Central Michigan

College Hoops Thursday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:25:34 -0800

Happy Thanksgiving! And while football tends to take center stage on this day there are also four in-season tournaments playing games, with action spreading from the Bahamas to Alaska. There really isn't a marquee matchup so to speak but there are games that could become important once March arrives, with New Mexico's game against Santa Clara in the 76 Classic being one. The Lobos were the preseason pick to win the Mountain West, and with players such as Drew Gordon and Kendall Williams there's no doubt that they can win this event. But in the Broncos of Santa Clara they'll take on a team that was a trendy sleeper pick in the WCC, and even with Marc Trasolini lost for the year with a knee injury they can still be a factor in the race.

Guard Kevin Foster is one of the top perimeter scorers on the west coast, as he scored 20 points or more in 16 games (30+ in three games) last season. The junior's shooting percentages are down through three games, but there's no doubt that Foster can turn it on in a hurry for Kerry Keating. Foster leads four Broncos in double figures, but just as important as Foster are forwards Niyi Harrison and John McArthur. Those two have had to step up in the aftermath of Trasolini's injury and they've done a solid job to start the year. But a lot more will be learned about both as they take on Gordon, who's scoring a shade under ten points per game while grabbing ten rebounds per contest.

Gordon may be the Lobo most likely choice to win Mountain West Player of the Year, Steve Alford's got a number of perimeter options from which to choose. Kendall Williams, Tony Snell and Demetrius Walker are three of New Mexico's top four scorers and freshman Hugh Greenwood may be ready to take over the starting point guard job as the Lobos look to make up for the graduation of Dairese Gary. UNM shoots 38% from beyond the arc and their effective field goal percentage of 53.2% is better than Santa Clara's by nearly five percentage points. The outcome will boil down to which team does a better job of generating quality looks, and that was a serious problem for Santa Clara in their blowout loss at UCSB.

Which game should you keep an eye on in the Battle of Atlantis in the Bahamas? Likely the first game of the day as College of Charleston takes on UCF, with the Knights needing to pick up a quality win in light of their 23-point loss to Florida State in their second game of the season. But that's easier said than done against Bobby Cremins' team, which is coming off of a good win at Clemson. Antwaine Wiggins and Andrew Lawrence have led the way for the Cougars, and their offensive execution looks to be the difference on paper (efficiency of 110.4 while UCF is down at 98.1).

In Orlando the Fairfield Stags have a game that, thanks to the current NCAA Clearinghouse issues for freshman guard Jahii Carson, has gone from "opportunity to pick up a decent win against a BCS AQ opponent" to "lose and essentially flush any at-large hopes down the drain". Sydney Johnson's team has already dropped games to Providence (home) and at Minnesota, and an early trip to the consolation bracket would be the worst possible outcome for the defending MAAC regular season champions.

And at the Great Alaska Shootout there's the chance to check out New Mexico State as either the food-induced coma wears off or die-hard shoppers fight off sleep in the quest to show up early for the "Black Friday" specials. The Aggies, who already have a win at New Mexico to their credit, are led by guards Christian Kabongo and Hernst LaRoche and forward Wendall McKines, with McKines averaging 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Central Michigan has sophomore guards Trey Zeigler and Derek Jackson, but for the Chippewas to have a shot at the upset they'll need to exercise good shot selection.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM UNC Asheville vs. (4) Connecticut* (HDNet)
4:30 PM Massachusetts vs. (20) Florida State* (Versus)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Texas Tech vs. Indiana State* (ESPN2)
2:00 PM Boston College vs. Saint Louis* (ESPNU)
2:00 PM Charleston vs. UCF* (Versus)
2:30 PM Minnesota vs. DePaul* (ESPN2)
4:30 PM Villanova vs. UC Riverside* (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Dayton vs. Wake Forest* (ESPN2)
9:00 PM New Mexico vs. Santa Clara* (ESPNU)
9:30 PM Harvard vs. Utah* (HDNet)
9:30 PM Arizona State vs. Fairfield* (ESPN2)
10:30 PM Central Michigan vs. New Mexico State* (FCS)
11:30 PM Oklahoma vs. Washington State* (ESPN2)
12:30 AM UC Irvine vs. Southern Miss* (FCS)

#85 Central Michigan: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:38:32 -0700

Overall Rank: #85

Conference Rank: #2 Mid-American Conference

2009-10: 15-15, 9-7

2009-10 postseason: none

Coach: Ernie Zeigler (54-69 at Central Michigan, 54-69 overall)

Quietly, Central Michigan has won back-to-back MAC West titles. That has not led to any major success in the postseason and winning the West has been much easier than winning the East over the last few years, but this is still a team on the rise. The loss of guards Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman will make this team look a lot different than they did over the last two seasons, but there is more than enough talent to win the West Division yet again.

Key Losses: G Jordan Bitzer, G Robbie Harman, F Chris Kellerman, C Marko Spica

Key Newcomers:

Despite the loss of Bitzer and Harman, the real need for this team is in the frontcourt. Coach Ernie Zeigler picked up four big men who will battle for playing time. Andre Coimbra, a junior college transfer, and Colin Voss are the two who are ready to contribute right away. Jevon Harden and Nate VanArendonk will likely need some time to develop. The backcourt does not need too much help, but they will get it anyway. Point guard Paris Paramore and shooting guard Derek Jackson will have the luxury of learning from the bench for a year. However, Trey Zeigler does not need that luxury and should be starting, and dominating, from day one.

Backcourt:

Bitzer and Harman did a lot for this team, but sometimes CMU relied on them too much. Shut down one of those two and the Chippewas had a tough time winning. The scoring output should be more balanced this time around. Amir Rashid will take over the point guard duties after averaging 5.2 points and 2.3 assists a year ago. On the wings there is a logjam of talent with Finis Craddock, Jalin Thomas and Antonio Weary returning. Thomas started 23 games last season and was third on the team in scoring and also grabbed an impressive 5.0 rebounds per game. At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Thomas will use his size to attack the basket and hit the glass very hard. Weary started all 22 games he played in during the 2009-2010 campaign and is a defensive menace. Like Thomas, Weary is a good rebounder for a guard, but also like Thomas, he is not much of a shooter.

