Sports season
The 2001–02 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2001, followed by the start of the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2002 and concluded in March 2002. Ball State was the runner-up in the 2001 Maui Invitational Tournament . They opened their season by beating #4 Kansas and #3 UCLA before losing to #1 Duke in the final.[ 1]
Kent State won the regular season title with a conference record of 17–1 by five games over second-place Ball State and Bowling Green. Kent State defeated Bowling Green in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament .[ 2] There they defeated Oklahoma State , Alabama , and Pittsburgh before losing to then eventual national runner-up Indiana Hoosiers in the Elite Eight .[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
Preseason awards
The preseason poll was announced by the league office on October 25, 2001.[ 7]
Preseason men's basketball poll
(First place votes in parentheses)
East Division
Kent State (31) 313
Marshall (7) 261
Ohio (5) 231
Bowling Green (6) 218
Miami
Akron 107
Buffalo 52
West Division
Central Michigan (30) 270
Ball State (17) 248
Toledo (2) 210
Western Michigan 126
Northern Illinois 103
Eastern Michigan 74
Honors
[ 8]
Postseason
Mid–American Tournament
NCAA tournament
Postseason awards
[ 9]
[ 10]
Coach of the Year: Stan Heath , Kent State
Player of the Year: Keith McLeod , Bowling Green
Freshman of the Year: Ben Reed, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Demetric Shaw, Kent State
Honors
[ 9] [ 11]
Honor
Recipient
Postseason All-MAC First Team
Andrew Mitchell, Kent State
Trevor Huffman, Kent State
Keith McLeod , Bowling Green
Theron Smith , Ball State
Brandon Hunter , Ohio
Postseason All-MAC Second Team
Patrick Jackson, Ball State
Len Matela , Bowling Green
Antonio Gates , Kent State
Leon Rodgers , Northern Illinois
Steve Reynolds, Western Michigan
All-MAC Freshman Team
Ben Reed, Western Michigan
Darryl Peterson, Akron
Turner Battle , Buffalo
Nate Gerwig, Kent State
Danny Horace, Miami
References
^ "2001-02 Ball State Cardinals Schedule and Results" . Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2022 .
^ "Golden Flashes win MAC for third time in four years" . ESPN . Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "Kent State rides big lead to first-round upset" . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "Kent State stifles Tide to reach Sweet 16" . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "Kent State reaches fourth round for first time" . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "Hoosiers make long-awaited return to Final Four" . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "MAC BASKETBALL PRESEASON TIPOFF HELD" .
^ "PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-MAC TEAM ANNOUNCED" .
^ a b "MAC ANNOUNCES POST SEASON AWARDS" .
^ "MAC ANNOUNCES TOP TWO INDIVIDUAL AWARDS" .
^ "MAC ANNOUNCES 2002 ALL-MAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM" .
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