The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(03-08-2010 02:14 AM)OZoner Wrote:  I am J. Scott Fitzwater, a writer for MAC Report Online. MRO is the leading site for MAC news; we regularly get more traffic than the official MAC site. I went to OU and I registered under this name back in my undergrad days (I'd change it if I could), but I leave my Bobcat allegiance at the door. I was on media row for the MAC tournament last year and I will be there again this year. They're not "my" awards, they are MAC Report Online's, and they do carry a certain amount of weight. They are voted upon by the members of our staff that cover the 12 schools in the conference. This is our fifth year with the awards and we're respected enough that schools DO list our awards on their sites and in their media guides. I should also note that it's not the conference that votes on the awards, but a good old boy club headed by Elton Alexander. It used to be the MAC Media Association (of which I was a member), but that was dissolved.

This is my third year with MRO. I also blog with Hoops Junkie, though that's less of a professional outfit and more blog-y.

For the record, I don't think Kool will talk about his award unless you ask him about it. He's that kind of guy.

Thanks for the info. Until a few days ago, I had no idea who you were or that you were part of the media. I have read your comments many times over the years and for the most part always thought you were knowledgeable and unbiased (especially for a Bobcat!).

As much as I would like a KSU player to win all the awards all the time, I agree with your selections. I saw every KSU home game this season (and some of the road games) and IMO David Kools performance at Kent was the best I saw. I would rate Cooper's from OU as the 2nd best.

The OU / Kent game promises to be a good one. I hope Cooper and Basset don't go off completely.

Here are the first round of MAC awards, just announced by the MAC office:

Quote:Men's Basketball Player of the Year
David Kool, Western Michigan (13 votes)

Others Receiving Votes
Chris Singletary, Kent State (6 votes)
Justin Greene, Kent State (2 votes)
Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan (1 vote)
Xavier Silas, Northern Illinois (1 vote)
Rodney Pierce, Buffalo (1 vote)

Men's Basketball Coach of the Year
Geno Ford, Kent State (13 votes)

Others Receiving Votes
Keith Dambrot, Akron (10 votes)
Billy Taylor, Ball State (1 vote)

I think DPOY and FPOY will come tomorrow and the All-MAC team on Wed.

(03-08-2010 11:09 AM)axeme Wrote:  Here are the first round of MAC awards, just announced by the MAC office:

Quote:Men's Basketball Player of the Year
David Kool, Western Michigan (13 votes)

Others Receiving Votes
Chris Singletary, Kent State (6 votes)
Justin Greene, Kent State (2 votes)
Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan (1 vote)
Xavier Silas, Northern Illinois (1 vote)
Rodney Pierce, Buffalo (1 vote)

Men's Basketball Coach of the Year
Geno Ford, Kent State (13 votes)

Others Receiving Votes
Keith Dambrot, Akron (10 votes)
Billy Taylor, Ball State (1 vote)

I think DPOY and FPOY will come tomorrow and the All-MAC team on Wed.

They are just going to copy MRO. Has MRO come out with their all-MAC teams yet?

Not yet.

(03-08-2010 01:18 PM)OZoner Wrote:  Not yet.

Well you better hurry so that Elton knows how to vote.

Wasn't the vote held before the Kent State-Akron game? If after the game, I'm sure Ford would have won in a landslide.

Next round of awards:

Freshman of the Year--D. J. Cooper, Ohio U.
Defensive Player of the Year--Jimmy Conyers, Akron
Sixth Man of the Year--Anthony Simpson, KSU

MAC site

(03-09-2010 10:26 AM)axeme Wrote:  Next round of awards:

Freshman of the Year--D. J. Cooper, Ohio U.
Defensive Player of the Year--Jimmy Conyers, Akron
Sixth Man of the Year--Anthony Simpson, KSU

MAC site

Cooper & Simpson were no brainers. I expected Sing to win the Defensive award. Conyers is a good choice as well. All that really matters is winning 3 times this week!

