Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Land Three On All-MAC Teams
3/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Mid-American Conference regular season champion Central Michigan University men's basketball team landed three players on the 2003 All-MAC squads as selected by the league coaches.
Junior Chris Kaman (Wyoming, Mich./Tri-unity Christian) was a first team selection while senior Mike Manciel (Detroit, Mich./Country Day HS) was named to the second team. Senior J.R. Wallace (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer HS) was an honorable mention pick.
It marks the first time since 1987 that the Chippewas had three All-MAC selections. That year Dan Majerle and Ervin Leavy were first team honorees and Tommie Johnson an honorable mention selection.
CMU was the only program with three players honored this season.
Kaman becomes the 16th first team All-MAC pick in CMU history. The seven-footer ranks second in the MAC in scoring (22.5) and rebounding (12.2) and leads the conference in blocks (3.23) and field goal percentage (.634). He was named MAC "Player of the Year" and "Defensive Player of the Year." Kaman is one of only four players nationally averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds this season and he ranks second nationally with 21 double-doubles. He's among the national leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, blocks, and double-doubles.
Joining Kaman on the first team are Kent State's Antonio Gates, Ohio's Brandon Hunter, Northern Illinois' Marcus Smallwood, and Ball State's Chris Williams.
Manciel is a second team pick after earning honorable mention honors in 1999. Manciel ranks 10th in the MAC in scoring (16.6), sixth in field goal percentage (.522), 12th in free throw percentage (.776), and 11th in steals (1.48). He's second on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Manciel is one of only 13 players in CMU history with 1,000 career points and 400 career rebounds and he ranks seventh on CMU's career points list.
Wallace was one of the conference's most improved players. He's averaging 13.9 points per game and leads the team in assists with 3.4 per outing. The guard ranks 10th in the MAC in field goal percentage (.504), 10th in assists (3.41), tied for 15th in steals (1.41), 15th in three-pointers made (1.63), and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.26). Wallace scored in double figures in 16 of CMU's 18 MAC games and is one of the team's top free throw shooters at 84 percent.