Frontcourt:

It is feasible that Thomas could spend some time at the four spot since he has the strength to battle on the glass. That matchup would not work against some opponents, but if the newcomers are not ready to handle major minutes in the frontcourt, it may be Coach Zeigler’s only option. Either way, William McClure will return to his starting spot in the frontcourt. McClure, a 6-7, 240 pound senior is not much of a scorer, but he is a very good rebounder on the offensive end and he will score with easy put backs. Finding a big guy who can score more consistently would really open up the offense, but McClure will not likely be that player.

Who to Watch:

It is not often that a player turns down Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo and Ben Howland only to end up in Mount Pleasant. But that is what happened with the younger Zeigler, who opted to play for his father instead of Duke, Michigan State or UCLA. By most accounts, Zeigler is a top 30 prospect in this class and the 6-5 guard will take this team to the next level. Nepotism will not place him in the starting lineup; his talent will do that. Zeigler can do it all and, in the MAC, he will do it all extremely productively.

Final Projection:

The key to this team will be the play of the frontcourt, most notably Coimbra and Voss. If one of those two can fill a starting spot and the other provides 20 minutes or so off of the bench, CMU has a very deep and talented roster. If not, Central Michigan may be forced to play small at times. The good news is even if they have to play small, the Chippewas can put their five best players on the floor, including some of the best rebounding guards in the conference in Zeigler, Thomas and Weary.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

Amir Rashid, Senior, Guard, 5.2 ppg

Antonio Weary, Senior, Guard, 5.1 ppg

Trey Zeigler, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Andre Coimbra, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

William McClure, Senior, Center, 3.0 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
86		87		88		89		..All

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Forgotten Legends: College Basketball Q&A Series

Jon Teitel — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:59:50 -0700

College basketball is a game of history, exemplified by the stars of yesterday who set the bar for today's student athletes. Jon Teitel looks back at some of the forgotten (and not so forgotten) college basketball legends who made our game what it is today. Some of these names might bring back great memories, while others will mean nothing to you, but each of the player's below made an important mark on college basketball history.

Enjoy Jon Teitel's interviews with the following college basketball legends:

Taylor Coppenrath

Vermont - Led UVA to 3 NCAA Tournaments (including win over Syracuse). Averaged 25.1 ppg in 2005.

Ron Cox

Eastern Washington - EWU's All-time leading scorer & rebounder. First-team All-American '77. Third-team All-American '76

Fennis Dembo

Wyoming - Averaged NCAA-Tournament best 27.8 ppg in 1987. Featured on Sports Illustrated cover.

Les Hunter

Loyola-Chicago - Member of 1963 NCAA Champions. 2-time ABA All-Star.

Keith Jennings

ETSU - 2 time Conference Player of the Year. Conference leader in assists & steals. 4-year NBA career.

Cliff Meely

Colorado - 2 time Big 8 Player of the Year. Top 10 NBA pick in 1971. Top 5 in Colorado's point, rebounds, blocks list.

Ricky Pierce

Rice - Owls all-time leading scorer. 1st Round pick in 1981. 15-year NBA career. Won Sixth Man of the Year twice.

Dan Roundfield

Central Michigan - 3-time NBA All-Star. 5-time NBA All-Defensive team. 1975 MAC Player of the Year.

Billy Shepherd

Butler - Bulldogs all-time leading scorer. Averaged 24.1 ppg for career. Played in ABA.

Charles Smith

Pittsburgh - Big East Player of the Year. 2-time All-American. Lengthy NBA career.

Mychal Thompson

Minnesota - #1 Pick in 1978 NBA Draft. Won back to back NBA titles. Gophers all-time leading scorer.

Willie Wise

Drake - Led Bulldogs to lone Final Four trip. Averaged almost ppg in ABA career. Nicknamed "Wonderous"

Also:

Marc "Showbiz" Brown - Siena

Lanard Copeland - Georgia State

Ben Hinson - Charleston Southern

Richard "Doc" Sauers - Albany

Talvin Skinner - UMES

Frank Viera - Quinnipiac

Isaac Fontaine - Washington State

Darren Queenan - Lehigh

Troy Bell - Boston College

Joe Behling - Belmont

Dave Hoppen - Nebraska

Kelly Golob - Northern Arizona

Doug Day - Radford

Steve Barker - Samford

Evan Eschmeyer - Northwestern

Carrick DeHart - UC Santa Barbara

Michael Watson - UMKC

Mike Pegues - Delaware

Jamar Wilson - Albany

Lester Lyons - East Carolina

Charles "Bubba" Wells - Austin Peay

Jaycee Carroll - Utah State

Ernie Calverley - Rhode Island

Wayne Molis - Chicago State/Lewis University

Joe Carrabino - Harvard

Dickie Hemric - Wake Forest

Rick Raivio - Portland

Dwight "Bo" Lamar - UL Lafayette

Ron Cornelius - Pacific

Andy O'Donnell - Loyola (MD)

Wille Jackson - Centenary

Jerry Sloan - Evansville

Donell Taylor - UAB

Butch Lee - Marquette

MAC Quaterfinals Recap: Favorites Fall & Double-OT

Brendan Bowers — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:15:19 -0800

Brendan Bowers will be in Cleveland all week covering the MAC Tournament for CollegeHoops.net.

Upset of the Day: Ohio Bobcats beat Kent State 81 – 64

In my preview I predicted that regular season champion Kent State would ‘have no trouble with this Bobcat group’ in their opening round match-up. No sooner did I post that then did a friend of mine - an OU grad - text me the following: ‘Bowers, the odds of Kent beating OU by more than 5 are slim. Honestly, the Bobcats are very dangerous and I think they will win.’ Turns out, Kent did have a lot of trouble with this Bobcat group, and OU did win. The results of which were my feasting on crow throughout his numerous text messages during the latter stages of the game. And by a lot of trouble, I mean Kent got steam-rolled.

Armon Bassett dominated the game by way of a stat line that read 38 points and 5 rebounds as he led his OU squad to the improbable upset over the top-seeded team in the tournament – their first win in three tries against Kent this season. He had help too. Teammate DeVaughn Washington came off the bench to capitalize on the space being created by the attention paid to Bassett on the offensive end, and he went 8 for 8 from the field on his way to 19 points and 8 rebounds. With 5:26 left in the first half he caught a pass from Bassett and dunked it home to give OU a commanding 32-15 lead. From there - despite a 22-9 run by the Flashes to open the second half that cut the lead to 3 (49-46) – the Bobcats would play Kent even, and win the game by that same 17-point margin (81-64).

