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The following conference preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
| Mid-American |
|---|
| Projected order of finish |
|---|
| |
East |
|
West |
| 1 |
Marshall |
1 |
Ball State |
| 2 |
Kent State |
2 |
Central Michigan |
| 3 |
Miami (Ohio) |
3 |
Toledo |
| 4 |
Bowling Green |
4 |
Western Michigan |
| 5 |
Ohio |
5 |
Eastern Michigan |
| 6 |
Akron |
6 |
Northern Illinois |
| 7 |
Buffalo |
|
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| All-Conference Team |
|---|
| Pos. |
Name |
Year |
School |
PPG |
|
G
|
Trevor Huffman
|
SR
|
Kent State
|
16.8
|
|
G
|
David Webber
|
SR
|
Central Michigan
|
18.4
|
|
G
|
Keith McLeod
|
SR
|
Bowling Green
|
18.1
|
|
F
|
Tamar Slay
|
SR
|
Marshall
|
17.3
|
|
F
|
Brandon Hunter
|
SR
|
Ohio
|
18.1
|
| |
| Player of the Year |
Brandon Hunter, JR, Ohio
|
| Newcomer of the Year |
Ronald Blackshear, SO, Marshall
|
| Outlook |
|---|
|
Marshall has the MAC's best frontcourt, with 6-9 Tamar Slay, an NBA prospect, and 6-10 J.R. VanHoose. Slay averaged a team-high 17.3 points a year ago and is a three-point threat, while VanHoose averaged a double-double, leading the MAC in rebounding. A key will be replacing a trio of guards who have departed. That means Ronald Blackshear, a well-traveled gunner who transferred from Temple, will be called upon to replace some lost backcourt scoring. If Marshall is the favorite in the East Division, Ball State is the West Division's frontrunner. Theron Smith leads a solid front line that is also anchored by center Lonnie Jones, who despite health and injury problems is a potential double-double guy in the post. He's also the school's all-time blocked shots leader and can influence games defensively. Central Michigan returns four starters, including one of the league's top guards in David Webber, and should challenge Ball State. The Chippewas get a big boost from Eastern Kentucky transfer Whitney Robinson, a 5-11 point guard who can get to the rim and score, or draw defenders and pass off for easy baskets. Bowling Green also returns four starters and will contend in the East Division. Center Len Matela and guard Keith McLeod give the Falcons one of the league's better inside-outside tandems.
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