Ball State University Athletics
Men's Hoops Tabbed MAC West Preseason Favorites
October 28, 2010 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's basketball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference West Division according to the preseason poll conducted by members of the MAC Media News Association the league office announced Thursday. The Cardinals are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Billy Taylor and are preseason favorites to claim the MAC West Division for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
Junior forward Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) has also been selected as a preseason All-MAC selection for the second straight year. Jones earned All-MAC and All-Region accolades last year as he led the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game and rebounding at 7.4 rebounds per contest. He has led the Cardinals in scoring and rebounding since he stepped on campus after being named MAC Freshman of the Year in the 2008-09 season.
The Cardinals received 124 total votes, including 12 first place votes, to out-distance second place pick Central Michigan by two votes (122, 8). In the East Division, Ohio has been selected as the preseason favorite with 128 total votes and 12 first place selections. The Bobcats have also been selected to win the 2011 MAC Tournament with 10 of 24 votes.
Ball State returns four full-time starters and five players who started at least 11 games last year. Those five players have combined to play in 285 career games and have made 223 starts at Ball State. The Cardinals also add a six-member recruiting class which includes five highly touted freshmen who are expected to contribute this year.
The Cardinals are led by three-year starter and lone senior Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) who has played in 85 career games. Perry and junior guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) have been named as co-captains for the 2010-11 season and will provide leadership both on and off the court. Davis finished second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game but finished the year averaging 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists over the final 12 games of the year.
Eastern Michigan (88) was picked to finish third in the MAC West Division with Western Michigan (68), Northern Illinois (64) and Toledo (38) rounding out the poll. In the East Division, Kent State (114) was picked second followed by Akron (104), Miami (84), Bowling Green (42) and Buffalo (32).
2010-2011 Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams/Predicted Order of Finish
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jarrod Jones, F, Ball State
Trey Zeigler, G, Central Michigan
Brandon Bowdry, F, Eastern Michigan
Xavier Silas, G, Northern Illinois
Flenard Whitfield, F, Western Michigan
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Brett McKnight, F, Akron
Scott Thomas, F, Bowling Green
Justin Greene, F, Kent State
Julian Mavunga, F, Miami
D.J. Cooper, G, Ohio
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ball State - 124 points (12)
2. Central Michigan - 122 points (8)
3. Eastern Michigan - 88 points (2)
4. Western Michigan - 68 points
5. Northern Illinois - 64 points (2)
6. Toledo - 38 points
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ohio - 128 points (12)
2. Kent State - 114 points (8)
3. Akron - 104 points (4)
4. Miami - 84 points
5. Bowling Green - 42 points
6. Buffalo - 32 points
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Tournament Champion: Ohio (10), Kent State (6), Central Michigan (4), Ball State (2), Akron (2)
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