CLEVELAND - Parity, balance and talent are the watchwords by which the upcoming season can be defined, judging by the "coach speak" at the Mid-American Conference's annual men's basketball media day at Gund Arena, .

"The parity seems pretty phenomonal," Marshall Head Coach Greg White said.

Kent Head Coach Gary Waters said this season is the most balanced the league has ever been.

"Our league has gone from having one or two talented players to having five, six or seven talented players," Miami Head Coach Charlie Coles said.

All of the coaches spoke of the parity in the East division, most noting that at least five teams have a shot of winning the division.

Ohio was picked to finish fifth in the East division, receiving four first-place votes. Akron nudged Kent as the MAC News Media Association's pre-season pick for first place in the East division. Kent was 10 points shy of tying the Zips for the fictional pre-season title, but gained more first-place votes, 17 to 15. Bowling Green was picked to finish third and Marshall fourth, with two first-place votes. Miami and Buffalo were picked to finish sixth and seventh, respectively.

Coles, now in his post-Wally Szczerbiak era, compared his situation to that of a crooner of days gone by.

"I love music," he said. "Vocalist Frankie Beverly (and his group) had a song called 'The Morning After.' I feel like Frankie, I had a good time (coaching Szczerbiak) but now it is the 'Morning After.'"

While his team is predicted to finish in the bottom of the East, White said not to let Coles lead people to believe his team is on the downswing.

"He's a sly old fox," White said. "Don't let him tell you how bad they are."

Bowling Green Head Coach Dan Dakich said he does not put too much trust in the pre-season poll.

"It's the nature of the MAC," he said of the voters. "Some people don't even know who played last year. I pay attention to the poll, but I don't care about it."

Ohio Head Coach Larry Hunter said his team has the potential to do great things, if all the intangibles come together.

"We've got a lot of unknowns with our basketball team," Hunter said. "There is some plusses and minuses and probably some things we are not going to know about until we play a half-dozen games or so."

Ohio's fortunes will rest on the shoulders of its two stars, Sanjay Adell and Shaun Stonerook. Hunter said his senior starters should continue to improve on their play this season, and the team needs both to stay healthy.

The team's new-found depth, with six newcomers on the active roster, should help the duo challenge the upper echelon of the East. Hunter said that while he does not know which of the newcomers will start this season, all of them should play.

"We don't plan on red-shirting anyone," Hunter said.

Junior college transfer Anthony Jones and Adam Howell should shore up the backcourt, Hunter said. Forward Brandon Hunter and swingman Steve Esterkamp will provide Ohio with additional scoring punch.

Hunter said he needs additional offensive support from point guard Dustin Ford.

Ohio finished18-10 last season but did not make the National Invitation Tournament, let alone the NCAA tournament. Hunter was one of several coaches of teams who felt they should have been included in post-season play.

Buffalo coach Tim Cohane provided his renowned levity to the news conference, noting that his twin brother Jim coached last year's 5-24 team, and has since been let go by his brother.

"It's bad news for the other coaches because I'm stepping in," he said.

The West division looks wild for the MAC, as well. Five out of the top six teams received a first-place vote. Toledo received the most overall points and first-place votes. Ball State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan round out the West.

Toledo Head Coach Stan Joplin said his out-of-conference schedule does not fit his inexperienced team, even though his team is picked to win the West.

"We have a brutal non-conference schedule," he said. "I'm not very smart (in scheduling)."

Toledo is led by Greg Stempin, an All-MAC pick from a year ago who was chosen by the media for the pre-season team. He is joined by Northern Illinois' T.J. Lux, who missed almost all of last season with severe shin splints. In 1997-98, he led the nation in rebounds per game with 11.1 per contest. Joining them on the team is Anthony Stacey from Bowling Green, whom Coles said should be the MAC's best player this season. Kent's John Whorton and Akron's Jami Bosley round out the media's top five.

Bosley said he would give up all personal awards for a chance at team victory.

"I was All-MAC last year and really I would give that up in a heartbeat just to win the MAC and get to the NCAA tournament. That's what is all about," Bosley said.

Women picked to finish sixth

The Ohio women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the East at the women's basketball media day Wednesday at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland.

Ohio Head Coach Lynn Bria said she has been looking forward to the start of the season since she was hired last spring.

Bria said the return of forward Princess Todd, who sat out last season due to injury, will help an Ohio team that finished 4-22 last season. Cathy Szall is doing good things in practice as is walk-on point guard Becky Vossberg.

A new candidate for the All-Name team, as well as for significant playing time, is Khisha Asubuhi, Bria said Asubuhi and Beckie Fischer are two freshmen that should see significant minutes for Ohio.

No Ohio players made the pre-season All-MAC team, and Bria said she is a little jealous.

"I can't wait until I can bring a player up here," Bria said.

Kent's Dawn Zerman leads the All-MAC team, winning the conference's best defensive player award the past two seasons. She is joined by Cheryl Bowles of Akron, AuBree Hamilton of Miami, Kristy Maska of Eastern Michigan and Shelsea Erving of Western Michigan.

Kent received 33 out of 34 first-place votes in the East, with Akron receiving the only dissenting vote. Miami, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Ohio and Marshall round out the media's selections in the East.

Kent Head Coach Bob Lindsay said his team is comfortable as the front-runner.

"There are a lot of coaches who feel being No. 1 is a monkey on their back, but I feel we're a good enough program to deal with it," Lindsay said.

Kent has faced Toledo in the league championship game in each of the past four years, and the pollsters predict a fifth match-up as they picked Toledo to win the West. Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Ball State round out the West.