http://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/10/25/mac-announces-2...

MAC East Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Buffalo – 166 points (24)
2. Kent State – 139 points (2)
3. Ohio – 127 points (3)
4. Akron – 84 points (1)
5. Bowling Green – 82 points
6. Miami – 32 points

MAC West Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Western Michigan – 169 points (22)
2. Ball State – 156 points (8)
3. Toledo – 107 points
4. Eastern Michigan – 103 points
5. Northern Illinois – 57 points
6. Central Michigan – 38 points

MAC Tournament Champion: Western Michigan (10), Buffalo (9), Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1)

MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
C.J. Massinburg, Buffalo, Jr., Guard
Nick Perkins, Buffalo, Jr., Forward
Jaylin Walker, Kent State, Jr., Guard
Jordan Dartis, Ohio, Jr., Guard
Jason Carter, Ohio, So., Forward

MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan, Jr., Forward/Center
Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan, Sr., Guard
Tayler Persons, Ball State, Jr., Guard
Jaelan Sanford, Toledo, Jr., Guard
Eugene German, Northern Illinois, So., Guard

1. 3rd place in the East is fair. I think Buffalo, Kent and Ohio are the clear "top tier" in the East. I can't knock anyone for how they order those three teams on top in the East.

2. I will knock whoever gave Akron their 1st place vote to win the East. Even before the coaching transition, they were already getting hit hard by graduation. Then the coaching change happened and a lot of the very little experience they did have set to return also left.Even if Groce finds some way to get them shooting hot come tournament time (which I don't expect) I don't see them having too good of a chance to compete for the regular season title in the MAC East.

3. Only Ohio and Buffalo have 2 preseason All-MAC players. Outside Carter and Dartis, Ohio returns three other guys (Laster, Block and Carter) who have already played meaningful minutes in this system. I cannot imagine a better situation for a young point guard to step into.

4. The other thing I will knock about this poll is the MAC Tournament voting. BG has 1 vote. Miami has 1 vote. Teams in the MAC West, which has won 1 title in Cleveland the last 13 years, combined for 17 votes. Ohio??? 0 votes. The MAC Tournament is definitely more of a dice-roll than the regular season, but you roll the dice 30 times and I bet more than once they come up Green and White.

Two things caught my eye: Miami with one vote to win MAC tourney and only one pre-season all-MAC choice is a senior. Typically, end-of-year all-MAC players are seniors. Bodes well for next season if this holds.