If you had to pick a MAC Starting 5, who would be in it? After seeing the Ice Man and Nate Thurmond getting mentioned, figured it would make for a fun basketball thread.

Note: Figured we need something to talk about to keep Bobcat Attack alive during this time. If anyone has topics that would be fun to discuss, feel free to create a thread about it.

Being in school at the time, Trevor Huffman from Kent scared me far more than Antonio Gates. I know Gates ended up getting the name recognition, but Huffman's game was almost unstoppable.

My starting 5:

Wally Szczerbiak
Bonzi Wells
Ron Harper
Nate Thurmond
Steve Mix

6th Man: Gary Trent/Earl Boykin

Head Coach: Gentleman Jim or Harold Anderson
Coach to get a Tech when I need one: Dan Dakich
Coach I'd want to seen toss everytime he takes the floor: Bobby Hurley
Coach I'd want to grab a beer with: Rick Majerus (RIP)

Depending on your criteria, this site gives you a pretty good idea who excelled at the "next level."

https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Mid-Americ...

Amen!!!!

What other player in the MAC was the league's player of the year as a freshman, sophomore, and junior (and odds-on-favorite as a senior if hadn't left early for the NBA)? Trent was a man among boys unlike few other players ever in the MAC.

Any all-time MAC top 5 list begins and ends with Trent.

Similar to others, because that's the era I've followed MAC hoops, I'm doing a starting five from 94-95 to the present. Also, because I believe in an "All MAC" team encompassing all five positions, not 4 PG's and a big, my list reflects that. And yes, with 4 Ohio players listed, I may have a little bias.

1st team:

5 - James Thompson IV
4 - Gary Trent
3 - Bonzi Wells
2 - Antonio Daniels
1 - DJ Cooper

2nd team:

5 - JR VanHoose
4 - Brandon Hunter
3 - Wally Szcerbiak
2 - David Kool
1 - Earl Boykins



At guard/wing, one could also argue for any of these players: Chris Fowler, Juice Brown, Thomas Wilder, Trevor Huffman, Damon Frierson, Derrick Dials, Tamar Slay, CJ Massinburg, Turner Battle, David Webber, Eugene German, Justin Turner. If he'd stayed three years, one could probably have put Jarron Simmons into that conversation.


Bigs: Leon Williams, Antonio Campbell, Javon Mcrae, Devin Davis, Demajeo Wiggins, Chris Kaman, Joe Reitz, Keith Mcleod, Anthony Stacey, Jerome Tillman


Something I found interesting are the number of good players that have gone through WMU/CMU/EMU in terms of all time numbers. Conversely, there have been some really good teams at Kent and Akron, but because they have so many transfers, they don't have many of what I'd call "All time MAC players", despite having good teams.


EDIT: I listed Jamerson, then it hit me that I had an excited Bobcat hoops fan moment. He does not encompass 94-95 to the present. So, I've modified it to include someone from that era. In addition to having him in the conversation, I would concur with Ron Harper sentiments. I'd also ask about Snoopy Graham.

Co-Sign.

No love yet for Dave Jamerson?

James Thompson the 4th???? What the heck? Outstanding talent, horrible attitude, never won the big game and his teams ALWAYS underachieved. I preferred Javon McCrea if we're talking powerful big men. JT4 is overrated in my opinion.

That's fine. Have your own opinion. No need for caps and several question marks to hammer home your point.

I like him because he was athletic, great shot blocker, and produced. No question about the attitude, but perhaps if he wasn't on such a train wreck of a team, he wouldn't have been the same. McRae, while very good, to me is a 4, not a five. Honestly, the MAC didn't have many really good 5's in the last 25 years. On the offensive end, Leon and Van Hoose were better. On the defensive end, Thompson is much, much better. Another guy that was really good defensively and on the glass was Wiggins. His offensive game just took a long time to evolve.

LaFerla twins?

While true, entertaining the conversation about some of the best is still fun. I'd be interested to hear about some of the best you played with, against, and have seen in your Bobcat years.