he believes it is necessary to take the season one game at a time in order to create a winning tradition.
“It starts with practice. It starts with doing the right things off the court in the classroom, and really establishing winning habits,” Orr said. “You talk about winning, but a lot of times you don’t know how to win, and to me winning is a habit, and habits have to be established from day one, on and off the court.”
Orr has few long-term expectations for his team, an idea that he believes is essential to coming back from such a disappointing season a year ago.
“The next game is the biggest game of the year, and the next practice is another day to improve and get better,” Orr said. “You can have all the goals you want for the end of the year, but you have to achieve them day by day.”
Buffalo Bulls by Britton Dove
Coach: Reggie Witherspoon (9th season at Buffalo)
Record: 6-8 (0-2)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 5th
Key Non-conf. Wins: South Florida (home, 76-69)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Connecticut (away, 82-57); Pittsburgh (away, 92-45); Niagara (away, 80-63); Florida International (away, 76-63)
Team Leaders: Scoring- Junior guard Andy Robinson (10.2 PPG); Rebounding- Sophomore guard Calvin Betts (5.4 RPG); Assists- Sophomore guard Rodney Pierce (2.9 APG)
Young Bulls led by strong backcourt
Under coach Reggie Witherspoon, the Bulls have made several additions to their interior positions after allowing several teams to sneak away with wins due to their weak defense. A duo of 6-foot-8-inch forwards that can play strong defense have been added to the roster in junior-college transfers Brian Addison and Jawaan Alston.
With an experienced backcourt the Bulls hope to replace the offensive dominance of graduated 6-foot-10-inch center Yassin Idbihi, who averaged 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season. Six-footers Andy Robinson and Byron Mulkey will be left to pick up the slack.
In their first two MAC games, the Bulls came up short with losses at Kent State (68-63) and against Akron (76-68).
“(Kent State and Akron) have guys that are very instinctively, fundamentally sound decision-makers that prevent them from being at a deficit,” Witherspoon said.
The Bulls have a great instinctive player in swingman Greg Gamble, who led the team in assists a year ago. His ability to score off the dribble and distribute the ball will really help with offensive leadership.
Kent State Golden Flashes by Will Strome
Coach: Jim Christian (6th season at Kent State)
Record: 13-3 (2-0)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 1st (MAC Tournament favorite as well)
Key Non-conf. Wins: George Mason (home, 73-55); St. Louis (home, 81-40)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Detroit (away, 61-60); North Carolina (away, 90-61)
Team Leaders: Scoring- Senior forward Mike Scott (13.9 PPG); Rebounding- Senior Forward Haminn Quaintance (7.2 RPG); Assists- Junior guard Al Fisher (4.5 APG)
Flashes showing why they are the favorite
The Golden Flashes were an early favorite to win the MAC and, through the start of conference play, still very much are. Victories over the Buffalo (0-2, 6-8) and Bowling Green (1-1, 6-8) have given Kent State an early lead in the quest for the conference title.
With one of the deepest and most versatile benches in the MAC, Kent State has 10 players who have already played in at least 13 games.
"We like to play 10 to 11 guys a night," coach Jim Christian said. "It puts pressure on each individual to perform every night. They ultimately thrive under the competition."
Even with so many players contributing during game time, one seems to shine above the rest. Preseason All-MAC selection Mike Scott is the “ring leader” of the Kent State squad. Scott leads the team in points per game (13.9), defensive rebounds (80), and field goals made (72).
"He can impact the game in so many different ways," Christian said. "Not only is he much stronger than in years past, but he can run the floor, control the offense, and make steals. He's a special player who can make plays and make the guys around him better."
Scott has helped secure Kent State as one of the more stable offenses in the conference, third in the MAC East in points per game (69.6) and first in assists per game (15.6). The success of the offense is not only from Scott, as seven players average over five points per game including guard Al Fisher (11.1 PPG) and forward Haminn Quaintance (10.4 PPG).
