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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES POLL:
- Kent State
- Toledo
- Akron
- Ball State
- Ohio U
- Buffalo
- Eastern Michigan
- Western Michigan
- Bowling Green
- Central Michigan
- Miami OH
- Northern Illinois
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MAC 1ST TEAM:
-Enrique Freeman, – JR, F – Akron
-Payton Sparks – SO, C – Ball State
-Sincere Carry – SR, G Kent State
-JT Shumate – SR, F – Toledo
-Lamar Norman – SR, G – Western Michigan
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MAC 2ND TEAM:
-Xavier Castaneda – SR, G – Akron
-Kevin Miller, – SO, G – Central Michigan
-Emoni Bates – SO, F – Eastern Michigan
-Malique Jacobs – SR, G – Kent State
-Setric Millner Jr. – SR, F – Toledo
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
This is a conference that I feel is routinely undervalued. There are some great rivalries in this league and it is TOUGH to win on the road at some of these places. I think there are a couple of teams that can make a run at the bubble this year.
-Kent State returns four starters from a team that won 23 total games a year ago, finished 2nd in the conference, and advanced to the championship game. Expectations are even higher this year with them being the preseason favorite and perhaps good enough to be on the bubble (or even inside of it) come March.
-Toledo is another team that returns four starters after having a strong season a year ago. They are actually my pick to win the league. They won 26 total games last year and were the first place team. This is another team that I think could finish either on the bubble or inside of it come March.
-Akron won the MAC Tournament last year after finishing in a tie for 3rd, and with three starters back from that team along with some solid-looking transfers that can contribute. This is another team that can compete with anyone in the league and should battle for the top of the conference.
-Ball State has been rather unremarkable for the past…well…twenty years or so, but expectations are suddenly high. After winning just 14 total games a year ago and going a modest 9-10 in league play, many think the Cardinals can finish in the top half of the league this year as Michael Lewis takes over as head coach. He has three starters back and a pretty good recruiting class to go along with it so we could see them take a huge step forward this year.
-I am a big fan of Coach Jeff Boals at Ohio U, but I also understand that they may be in rebuilding mode this year. Last year they won 25 total games and finished in a tie for 3rd. Unfortunately a lot of key pieces from that team are gone, including their top player, so they will look to some transfers and some returners to step into bigger roles this year.
It drops off a little after that…
-The days of Buffalo being a regular in the NCAA Tournament, and even the top-25, seem like a long time ago. They are in complete reset mode this year with no returning starters and will look to some D2 and JUCO transfers to step into key roles and contribute this year.
-Eastern Michigan won just 10 total games last year and finished outside the top-300 of the NET. While they should be a little better this year, I do not see them finishing in the top half of the league.
-Western Michigan was the last place team a year ago and also finished outside the top-300 of the NET. While they should be a little better this year, it does not look as though they are going to be good.
-Bowling Green had seemed to be trending up as a program, but they are certainly in rebuilding mode this year after losing their top four scorers. They do have some decent looking recruits and I think they can finish higher than 9th in the conference, but it could still be a long year for them.
-Central Michigan was just 7-23 last year. They have two starters back along with some transfers to round out their roster, but the expectations are not exactly high.
-Miami OH has a new coach in Travis Steele. They also have four new starters to go along with him. I think this is a program that has the potential to be successful and I sometimes wonder why they are not better than what they are. They are certainly not expected to be good this year.
-Northern Illinois was terrible last year but they finished the regular season with a win over Ohio U, which was a real head-scratcher. I am a little surprised that they are picked to finish dead last because they do have a good player in Keshawn Williams and some decent-looking transfers coming in as well.