Ball State's men's basketball team was picked by Street & Smith magazine to finish at top of the Mid-American Conference West Division in the 2002-03 season.
Along with picking the team to finish No.1 in the West, the magazine picked senior forward Theron Smith as the projected MAC Player of the Year. The 6-foot-8-inch forward finished last year with scoring 19.6 points per game and 10.9 rebounds. Smith's 23 double-doubles was second in the country. He was also named as a candidate for the John Wooden Award during the preseason.
The magazine also tabbed junior forward Cameron Echols the leagues top newcomer in 2002-03. Echols transferred from Kennedy King Community College where he finished the season a junior college All-American. Echols averaged 18.3 points per game, 14.5 rebounds and 8 blocks. He recorded 11 triple-doubles last season.
The team will begin play Nov. 6 against Team Nike at Worthen Arena in exhibition play.