Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Picked Fourth in the East in Preseason MAC Poll
10/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Marshall Picked Fourth in the East in Preseason MAC Poll
10/23/2003
CLEVELAND -- The Mid-American Conference announced today that Northern Illinois (West Division) and Miami (East Division) have been chosen as preseason favorites to win their respective divisions in men's basketball.
Voting was conducted by members of the MAC News Media Association. The Huskies were also chosen to win the MAC Tournament.
The Huskies return two all-MAC performers - first-team forward Marcus Smallwood and honorable mention P.J. Smith - from last year's West Division runner-up. Smallwood is the only returning player in the MAC who averaged a double-double in points and rebounds last year with his 13.3 ppg and 10.1 rpg. Smith led the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg and was an all-tournament selection. Smith's 33 points in NIU's 75-63 win over Western Michigan helped advance the Huskies to the tournament semifinal round. NIU is directed by third-year head coach Rob Judson.
Miami, under the tutelage of veteran sideline mentor Charlie Coles, who has 212 career victories, was the East Division runner-up last year and earned the MAC Tournament's No. 3 seed. Four starters are back for Coles' 2004 squad with all-MAC second-team honoree Juby Johnson leading the way. Johnson led the RedHawks last season with his 14.8 ppg. Miami returns its top six scoring leaders from last year, among them starters Danny Horace (11.5), Chet Mason (12.6) and Josh Hausfeld (7.4).
Marshall University, led by first year head coach Ron Jirsa, was tabbed fourth in the MAC East. The Herd was 14-15 a year ago and took down Eastern Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tourney before losing to eventual runner-up Kent State.
The Herd's 2003-2004 schedule kicks off with two exhibition games in the newly refurnished Cam Henderson Center on Nov. 8 and Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
Regular season starts with an 8 p.m. nightcap at home against UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 21.
MAC PRESEASON POLL
East Division
1. Miami 247 (21)
2. Akron 240 (17)
3. Kent State 200 (9)
4. Marshall 125
5. Ohio 103
6. Buffalo 72 (1)
West Division
1. Northern Illinois 309 (28)
2. Bowling Green 245 (13)
3. Western Michigan 226 (4)
4. Ball State 192 (1)
5. Toledo 130 (1)
6. Central Michigan 128 (1)
7. Eastern Michigan 114
(First place votes)