Dr Z Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 SourceThe Akron Zips dominate the voting for the Mid-American Conferece preseason basketball media polls with coach Keith Dambrot's Zips being the overwhelming pick to finish first in the MAC's East Division, the overwhelming pick to win the MAC Tournament and landing two players on the preseason All-MAC East Division Team. The Zips picked up 19 of the 24 first-place votes. The Zips, who finished tied for third in the MAC last season, 23-13, 10-6, return four of five starters and 12 of 13 letterwinners from a team that won the MAC Tournament last season then advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Zips lost in the first round to Gonzaga, but look to a bright future as they replace 6-7 Nate Linhart with 7-0 Zeke Marshall, a consensus Top 50 recruit, plus its two All-MAC performers. Pollsters named 6-5 junior Brett McKnight (11.2 ppg) and 5-10 sophomore Anthony (Humpty) Hitchens (8.8 ppg) to the first team. Picked to finish a distant second in the MAC East was Can't State, with Can't State senior Chris Singletary (12.2 ppg) being named to the All-MAC team. The MAC West is projected to be a tight race with Central Michigan being the favorite followed closely by Northern Illinois. Interestingly, CMU has no All-MAC selections.MAC East Division Preseason Media Poll1. Akron – 190 points (19)2. Can't State – 108 points (3)3. Buffalo – 97 points (1)4. Miami -- 78 points5. Bowling Green – 54 points (1)6. Ohio – 32 pointsMAC West Division Preseason Media Poll1. 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)1. Toledo – 29 points(1st place votes in parentheses)Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Can't State (1), Bowling Green (1) East Division All-MAC Preseason TeamKenny Hayes, G, Miami Brett McKnight, F, Akron Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo Chris "Sucker Punch" Singletary, G, Can't State Anthony “Humpty” Hitches, G, AkronWest Division All-MAC Preseason TeamDavid Kool, G, Western Michigan Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan Darion “Jake” Anderson, G, Northern IllinoisCarlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Really impressive that Humpty was named to the first team. Also, I didn't see Singletary's nickname used in the article, that must been in an earlier version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Really impressive that Humpty was named to the first team. Also, I didn't see Singletary's nickname used in the article, that must been in an earlier version. Did they have a Newcomer of the Year vote? I guess not. (Foregone conclusion? -- not per our favorite Cleveland State beat writer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickzips Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Really impressive that Humpty was named to the first team. Also, I didn't see Singletary's nickname used in the article, that must been in an earlier version. Did they have a Newcomer of the Year vote? I guess not. (Foregone conclusion? -- not per our favorite Cleveland State beat writer).The more I look at it, I don't think it ever was a foregone conclusion anyways. There's a lot of talent coming into the MAC this year. Zeke is obviously the guy everyone will have their eye on, but Miami has a lot of talent coming in, OU has a PG coming in who was the everyday starter for Indiana before the whole recruiting violations mess went down. The MAC is going to be tough over the next couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-mann17 Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Aaargh! Way too much pressure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BostonZip Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 The MAC is going to be tough over the next couple years.Was anyone else surprised that not one MAC team received a single vote in either the Associated Press or USA Today preseason men's polls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 The MAC is going to be tough over the next couple years.Was anyone else surprised that not one MAC team received a single vote in either the Associated Press or USA Today preseason men's polls?Why would any MAC school receive a vote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy_ua_00 Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 The MAC is going to be tough over the next couple years.Was anyone else surprised that not one MAC team received a single vote in either the Associated Press or USA Today preseason men's polls?Why would any MAC school receive a vote?im not surprised. weve gotta prove ourselves. we have a few good seasons and ONLY 1 tournament appearance. that doesnt warrant us votes. we have to go out and play like we deserve to be there ti season and then we will get some recognition. When we beat A&M thats when people will start watching out for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BostonZip Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 Why would any MAC school receive a vote?It's just unusual...first time since 2003-04 the MAC was not represented in the preseason AP poll. I didn't think the conference was that lightly regarded (at least not in basketball). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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