MAC All-Tournament team

NIU junior guard Perry Smith was named to the 2003 MAC All-Tournament team, according to NIU Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Smoose.

Held from March 10 to 15, Smith averaged 23 points in the three games, including his second highest point output of the year with 33 points against Western Michigan in the second round.

While the rest of the team could not be confirmed, according to Smith, it rounds out with Central Michigan’s J.R. Wallace and Chris Kaman, Kent State’s Antonio Gates and Ohio’s Brandon Hunter.

Three MAC teams play on

Along with Central Michigan, Kent State and Western Michigan will play in postseason tournaments.

CMU takes on Creighton in the NCAA Tournament, while the Golden Flashes and Broncos will play in the National Invitational Tournament.

Kent State opens at home against College of Charleston on March 19.

This year marks the fifth consecutive postseason appearance for the Golden Flashes.

Western Michigan also will host a NIT game and draw University of Illinois-Chicago for a Wednesday night contest.

NIU split the season series with WMU and lost to UIC 77-45 in December.

Team coming together

While Central Michigan went from a preseason No. 6 pick in the MAC West to conference champs, it was something that happened off the court that got the team on its road to success.

After a preseason No. 1 ranking last season, the Chippewas stumbled to a 9-19 overall record.

When this season started, the players organized a meeting at Deerfield Park just outside of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

According to coach Jay Smith, the team took ownership for its past performances and began looking ahead to this season.

The results speak for themselves as the Chippewas take on Creighton in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 6:20 p.m. on Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Should he stay or go?

Four years ago, a young Illinois assistant coach was hot on the recruiting trail of a prep star from Lincoln.

Three years later, that star, Brian Cook, had a major decision to make. Go to the NBA or stay one more year at Illinois.

A 6-foot-10 forward, Cook could have gone for the riches of the big time, but elected to stay with the Illini for one more season. Cook led Illinois to a conference championship and was named the Big 10 Player of the Year.

And for that assistant coach, Rob Judson said Central Michigan junior Chris Kaman could learn a lot from Cook.

Judson is in favor of all college athletes staying for a full four years to get the full college experience, but wouldn’t be upset to see Kaman leave the conference.

“For selfish reasons, I’d like to see him go,” Judson said.

Kaman has been rumored to be heading to the NBA and is picked for the No. 9 slot by NBADraft.net if he were to leave this year.

Overtime in Ohio

When Brandon Hunter hit a shot in the lane to send Ohio into overtime against Miami (Ohio) in the second round of the MAC Tournament, it marked the 12th overtime period the Bobcats played this season.

At the end of the regular season, Ohio led the nation in both overtime games, six of them, and periods played.

With the win over Miami, Ohio improved to 4-3 in overtime contests.

Before the Miami win, Ohio had been 0-3 in single overtime contests and 3-0 in overtimes that have went at least two periods.