Conference Play Begins This Weekend For Mac

Tony Dejak, Associated Press Central Michigan had a 20-plus win season last year and earned its first postseason appearance since Chris Kaman led the Chippewas past Creighton in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Now, coach Keno Davis hopes to build off that success.

1. Conference Play Begins This Weekend For Mac Free

The 2019 University of Arizona football season, which was announced on Tuesday, Dec. 4, begins with an early trip to Hawaii, includes three bye weeks, and features a non-conference home matchup.

While the CollegeInsider.com tournament isn’t the NCAA Tournament, having a pair of postseason wins gives the Chippewas added experience heading into the 2018-19 campaign. But CMU (21-15, 7-11 Mid-American Conference) isn’t getting any respect and is picked to finish last in the MAC West by coaches and media members. Davis is still optimistic about the season, especially with the addition of grad transfer and point guard Larry Austin Jr. From Vanderbilt. More: EMU preview: Experienced Eagles ready to take flight More: WMU preview: Broncos hit by injury bug out of the gate “I think going into the season there’s a lot of reason for optimism regarding our team,” Davis said.

Duke and Boston College officially kicked off the ACC conference just a few weeks but this weekend begins the true ACC slate, as seven games will be on the schedule for Saturday and Sunday. Here is the rundown for all the action one will see over the next two days, including one Top-25 matchup in Durham. Wake Forest (7-5) at #13 North Carolina. College Football Conference Championship Games Schedule Facebook Twitter Google+ Listed below is the college football conference championship games schedule for the 2018 season.

“I was proud of the way we finished the season, winning three straight conference games before falling in a game to Buffalo (in the MAC tournament), which was really close there for about 37 minutes before falling in the first round in Cleveland. “Winning 21 games off of last season was quite an accomplishment. I think the reason for the optimism is we won 21 games but on paper and from what we’ve been able to see, we have even more of a complete team this year, a better team for the offensive and defensive end. “I think it just shows to the strength of the conference that you have a 21-win team that’s better on paper and you’re picked in the bottom of your conference.” Davis feels the addition of Austin, who played 23 games for Vanderbilt and averaged 2.5 points and an assist in 11 minutes last season, will give the Chippewas the ability to play with multiple point guards at the same time. Mark Humphrey, Associated Press “I think Larry Austin Jr.

Is an exceptional talent, comes in with one year of eligibility and I think you’ll see both him and (Shawn) Roundtree starting together, so we’ll have two point guards on the court,” Davis said. “Both of them are exceptional leaders who can score the basketball, but Larry Austin is also a great defender as well.

“If your backcourt can be able to have some explosiveness offensively, but also to have made a pretty good upgrade on the defensive end, as a coach it gives you some opportunities to do different things on the court.” With Davis at the helm, the Chippewas have been known for their uptempo, 3-point shooting attack. Roundtree returns as the team’s leading scorer (14.8 points) with junior guard Kevin McKay (12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds) and junior forward David DiLeo (12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds) also key returners. DiLeo led the MAC in 3-pointers made (96) and connected on 34.9 percent of his long-range shots. Davis is hoping Austin can help defensively since Central Michigan allowed an average of 73.9 points per game last season. Davis is also looking for junior forward Rob Montgomery (6-foot-6, 230 pounds), a transfer from Indian Hills Community College, redshirt sophomore center Innocent Nwoko (6-11, 230) and junior forward Kevin Hamlet (6-7, 210) to give the Chippewas an inside presence. “We’re a lot better as far as getting the ball to the basket. Not only (do we have) some guys that can penetrate and finish with strength at the rim, but it’s probably the first year that I’ve been at Central where we’ve had both on the offensive and defensive end strength and a physical presence inside,' Davis said.

'I think that will pay dividends for us to be able to throw the ball inside and also match up when conference play begins. I think we’ll be able to more than hold our own with the rebounding battles. “I think Rob Montgomery is your prototypical MAC center who has some guard skills but is strong and physical.Then you have Kevin Hamlet and Innocent Nwoko who will be battling for minutes at that center spot. “When you can spread out because of the 3-point line you need some guys inside who can make their presence known around the rim and I think the combination of those three guys will pay dividends.” Central Michigan Chippewas Coach: Keno Davis (seventh season, 98-97, 42-64 MAC) Last year’s record: 21-15, 7-11 Top returning players: Shawn Roundtree Jr., 6-foot, Sr., guard (14.8 points); David DiLeo, 6-7, Jr., forward (12.4 points, 96 3-pointers); Kevin McKay, 6-5, Jr., guard (12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds). This player will surprise everyone with a big season: Larry Austin Jr., a 6-2 senior point guard who has experience playing in the SEC with Vanderbilt. He will be a strong defender and is expected to join Roundtree in the backcourt to score and distribute the basketball. CMU can win the MAC championship if.

Austin is a defensive stopper, Roundtree, DiLeo and McKay all have career years and 6-11 redshirt sophomore Innocent Nwoko develops into a double-double threat inside. Toughest opponent: The Chippewas travel to Fort Worth on Nov. 30 to face a TCU team that is ranked No.

20 and is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998.