Defensively, Kent State trails only Miami University in fewest points allowed per game with 61.5.
Despite having the best record in the MAC, Kent State played a weak non-conference schedule, which included a devastating 61-60 loss on the road to the University of Detroit (4-12),. The only other losses came against No. 20 Xavier University (14-3) and at No. 1 University of North Carolina (17-0), leaving the Golden Flashes with a 13-1 record against unranked opponents; however, the record of the unranked non-conference opponents Kent State has faced is a dismal 89-103.
Miami RedHawks by Will Strome
Coach: Charlie Coles (12th season at Miami)
Record: 6-8 (0-2)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 2nd
Key Non-conf. Wins: Xavier (home, 59-57); Mississippi State (neutral, 67-60); Illinois (away, 61-58 OT)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Dayton (home, 63-62); Wright State (away, 58-57); Cincinnati (away, 56-50)
Team Leaders: Scoring & Rebounding- Senior forward Tim Pollitz (15.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG); Assists- Junior forward Tyler Dierkers (3.8 APG)
Tough non-conference slate prepares RedHawks for conference run
Do not let the record fool you, looks can be very deceiving. A 6-6 non-conference record may not appear impressive but the RedHawks have already seen plenty of stiff competition.
Despite getting trounced on the road by No. 3 Kansas University (16-0), 78-54, all of Miami's losses have been within six points or less. Such losses include No. 14 University of Dayton (14-4) at home, on the road to the University of Louisville (12-4), and in the inaugural Anaheim Classic against the University of Southern California (10-6).
"We've seen a lot of tough teams already," associate head coach Jermaine Henderson said. "But give credit to our league, it's just as hard to go on the road and face any MAC school then play some of those big name schools."
Unfortunately for the RedHawks, they did have to go on the road for their first two conference bouts and were on the loosing end in both. Miami was routed 69-54 by the University of Akron (2-0, 12-3) and one week later fell to Ohio University (1-1, 10-5), 72-63.
"There are definitely some things on the defensive side of the ball that we need to work on to get better as a team," Henderson said.
Miami is last in the MAC in rebounds per game (30.8) and steals per game (4.5). Ironically, Miami's defense leads the MAC in fewest points allowed with an average of 61.4 points per game.
The offense is a different story, averaging a MAC East-low 59.7 points per game. The Miami offense lives and dies by the play of two men, 2007 MAC Tournament MVP Tim Pollitz and junior Michael Bramos. With Miami averaging less than 60 points per game, Pollitz and Bramos contribute over 52 percent of the scoring. Only five times in their eight losses has a player besides Pollitz or Bramos scored in double-figures.
Ohio Bobcats by Britton Dove
Coach: Tim O’Shea (7th season at Ohio)
Record: 10-5 (1-1)
MAC East Preseason Prediction: 3rd
Key Non-conf. Wins: Cornell (home, 102-89); Maryland (away, 61-55); St. John's (neutral, 71-69); Bucknell (away, 53-47)
Bad Non-conf. Losses: Holy Cross (away, 62-60); Temple (away, 90-88); Kansas (away, 88-51)
Team Leaders: Scoring & Rebounding- Senior forward Leon Williams (16.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG); Assists- Junior guard Michael Allen (4.4 APG)
Bobcats blending experience with newcomers
Under coach Tim O’Shea this Bobcats team is eager to show off their talented, yet young squad.
With five freshmen and a total of nine newcomers to the team, the retuning core of seniors Leon Williams and Bubba Walther and junior Jerome Tillman will be sure to take control of a game. With arguably the best interior duo in the conference in Tillman and Williams, shooting guard Bubba Walther allows for a strong interior game with his ability to draw defenders out with his three-point shot.
“I think the new guys have fit in well, but I also think the core guys have come back and have shown a lot of leadership in terms of pulling everyone into the team concept,” O’Shea said.
Six-foot-five-inch freshman guard Tommy Freeman, from Muncie, Ind., has a great ability to come off the bench and hit a couple of three pointers when the team needs them.