Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball Team Picked Fifth in West Division
10/27/2005 12:41:23 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles receive 54 points in MAC News Media poll
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team was selected to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the 2005-06 season in a MAC News Media preseason poll released today as part of 2005 Men’s Basketball Media Day.
Toledo was chosen to win the West Division with 135 points and one first-place vote to win the MAC post-season tournament. Ball State, with 127 points and four post-season votes, was chosen second followed by Western Michigan (114 points), Northern Illinois (97), EMU (54) and Central Michigan (40).
Ohio was picked as the preseason champion in the East Division with 153 points and 14 votes to win the tournament. Rounding out the East Division were Akron (120 points, 5 votes), Miami and Kent State (85 points each, with Akron gaining five votes and Miami two), Buffalo (79) and Bowling Green (45).
The 2004-05 Eagles will be led by first-year Head Coach Charles E. Ramsey. A 1992 EMU graduate, Ramsey spent the previous four years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Michigan. He also served as an assistant coach at California (1996-2001), Drake (1994-96), Tennessee State (1993-94), and EMU (1990-93).
The 2005-06 Eagles return six lettermen from a 2004-05 squad that finished with a 12-18 overall record and a 5-13 Mid-American Conference record.
Seniors John Bowler (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame) and Danny McElhinny (Heritage, PA-Kennedy Catholic) will serve as co-captains for the 2005-06 campaign. Bowler, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds last year, has been chosen to the preseason All-MAC West Division Team in a vote by the MAC News Media. McElhinny averaged 6.3 points last year.
East Division
1. Ohio 153 (14)
2. Akron 120 (5)
T3.Miami 85 (2)
T3.Kent State 85
5. Buffalo 79
6. Bowling Green 45
West Division
1. Toledo 135 (1)
2. Ball State 127 (4)
3. Western Michigan 114
4. Northern Illinois 97
5. Eastern Michigan 54
6. Central Michigan 40
Tournament votes in parentheses ( )
