Ohio’s veteran Bobcats appear to be Mid-American Conference’s f... http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=... Ohio's veteran Bobcats appear to be Mid-American Conference's favorite: 2012-13 MAC basketball preview Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 7:35 PM Updated: Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 7:36 PM Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer By CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The consensus is that Ohio's Bobcats will run the table in the 2012-13 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season. That hasn't been done since Kent State in 2008. But with five starters back plus an experienced, albeit new coach in Jim Christian, the team that rose from third during the 2012 MAC regular season to win the conference tournament is expected to continue its roll this season. "This is a very mature group with some high expectations," Christian said. The only real challenge is expected to come from Akron, the defending regular-season champs and a team the Bobcats narrowly View full size John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer topped in the MAC Tournament, 64-63. OU D.J. Cooper and the rest of the Bobcats look to build on their postseason success from last spring. was awarded 141 points to 122 for the Zips. Kent State was third with 89. Preseason All-MAC team OU's 2012 roll extended to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA East Division Tournament, landing coach John Groce a new gig at Illinois. Enter Christian, who had a five-year run at Kent Zeke Marshall, Akron State which included a pair of NCAA appearances (2005, A’uston Calhoun, Bowling Green 2008) plus the last MAC team (2008) to rank in the AP Top Javon McCrea, Buffalo 25 during the regular season. Walter Offutt, Ohio D.J. Cooper, Ohio Several teams, including Western Michigan, Kent State, 1 of 3 10/31/12 9:09 AM Ohio’s veteran Bobcats appear to be Mid-American Conference’s f... http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=... Northern Illinois and Central Michigan, are loaded with West Division inexperience, which is a cause of concern for WMU coach Steve Hawkins. Jesse Berry, Ball State Abdel Nader, Northern Illinois "I think you might see something you seldom see in this Rian Pearson, Toledo league, which is blowouts," he said. "If [young players] Julius Brown, Toledo don't get it, they're not going to get beat, they're going to Nate Hutcheson, Western Michigan get drilled." Related stories Optimism reigns at Akron The favorites don't have that concern. The Zips (22-12, Plenty of unknowns at KSU 13-3 last season) return four of five starters from a team MAC basketball website that split its two games with OU last season before falling in the MAC Tournament. In the West, Toledo (143 points) is favored over defending division champ Eastern Michigan (118). However, Toledo will not be eligible for the conference tournament or the postseason due to NCAA academic sanctions. Preseason Poll MAC East 1. Ohio (141 points): The Bobcats were 29-8, 11-5 in 2011-12 and feature the backcourt trio of senior Walter Offutt (12.4 ppg), junior Nick Kellogg (9.0 ppg) and senior D.J. Cooper (14.7 ppg). With Jim Christian, an experienced MAC coach, replacing John Groce (now at Illinois), look for the Bobcats to be a potential Top 25 team as well as the MAC favorite. 2. Akron (122): Zips were 22-12, 13-3 with no player averaging more than 10.4 points, but eight averaging better than 6.0. Loss of 6-6 senior Quincy Diggs (suspension) hurts, but can be overcome by four returning starters including 7-0 senior Zeke Marshall (10.4 ppg), junior PG Alex Abreu (9.6) plus senior shooter Brian Walsh (8.3). 3. Kent State (89): High expectations even with the loss of four starters off a 21-12, 10-6 team, with the fifth, senior guard Randal Holt (12.7 ppg), sidelined since June due to a knee injury. Holt aside, Kent's roster only has 16 games of starting experience. Junior forward Chris Evans (9.5 ppg) will have to carry a heavy load. 4. Buffalo (68): The Bulls are coming off a 20-11, 12-4 season but must replace Player of the Year Mitchell Watt. Heir apparent is powerful junior Javon McCrea (14.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg). If Buffalo can find some perimeter firepower, Virginia transfer Will Regan (6-8, 240 pounds) should support McCrea well inside. 5. Bowling Green (53): The Falcons were 16-16, 9-7, but may have the league's most underrated player in senior A'uston Calhoun (13.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg). With Kent Roosevelt C Cameron Black (3.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and guard Jordon Crawford (11.3 ppg), BG has a solid starting trio returning along with four returning reserves. 2 of 3 10/31/12 9:09 AM Ohio’s veteran Bobcats appear to be Mid-American Conference’s f... http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=... 6. Miami (31): All eyes will be on first-year head coach John Cooper, as he takes over for the popular Charlie Coles, who retired after a 9-21, 5-11 season. The RedHawks, with Lutheran East transfer Will Felder (St. Francis), could easily surprise with veterans including Twinsburg's Jon Harris (8.5 ppg) and North Ridgeville's Drew McGhee (5.2 ppg). MAC West 1. Toledo (143): NCAA academic sanctions spoil the Rockets' postseason chances. UT was 19-17, 7-9 in 2011-12, and should be a darkhorse favorite behind OU and Akron. Toledo can play spoiler during the regular season with five starters back, including forward Rian Pearson (16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and guard Julius Brown (11.9 ppg). 2. Eastern Michigan (118): Transfers abound for the defending division champs (14-18, 9-7), who saw coach Rob Murphy turn down overtures from the NBA. Senior starter Jamell Harris (6.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) from Euclid will teach the ways of the MAC to teammates who played at Wyoming, Syracuse, Arkansas and Providence. 3. Western Michigan (88): The Broncos have revamped after a disappointing 14-20, 6-10 season that included the transfer loss of St. Edward High product Matt Stainbrook (11.4 ppg) to Xavier. Coach Steve Hawkins now has just one returning starter in 6-7 Nate Hutcheson (9.4 ppg) to nurture a seven-man freshman class. 4. Ball State (74): The Cardinals underachieved last season (15-15, 6-10) which likely put head coach Billy Taylor (69-84) on the hot seat. Only two starters return, including forward Chris Bond (7.1 ppg), but the Cardinals did get a major late-summer pickup in 6-10 junior college post player Majok Majok. 5. Northern Illinois (46): Second-year head coach Mark Montgomery has three starters returning from a 5-26, 3-13 team. A roster of predominantly sophomores and freshmen, expect several players to make a jump in production, including 6-7 Abdel Nader (10.4 ppg, 4.2 ppg). 6. Central Michigan (35): Only one starter, Olivier Mbaigoto (7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) returns for the Chippewas, who ended last season 11-21, 5-11. Coach Ernie Zeigler was fired, then CMU lost its two best players to transfer -- Trey Zeigler (Pitt), Austin McBroom (St. Louis). Incoming coach Keno Davis will unleash a fast-paced offense with unproven talent. Tournament Winner: Ohio (18), Akron (6) © 2012 cleveland.com. All rights reserved. 3 of 3 10/31/12 9:09 AM.