Mid-American Conference 2003-04 Season Recap
by Matthew Moll
MAC run by Six
The Mid-American Conference had six teams with double digit conference wins (Kent State, Miami, Buffalo, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Ball State) three of which had 20 win seasons (Western Michigan, Kent State, Toledo), placing the MAC, once again, atop the Mid-Majors in terms of victories.
Western Michigan won the West Division’s regular season title for the first time since joining the conference. The East Division was led by Kent State, although Miami was within a game of having a share of the title.
Two teams had surprising finishes, one of the positive realm the other of the negative. Buffalo’s win output was its largest since joining the MAC and changed the landscape of MAC possibly giving them another major player in the major Mid-Major MAC. Few expected Central Michigan to match their success of the Chris Kaman era, but fewer expected them to drop off the MAC map. Central could only manage six wins after a season where they won 25 and went the NCAA tourney.
MAC Tourney
For the sixth straight season the MAC tournament final saw the Kent State Flashes fight for the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. For the second year in a row a Michigan team defeated KSU for that coveted spot.
State defeated Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio before being sent to the NIT compliments of Western Michigan.
Western Michigan defeated Marshall and Toledo before meeting the Golden Flashes in the final game. The 77-66 win over the Flashes was the first MAC tournament title for the Broncos.
The Postseason
The MAC had three representatives in the post season. Western Michigan lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Vanderbilt 72-58. Kent State lost 65-54 in the first round of the NIT to the Mountaineers of West Virginia, while Toledo was sent home in the first round of the NIT by Marquette 87-72.
Coach of the Year
Buffalo’s Reggie Witherspoon was able to help the Bulls regroup after starting the season 0-3. Under Witherspoon the Bulls had a 12 win improvement from the season before, the second best in the nation. The Bulls also went to the MAC quarterfinals, the furthest the team has went in the MAC tournament since joining the conference five years ago, this after amassing 11 wins in conference play, only four shy of the previous four years combined. Witherspoon and the Bulls are now among the Mid-Major programs in the MAC that will contend for national respect.
Player of the Year
Western Michigan’s Mike Williams was the best player on the best team in MAC. During the MAC tournament Williams averaged 23 ppg to lead his team to the NCAA tournament where he played well in the loss to Vanderbilt, scoring 24. Williams had seven double-doubles on the season and averaged 18.9 points, 7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game respectively.
First Team
Juby Johnson (Miami)
John Edwards (Kent State)
Keith Triplett (Toledo)
Ben Reed (Western Michigan)
Mike Williams (Western Michigan)
Second Team
Derrick Tarver (Akron)
Ron Lewis (Bowling Green)
Turner Battle (Buffalo)
Eric Haut (Kent State)
Marvin Black (Marshall)
Honorable Mention
Chet Mason (Miami)
Kevin Netter (Bowling Green)
Cameron Echols (Ball State)
Gerrit Brighita (Central Michigan)
DeAndre Haynes (Kent State)
Marcus Smallwood (Northern Illinois)
P.J. Smith (Northern Illinois)
Jaivon Harris (Ohio)
Sammy Villegas (Toledo)
Anthony Kann (Western Michigan)
East
Kent State (22-9, 13-5)
The Golden Flashes continued several streaks this season, two of which they wish they did not. Regular season highlights included a 10 game winning streak and their sixth consecutive twenty plus win season. For the fourth straight year the Golden Flashes won the eastern division of the MAC.
The Flashes added to the post season tally in a positive way by making it to the MAC tournament final and appearing in a national tournament for the sixth straight year. Both marks turned sour for Kent State, marking post season reoccurrences the Flashing would prefer to see fade. The tournament final ended in a loss for the second straight time, this time watching Western Michigan cut down the nets, while for the second time in as many years the K-State would have been better off seeking the council of Paulo Coelho in the NIT, but rather tarnish showed instead of flash.
Team MVP: John Edwards, Sr., team’s leading scorer and rebounder
Top Scorer: Edwards, 13.2 ppg
Top Rebounder: Edwards, 6.7 rpg
Top assists: DeAndre Haynes, So., 5.8 apg
Starters leaving: Edwards
Key players returning: Hayes
Kent State will need to find away to fill the void left in the middle by the Sacramento Kings newest center and will miss the timely shooting of Bryan Bedford. Nevertheless the Flashes will remain one of the best programs at the Mid-Major level.
