Preseason Mid American Conference Honors

This is Jim Whitesell’s show me season.

The Buffalo coach has not been bad, by any stretch, but the Bulls are stacked and senior-heavy this season. The Mid-American Conference coaches seem to agree.

I’m never a “dance or fire the guy” type of fan, not when you’re in a one bid conference. But the Bulls last season suffered from some unimaginable losses and had a dearth of quality wins. Those two things need to reverse themselves this year.

The Bulls were picked first in the poll, getting eleven of the twelve first place votes. They were also picked by eight coaches to come out on top in the MAC tournament.

2021-22 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Buffalo – 143 points (11 first place votes)
2. Ohio – 126 points
3. Toledo – 107 points (1)
4. Kent State – 98 points
5. Akron – 95 points
6. Bowling Green – 93 points
7. Miami – 92 points
8. Ball State – 54 points
9. Western Michigan – 44 points
10. Central Michigan – 34 points
11. Eastern Michigan – 29 points
12. Northern Illinois – 21 points

MAC Tournament Champions:

• Buffalo (8)
• Bowling Green (1)
• Kent State (1)
• Miami (1)
• Toledo (1)

Two Bulls, Mballa and Williams, were named to the first team. I kind of think Ronaldo Segu got snubbed here. You can make a case he was not first team, but to not see him on the second team is weird.

Preseason All-MAC First Team

• Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
• Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
• Jeenathan Williams, Sr., F, Buffalo
• Ben Vander Plas, R-Sr., F, Ohio
• Ryan Rollins, So., G, Toledo

Preseason All-MAC Second Team

• K.J. Walton, Grad., G, Akron
• Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
• Dae Dae Grant, Jr., G, Miami
• Jason Carter 5th-Sr., F, Ohio
• B. Artis White, So., G, Western Michigan