The Mid-American Conference has been one of the best mid-major leagues in the last ten years. Though it is a one-bid league, it is not one you want to see in your bracket. The MAC has had multiple teams win one NCAA Tournament game in the previous decade. It helps when those teams have some phenomenal players.
Mid-American Conference 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – DJ Cooper, Ohio
DJ Cooper is one of the best players in the history of Ohio basketball. He made the league’s first-team three times and earned player of the year honors as a senior. He also earned an honorable mention on the AP’s All-American team. Cooper is the only player in NCAA history to finish with at least 2,000 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds, and 300 steals.
He averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game for his career. He left the Bobcats as their career leader in assists, steals, and made threes. Cooper also leads career conference lists in games played, minutes, assists, and points produced. In this decade, he helped Ohio win one East Division title and was a huge reason why the Bobcats made the Sweet 16 in 2012.
Guard – CJ Massinburg, Buffalo
CJ Massinburg is the most recent player on the team, finishing his career in 2019. He made the league’s first-team twice. He finished off a successful career as a Bull with the player of the year award for the 2018-19 season.
Massinburg averaged 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for his career. He finished third on the MAC’s career lists for offensive win shares and offensive rating. He also finished fifth in points produced. Massinburg helped Buffalo dominate the league while he was there. The Bulls won two league titles and made three NCAA Tournaments, winning a game in two of them. In Massinburg’s senior season, Buffalo finished 32-4 and was awarded a six-seed in the Big Dance that year.
Forward – Justin Greene, Kent State
Justin Greene played two seasons in this decade, ending his career in 2012. He won the first player of the year award in the decade in 2011, just the third time a Golden Flash had won it. His performance that season also landed him on the AP All-American team as an honorable mention.
During his two seasons of play in the 2010s, Greene averaged 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the Mid-American Conference in made field goals, made two-point field goals, and rebounds during the 2010-11 season. Greene finished his career in the top 25 in six advanced metrics categories for the conference. He helped Kent State win one title and make it to the NIT quarterfinals in 2011.
Forward – Javon McCrea, Buffalo
Javon McCrea played at Buffalo from 2010-14. He won freshman of the year in 2011 and player of the year in 2014. He was a member of the MAC’s first-team three times during his career.
McCrea averaged 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and two blocks per game during his career. He also shot an impressive 57.6 percent from the field. He is the conference’s career leader in made two-point field goals and player efficiency rating. McCrea is also in the top five in field goals, offensive rebounds, blocks, and win shares. He was part of one title team and made two CITs with Buffalo.
Center – Isaiah Johnson, Akron
Isaiah Johnson was a member of the Zips from 2013-17. He made the league’s first-team twice during his career. He ended his time at Akron as the player of the year in 2017.
For his career, Johnson averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He also shot 57.2 percent from the field, just behind McCrea. During his player of the year season, he shot 62.5 percent to lead the MAC. He is fourth in league history in offensive rating, fifth in offensive rebounds, and ninth in player efficiency rating. Johnson helped Akron win two titles and appear in two NITs and one CIT.
Bench
Guard – Chris Fowler, Central Michigan
Chris Fowler made his mark at Central Michigan, playing from 2012-16. He made the first-team twice and was a mid-major player of the year finalist in 2015. He finished his time as the Chippewas’ career leader in assists and made free throws.
Fowler averaged 14.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game for his career. He assisted on 45.5 percent of his teammates’ buckets in 2013 to lead the NCAA. He finished third in assists, fifth in assist percentage, and sixth in points produced in Mid-American Conference history. Fowler helped Central Michigan win two titles and play in one CIT and NIT each.
Guard – Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan
Thomas Wilder played for Western Michigan from 2014-18. He made the conference’s first-team twice. He became only the second player in Broncos’ history to score 2,000 career points. Wilder is in the top ten in 11 statistical categories in school history.
For his career, Wilder averaged 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He is second in league history in made free throws, third in points produced, and ninth in career points. For all of his individual success, Wilder only made one postseason appearance, playing in the CIT.
Guard – Julius Brown, Toledo
Julius Brown set the tone for his Toledo career by winning freshman of the year in 2012. He went on to appear twice on the league’s first-team. He was a prolific passer, finishing second in conference history in career assists.
Brown averaged 14 points and 5.3 assists per game during his career. He sits fourth in assists per game and points produced in MAC history as well as tenth in assist percentage. Brown was part of one title team as well as teams that played in the CIT and NIT.
Forward – Julian Mavunga, Miami
Julian Mavunga spent two seasons playing in this decade for Miami. He played 124 games for the RedHawks, the most in school history. Mavunga made the first-team in both seasons he played in the decade and became the fourth player in school history to lead the conference in both scoring and rebounding in 2012. He led the league in six categories overall that season.
In the decade, he averaged 15.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Mavunga finished 11th on the Mid-American Conference’s career defensive rebound list. He helped Miami make one CBI appearance.
Forward – Jimmy Hall, Kent State
Jimmy Hall played three seasons at Kent State after transferring from Hofstra. He took the Mid-American Conference by storm, making the first-team in all three seasons. He led the country in made two-point field goals during his senior season in 2016-17.
Hall averaged 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in his three years as a Golden Flash. He is the conference’s all-time leader in points produced per game and is third in offensive rebounds and player efficiency rating. Hall was a member of one Kent State title team and made one NCAA appearance.
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