Miami (OH) (18-11, 12-6)
The Redhawks season was defined by consistent play, which was represented by wins that were strung together at most to three at a time and losses peaking at three in at row as well. Losses for the Redhawks rarely came in double-digit form, with the exception of NCAA bound local teams such as Xavier (OH) and Cincinnati and MAC rep Western Michigan.
Rare double-digit losses and convincing victories over MAC opponents gave this team a shot not seen since Wally World led them to the Sweet 16 in 1998. Coach Charlie Coles’ teams have still been successful in making it within a win away from a MAC tournament championship and thus a NCAA birth, but have fallen short each time they had a sniff. In the two seasons since the Sweet 16 run Miami have been seeded eighth and ninth respectively. This season they would earn a three-seed and fall a game short of their 21st MAC regular season title.
In the MAC tournament Miami defeated Ball State to advance to the semi-finals where the Redhawks fell to the Golden Flashes of Kent State. Tied at half, the Flashes smothering defense propelled them into the finals and ended the Hawks run.
Team MVP: Julius Johnson, Sr., leading scorer, 4.4 rpg
Top Scorer: Johnson 17.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Chet Mason, Jr., 7.9 rpg
Top assists: Mason, 2.9 apg
Starters leaving: Johnson
Key players returning: Mason, Tim Schenke, Jr.; Josh Hausfeld, So.; Monty St. Clair, Fr. (These two went to my high school, so I have to mention them. Not only that they were on the team that handed LeBron James his last loss in the high school ranks, March 23, 2002 71-63 Roger Bacon to win the Ohio Division II state championship.)
Coles will be entering his ninth season as head coach and will have most of his 18 win team in tact. The loss of Johnson will require a more balanced attack, but the Hawks should be ready to make a run at their first NCAA appearance since 1998.
Buffalo (17-12, 11-7)
This season marked many firsts for the Bulls. First time ranked, first time defeating Ball State, first double digit conference wins, first home MAC tourney, first trip to the conference quarterfinals, and the list goes on.
Although these firsts made for a successful season the Buffalo Bulls still could not manage an NIT birth, nor did they win with consistency. An eight game winning streak was their longest stretch of the season and of their history at the DI level, attributing nearly half the teams wins to a hot streak.
In all winning sparked interest in the Buffalo program and strengthened the MAC, while at the same time earning the Bulls respect within a conference in which they struggled for four years.
Team MVP: Turner Battle, Jr, led team in points and assists
Top Scorer: Turner Battle, Jr., 14.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: Yassin Idbihi, Fr., 5.8 rpg
Top assists: Battle, 4.1 apg
Starters leaving: None
Key players returning: Battle, Daniel Gilbert (16 ppg, last six games), Idbihi, but no player is leaving due to graduation or transferring
With core players and role players all returning the attendance records will continue to break if coach Witherspoon can herd his Bulls. Success will bring the added pressure of being expected to win. No longer will the Bulls be a surprise team. Whether the Bulls catch the matador will depend on their consistency, not just showing up for the big ones.
Marshall (12-17, 8-10)
The Thundering Herd failed to get rolling despite having promising games even in defeat to teams such as Kentucky and UNC Wilmington. But soon the promise faded and Marshall spiraled into a sub.500 team.
Marshall still played many close games with conference elite. Falling by three and four points respectively to Miami and losing to Kent State in the finals seconds during a regular season bought. The season though took a turn for the not so good when the Herd lost eight of 10 games in the month of January.
Marshall did manage a win over Eastern Michigan in the MAC tournament, but was booted handily by Western Michigan in their last game of the season 96-62.
Team MVP: Marvin Black, Sr., Cleveland native led team in points and rebounds
Top Scorer: Black, 14.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Black, 7.8 ppg
Top assists: A.W. Hamilton, Jr., 5.4 apg
Starters leaving: Black
Key players returning: Hamilton, Tre Whitted, Fr.
Oliver Purnell project Ron Jirsa will be entering his second season as Herd head coach and should make his now more experienced team at the very least a “spoiler” in the league.
Akron (13-15, 7-11)
When the gates opened to the 2003 season the Zips were zinging, ripping eight wins in their first 11 games. Akron was unable to maintain the momentum built during the infantile stages of the season and ended in an 11-seeded lurch. The Zips won only five more games after the early season surge including losing five of their last seven games.
For the second straight year the Zips saw their season end in the first round of the MAC tournament. The loss would be the last as head coach for Dan Hipsher who elected to be reassigned within the administration rather than continue his previous duties.