Kent State’s Chris Singletary led the Golden Flashes with 19 points, but struggled from the free throw line, and ended up fouling out with 2:52 left in regulation as his team trailed 70-60. Anthony Simpson scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for Kent as well, but it wasn’t enough as their dreams of an NCAA berth ended two days before the conference title game. Kent fell to 23-9 on the season, and will be forced to settle with a berth in the NIT. The Bobcats moved to 19-14 with the win, and will face Miami tomorrow in the semis.

OU’s Armon Bassett on his production offensively: “They [Kent State] really like to get up in you and pressure you defensively and that plays into my game. I like penetrating, and I was able to get by them and really get going tonight.”

Game of the Day: Akron beats Eastern Michigan in Double OT 97-89

With 6:41 left in regulation Akron’s Chris McKnight hit a three to put Akron up by 10 (61-51) over Eastern Michigan. Five and a half minutes later, EMU’s Carlos Medlock connected on a three of his own which capped a run by the Eagles that brought them all the way back and gave them a lead of 71-69. From there, madness ensued, as if it wasn’t crazy enough already. Chris’ brother, Brett McKnight, converted a lay-up for Akron with 31 seconds left in the second half to tie it at 71, and the Zips would get one last stop as regulation expired to force OT. But it wouldn’t stop there.

The first OT looked like it would end by way of an upset after EMU’s Jay Higgins converted a triple try with 8 seconds left to give his team a lead by as many points. With one tick remaining however, Akron’s Steve McNees would express his own desire to play one more session. With no timeouts, and his team trailing by three, he pulled up on an off-balanced three with two defenders on him while drifting to his left…and he nailed it. You can call it the shot of his life, and they played another overtime.

This time, in the second OT, the Eagles just ran out of gas. Akron would get up by as many as 10 before eventually hanging on to an 8 point win. The loss should do nothing to diminish the effort by Eastern Michigan’s Carlos Medlock however, who was flat-out amazing. If a player ever has a chance to win the MVP of the tournament despite his team losing in the quarterfinals its Medlock. He played all but two minutes of the entire game – 48 total minutes – and he scored 41 points while grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists in his final game as senior. He defined the often used cliché of leaving it all on the floor, and his epic effort was not lost on those in attendance. Teammate Brandon Bowdery kicked in 21 points and 14 rebounds as EMU closed out their season with a record of 17-15. Akron moved to 23-9 with the 97-89 victory, and was paced by McNees’ 18. Anthony “Humpty” Hitchens also scored 16 for the Zips, as they now appear the clear-cut favorite to win it with Kent State out of the way. They’ll face Western Michigan tomorrow.

Akron’s Steve McNees on his thoughts leading up to his OT three: “The first thing I thought was I was pretty disappointed he [ Higgins ] made his. I knew I had to get it [my shot] up quick, we had no timeouts. I like shooting it going to my left, so I just tried to go that way and get it up.”

Recap: Western Michigan 69 – Central Michigan 60

Central Michigan was the two-seed as the MAC quarterfinals tipped off this afternoon, and for the first half they played like it against the 7^th seeded Chippewas. They held conference POY David Kool to 2 points on 0-4 shooting from the field during the first half, and at halftime, CMU led 31-22. They led by as many as 11 in the first half, and with 13:42 left in the second half they would lead by as many as 14 after Amid Rashid (14 points) hit a jumper to make the score 49-35. From that point on though, Western Michigan’s Kool played the way his name would describe, and when he hit a jumper with 4:44 in the game he’d tie the score at 54 apiece. Kool would then captain a 15-6 charge to close it out, and finish with 26 points on 7 of 15 shooting en-route to a nine point victory. Kool also had 4 rebounds and 3 assists for the game while scoring 24 points in the second half, and teammate Flenard Whitfield had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds as well. CMU was paced by Robbie Harman who scored 20 on 7 of 17 shooting from the field, and Jordan Bitzer kicked in 15 points and 4 rebounds as well in defeat. Western Michigan will play Akron in the semis on Friday.

Recap: Miami 73 – Buffalo 59

Sitting behind a contingent of Buffalo fans I never realized – until midway through the second half – just how catchy the phrase ‘let’s go Buffalo’ really is. Say it a couple times to yourself, its catchy, trust me. Nevertheless, despite the urgings from the Buffalo faithful, the Bulls wouldn’t have enough tonight in the last of four quarterfinal games at the Q. Miami led by 11 at halftime (32-21), and never allowed the Bulls to get anything going. Leading scorer Rodney Pierce was held to 2 of 8 from the field in the first half, and finished with 12. On the flip-side, Charlie Coles’ Redhawks squad was paced by fellow first- team all MAC selection - Kenny Hayes – who scored 27 and did just about anything he wanted to all night. Miami stretched the lead out to 11 (68-57) with two minutes to go, and the game was never as close as I thought it’d be. Julian Mavunga finished with 14, and Cleveland native Nick Winbush finished with 11, as Miami now readies themselves for a match-up with OU in the semis.

Friday’s Semi-Finals Match-Ups:

Akron vs. Western Michigan (Prediction: Akron)

Ohio vs. Miami (Prediction: Ohio)

My prediction record in the tournament thus far is 2-2. I’ll keep you posted going forward. For in-game updates tomorrow during the semis, follow Twitter @StepienRules.

MAC Tournament: Game by Game Preview

Brendan Bowers — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:11:34 -0800

Brendan Bowers will be in Cleveland all week covering the MAC Tournament for CollegeHoops.net.

The quarterfinals of the Mid American Conference tournament are set to tip-off at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, and the 8-team field is set. A profile of those participating in the playoff that will inevitably send one team to the largest of all collegiate dances is below. My initial thoughts and predictions on the tournament are included as well, however, as my credentialed coverage of the games get underway this weekend, I do reserve the right to change my predictions in accordance with the actual outcomes.

