2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

The 2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season is the 64th college basketball season in the conference's existence. The conference features 12 teams in two divisions, East and West, who will compete for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season and tournament titles.

2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
DurationNovember 13, 2009
through March 13, 2010
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)Big Ten Network, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, ESPN, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Midwest, Time Warner SportsNet–Buffalo[1]
Regular season
Tournament
2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
Kent State133 .813  2410  .706
Akron124 .750  2411  .686
Miami97 .563  1418  .438
Buffalo97 .563  1812  .600
Ohio79 .438  2215  .595
Bowling Green610 .375  1416  .467
West
Central Michigan97 .563  1515  .500
Eastern Michigan88 .500  1715  .531
Western Michigan88 .500  1815  .545
Ball State88 .500  1515  .500
Northern Illinois610 .375  1020  .333
Toledo115 .063  428  .125
Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Pre-season

Coaching

None of the twelve teams made head coaching changes from last season, although some gave their coaches contract extensions. Ball State gave head coach Billy Taylor a two-year contract extension after the Cardinals shared the MAC West Division title with Central Michigan.[2] Taylor finished second in the Coach of the Year ballot sponsored by the Conference and has held a 20–41 record since taking over the program. The contract extension will keep him at Ball State through March 31, 2014. Other changes with the Ball State program include Bob Simmons being promoted to associate head coach and Mitch Gilfillan hired as the Director of Basketball Operations.[3]

On the east side, Bowling Green gave their head coach Louis Orr a two-year extension that would also keep him through the 2013–14 basketball season.[4] He beat out Taylor for the MAC Coach of the Year ballot last season. In Orr's two seasons at Bowling Green he increased the team's conference winning percentage, going from 3–13 in the year prior to his arrival, to 7–9 and 11–5 in his two seasons at the institution. To complement the contract extension, Bowling Green announced that Dennis Hopson would join the Falcons as an assistant coach.[5]

The Akron Zips gave their head coach Keith Dambrot a lengthy contract extension, keeping him through the 2015–16 season.[6] Dambrot had led the Zips to four consecutive 20-win seasons in his five years at Akron (his first season had 19 wins). Those five years were capped off with an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Tournament appearance in the 2008–09 season. However, the university lost a key assistant coach when it was announced that Jeff Boals would leave to become an assistant at Ohio State.[7] Boals was a key figure in recruiting Zeke Marshall, a 7-foot center who has been Akron's highest recruit in recent history. To replace Boals, Akron hired Dan Peters, former Ohio State assistant coach who helped lead the team to the 2007 National Championship Game.[8] Peters role with the Zips will be the Director of Basketball Operations.

Media voting

On October 28, the members of the MAC News Media Panel voted in the Preseason Media Poll. They voted Akron as the favorite in the MAC East Division and Central Michigan in the MAC West Division.[9] The Zips come off of a 2008 where they represented the Conference in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, and Central Michigan won a share of the MAC West Division title last season.

East Division
PlaceTeam1stPoints
1Akron Zips19190 points
2Kent State Golden Flashes3108 points
3Buffalo Bulls197 points
4Miami RedHawks78 points
5Bowling Green Falcons154 points
6Ohio Bobcats32 points
West Division
PlaceTeam1stPoints
1Central Michigan Chippewas10113 points
2Northern Illinois Huskies4102 points
3Eastern Michigan Eagles394 points
4Ball State Cardinals387 points
5Western Michigan Broncos479 points
6Toledo Rockets29 points

The media also took a vote on who they think would win the MAC Tournament at the end of the season. Unlike the preseason votes, the media would only select the winner of the tournament, and not the placement of the teams afterwards. Akron received the most votes with 19, followed by Buffalo with two votes. Northern Illinois, Kent State, and Bowling Green each received one vote to win the tournament.

Exhibition games

All 12 MAC teams combined to play a total of 16 exhibition games. All of these games were against schools of lower divisions (NCAA Division II, for example). 15 of these 16 games were played in the home court of the MAC team, with the exclusion of a Kent State Golden Flashes game at the College of Wooster on November 7.[10] Overall, MAC teams went 15–1 in these exhibition games, with the lone loss coming from the Toledo Rockets when they lost 48–56 against Central State University.[11] The largest margin of victory was 50 points, which was achieved in two games. Northern Illinois was able to beat Marygrove College with a score of 120–70,[12] and the Akron Zips were able to match that margin of victory with an 88–38 victory over Mount Union College.[13]

Regular season

November

Five Mid-American Conference teams opened up their season on November 13, the first Friday after the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began. Miami first played the Tigers of Towson University in their home court in Maryland. While the RedHawks were able to build to a 42–37 lead at halftime, Towson would go on a 10–2 run in the second half and eventually sealing the victory with a final score of 82–71.[14] Northern Illinois would also begin their season with a loss, losing 55–77 against intrastate opponent Northwestern[15] Ohio began their season with a win Ohio Valley University by a score of 101–72 in the Convocation Center. Five Ohio players reached double-digits in scoring, led by Ivo Baltic who had 20 points in that game.[16] Ball State was also able to begin the season with a victory, theirs over Horizon League opponent Valparaiso. Six players from Ball State were able to score over ten points, which is the first time in over ten years that it has been accomplished by a team.[17] The Cardinals won by a score of 88–78. Finally, Kent State began their season by hosting a version of the 2009 Hispanic College Fund Classic. Their first match-up in that tournament was against the Samford Bulldogs. The Golden Flashes snuck out a win in that game, 69–66, to keep their home opener streak at 13 games.[18]

BracketBusters

For the eighth year, ESPN organized an event that's known as the BracketBusters, which features teams from Mid-Major Conferences which face each other in order to improve their strength of schedule.[19] The matchups will be announced on February 1 with the teams facing each other on February 19 or 20, 2010. The MAC is tied with the most teams in the event, with them and the Colonial Athletic Association having 12 teams each featured in the field.

Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami, and Ohio will all host games in their venues, while Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Western Michigan travelling to opponents' arenas.

MAC Tournament

Post-season tournaments

Awards

All-MAC Preseason Team

As a part of the Preseason Media Poll, the members also voted on the Preseason All-MAC East and West Division teams.[9] Akron and Eastern Michigan had two players in the East and West Division polls, respectively.

East Division
All-MAC Preseason Team
PlayerSchool
Kenny HayesMiami
Brett McKnightAkron
Rodney PierceBuffalo
Chris SingletaryKent State
Anthony "Humpty" HitchensAkron
West Division
All-MAC Preseason Team
PlayerSchool
David KoolWestern Michigan
Jarrod JonesBall State
Brandon BowdryEastern Michigan
Darion "Jake" AndersonNorthern Illinois
Carlos MedlockEastern Michigan

Player of the Week

East Division
Player of the Week
WeekPlayerSchool
1[20] Rodriquez ShermanKent State
2[21] Anthony "Humpty" HitchensAkron
3[22] Julian MavungaMiami
4[23] Dee BrownBowling Green
5[24] Armon BassettOhio
6[25] D. J. CooperOhio
7[26] Jimmy ConyersAkron
8[27] Justin GreeneKent State
9[28] Chris SingletaryKent State
10[29] Rodney PierceBuffalo
11[30] Justin Greene (2)Kent State
12[31] Chris Singletary (2)Kent State
13[32] Kenny Hayes
Chris Singletary (3)
Miami
Kent State
West Division
Player of the Week
WeekPlayerSchool
1Brandon BowdryEastern Michigan
2Martelle McLemoreWestern Michigan
3Carlos MedlockEastern Michigan
4Brandon Bowdry (2)Eastern Michigan
5David KoolWestern Michigan
6David Kool (2)Western Michigan
7Jarrod Jones
Alex Wolf
Ball State
Western Michigan
8Xavier SilasNorthern Illinois
9Xavier Silas (2)Northern Illinois
10Darion "Jake" AndersonNorthern Illinois
11Jordan BitzerCentral Michigan
12Jarrod Jones (2)
David Kool (3)
Ball State
Western Michigan
13David Kool (4)
Carlos Medlock (2)
Western Michigan
Eastern Michigan

All-MAC Teams

All-MAC First Team
PlayerSchool
Jimmy ConyersAkron
Rodney PierceBuffalo
Kenny HayesMiami
David KoolWestern Michigan
Chris SingletaryKent State
All-MAC Second Team
PlayerSchool
Jordan BitzerCentral Michigan
Robbie HarmanCentral Michigan
Carlos MedlockEastern Michigan
Brandon BowdryEastern Michigan
Justin GreeneKent State
All-MAC Freshman Team
PlayerSchool
Zeke MarshallAkron
Jauwan ScaifeBall State
D. J. CooperOhio
Jake BarnettToledo
Nate HutchesonWestern Michigan
Source: Men's Basketball All-MAC Teams, All-Freshman Team Announced

See also

References

  1. "MAC Releases Men's & Women's Basketball Television Package" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  2. "Taylor Signs Two-Year Contract Extension Contract" (Press release). Ball State Athletics. 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  3. "Men's BAsketball Announces Staff Changes" (Press release). Ball State Athletics. 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  4. "Louis Orr Signs Contract Extension" (Press release). Bowling Green Athletic Communications. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  5. "Dennis Hopson Named Men's Basketball Assistant Coach" (Press release). Bowling Green Athletic Communications. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  6. Turner, Jamie (2009-06-17). "Akron extends basketball coach Keith Dambrot's contract through 2015-16 season". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  7. "Thad Matta Adds Jeff Boals to Men's Basketball Staff" (Press release). OhioStateBuckeyes.com. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  8. "Men's Basketball Program Announces Changes To Staff" (Press release). Akron Media Relations. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  9. "Akron, Central Michigan Selected as Preseason Men's Favorites" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-10-28. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  10. "Mid-Game Spurt Leads Kent State To 76-59 Exhibition Win At Wooster" (Press release). Kent State Athletic Communications. 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  11. "Rockets Doomed by Cold Shooting in 56-49 Exhibition Loss to Central State" (Press release). Toledo Athletics. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  12. "Huskies Upend Marygrove College in Exhibition Finale, 120-70" (Press release). Northern Illinois University. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  13. "Men's Basketball Downs Mount Union in Exhibition" (Press release). Akron Media Relations. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  14. "Towson 82, Miami (Ohio) 71". ESPN. Associated Press. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  15. "Northwestern 77, N. Illinois 55". ESPN. Associated Press. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  16. "Ohio 101, Ohio Valley 72". ESPN. Associated Press. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  17. "Ball St. 88, Valparaiso 78". ESPN. Associated Press. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  18. "Kent St. 69, Samford 66". ESPN. Associated Press. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  19. "ESPN's BracketBusters to Feature 98 Teams Eligible for One of 11 Telecasts Feb. 19-20" (Press release). ESPN Internet Ventures. 2009-09-23. Archived from the original on 2010-01-22. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  20. "MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-11-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  21. "MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-11-23. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  22. "MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  23. "MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-12-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  24. "MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-12-14. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-12-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-01-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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