Wilkes senior Marcus Robinson looks to lead the Colonels on another deep postseason run. Bill Tarutis For Times Leader Last season, the MAC Freedom men’s basketball tournament saw local rivals clash on the path toward a conference title.

Now, less then a year later, the Wilkes Colonels and Misericordia Cougars meet again to open the 2018-2019 MAC Freedom play. The tournament ended with Misericordia winning the MAC Freedom after beating Wilkes in the semifinals.

Over on the women’s side, the Cougars fell in the semifinals to eventual champion FDU-Florham Devils. All six local teams in the MAC Freedom will open up conference play Wednesday, with Misericordia heading to Wilkes and King’s hosting Eastern. But the center of the focus will be the Misericordia and Wilkes men. Both programs were projected to finish in the top three in the MAC Freedom, with the Cougars first and Colonels third. Wilkes won the season series a season ago, 2-1, but the one loss came in the conference playoffs. Misericordia returns all but one starter from the 2017-18 campaign, including reigning conference player of the year Jason Kenny, who totalled 70 points in the three games against the Colonels. “We are returning key starters like Tony Harding, Alec Rodway and Noah Rivera, but Kenny makes us go,” Cougars head coach William Chandler said.

Wilkes also returns four of their five starters, and have replaced their two graduated big men, Zach Brunner and Mason Gross, with Tommy Bowen. Bowen was the Colonels’ sixth man last season, finishing sixth on the team in points per game and rebounds per game. Wilkes also welcomes the return of former all-conference point guard Connor Evans, who missed the regular-season finale and the playoffs with a lower body injury. “We have a lot of veteran players who have a lot of big game experience, including the league playoffs,” Wilkes head coach Izzi Metz said. “We like to think that we are comfortable in tough situations.” Both teams have a lot of talent, as Misericordia boasts Kenny, Harding, Rodway and Rivera, and the Colonels put out Marcus Robinson, Rob Pecorelli, Evans and Mark Mullins. It is fair to expect a game of ups and downs, and both teams coming out with something to prove.

Misericordia women vs. Wilkes The Cougars are looking to find their way back to the conference playoffs after their early exit last season. Misericordia swept the season series, 2-0, last year, but the Colonels are a different team under the first-year head coach Tara Macciocco. “The player we need to standout for us is local Western Wayne graduate Rachel Carmody,” Misericordia head coach Jason Rhine said. “Our players respond well to her and work harder because of her.” Misericordia returns all five starters including Tessa Zamolyi, who is the reigning conference Rookie of the Year.

Paige Wampole, Japriya Carroll and Kalynn Sefcik join Carmody as the returning starters. “The expectation for this years team is to be able to take the next step,” Rhine said. “We want to take that next step and reach the conference title game after losing in the semifinals two years in a row. Wilkes is looking to turn things around this season and have started with a 3-5 start. Misericordia will be the first step for the Colonels. “The MAC Freedom is a very tough conference and has some good veteran teams and coaches,” Macciocco said.

“Every time we step on the court we know we have to put our best foot forward and compete at a high level.” The Colonels on the other hand have three new faces in their staring lineup with Ashley Caster, Maddie Kelley and Gab Giordano joining Alyssa Alfano and Gianna Roberts. Giordano comes to Wilkes after transferring from Marywood after spending three seasons where she racked up conference and ECAC accolades.

Conference Play Begins This Weekend For Mac Free

”Caster, Giordano, Alfano and Roberts all bring the most experience for us and each bring something important to the table,” Macciocco said. “Caster was injured last season and is finally starting to feel more comfortable on the court. Giordano transferred with me from Marywood so she knows the system and expectations. Alfano and Roberts both have played together for two full seasons.” This game features teams with goals of success, giving an opportunity for each side to send a message to the conference. Look for both sides to play motivated as they look to start conference play on the right foot.

King’s men and women start at home The women’s team is off to a hot start and will enter its conference opener against Eastern with a four-game winning streak. “We are expecting to build off of last year and make another playoff run,” King’s head coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis said. “The goal is to get a home playoff game, and currently we are playing a pretty fast-paced. Hopefully we can continue to push the tempo come conference play.” The Monarchs four-game win streak has been fueled by three familiar faces: Alexis Steeber, Becca Prociak and Mackenzie Yori. “They are our three main scorers from last year and all three have returned and picked up right where they have left off,” Hadzimichalis said. “Lindsey Dippre is going to be a big impact player for us as well this season.

She has had a great start to the season offensively and can really put us over the top with our big three.” The King’s will look to incorporate some of their new young talent, starting Wednesday. They graduated top scorers Connor Callejas and Chris Fazzini from a season ago. “We have a number of new players on the roster who are competing for playing time,” King’s head coach JP Andrejko said. “The challenge for us is to work both our returning players in with or new players. We also need to find ways to replace Fazzini and Callejas.” With the new faces joining the lineup, Andrejko will look to juniors Josh Bailey and Tyler Millan. “They are our two most experienced guys, so we need them to not only play but also provide leadership for us,” Adrejko said. “Both are mature and talented young men who should handle their responsibilities well.” The Monarchs open up with Eastern, a team expected to return to the conference playoffs this year, but a group from King’s that plays a tough press that can give teams fits.

It’s a good litmus test for a young King’s squad.