That said, the teams, conference records, and profiles – in order of match-ups / game times – are below:

#7 Western Michigan (8-8) vs. #2 Central Michigan (9-7) - 12 pm on Thursday

Western Michigan: The Broncos are led by Senior, and Conference POY, David Kool who led the MAC in scoring with 22 ppg. He also had four games of 30 or more, and is currently the leading scorer in school history…so he’s good. Martelle McLemore and Flenard Whitfield also average double figures in scoring at 11.7 and 10.2 per game respectively and Donald Lawson leads the team on the glass (7.2 rpg). Western ended their season winning three of their last four while playing some of their best basketball of the season at just the right time.

Central Michigan: The Chippewas, winners of the MAC West Division, are paced by senior guard Robbie Harman who’s definitely a guy that needs to be paid attention to on the perimeter. Harman has hit an average of 3.5 three-pointers per game this season, totaling 101 on the year. His 17.8 ppg lead CMU, and his backcourt mate Jordan Bitzer comes in averaging 15 points and 5 rebounds per game in conference as well. But while the MAC West title is certainly an accomplishment, it’s worth noting that CMU’s 9-7 mark would have been good enough to tie them for third with two other teams out East.

Prediction: If an 8-8 team beating a 9-7 one isn’t exactly worthy of an upset nod, a seven seed beating a two during the opening round of a tournament would be. So call it a big upset …I guess… as Western Michigan moves on past Central behind a big night from Kool.

#6 Eastern Michigan (8-8) vs. #3 Akron (12-4) - 2pm on Thursday

Eastern Michigan: Senior Guard Carlos Medlock was amongst those receiving votes for the conference POY award this season, and his 16 points per game total only one more (500 total points) than the 499 scored by teammate Brandon Bowdry who also averages 16 per. Bowdry also leads the team in rebounds at 10 per game, and those two guys were the main reasons why EMU had a look at the MAC West title down the stretch, as their Eagles narrowly lost out by one game.

Akron: Senior Forward Jimmy Conyers was named the MAC’s Defensive POY and offensively, there’s a lot of different ways these Zips can beat you. Three guys - Chris McNight, Brett McNight, and Jimmy Conyers - average between 10 and 12 points respectively in conference, with Conyers leading the way at 12. All three though, including Anthony Hitchens and Steve McNees, are capable of having a big night for Coach Dambrot’s club at any time. Conyers also leads the way on the glass, averaging 7 per game, and don’t be surprised if the Zips find a way to win this whole thing, and punch their ticket.

Prediction: Some people said that the loser of last week’s Akron – Kent State game would actually put themselves in a better position for this tournament with respect to the quarterfinal and semi-final match-ups, and for the second time this season, Akron did lose to Kent. Not saying seeding’s the reason why, but the Zips certainly don’t find themselves in all that bad of a spot as a result. Look for Akron to take care of Eastern Michigan in this one, and move on to Friday.

#9 Ohio (7-9) vs. #1 Kent State (13-3) - 7pm on Thursday

Ohio: Bobcat Guard DJ Cooper was named Freshman of the Year for the regular season by way of 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. It would be through his youthful direction that the Bobcats will look to follow their opening round win with a ‘biggest in school history type upset’ of the Golden Flashes on Thursday. Armon Basset (15.5 ppg) and Steve Coleman (11.3) will be critical as well if the lowest seeded team in the field has a shot to up-stage the highest.

Kent State: Golden Flashes Coach Geno Ford earned COY honors and Chris Singletary (11.7 ppg) was edged out in the POY race by 7 votes. Teammate Justin Greene (13.9 ppg) finished third in that same balloting, and those two make up four of the KSU starters that average between 10 and 14 points per game. Rodriguez Sherman and Tyree Evans round out that group with 10 points apiece per game. Anthony Simpson was the 6^th MOY, and on paper this squad should have been the regular season champs that they were.

Prediction: Kent Coach Geno Ford will match-up against his alma mater in his opening round attempt towards adding a tournament title to the 4^th regular season crown in school history they earned this season. His Flashes should have no trouble with this Bobcat group he once ran the point for, and Kent will cruise here in probably the most lopsided game of the tournament.

#5 Buffalo (9-7) vs. #4 Miami (9-7) - 9pm on Thursday

Buffalo: Senior guard Rodney Pierce leads the charge for Buffalo and his Bulls will go as far as his 18 points per game scoring can take them. He’ll be aided in his efforts by teammate Calvin Betts who’s scoring and rebounding at rates of 11 and 7 per night. This team was 18-11 overall, and their conference mark would have won the division had they been out West. Not a team to sleep on to be sure.

Miami: Despite a losing record overall (13-17), the Redhawks turned in solid conference effort to earn the four seed in this tournament. They’re paced by Kenny Hayes at over 14 points and 3 assists per contest and Julian Mavunga also boast a double digit average with 10. Junior Guard Nick Winbush (9.8 ppg) will return home to Cleveland for this one, where he was a two-time All Ohio Selection during his prep career at Shaker Heights.

Prediction: As much as I’m thinking to say that Charlie Coles’ club edges out Buffalo in a tight one, I’m picking the Bulls to advance. Rodney Pierce will prove to be too much as the Bulls get the win, and a shot at Kent State next time out.

Overall Tournament Predictions:

· Sleeper Team: Western Michigan

· Finals Match-Up: Kent State vs. Akron

· Tournament Champs: Akron

Look for more blogs, sound bites, recaps, and predictions on all MAC tournament action right here as the games get underway on Thursday. For the latest also feel free to follow me on Twitter @StepienRules… I promise I’ll follow you back.

Q&A w/ Dan Roundfield: NBA All-Star & Central Michigan Star

Jon Teitel — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:33:23 -0800

As part of his Forgotten Legends series, Jon Teitel chatted with former Central Michigan & NBA star Dan Roundfield. After a quality college career that included being the 1975 MAC Player of the Year, "Dr. Rounds" was drafted by Cleveland and spent 12 years in the pros, making 3 All-Star teams, and 5 All-Defensive teams.

CHN: You were nicknamed “Dr. Rounds.” Dow did you get the nickname, and did you like it?

DR: I got that nickname because my initials are “DR” and half the people I met could not get my last name right, so we shortened it to “Rounds”, which was fine by me.

