Bulls Picked to Finish Fourth in East; McCrea Named Preseason All-MAC
CLEVELAND, OH – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East Division by the MAC News Media Panel. In addition, Javon McCrea was named to the five-member East Division Preseason All-MAC Team.
The Bulls have nine players returning to a team that went 20-11 last season for its second straight 20-win campaign. The Bulls did graduate four of their top five scorers, but a have a senior and five juniors all with ample experience ready to fill the void.
One of those juniors, McCrea, was named to the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team. The junior forward started all 31 games last season for the Bulls and averaged 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The 2011 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, he closed out his sophomore campaign ranked sixth in the MAC in scoring average, fifth in rebounds per game, fourth in blocked shots per game (1.3) and second in field goal shooting percentage.
The 2012-13 season tips off on Nov. 10 when the Bulls host Princeton at Alumni Arena at noon.
2012-13 East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ohio – 141 Votes (19 first place votes)
2. Akron – 122 Votes (5)
3. Kent State – 89 Votes
4. Buffalo – 68 Votes
5. Bowling Green – 53 Votes
6. Miami – 31 Votes
2012-13 East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Zeke Marshall, Akron
A'uston Calhoun, Bowling Green
Javon McCrea, Buffalo
Walter Offutt, Ohio
D.J. Cooper, Ohio
2012-13 West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Toledo – 143 Votes (20 first place votes)
2. Eastern Michigan – 118 Votes (4)
3. Western Michigan – 88 Votes
4. Ball State – 74 Votes
5. Northern Illinois – 46 Votes
6. Central Michigan – 35 Votes
2012-13 West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jesse Berry, Ball State
Abdel Nader, Northern Illinois
Rian Pearson, Toledo
Julius Brown, Toledo
Nate Hutcheson, Western Michigan
FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Winner: Ohio (18), Akron (6)