MAC Hoops Mid-Season Awards

[MACReport]

Our weekly MAC hoops report is up at MAC Report Online and this week we feature a mid-season review, including:--Mid-Season leading contenders for: Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year 6th Man of the Year Newcomer of the Year Coach of the Year--Poll results (top MAC rivalry) and this week's poll--RPI and SOS for each MAC squad--Latest polls--Players of the Week--Updated individual stats leaders--Upcoming scheduleat: http://www.macreportonline.com

[Dr Z]

From the site posted above:Player of the Year: Leon Williams, OhioThe senior forward is having another stellar season and is a primary reason that Ohio (15-6, 6-2) currently finds itself in the middle of a three-way tie with Akron and Can't State for the top spot in the MAC East and with a solid shot at an at-large NCAA bid if the cards fall just right for the Bobcats, especially if they prevail in their Bracketbuster contest against George Mason.Williams is currently third in the MAC in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game, tops the conference in rebounding with an average of 10.1 boards per game and is second in the MAC in field goal percentage (.608). Williams is also the only player in the conference averaging double figures in both scoring and rebounding and if those numbers hold up would be the first player in the MAC to average a double-double since Eastern Michigan's John Bowler averaged 20.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 2005-2006.Combining with Jerome Tillman, Williams and the Bobcats present the MAC's most formidable frontcourt duo and with the emergence of talented perimeter performers like Bert Whittington and Justin Orr and the strong point play of Michael Allen, opposing defenses cannot afford to focus on Williams which has certainly helped Williams' numbers to this point.Through 21 games, Williams has topped the Bobcats in scoring nine times, including averaging over 20 points in each of Ohio's last three games and has topped Ohio in rebounding in 18 contests, including snaring a game-high 15 boards in Ohio's 61-55 win at Maryland.Keeping an eye on: Giordan Watson, Central Michigan; Joe Reitz, Western Michigan; Tim Pollitz, MiamiDefensive Player of the Year: Haminn Quaintance, Hippie UWhen he is on his game, there is no more tenacious defender in the MAC this season than senior forward Haminn Quaintance who has the ability to change the flow of a game and interrupt opposing offenses.Quaintance has picked up from where he left off last season, and then some, as the MAC's top shot blocking threat. Quaintance currently leads the MAC in blocked shots with 49 rejections (2.23 per game), already surpassing his total of 48 blocked shots from last season and has harassed opposing players with his quickness and defensive presence, recording 41 steals (2nd in the MAC) in 22 games.There are several milestone benchmarks within Quaintance's grasp. With just three more blocks and two steals Quaintance will become the only active player in the NCAA to reach career marks of 1,200 points, 800 rebounds, 250 blocks, 250 assists and 200 steals.'Q' has also been getting it done on the defensive glass, hauling in 104 defensive rebounds (3rd in the conference) so far this season. But the 6-8 senior forward is not a one-dimensional player as evidenced by the fact that Quaintance tops the MAC in field goal percentage, averaging 61.9% from the field which also makes him an outside threat for Player of the Year honors.Keeping an eye on: Tyrone Can't, Toledo; Jonathan Amos, Toledo; Chris Knight, Bowling Green; Jeremiah Wood; Akron6th Man of the Year: Calvin Betts, BuffaloEach year this award is harder to quantify with coaches going away from a traditional, standard five-man starting rotation. Often the sixth man in today' s game plays more minutes than many starters. This season there are several strong candidates for sixth man of the year but at the halfway point we are impressed by Buffalo swingman Calvin Betts.Betts, a sophomore, has appeared in all 20 games for the Bulls this season, coming off the bench in each contest, and is averaging 23.1 minutes per contest, fourth highest on the team. Betts leads the Bulls with an average of 6.7 rebounds per game and is averaging 8.3 points per contest. He ranks eighth in the MAC in rebounding, including sixth in defensive rebounding, while pacing the Bulls on the glass in each of their last nine games.Despite his "part time" status, Betts appears in the top fifteen in the MAC in four individual categories (field goal percentage, rebounding, offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding).Keeping an eye on: Steve McNees, Akron; Brian Moten, Bowling Green; Andre Ricks, Western Michigan.Newcomer of the Year: Kenny Hayes, MiamiWe will be introducing a new award this season, "Newcomer of the Year," and retiring our "Freshman of the Year" award. Freshman and other players in the first year of participation in a program will be eligible and right out of the gate, our leading contender is a JUCO transfer performer.Miami guard Kenny Hayes, a junior transfer out of Cincinnati State, came into the season with a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders with head coach Charlie Coles pegging Hayes in the preseason as the RedHawks' starting point guard. Hayes started strongly, scoring 18 points in his first game for the RedHawks in Miami's victory over Xavier and after a rough stretch, regained his scoring touch.Hayes has registered double-figures in scoring twelve times in 20 games this season and has started in all but one contest. Providing backcourt stability for a squad that was searching for consistency at both the point and shooting guard positions, Hayes has hit double-figures in each of the RedHawks' last seven games and recorded career highs in back-to-back games recently against Northern Illinois (25 points) and Ball State (27 points).Hayes ranks third on the RedHawks (and 17th in the MAC), averaging 11.9 points per game and shares the team lead with Michael Bramos in free throw percentage at .776 which is good for tenth overall in the MAC.Keeping an eye on: Chris Knight, Bowling Green; Darion Anderson, Northern Illinois; Malik Perry, Ball State; Bert Whittington IV, Ohio; Steve McNees, AkronCoach of the Year:Louis Orr, Bowling GreenComing off a 13-18 season that included winning only three of sixteen conference games in 2006-2007, not much was expected out of Bowling Green coming into this season under new head coach Louis Orr who took over the reigns of the Bowling Green program following the resignation of former head coach Dan Dakich.Orr, a prolific NBA and collegiate player, came over to Bowling Green after previous coaching stops at Seton Hall and Siena College and made an immediate impression as one of the more affable and thoughtful coaches, the near opposite of his predecessor who was more akin to being a veritable mini-me version of Bobby Knight.Orr's squad has been short-handed from early on with a season-ending injury to junior forward Erik Marschall; the departure of junior forward Dusan Radivojevic before the season started and the dismissal of senior guard Ryne Hamblet. All were players expected to make significant contributions this season. But Orr didn't flinch and the Falcons have responded.The Falcons have already surpassed last season's conference victory total and at 5-3 are only one game behind the leaders in the MAC East. Orr's teaching has also taken hold as the team has embraced his philosophy, especially taking care of business on the defensive end.Bowling Green tops the MAC in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 40.5% from the field and three point field goal defense, with opponents only hitting 30.2% against the Falcons from downtown. The Falcons are also averaging a league-best 4.65 blocked shots per game. All are statistics that reflect Orr's workmanlike style of play.With quality wins this season in non-conference play over Belmont, Furman and Cincinnati, Orr has turned around the Bowling Green program in lightning quick fashion while dealing with a seriously reduced roster. Halfway through the season, Orr is the clear leader for Coach of the Year honors in the MAC.Keeping an eye on: Keith Dambrot, Akron; Jim Christian (who fears the roo)