CHN: How did you make the leap from being a raw freshman to an all-league player to an NBA pro? The leap as you say from my freshman year was not that hard (I had a great freshman year), since I continued to work at it. I had only started playing basketball during my junior year in high school, and I got better each year with hard work.

CHN: In 1974 you had a school-record 26 REB vs. Northern Michigan, was it extra-special to do it against NMU?

DR: If I remember correctly, the Northern Michigan game was one where I thought I should have actually gotten even more rebounds. I think we beat them pretty good, and I did not play a whole lot in the second half. NMU did not mean more to me than any other team: if it had been against Michigan State, Michigan, or a MAC team, that would have meant more to me.

CHN: In the 1975 season you were named conference POY. What did that mean to you?

DR: I never really thought about it: it was just something that helped us be a great team. Being voted conference POY was a nice honor: considering that other coaches had to vote on it, it meant that they thought I played pretty well against their teams during the season.

CHN: Take me through the 1975 NCAA tourney. You started with a wild 2-point win over Georgetown, where an offensive foul on the Hoyas gave your team 2 FT with no time left on the clock:

DR: The game should not have been that close, as we made several mistakes late in the game, but in the end we had the right person shooting the free throws. However, the call on the charge is not one that I would have made late in the game: I think it would have been better to just have the teams decide to game in OT.

CHN: What was the feeling like after you lost to Kentucky?

DR: I think we would have done a lot better if Ben Poquette and Russ Davis had not gotten hurt. Ben and Russ were 2 of our best big men, so we did not have a whole lot of size. To this day, I think that we would have beaten Kentucky if both had played. This game was far from the best that I had: if you look at the tape, I had 5 or 6 goaltending calls. As a team we were very disappointed, because we knew that was a game we could have won. [Editor: Dan scored 20 points, had 11 rebounds, and a school-record 8 blocks]

CHN: In the summer of 1975 you were drafted in the 2^nd round by Cleveland and in the 1^st round of the ABA draft by Indiana. Did you ever consider going to the ABA, or was your heart set on playing in the NBA?

DR: I was disappointed that I did not get picked higher in the NBA draft, but I hurt my leg very badly before the draft, and many teams did not think I would be able to play at all. I thought about leaving school early and going to the ABA, but decided to stay in school.

CHN: During your 1^st two years as a pro in 76 and 77, you broke your right wrist 4 times. Was it hard to get some playing time once you were healthy?

DR: The only thing that breaking my wrist did was let people know that I could shoot with either hand! I started the first 5 games before I broke my wrist, so they knew I could play. It was harder to win back playing time because our 2^nd round draft pick in 1976 (Mo Howard) could also play, so I had to beat him out again when I came back. Nobody else ever got hurt that year, and that was how I returned to the starting lineup at a new position.

CHN: In 1979 you became only the 7^th NBA player age 25 or younger to have a season with 15+ PPG, 10+ RPG, and 2+ BPG: did you feel by then that you could match up well with anyone in the NBA, and did you consider yourself one of the best young players in the league?

DR: I did not really give it much thought: I just tried to do my job to the best of my ability (like my parents talked about all the time).

CHN: From 1980-1982 you were a 3-time All-Star, and in the 1980 All-Star Game you had 18 PTS/13 REB/2 BLK in 27 minutes off the bench. How important was it for you to have such a great game in front of the best players in the league, and did you feel that you should have been named MVP over George Gervin?

DR: My thought process was just do your best because you may never get back in this position. I thought that I played well enough to get the MVP, but back then the person who scored the most points on the winning team always won MVP. The next 2 years I did not get to play in the All-Star Game even though I was on the team. In 1983 I had an even better year*, but did not get picked to be an All-Star. [*19 PPG, 11.4 RPG, career-high 2.9 APG, 1.5 BPG]

CHN: During your 12-year career you were named All-defensive team 5 times. How proud are you of your defensive ability, and do you consider yourself one of the best defenders in NBA history?

DR: I may not have been one of the best in some people’s eyes, but that is the one thing that I knew would keep me in the NBA: teams always need someone who can play defense. [Editor: Dan is one of only 25 players ever with 2500+ career offensive rebounds and 1000+ blocks.]

CHN: During the NBA off-season you worked at Fulton Federal Savings & Loan in Atlanta: what was it like to be an NBA player in a real-world setting?

DR: I always knew that no matter how good you were someday you would be an ex-player, so I just wanted to be prepared in case I did not play that long. Remember: salaries were not that great back then.

CHN: In 1994 you had your shot blocked by Arvydas Sabonis during a game against players from the USSR's 1988 gold medal team, what was it like to play in Red Square?

DR: Playing in Red Square was a great experience: I wish that I had a chance to do it when I was a lot younger. I got an offensive rebound and tried to tip it back in, but Sabonis just blocked me. I did not get a whole lot of attempts during that game.

CHN: You once said that the Bulls’ teams of Michael & Scottie would have struggled against the Celtics/Lakers teams of the 1980s, still think that?

DR: This is why it is very hard to compare teams from different eras. The Bulls’ teams with Jordan/Pippen had no one to compare to Robert Parish or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which is where the Celtics/Lakers could have matched up well against the Bulls at their strongest positions. Also, do not forget about the 1967 76ers (68-13, won the NBA title), the 1972 Lakers (69-13, won the NBA title), or the great Celtics’ teams from the 1960’s (won 9 titles in 10 years).

CHN: How has your life been since retirement from the NBA?

DR: I have worked for Camp, Dresser and McKee for the past 3 years, and have been in the engineering field for almost 20 years. Life has been good for me and my family after the NBA: remember that almost everyone who played when I did is still working. I am thankful to God that I graduated from CMU and have been able to put my degree to good use.

CHN: How do you want people to remember you?

DR: The way that I would like to be remembered is as someone who worked hard, made the most of his God-given talent, and enjoyed his family and life.

** Dan Rounfield's numbers rank right up there with anybody in MAC history. Here are my all-time MAC "fantasy" studs:

Akron: Bill Turner (1968)

Ball State: Bonzi Wells (1999)

Bowling Green: Nate Thurmond (1964)

Buffalo: Sam Pellom (1980)

Central Michigan: Dan Roundfield (1976)

Eastern Michigan: George Gervin (1973)

Kent State: John Edwards (2005)

Miami (OH): Ron Harper (1987)

Northern Illinois: Jim Bradley (1974)

Ohio: Gary Trent (1996)

Toledo: Larry Jones (1965)

Western Michigan: Paul Griffin (1977)

MAC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:33:55 -0800

Akron is the favorite after winning 23 games last year, but just about everyone in the dominant East Division has a chance to make some noise.

