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MAC overview

With league's best player, Marshall will be tough to beat

Special to CNNSI.com

Marshall's Tamar Slay averaged just over 20 points per game last season. Marshall Sports Information

Order of Finish East Division 1. Marshall 2. Kent 3. Ohio 4. Bowling Green 5. Miami 6. Akron 7. Buffalo West Division 1. Toledo 2. Ball State 3. Central Michigan 4. Northern Illinois 5. Eastern Michigan 6. Western Michigan

Top storylines

Marshall has the best shooting guard, (Tamar Slay), the best playmaker (Cornelius Jackson) and the best center (J.R. VanHoose) in the Mid-American. Will all that talent at the most critical positions on the floor be enough to overcome a lack of depth and earn the Thundering Herd its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1988?

Junior guard Trevor Huffman led Kent in scoring and assists last season despite not starting a game in the regular season. He's earned his place as a starter. Will he be as effective in that role?

New coaches in the league are Tim Buckley at Ball State, Robert McCullum at Western Michigan and Jim Boone at Eastern Michigan. Buckley inherits a solid program at Ball State. McCullum has his work cut out for him as he inherits a 10-18 team (6-12 in the MAC). And Boone takes over a team in transition.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Tamar Slay, G, Marshall • A 6-9 shooting guard would be a load in any conference, let alone a league residing beneath the top 10 in the country. Slay led the MAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) last season because he can post up, beat defenders off the dribble and shoot the three-pointer (.433 last year). How do you stop this guy? Greg Stempin, F, Toledo • Stempin (15.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg) put together a second consecutive first team All-MAC season despite missing four games and part of another in January because of a sprained elbow. Without him, Toledo lost five straight games. When he returned, the Rockets won 11 straight entering the MAC Tournament. J.R. VanHoose, C, Marshall • VanHoose (17.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg) put together an excellent season despite constant pain in both knees. Imagine what he can do if he¹s healthy.

Top Newcomer

Julius Johnson, G, Miami • A consensus top 100 player in last year's senior class, Johnson is Miami's biggest recruiting catch since Ron Harper in 1983.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Dan Dakich, Bowling Green • Bobby Knight proteges have generally fared well as head coaches, especially if they don't try to adapt the former Indiana coach's surly disposition. At Bowling Green, Dakich is 50-34 in three years, with a trip to the NIT a year ago.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Tim Buckley, Ball State • Buckley takes over an excellent program that played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. A former Ball State assistant, Buckley should know what to do right away. But can he duplicate the success of former boss Barry Collier?

Mark Your Calendar

Jan. 24, Marshall at Ball State • This game between teams picked by some to win their respective MAC divisions will be an early test for a Marshall team that might finally have what it takes to earn an NCAA Tournament berth after a 13-year layoff. Feb. 10, Marshall at Kent • If the Herd is to win the East Division, it will have to beat Kent. Mar. 3, Toledo at Ball State • If the West Division title isn¹t already decided, this game will decide it.

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