Eastern Division
Akron Zips
The Zips feature the top two returning scoring leaders in theleague with guard Derrick Tarver (20.6 ppg) and JohnnyHollingsworth (17.4 ppg). On top of the that, the team returns allfive starters from last year's 14-14 team. More help could be onthe way if often-injured guard and son of head coach Dan HipsherAndy Hipsher is able to fully recover from his September backsurgery.
Buffalo
The Bulls are probably tired of being the doormat of the league.It is too bad that it isn't likely to change this year. Buffalo didmanage a first though when junior guard Turner Battle became thefirst Bull ever to be named to the Preseason All-MAC East team.
Kent State
Pain has been the name of the game for the Flashes thisoffseason. Starters Eric Haut, John Edwards and Nate Gerwig allunderwent surgeries. If all three are healthy, expect Kent State toput up a good fight for its sixth straight 20-win season and fourthconsecutive East Division title.
Marshall
The Thundering Herd has been talented in the past but has neverseemed to live up to the hype or potential. New coach Ron Jirsa,formerly the head coach at Georgia, is hoping to turn that allaround this year.
Miami
Head coach Charlie Coles has more weapons at his disposal thisyear than a RedHawk has feathers. Miami returns four starters andits top six scorers. The point of the sword is two-time preseasonAll-MAC selection Juby Johnson, who led Miami last year with 14.8ppg.
Ohio
The Bobcats are a shell of their former selves after losingforwards Brandon Hunter, now with the Boston Celtics, Sonny Johnsonand guard Steve Esterkamp to graduation. Look for Ohio to turn tosophomore forward Jeff Halbert, who started 20 games at the end oflast season, for some big numbers.
WEST DIVISION
Bowling Green
One word comes to mind to describe this year's Falcon team:deep. Seventh-year coach Dan Dakich has all five starters backincluding All-MAC second team selection Kevin Netter (15.3 ppg) andthe league's top outside threat John Reimold (42.0 3FG%, 15.0ppg).
Central Michigan
The Chippewas lost their top four scoring threats. The biggestblow, both statistically and physically, was the drafting of centerChris Kaman by the Los Angeles Clippers. Returning starters T.J.Meerman and Tony Bowne have their work cut out for them, that's forsure.
Eastern Michigan
Three starters return for the Eagles, but losses of big menSteve Pettyjohn and Ryan Prillman, EMU's leading scorer lastseason, will hurt. Junior forward Markus Austin is now the team'stop dog on offense.
Northern Illinois
The Huskies return two All-MAC members: first-team forwardMarcus Smallwood and honorable mention P. J. Smith -- from lastyear's West Division runner-up. NIU isn't looking to repeat lastyear's performance, though. The Huskies want it all.
Toledo
While the Rockets are deep, they do not possess an overpoweringscoring threat. The team is also rather small, with no playertaller than 6 feet 9 inches. Look for Toledo to keep the people onthe floor fresh and move the ball quickly.
Western Michigan
First-year head coach Steve Hawkins inherits a program on therise and vows to keep it moving in the right direction. Helping himkeep his promise will be senior center Anthony Kann, who paced theBroncos last year in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.8rpg).
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