Conference Rank: 17th

10 year average: 13th

MAC Conference Page

All-MAC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Rodney Pierce	Buffalo	Sr
G	Darion Anderson	Northern Illinois	Jr
G/F	David Kool	Western Mich.	Jr
F	Brandon Bowdry	Eastern Mich.	Jr
F	Jarrod Jones	Ball State	So

Player of the Year - Rodney Pierce
CHN Award Winners		Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Darion Anderson Rodney Pierce		Best Scorer: David Kool Best Rebounder: Brandon Bowdry Best Passer: Joe Jakubowski

MAC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

68	Akron	MAC	1	NCAA
82	Buffalo	MAC	2	NIT
104	Kent State	MAC	3	CBI/CIT
128	Bowling Green	MAC	4
184	Ohio	MAC	5
199	Miami (OH)	MAC	6
232	Central Michigan	MAC	7
266	Ball State	MAC	8
289	Northern Illinois	MAC	9
311	Eastern Michigan	MAC	10
318	Western Michigan	MAC	11
341	Toledo	MAC	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the MAC?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

MAC Preseason Poll & Awards

Press Release — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:54:36 -0700

CLEVELAND - Akron was predicted to finish first in the Mid-American Conference East Division in a poll of the league's media, the conference office announced on Oct 28.

Central Michigan was predicted to win the West Division, amassing 113 points and 10 first-place votes. Northern Illinois was picked to finish second with 102 points, while Eastern Michigan was forecast to finish third with 94 points. Ball State, Western Michigan and Toledo were picked to finish fourth, fifth and sixth in the West Division, respectively.

Five schools earned votes to win the MAC Tournament with Akron being the favorite with 19 votes. Buffalo received two votes, while Northern Illinois, Kent State and Bowling Green each received one.

MAC East Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       Akron – 190 points (19)

2.       Kent State – 108 points (3)

3.       Buffalo – 97 points (1)

4.       Miami – 78 points

5.       Bowling Green – 54 points (1)

6.       Ohio – 32 points

MAC West Division Preseason Media Poll

1.       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)

6.       Toledo – 29 points

(1st place votes in parentheses)

Tournament Winner: Akron (19), Buffalo (2), Northern Illinois (1), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)

East Division All-MAC Preseason Team

Kenny Hayes, G, Miami

Brett McKnight, F, Akron

Rodney Pierce, G, Buffalo

Chris Singletary, G, Kent State

Anthony “Humpty” Hitches, G, Akron

West Division All-MAC Preseason Team

David Kool, G, Western Michigan

Jarrod Jones, F/C, Ball State

Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan

Darion “Jake” Anderson, G, Northern Illinois

Carlos Medlock, G, Eastern Michigan

The Ultimate Schedule: MAC West

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:09:02 -0700

MAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

Week 1: Western Michigan @ Michigan (September 5^th)

The Wolverines have made news in advance of the season opener due to head coach Rich Rodriguez’s proclamation that three quarterbacks will see time. If that’s for game plan reasons or the fact that none of the three (Tate Forcier, Nick Sheridan and Denard Robinson) has separated from the others then OK. But if it’s a case of overconfidence, thinking that the visit from the Broncos is nothing more than a formality they’d better talk to their conference brethren in Champaign. Bill Cubit’s team should not be overlooked, especially with QB Tim Hiller throwing and RB Brandon West throwing the football. If the Broncos can find ample replacements for the eight departed starters on defense look out.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Arizona (9/5), Toledo @ Purdue (9/5)

Week 2: Central Michigan @ Michigan State (September 12^th)

Another matchup between Michigan schools, with the task being far tougher for the Chippewas. Michigan State is picked by many to finish third in the Big Ten despite the loss of RB Javon Ringer. The Spartans have one of the better defenses in the conference with LB Greg Jones leading the way, and Mark Dantonio’s team doesn’t shy away from physical football. How well Butch Jones’ team deals with the hard-nosed style of play will dictate the flow of the game. If the Chippewas can keep the ball in the hands of Dan LeFevour and control the tempo they can win. If they allow the Spartans to slug away at will, it will be a long day in East Lansing.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Indiana (9/12)

Week 3: Northern Illinois @ Purdue (September 19^th)

Another Big Ten matchup, and just like Western’s opener at Michigan the visiting team has more than a puncher’s chance to leave with the victory. The Boilermakers, in their first season under Danny Hope, lost quite a bit on both sides of the football and were picked to finish tenth in the Big Ten this season. Jerry Kill’s Huskies have more than enough defense to compete for the division crown; whether or not they’re truly a part of the race with CMU and WMU will depend largely upon the improvements made on offense. Can NIU keep up with a team that likes to put the ball in the air like Purdue? It’s a pretty good test considering what they’ll go up against in conference play.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Army (9/19), Toledo vs. Ohio State (9/19 in Cleveland), Miami @ Western Michigan (9/19)

Week 4: Ball State @ Auburn (September 26^th)

The final Saturday in September sends Stan Parrish’s Cardinals to The Plains to take on an Auburn program in transition. Gene Chizik replaced the resigned Tommy Tuberville, and it too a little while for some natives to accept the fact that Auburn hired a man who was 5-19 in two years at Iowa State. Better athletes and a better recruiting base should help his cause in getting the Tigers back to competing for SEC championships. As for Parrish, who was the offensive coordinator last season, he’ll have to break in a new quarterback in Kelly Page but RB MiQuale Lewis does return. It’ll be too much to ask of the Cardinals to win at Auburn, but they could hang around for a bit.

