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News Media Association preview names the Zips fourth in East Division
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Oct 31, 2008
CLEVELAND: It could prove to be a retooling year for the Kent State men's basketball team, but that didn't stop the Mid-American Conference News Media Association from anointing the Flashes as its preseason favorite Thursday at the 2008-09 MAC Basketball Preview at Quicken Loans Arena.
''I think it is a nice recognition that we have won and been successful, but we also have to realize everyone is 0-0. It is nice. It is better than being picked last,'' first-year Kent State coach Geno Ford said.
The University of Akron, in a retooling year of its own, was picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division.
The UA contingent of hometown stars Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis — both two years removed — and last year's centerpiece, Jeremiah Wood, have moved on, forcing fifth-year coach Keith Dambrot to take the Zips in a new direction.
Throw in the losses of graduated guards Cedrick Middleton, who is now a graduate assistant, and Nick Dials, and it is not hard to see why the pollsters think the Zips could slip after making it to last year's championship game.
''When you lose five 1,000-point scorers — nobody in this league has ever done that and won. But I have expectations that we are going to win,'' Dambrot said. ''So we are not going to use that as an excuse. We have guys who are capable of winning in this league and we have to coach them to help them win.''
The defending MAC champions, Kent State, also lost two key assets, with MAC Defensive Player of the Year Haminn Quaintance and All-MAC performer Mike Scott gone from the frontcourt. They were KSU's two biggest defensive stoppers.
Scott and Quaintance meant more to the team than just points and rebounds, said Al Fisher, last year's MAC Player of the Year.
''We definitely miss them a lot,'' he said. ''It's hard to find another Mike Scott. He was a leader on and off the court. He brought the team together. He was like, we were all kids and he was like the father. He made sure everybody was OK.
''And 'Q' did everything. He was a funny guy. If someone was
upset, he was the one who could make them feel better and have you laughing.''
The only returning frontcourt players with any experience are senior Julian Sullinger and junior Brandon Parks, who played just 30 minutes last season.
''A year ago, we were really a veteran team,'' Ford said. ''We approached practice like a veteran team. We came in and guys played hard, but now we have so many new guys.''
The Flashes will rely on a quicker, perimeter-oriented offense that features talented shooters: Fisher, senior forward Rashad Woods, junior Chris Singletary, walk-on junior Tyree Evans and junior Mike McKee.
Conversely, the Zips return a team that is more experienced in the frontcourt but is raw around the perimeter. Senior forward Nate Linhart and junior forward Chris McKnight are the only players whom Dambrot knows will be in the starting lineup. Senior forward Jimmy Conyers and junior center Mike Bardo provide depth up front.
UA, which struggled last season without a true point guard, added freshman Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens as well as red-shirt freshman Ronnie Steward to fill that void.
The performance of those two could allow Dambrot to let sophomore guard Steve McNees see more time at shooting guard, his more natural position.
''He may play both for a while, but eventually we will move him back over [to the shooting guard],'' Dambrot said. ''Him and Darryl Roberts will play that two spot.''
Also at the MAC preview, Western Michigan was selected as the West Division favorite.
MAC women
Kent State's and UA's struggles from last season found their way into the 2008-09 poll as neither team is expected to be a championship contender.
With five returning players and six newcomers, the Zips, who were picked to finish last in the East Division, look to build on last year's 7-24 (2-14 MAC) season. Sophomore Kara Murphy, who was on the MAC All-Freshman Team, will be a focal point.
She averaged 14.5 points last year, the ninth-highest freshman average in the nation.
''We have been a team that is more concerned with every practice just getting better,'' coach Jodi Kest said. ''We have a very competitive schedule. There is going to be a lot of challenges ahead of us.''
Kent State coach Bob Lindsay is just glad to have a full roster again. Off-court issues, injuries and a player who quit left him with a roster that got as small as six last year.
''I'm a little relieved that I don't have to play in practice,'' Lindsay said. ''We have 12 players and we had six last year, so we doubled the numbers. I am really happy about that.''
With a full roster, including preseason All-MAC forward Anna Kowalska, Lindsay's team is picked to finish fourth in the East Division. They won nine games a year ago.
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that MAC powerhouse Bowling Green was picked to win the MAC tournament and East Division. Ball State was picked to win the West.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: It could prove to be a retooling year for the Kent State men's basketball team, but that didn't stop the Mid-American Conference News Media Association from anointing the Flashes as its preseason favorite Thursday at the 2008-09 MAC Basketball Preview at Quicken Loans Arena.
Get the full article here.
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