Friday, October 22, 1999

MAC media predict lost year for Miami

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The Associated Press

        CLEVELAND — The Mid-American Conference men's basketball race figures to be so balanced that a team that isn't expected to win its division was selected to take the league's postseason tournament title.

        In balloting Thursday by media covering the league, Akron was picked to win the MAC's East Division and Toledo the West. Yet Kent — selected to finish second in the East — was voted the favorite to win the MAC Tournament.

        “It's going to be scary this year,” Kent head coach Gary Waters said at the league's preseason meetings at Gund Arena. “There's going to be some brutal wars out there.”

        Miami was picked to finish sixth of the seven teams in the East. A year ago, the RedHawks went 24-8, won the East title and received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the round of 16. This year, Miami is without star forward Wally Szczerbiak, drafted in the first round by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

        It should be particularly brutal in the East, considering the top five teams each received more votes to win the tournament title than did the predicted West Division champion.

        Four different teams in the East received first-place votes, and another five teams in the West. Seven different teams received votes to win the conference tournament.

        Toledo was predicted to win the West for the second year in a row. The Rockets finished 19-9 last year.

        Kent went 23-7 last year and beat Miami in the finals of the tournament to gain its first berth in the NCAA Tournament.

        Following Akron and Kent in the East balloting were Bowling Green, Marshall, Ohio, Miami and Buffalo. head PRESEASON PICKS

        Preseason balloting by MAC Media Association (first-place votes in parentheses)

        EAST DIVISION

        Team  Pts.

1. Akron (15) ....... 230

        2. Kent (17) ....... 220

        3. Bowling Green ....... 173

        4. Marshall (2) ....... 150

        5. Ohio (4) ....... 146

        6. Miami, Ohio ....... 103

        7. Buffalo ....... 40

        WEST DIVISION

        Team  Pts.

1. Toledo (20) ....... 189

        2. Ball State (11) ....... 162

        3. Northern Illinois (3) ....... 128

        4. Western Michigan (3) ....... 117

        5. Central Michigan (1) ....... 116

        6. Eastern Michigan ....... 87

        TO WIN TOURNAMENT

        Kent (15), Akron (12), Ohio (4), Bowling Green (3), Marshall (2), Toledo (1), Northern Illinois (1).

       

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