Other Games Considered: Akron @ Central Michigan (9/26), Toledo @ FIU (9/26)

Week 5: Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois (October 3^rd)

If the Huskies want to entertain any thoughts of winning the division they’ll need to defend their home turf when the Broncos roll into DeKalb. WMU won last year’s meeting by just three points despite the fact that the Huskies were breaking in a new quarterback and getting used to a new head coach. Now Jerry Kill can look at QB Chandler Harnish and know that he’s got enough experience to take the next step in his development. The Broncos have won the last three meetings, but each game has been tight and they were outgained by NIU in the last meeting. The winner takes a big step towards competing for a MAC title while the loser falls behind the 8-ball early.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Buffalo (10/3), Toledo @ Ball State (10/3)

Week 6: Ball State @ Temple (October 10^th)

This is a crossover game that has the chance to be a pretty good one. The two have never met, with Temple just joining the conference in 2007. Ball State has been the best road team in the conference over the past couple of seasons, winning nine straight MAC road contests. If the Owls are to win they’ll have to get more from an offense that ranked dead last in the MAC in total offense in 2008 while Ball State will hope for good play from a defense that returns seven starters. While Temple has hopes of possibly winning the East the Cardinals will hope to reach bowl eligibility.

Other Games Considered: Western Michigan @ Toledo (10/10), Eastern Michigan @ Central Michigan (10/10)

Week 7: Central Michigan @ Western Michigan (October 17^th)

As soon as the media picks for the conference were released this game became the “Game of the Year” within the West Division. The Chippewas won last year’s meeting by ten (38-28) despite Tim Hiller throwing for nearly 500 yards. Western really has no problem putting the ball in the air, but if they can’t get anything out of Brandon West and the running game they become a little too one-dimensional (49 yards rushing against CMU in 2008). If the Broncos can get some balance they’ve got a chance to end their three-game skid in the series. If not, look for the Chippewas to cement themselves as the favorite in the division.

Other Games Considered: Northern Illinois @ Toledo (10/17), Bowling Green @ Ball State (10/17)

Week 8: Buffalo @ Western Michigan (October 24^th)

Depending on what happens in their respective big divisional games (Buffalo at Temple, WMU at Central Michigan) this could be a preview of the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in December. Of the four teams that received votes to win the MAC only the Bulls play all three (Temple, Central Michigan and Western Michigan), and by this point in the season Turner Gill’s team will have seen them all. The Broncos won last season’s meeting in overtime thanks to 345 yards through the air and a defense that limited Buffalo to just 164 yards through the air. WMU will look to control things through the air; if Buffalo can limit that they’ll have a chance to win at Waldo Stadium.

Week 9: Bye Week (October 31^st)

While there are a few intriguing games on the schedule for this weekend it’s a good time to take a week off to prepare for the stretch run. The best conference games look to be Western Michigan visiting Kent State and Ball State hosting Ohio, while Central Michigan gets an upset opportunity at Boston College.

Week 10: Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois (November 5^th)

The Eagles are the one team we haven’t seen to this point in the season so it’s a good opportunity to check out Ron English’s program on a Thursday night in DeKalb. EMU was embarrassed at home in last season’s meeting, losing 37-0 while allowing the Huskies to rush for 235 yards. Of the three teams picked in the top half of the division the Huskies may be the team that the Eagles can hang with longer than anticipated. When the Huskies win in this series they tend to blow out EMU; the Eagles won 21-19 in 2007 and with seventeen starters back they could very well make things interesting.

Other Game Considered: Western Michigan @ Michigan State (11/7)

Week 11: Toledo @ Central Michigan (November 11^th)

The Chippewas escaped Toledo last season with a 24-23 win, a departure from the 2007 meeting that saw the Rockets get their doors blown off in the fourth quarter. Rover Barry Church, who seems to have been around for about ten years, will lead a defense for new head coach Tim Beckman that returns seven starters. In regards to the series the Chips have won four straight after losing ten straight to the Rockets, a streak that coincided with the year (2005) in which Brian Kelly got things headed in the right direction in Mount Pleasant. Hopefully for CMU Dan LeFevour will be healthy; last year’s meeting came in between games the senior missed due to injury. The Rockets have a senior quarterback of their own in Aaron Opelt, and while he isn’t considered to be the caliber of LeFevour, he is a capable decision-maker.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Northern Illinois (12/12), Western Michigan @ Eastern Michigan (12/14)

Week 12: Northern Illinois @ Ohio (November 21^st)

We’ve got one more attractive crossover game…that is if you’re a fan of strong running games and solid defense. The last meeting was actually a high-scoring affair, but it’s hard to expect both teams to light up the scoreboard this time around. Ohio QB Theo Scott missed most of 2008 due to a broken collarbone suffered in the season opener, giving Boo Jackson the keys to the offense. There still hasn’t been a decision on who the starter will be but Frank Solich does have two players with experience from which to choose. NIU QB Chandler Harnish should also perform better with a season under his belt, a development that should increase the production of the Husky offense. Not sure how many points will be scored, but expect nothing to be decided until the fourth quarter.

Other Games Considered: Central Michigan @ Ball State (11/18), Eastern Michigan @ Toledo (11/20)

Week 13: Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan (November 27^th)

Just like the meeting between the Chippewas and Western Michigan in October, the season finale between CMU and the Huskies will go a long way in deciding who makes the voyage to Detroit. Central Michigan won last season’s meeting 33-30 in overtime, spoiling a furious NIU rally to tie the game at 30 with nineteen seconds remaining in regulation. CMU led 30-6 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter yet needed a field goal from Andrew Aguila to seal the win. Dan LeFevour accounted for more than three hundred yards and four total touchdowns in the win, but it isn’t as if he wasn’t going to be the first line of the NIU scouting report anyway. Expect another entertaining contest, and this time there may be a lot more on the line.

Other Games Considered: Ball State @ Western Michigan (11/24), Toledo @ Bowling Green (11/27)

Week 14: Marathon MAC Football Championship Game (December 4^th in Detroit)

The conference gets the Friday night spotlight to itself on Championship Weekend, and the pick here is for Central Michigan to close out Dan LeFevour’s career with a conference title. Look for the Chippewas to dethrone reigning champion Buffalo at Ford Field.

MAC Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:50:19 -0700

Can the Bulls repeat as champions?

By Raphielle Johnson

2008 saw the completion to one of the biggest turnarounds in recent college football history, with Turner Gill leading the Buffalo Bulls from the dregs of college football to the top of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls knocked off Ball State in the conference championship game, earning a trip to the International Bowl. They may have lost that game and starting quarterback Drew Willy (graduation), but most importantly they did not lose Coach Gill.