I hope Chris feels slighted by not being named to any individual awards(other than by mro). While I know he is much more interested in the big prize, he should've have been recognized for his great individual play this year(by more than just one publication). He makes our team go, whether he's on the court or not.

well, there is still one more award for you Chris(other than all mac honors), go get that Tournament MVP Chris!!!!!

So Chris gets tournament MVP. I am sure he'll be okay with that.

MAC office doesn't name any awards. It's Elton Alexander and his hand-picked panel.

(03-09-2010 07:38 PM)OZoner Wrote:  MAC office doesn't name any awards. It's Elton Alexander and his hand-picked panel.

thats right, My bad

The awards have the MAC imprimatur. Whether you like the way they select them or not, (see below, though I'm sure you know the method) they are the official awards of the conference.

Quote:The Freshman of the Year award was voted on by a 24-member MAC News Media Association Panel, while the Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year were voted on by the league's head coaches.

(03-09-2010 07:38 PM)OZoner Wrote:  MAC office doesn't name any awards. It's Elton Alexander and his hand-picked panel.

Have you all asked to be part of the panel?

(03-09-2010 09:15 PM)axeme Wrote:  The awards have the MAC imprimatur. Whether you like the way they select them or not, (see below, though I'm sure you know the method) they are the official awards of the conference.

Quote:The Freshman of the Year award was voted on by a 24-member MAC News Media Association Panel, while the Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year were voted on by the league's head coaches.

I was just being specific.

(03-09-2010 07:38 PM)OZoner Wrote:  MAC office doesn't name any awards. It's Elton Alexander and his hand-picked panel.

Maybe so Ozoner, but on the Kent State athletics home page, there is no mention of an MRO award and Sing winning anything and there is mention of the awards the "MAC" handed out yesterday. And I got an email about the "MAC" releasing it's all-conference teams today. So, while I don't doubt your credibility to how stuff is voted on, it sure seems they go to great lengths to make sure people know what are the "official" MAC postseason awards.

Again, I'm just being specific. It's not the office that actually picks the winners. I feel like that's an important distinction to make.

Are there many or any league offices that do selections? Don't almost all use coaches or media?

Anyway...


All-MAC, First and Seond teams & Hon. mention, plus Freshmen team.
MAC site

Quote:All-MAC First Team
Jimmy Conyers, Akron
Rodney Pierce, Buffalo
Kenny Hayes, Miami
David Kool, Western Michigan
Chris Singletary, Kent State

All-MAC Second Team
Jordan Bitzer, Central Michigan
Robbie Harman, Central Michigan
Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan
Brandon Bowdry, Eastern Michigan
Justin Greene, Kent State

All-MAC Honorable Mention
Chris McKnight, Akron
Brett McKnight, Akron
Jarrod Jones, Ball State
Scott Thomas, Bowling Green
Calvin Betts, Buffalo
Justin Dobbins, Eastern Michigan
Julian Mavunga, Miami
Xavier Silas, Northern Illinois
D.J. Cooper, Ohio
Armon Bassett, Ohio

All-Freshman Team
Zeke Marshall, Akron
Jauwan Scaife, Ball State
D.J. Cooper, Ohio
Jake Barnett, Toledo
Nate Hutcheson, Western Michigan

The teams were voted on by the league's head coaches.

I don't know, but someone said something about the MAC office deciding the awards. I was specifically responding to that. This is being being discussed more than it needs to be.

I have a problem with the following (but when your team is MAC Regular Season Champs, #1 seed in the tournament and going to play in at least the NIT...I can deal with these problems)

1) Justin Greene was third in the POY voting but not able to make first team.

2) Anthony Simpson is the sixth man of the year but doesn't get honorable mention.

3) Kent State goes 13-3 in the league, wins 20+ regular season games and can't get a honorable mention. I would think Rod Sherman OR one of the seniors would deserve to be on that list.

Ah well.