All-MAC Teams are in....

So, the All-MAC team is out...only a little bit of quibbling over a couple of things.  But first, a couple things I applaud....

• Recognizing Zeigler for what he has been on the court.
• Recognizing Lampley
• Four of the first five players, all of whom are well deserving.

Now, my major quibble is with Cooper, who I think is badly overrated.  In fact, I think Abreu is the more valuable player.  Yes, Cooper is a better scorer.  However, DJ Cooper uses up 28% of his team's possessions and Abreu uses up only 18%.  Let's look.  Who would you rather have?

Again, Cooper scores, but he misses a ton of shots.  His FG% is awful.  Meanwhile, Abreu scores his points economically, and saves possessions for his teammates, many of whom can score.  They have the same rate of getting to the life, Abreu is a better FT shooter.  Cooper is awful from 3, Abreu is better.  Abreu has a much better offensive rating, which measures points per possession used.

Yes, Cooper gives you an assist a game, but he also takes .3 of that back with more turnovers, and their turnover ration is very close.  You get almost one more steal a game with Cooper and their +/- is also pretty similar.  You want my opinion?  Abreu is on balance the more productive player and Cooper is overrated.

Beyond that, I would have liked to see Scott Thomas as second team and Calhoun as third team, but I can't really quibble with that too much.  I think the league is responding to the fact that teams are game planning around Calhoun and therefore he's a valuable player.  Which he is.

I really like Cvetinovic, but other than maybe Jones, I can't see him moving up. He is constrained because in the Dambrot system no one really racks up huge minutes.  Zeke Marshall might be the best player on the 2nd team.

The rest of it all looks good and I think the All-freshman team looks reasonable too.  Anyway, for your perusal.

All-MAC First Team
Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
Javon McCrea, Buffalo
Justin Greene, Kent State
Julian Mavunga, Miami
D.J. Cooper, Ohio

All-MAC Second Team
Zeke Marshall, Akron
Alex Abreu, Akron
Jarrod Jones, Ball State
A'uston Calhoun, Bowling Green
Rian Pearson, Toledo

All-MAC Third Team
Nikola Cvetinovic, Akron
Scott Thomas, Bowling Green
Trey Zeigler, Central Michigan
Darrell Lampley, Eastern Michigan
Michael Porrini, Kent State

Honorable Mention
Randal Holt, Kent State
Carlton Guyton, Kent State
Ivo Baltic, Ohio
Walter Offutt, Ohio
Curtis Dennis, Toledo
Flenard Whitfield, Western Michigan

All-Freshman Team
Aaron Adeoye, Ball State
Austin McBroom, Central Michigan
Brian Sullivan, Miami
Abdel Nader, Northern Illinois
Julius Brown, Toledo