Despite a few interview opportunities he’ll be right back on the sidelines, hoping that players such as WR Naaman Roosevelt and RB Brandon Thermilus (James Starks will likely miss the entire season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder) can lead the Bulls to another title. Zack Maynard takes over for Willy under center, and while he’s got many options to go to with the football he’ll also have to deal with three new starters on the offensive line. Defensively, look for the Bulls to be one of the conference’s stronger units with nine starters returning. The key for Buffalo: avoiding a “hangover” following a season of success the likes of which hadn’t been seen at UB for a very long time.

Their biggest challenger in the East could very well be Temple, another program looking to drag itself up from the bottom of college football. Al Golden’s team went 5-7 in his first year in Philadelphia, but they did win four league games. Adam DiMichele has graduated, but the Owls do have quarterbacks with starting experience in Vaughn Charlton and Chester Stewart. Outside of quarterback the Owls are a solid football team featuring a number of young yet talented options on both sided of the football. Far more competitive than people expected them to be last season, Temple has the talent to challenge the Bulls and possibly win the conference.

Ohio, Akron and Bowling Green could slot in behind those two in any given order, but good luck figuring out which of the three would have the best chance to shove their way into the top two. Ohio will always run the ball and play sound football under Frank Solich, but the growth of the passing game will determine whether or not the Bobcats can win the division. JD Brookhart’s Akron Zips return nine starters on offense with QB Chris Jacquemain leading the way. But in order for Akron to put together their first winning season since 2005 a defense that finished tenth in the MAC in total defense must improve.

Bowling Green welcomes a new head coach in Dave Clawson, who was extremely successful at Richmond before taking over as offensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2008. He will have some dependable options on offense in QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes to work with, but there will be some work to do defensively. A unit that ranked second in the conference in total defense returns just three starters and have to replace all-conference DE Diyral Briggs.

Kent State is another team to keep an eye on, with the Golden Flashes returning fifteen starters, led by the diminutive yet productive RB Eugene Jarvis. Jarvis rushed for just over eight hundred yards in 2008, missing three games due to injury. His health becomes even more important due to the graduation of QB Julian Edelman. Four starters are back on the offensive line, and the defense returns starters at all three levels. The wildcard in regards to their contention for a division crown will be the play of sophomore QB Giorgio Morgan; if he can play mistake-free football the Golden Flashes have a chance to earn their first winning season since 2001.

Miami of Ohio also has a new head coach in Mike Haywood, and he’ll have quite the rebuilding job to do in Oxford. The Redhawks have a proud football history but they’ve finished 2-10 in two of the last three seasons. Senior Daniel Raudabaugh returns to lead the offense, and that unit ranked ahead of only Temple in total offense. The Redhawks weren’t much better defensively, ranking ninth in the conference in total defense. Just five starters return to that unit, led by three returnees in the secondary.

In the West, it’ll most likely be a two-horse race between Central Michigan and Western Michigan. The Chippewas return the conference’s best quarterback in Dan LeFevour, and head coach Butch Jones also has receivers Kito Poblah, Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown back in the fold. But the Chips have just one starter back on the offensive line, and the fact that they have ten starters back on defense is undermined by the fact that CMU was dead last in the conference in total defense last season. If the defense can round into shape they’ve got a chance to get through a tough early-season schedule and get back to the top of the MAC.

As for the Broncos, they’ve got some holes to fill defensively but the offense is in good hands thanks to the return of all five starters on the offensive line and QB Tim Hiller. Hiller threw for 286.5 yards per game in 2008, tops in the conference by thirty yards per game. Brandon West will be back for one more run as well, hoping to improve upon numbers that ranked him sixth in the conference in rushing yards a season ago. The Broncos were fourth in the MAC in total offense but just eighth in total defense. That number has to improve if they’re to win the conference this season.

Northern Illinois was the worst offensive team in the conference yet still reached a bowl game in the first season under Jerry Kill due to a defense that finished tops in the conference by nearly fifty yards per game. Defensive end Larry English is now in the NFL and just four starters return on defense, but things may be looking up for the offense. QB Chandler Harnish started ten games as a freshman and is one of seven starters back on that side of the football. If the NIU offense can make some strides they’ll be in the running for third place in the West.

Toledo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan all welcome new head coaches in 2009, with the Rockets having the best chance of finishing in the top half the of the division. New head coach Tim Beckman takes over a team that returns sixteen starters, including QB Aaron Opelt and running backs Morgan Williams and DaJuane Collins. Growing pains could be more plentiful for Ball State’s Stan Parrish and Eastern Michigan’s Ron English. The Cardinals have just four starters back on an offense that led the MAC in total offense a season ago. The load will become heavier for RB MiQuale Lewis with the loss of QB Nate Davis and four starters on the offensive line.

As for EMU the program has won four games in a season three times this decade. That’s the high-water mark for the perennial MAC doormat, something the former defensive coordinator at Louisville hopes to change. Seventeen starters return to Ypsilanti, including nine to an offense that ranked third in the MAC last season. But no matter how many yards Andy Schmitt threw for the Eagles struggled to win games due to a porous defense. Schmitt did lead the Eagles to an upset win over the Chippewas in the season finale, throwing for 516 yards and five touchdowns in the 56-52 stunner. In the final two games of the season Schmitt attempted 76 (Temple) and 80 (CMU) passes; if he has to do that this year the Eagles will more than likely fail to surpass their three-win total of 2008.

As for who wins the MAC title look for Central Michigan’s defense to show signs of improvement, winning the conference provided LeFevour stay healthy. If not, the door opens for either Buffalo or Western Michigan to grab the title. But rest assured it will be another season of wild games and surprising results in the Mid-American Conference.

Storyline: Offense vs. defense. The Bulls are pretty solid on both sides of the football, but the other major contenders need to make improvements on either the offensive (Temple) or defensive (CMU, WMU) side of the football.

Players of the Year: QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan) and LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan)

How they’ll finish

East 1. Buffalo West 1. Central Michigan

2. Temple 2. Western Michigan

3. Ohio 3. Northern Illinois

4. Akron 4. Toledo

5. Kent State 5. Ball State

6. Bowling Green 6. Eastern Michigan

7. Miami (Ohio)

Next: MAC East and West ultimate schedules