Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball Team Picked Second in the MAC West
10/30/2008 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles also get two votes to win the MAC Tournament title
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was picked to finish in the runner-up spot in the West Division in the 2008-09 Mid-American Conference preseason poll by the voting members of the MAC NewsMedia Association. The announcement was made in Cleveland today, Oct. 30, as part of the conference’s men’s basketball Media Day at Quicken Loans Arena.
The second-place selection was the best predicted finish for EMU in fourth-year head coach Charles E. Ramsey's tenure. Eastern also received two votes to win the MAC Post-Season Tournament championship.
Western Michigan was selected to win the West Division title with 122 points, with EMU second at 105. Central Michigan earned the third spot in the West with 79 points followed by Toledo at 71, Ball State with 55 and Northern Illinois with 39.
Kent State led the East Division voting with 124 points followed by Miami at 109, Bowling Green 70, Akron 67, Ohio 66 and Buffalo 35.
Kent State led the way in MAC Tournament Championship votes with 11 followed by Miami with seven, and Bowling Green and EMU each being awarded two points.
The 2008-09 Eagles have improved every year under Ramsey's leadership and are coming off a 14-17 overall finish and an 8-8 MAC mark, good for a tie for second in the West Division last year.
Senior point guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) was selected to the 10-man 2008-09 Preseason All-MAC men’s basketball team, in voting by the MAC News Media Association earlier this fall.
Medlock earned honorable mention All-MAC honors last year after finishing in the top nine in the MAC in five categories: eighth in scoring (14.8), fourth in assists (4.1), sixth in assists to turnover ratio (1.18), eighth in free throw percentage (.818) and ninth in three-point field goals made (2.03 per game).
In just 10 days the EMU men’s and women’s basketball teams take to the court for the first exhibition games of the 2008-09 campaign. The women’s team plays host to Marygrove College, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. prior to the men’s team taking to the court at 4 p.m. versus Alma College. Season and single-game tickets are on sale at the EMU Ticket Office by calling 734.487.2282.
2008-09 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
West Division
Pl. Team Pts. Tourn. Pts.
1. Western Michigan 122
2. Eastern Michigan 105 (2)
3, Central Michigan 79
4. Toledo 71
5. Ball State 55
6. Northern Illinois 39
East Division
Pl. Team Pts. Tourn. Pts.
1. Kent State 124 (11)
2. Miami 109 (7)
3. Bowling Green 70 (2)
4. Akron 67
5. Ohio 66
6. Buffalo 35
