Chippewa Men Picked 6th In West
10/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan men's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference in a poll of league coaches and media members who cover the league.
The Chippewas return starters Josh Kozinski, Cecil Williams and Luke Meyer, but must replace two, Braylon Rayson and Marcus Keene, who combined to average more than 50 points per game last season.
"A couple years ago we were picked in the same position and we ended up winning the outright title," said Keno Davis, who is in his sixth year as the Chippewas' coach. "The polls are based on the statistics that you have coming back. Seven of the 11 players that are in our rotation are going to be doing this for the first time. So you understand when people look at the statistics you have returning and why you're picked in that spot.
"We're more focused on where we're going to end up than where we're picked to start."
Western Michigan received 22 first-place votes to finish first in the West, while Buffalo received 24 first-place votes to top the East.
The Broncos are followed by Ball State, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and the Chippewas. Kent State was picked to finish second in the East, followed by Ohio, Akron, Bowling Green and Miami (Ohio).
Western Michigan received 10 votes to win the MAC Tournament, while Buffalo received nine. Ball State, Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green and Miami also received votes.
Ten players, five in the East and five in the West, were selected to the Preseason All-MAC Team. The West squad comprises James Thompson IV of Eastern Michigan, Thomas Wilder of Western Michigan., Tayler Persons of Ball State, Jaelan Sanford of Toledo, and Eugene German of Northern Illinois. The East squad is made up of C.J. Massinburg and Nick Perkins of Buffalo, Jaylin Walker of Kent State, and Ohio's Jordan Dartis and Jason Carter.
The Chippewas play in an exhibition at Oakland on Sunday (1 p.m.). They play Northwood in an exhibition at McGuirk Arena on Sunday, Nov. 5, and then entertain Siena Heights in their season opener on Friday, Nov. 10.
Tickets for Sunday's exhibition at Oakland are $10. Proceeds from the game will go to the American Red Cross to aid hurricane victims.