Hipsher’s nine year career was highlighted by a 17-win season in 1998, earning him MAC Coach of the Year.
Team MVP: Derrick Tarver, 15 games of 20 or more points
Top Scorer: Derrick Tarver, 22.7 ppg
Top Rebounder: Jeremiah Wood, Fr., 7.3
Top assists: Johnny Hollingsworth, Sr., 4.5 apg
Starters leaving: Tarver, Hollingsworth
Key players returning: Wood
New coach Keith Drambrot inherits a team that was supposed to improve on their previous season and did not. Drambrot must work with a young team, with only three seniors making the roster. This is Drambrot’s first head coaching job at any level. Drambrot was a three time letter winner in baseball at Akron from 1978-1982.
Ohio (10-20, 7-11)
Bobcat country had little to cheer about, particularly in non-conference matching winning only three games out of the MAC.
Although the season did not lend itself to many high points there the Cats did manage some excitement. The season was highlighted by two straight overtime wins at home against perennial MAC powers Miami and Ball State. Ohio overcame an 11 point deficient to send the battle of large public-schools-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-in-Ohio to OT where the Bobcats would prove they are capable of winning. Ohio had to stave a Ball State second have surge and win 88-84 in overtime. Proving that the Bobcats not only could score, but were capable of winning though their record would argue otherwise.
The last two games that Ohio would play in 2004 also had the taste for drama. The Cats slain another MAC super-power the last game of the regular season, Kent State when a last second three rattled out for the Flashes, the Cats prevailed 60-59. In the MAC tournament Ohio erased a 10 point differential and can within a three from advancing past Bowling Green, but the shot was off, much like the Cats game for most of the season.
Team MVP: Jaivon Harris, Sr., Lead team in points and rebounds
Top Scorer: Harris, 15.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Harris, 4.6 rpg
Top assists: Thomas Stephens, Sr., 3.2 apg
Starters leaving: Harris, Stephens
Key players returning: Sonny Troutman, Fr.
Ohio showed what it was capable of doing when they were playing in heated games. Without Harris the Cats will need to find leadership and points if they are to turn things around.
West
Western Michigan (26-5, 15-3)
First year coach Steve Hawkins had the Bronco faithful convinced from the get-go that this was going to be a special season. Starting with a double digit defeat of USC, the Broncos would win a school record 26 games, highlighted by an 11 game winning streak. They would then win the West Division regular season title in the MAC, then the MAC tournament title for the first time and send the school to its third NCAA appearance.
The season did end on a disappointing note. Western hoped to upset sixth seeded Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but fell short after a flurry of threes fell in the second half for the Commodores. This marked the first time Western made it to the tournament, but did not advance to the second round.
Team MVP: Mike Williams, Sr., First team All MAC
Top Scorer: Williams, 18.9 ppg
Top Rebounder: Anthony Kann, Sr., 7.2 rpg
Top assists: Brian Snider, So., 4.8 apg
Starters leaving: Williams, Kann
Key players returning: Snider
Williams could be going from Bronco to Raptor if he can perform well for the NBA’s Toronto team in summer league.
Following the successful 2004 campaign Western will need to have some pleasant surprises if they are to make strides toward becoming a perennial Mid-Major competitor. The loss of the leagues best player will force Brian Snider to look for his shot more and for Hawkins to find himself a new star.
Toledo (20-11, 12-6)
For the third time in the last six seasons Toledo found itself in the step sister of national tournaments. The Rockets push for a NCAA birth was thwarted in the semifinals of the MAC tournament by Western Michigan after defeating the surging Buffalo Bulls in the first round. Following a 20 game regular season performance the MAC’s third best team had another chance at post season glory, in the form of the NIT.
There was no glory for Stan Joplin in company as they fell for the second time in three tries in the first round of the NIT. This time losing to C-USA’s Marquette in a battle between former Tom Izzo assistants Tom Crean and Joplin. The Rockets took their hot shooting from the previous five games with them to Milwaukee, but could not find a defensive rhythm in the 87-72 loss.
Team MVP: Keith Triplett, Sr., team leader in points and rebounds, 3.1 apg
Top Scorer: Triplett, 19.6 ppg
Top Rebounder: Triplett, 4.7 rpg
Top assists: Justin Ingram, Fr., 3.6 apg
Starters leaving: Triplett
Key players returning: Ingram, Sammy Villegas, So.
