Toledo was picked to finish second and received four first place votes, as well as four votes to win the Tournament Championship. Akron was selected to finish third and received two first place votes. Ten of the league's top men's basketball players were also selected to the Preseason All-MAC first and second teams as announced by the league office.
2021-22 MAC Coach of the Year Rob Senderoff will return with ten players from last year's Golden Flashes squad, including five players with 14 or more starts from a season ago. Kent State senior Sincere Carry was nominated to the preseason All-MAC First Team. The Kent State point guard appeared in 34 games, starting in 33 during the 2021-22 season. Carry averaged a team-high of 17.9 points per game. Carry was also named 2022 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the ALL-MAC First team, and the ALL-MAC Defensive Team. All-MAC Defensive team member, senior Malique Jacobs, was nominated to the preseason All-MAC Second team. Jacobs appeared in 33 games, starting in 30 and averaged 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. The Golden Flashes senior was also the first point guard in Kent State since Demetric Shaw in 2001 to lead the team in rebounding and recorded the first triple-double in Kent State history against Ball State with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Toledo returns four starters from last year's 26-8 squad. Millner (15.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Shumate (15.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will lead the Rockets' front court, while junior RayJ Dennis (12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg) and sophomore Ra'Heim Moss (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) are returning starters in the backcourt. The Rockets also have added three transfers with guards Tyler Cochran (Ball State) and Dante Maddox (Cal. State Fullerton) as well as forward Andre Lorentsson (Saint Louis).
Under the direction of sixth-year head coach John Groce, Akron is 40-16 in Mid-American Conference play over the last three years, owning the best winning percentage (.714) in the MAC. Groce guided the Zips to a MAC Tournament title and 24-10 overall record last year, including their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, having a near upset bid to No. 4 seed UCLA, 57-53, fall short.
A complete list of the MAC Coaches Preseason Coaches Poll and All-League Team can be found below.
2022-23 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Kent State (6) – 135 points
2. Toledo (4) – 131
3. Akron (2) – 127
4. Ball State -- 94
5. Ohio -- 91
6. Buffalo -- 82
7. Eastern Michigan -- 68
8. Western Michigan -- 66
9. Bowling Green -- 42
10. Central Michigan -- 38
11. Miami -- 36
12. Northern Illinois -- 26