MAC men’s basketball outlook
CLEVELAND — The Kent State Golden Flashes and the Western Michigan Broncos have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2011-12 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll.
The poll reflects votes by a 24-member MAC news media panel, and the Golden Flashes also collected 12 votes as the team most likely to win the MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Ten of the league’s top men’s basketball players were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office.
Northern Illinois, which has a new head coach in Mark Montgomery, was picked to finish fifth in its division.
Kent State first-year head coach Rob Senderoff welcomes back 10 letterwinners, including four starters to a team that had won the 2011 MAC regular season title and advanced to the National Invitational Tournament quarterfinals. Last season, the Golden Flashes finished with 25 wins and will welcome back 2010-11 MAC Player of the Year Justin Greene, who was the only player in the league ranked in the top 10 in points (6th - 15.4 ppg), rebounds (3rd - 8.3 rpg), blocked shots (5th - 1.4 bpg) and in field goal percentage (9th - .478).
Western Michigan returns all five starters from last year’s team that went 21-13 and captured the sixth MAC West title in program history, the fifth under head coach Steve Hawkins.
The MAC regular season gets under way on Nov. 9 as Akron travels to Starkville, Miss. to take on Mississippi State at 7 p.m. in the 2K Sports Classic (ESPNU). Conference action begins on Jan. 7.
MAC preseason prediction
(1st place votes in parentheses)
East Division
1. Kent State: 132 points (16)
2. Akron: 104 points (8)
3. Ohio: 94 points
4. Miami: 80 points
5. Buffalo: 62 points
6. Bowling Green: 32 points
West Division
1. Western Michigan: 128 points (14)
2. Ball State: 111 points (9)
3. Central Michigan: 92 points (1)
4. Toledo: 76 points
5. Northern Illinois: 59 points
6. Eastern Michigan: 38 points
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
D.J. Cooper, G, Ohio
Justin Greene, F, Kent State
Zeke Marshall, C, Akron
Julian Mavunga, F, Miami
Javon McCrea, F, Buffalo
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Randy Davis, G, Ball State
Jarrod Jones, F, Ball State
Demetrius Ward, F, Western Michigan
Flenard Whitfield, F, Western Michigan
Trey Zeigler, G, Central Michigan