Ball State Cardinals
Coach: Tim Buckley
2002 record: 13-17 overall, 8-10 Mid-American Conference
Strengths: Senior forward Cameron Echols is taking aim at the MAC rebuilding title as part of what could be a strong frontcourt if center Kevin Cates returns from an unspecified medical condition. Guard Matt McCollom will be given a greater opportunity to work as a scorer, since that is not the strength of any other returning players. Transfers Jesse McClung and Dennis Trammel could help fill the holes left in the Cardinals' lineup.
Weaknesses: Buckley has to find a way to replace go-to-guard Chris Williams, the team's leading scorer last season (24.2 ppg). The more unexpected loss came when forward Theron Smith declared for early entry to the NBA Draft after sitting out the 2002-2003 season with a knee injury. Buckley was counting on Smith to provide some senior leadership this season, but now it is up to Echols in only his second season to pair with Robert Owens and give some guidance to the newcomers. With all the inexperience at the guard spots there will be some growing pains for the Cardinals.
Bowling Green Falcons
Coach: Dan Dakich
2002 record: 13-16, 8-10 MAC
Strengths: One thing teams coached by Dakich can do is defend, so look for more of the same this year. Even with guard Germain Fitch out until at least January, guard Cory Ryan gone after graduation, and the loss of forward Reggie Hartwell to academics, the Falcons have tremendous quality depth. With Ronald Lewis and John Reimold on the wings, Bowling Green has a nice combination of slashing and shooting on the perimeter. If Kevin Netter can take another step in his maturation and avoid foul trouble, the Falcons could be the team to beat. Guard Steven Wright was one of Bowling Green's top players last season, but he was also a partial qualifier who only participated in practice.
Weaknesses: If there is a weakness on this team, it is the interior. Netter is prone to foul trouble and generally losing his head when things do not go his way, but even that appeared to be improving as the season progressed. The Falcons also are counting on Josh Almanson inside who is coming off a major injury last season when he broke his leg. No matter how you slice it, the Falcons look solid.
Central Michigan Chippewas
Coach: Jay Smith
2002 record: 25-7, 14-4 MAC
Strengths: The senior backcourt of T.J. Meerman and Tony Bowne are the only two returning players with significant experience. Bowne is the returning leader in assists at 3.3 per game, while Meerman is the returning leading scorer at 5.6 points per game. Former All-MAC freshman selection center Gerrit Brigitha can also look to revive his career now that there are more minutes available.
Weaknesses: Based on the fact that their strengths include no returning players who averaged more than 5.6 ppg, it is fair to say the Chippewas have some rebuilding to do. Their interior was devastated by the graduation of forward Mike Manciel and the early entry in the NBA by last year's MAC Player of the Year center Chris Kaman. Experience is an issue with this team, which went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. The team must also replace lightning quick guard Whitney Robinson and the versatile J.R. Wallace on the perimeter. Do not expect a repeat conference tournament champion this season.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Coach: Jim Boone
2002 record: 14-14, 8-10 MAC
Strengths: Like many MAC teams this season, the Eagles have quality depth on the perimeter. Guards JaQuan Hart, Michael Ross and Ricky Cottrill combine for a solid rotation that could wreak havoc on opposing defenses. Forward Markus Austin showed all-conference potential at times last season but faltered as the season wore on. A consistent season from Austin (14.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is crucial to the Eagles. However, question marks surround even the best players on the Eagles.
Weaknesses: Observers have to wonder what players will show up for the Eagles this year. Will the dynamic scorer of two years ago resurface for Cottrill or will he remain a silent option in the Eastern Michigan offense? Will Hart finally live up to his hype as a big-time transfer? Can Ross continue to be an effective floor general without a post game beyond the sometimes inconsistent Austin?
Northern Illinois Huskies
Coach: Rob Judson
2002 record: 17-14, 11-7 MAC
Strengths: The Huskies' strength lies in their experience as the team returns two first team preseason All-MAC selections, forward Marcus Smallwood and guard P.J. Smith. Smith is a deadly threat from three-point range (41.5 percent), while Smallwood is one of the hardest working players in the MAC grabbing 10.1 rpg at only 6-feet-6-inches. Despite opening a new arena, the Huskies won more games on the road than at home last season; taking care of business on the road is crucial to a conference title run.
Weaknesses: For how good Northern Illinois is inside with Smallwood, they still lack an intimidating inside presence. The team also lost guard Jay Bates at the point, so last year's backup, Anthony Maestranzi, has to take the reigns for this team in his second season. If they can work a new big man and point guard into the mix with Smith and Smallwood, Northern Illinois will follow through and win the MAC as many have predicted in this preseason.
Toledo Rockets
Coach: Stan Joplin
2002 record: 13-16, 7-11 MAC
Strengths: Last year's MAC Freshman of the Year Sammy Villegas might actually be better than last season. Villegas was forced into playing point guard, a position he never played before, but with the graduation of guard Nick Moore, Villegas gets to move to his natural wing spot. Guard Keith Triplett led the team last year with 16.7 ppg and finished the season scoring in bunches. Villegas and Triplett could be a sleeper backcourt in the MAC because of their low finish last season.
Weaknesses: The greatest potential weakness is in the frontcourt where it appears the Rockets will count on two newcomers, Allen Pinson and Florentino Valencia, to be the go-to big men. Joplin does not have the luxury of easing them into a starting role, so he might have to roll the dice early in the season and see how the two respond to the tests of MAC play.
Western Michigan Broncos
Coach: Steve Hawkins
2002 record: 20-11, 11-7 MAC
Strengths: The Broncos quietly played their way into a 20-win season last year with one of the truly bruising frontcourts in the MAC. Center Anthony Kann and forward Mike Williams combined to average 28 ppg and 14.5 rpg. There will not be a frontcourt in the MAC that can overmatch the talent the Broncos have, on paper.
Weaknesses: The first question with the Broncos is on the sideline. Hawkins takes over for Robert McCullum who took a job at the University of South Florida this off-season. Hawkins was an assistant under McCullum, so the transition should be less difficult, but there is always a question with a coaching change if positive momentum from the previous regime can be continued. Ben Reed, the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2002, was not the same player in his sophomore season because of a serious knee injury. If he cannot return to top form, Kann and Williams will never see the ball because it will not make it across halfcourt. An unhealthy, unsure Reed means Hawkins will have to count on an unproven commodity to run the point.
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