Coach Joplin’s recruiting class coupled with his relatively young core should put Toledo in the position where few teams in the MAC can compete with their talent. The loss of Triplett will be the largest vacancy to fill, but Villegas looks to be on the verge of a break out year after avoiding the sophomore slump.
Ball State (14-15, 10-8)
The 2003-2004 season began with a win over eventual Elite Eight participant Xavier, but this would prove to be the highlight of the season. What would follow would be a sub .500 season with the most noted stretch a five game losing streak.
There was a chance at the end of the regular season to turn the corner and be hot for the MAC tournament, when they played Central Michigan into overtime, but fell short.
Ball State managed to win in the first round of the MAC tournament, but was sent home by Miami in the second round.
Team MVP: Dennis Trammell, Jr., team leader in points second on team in assists
Top Scorer: Trammell 13.2 ppg.
Top Rebounder: Cameron Echols, Sr., 6 rpg.
Top assists: Peyton Stovall, Fr., 3.8 apg.
Starters leaving: Echols
Key players returning: Trammell, Stovall
Two seasons removed after a successful Maui Invitational Title, a MAC regular season title, and an NIT run Tim Buckley’s team will need to rebound from the first losing season under his tutelage.
Bowling Green (14-17, 8-10)
The young Falcons showed promise throughout the season, capped off by a surprising first round win in the MAC tournament.
Bowling Green’s regular season was highlighted by a three game winning streak and a run where the Falcons won five of six from the end of December through the beginning of January.
Team MVP: Ron Lewis, So., leader in points, 2.9 apg
Top Scorer: Lewis, 17 ppg
Top Rebounder: John Reimold, 4.8 rpg.
Top assists: Steven Wright, Fr., 4.0 apg.
Starters leaving: None
Key players returning: Lewis, Reimold, Wright
Dan Dakich will be entering his eighth year as the Falcon’s coach. His core group remains intact and they could be the surprise team of the MAC next year.
Eastern Michigan (13-15, 7-11)
Eastern Michigan’s season was highlighted by wins over Akron and Buffalo and lowlighted by a string of nine losses in 12 games.
The season culminated when the Eagles suffered a 78-59 loss to eighth-seed Marshall in the first round of the MAC tournament.
Team MVP: John Bowler, So., team high in double doubles
Top Scorer: Marcus Austin, Jr., 13.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: John Bowler 8.3 rpg.
Top assists: Michael Ross, Jr., 2.9 apg.
Starters leaving: none
Key players returning: Bowler, Austin, Ross
Coach Jim Boone received a one year contract extension. Boone’s tenure will be decided on how his young team can grow and flourish in the MAC.
Northern Illinois (10-20, 5-13)
Youth was evident throughout the Huskies’ season leading to an unimpressive 2003-2004 regular season. Northern’s most impressive win came early in the season over tournament bound University Illinois Chicago. The rest of the season would prove contrary to the early positive signs. At the end of January the Huskies were rattled, losing 10 straight games and 12 of 14 at one point.
As expected the team did not perform well in the MAC tournament losing handily to Buffalo 90-73.
Team MVP: Marcus Smallwood, Sr., Top two in all major offensive categories
Top Scorer: P.J. Smith, Sr., 14.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: Smallwood, 9.3 rpg
Top assists: Anthony Maestranzi, So., 3.8 apg.
Starters leaving: Smith, Smallwood
Key players returning: Maestranzi
Rob Judson will be sporting a young though versatile team that will need a floor leader to emerge in the form of a seasoned Maestranzi. If the puppy Huskies can play together Judson’s fourth season could be his most successful.
Central Michigan (6-24, 2-16)
Chris Kaman University hit snags this year posting its worse showing in the MAC since joining. The Chippewas just a year ago set a school record of 25 wins in a season, won the MAC regular season West Division, the MAC tournament, and upset Creighton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
This season most noted for its lows. The last 24 games of the season, the Chippewas lost 20 games including an 11 game losing streak.
The season was highlighted by a senior night overtime win the last night of the regular season over Ball State. The momentum quickly disappeared in the first round of the MAC tournament where Toledo ended Central’s consecutive trips to the MAC quarterfinals at four.
Team MVP: Gerrit Brigitha, Sr., team leader in points and rebounds
Top Scorer: Brigitha, 17.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Brigitha, 6.9 rpg
Top assists: Tony Bowne, Jr., 3.0 apg
Starters leaving: Brigitha
Key players returning: Tony Bowne
Hung over from the success of two years ago Jay Smith hopes to remove the moniker of successful when having a big named player.
