Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men’s Hoops Picked Eighth in MAC Preseason Poll
11/19/2020 9:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Green and White look to begin its 2020-21 season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was selected to finish eighth in the Mid-American Conference as the league office announced its 2020-21 preseason coaches' poll today, Nov. 19.
This year will be different as the conference will return to its original state with no divisions. For the MAC Tournament, only the top-eight teams will advance to the Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bowling Green emerged as the favorite to win the conference, as it received eight first-place votes and totaled 132 points. Followed behind the Falcons was Ohio, which received one first-place vote and accumulated 117 points. Akron, the reigning outright MAC Champions, came in third with 115 points and two-first place votes. Rounding out the top-six teams were Buffalo (109), Ball State (104), and Toledo (93).
Kent State was tabbed at seventh with 65 points. Eastern Michigan followed who tallied 57 points, while Miami was picked ninth with 48 points. Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan round out the league with 43, 40, and 13 points, respectively.
The Falcons were also picked as the favorite to capture the MAC Tournament title, collecting four championship votes, while Akron notched two. The Eagles received one championship vote along with Ball State, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami, and Toledo.
The Green and White look to open their 2020-21 season in late November, but will host the Toledo Rockets on Dec. 4 inside the Convocation Center at 7 p.m. to begin #MACtion.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 schedule is subject to change at any time.
In accordance with Eastern Michigan University guidelines, there will be no general admittance fans allowed at EMU men's basketball home games in 2020. EMU will continue to monitor the situations revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the season and will provide updates on any changes to the attendance policy that may be made via EMUEagles.com
For more information on Eastern Michigan men's basketball, follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
2020-21 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Bowling Green (8) – 132 points
2. Ohio (1) – 117 points
3. Akron (2) – 115 points
4. Buffalo – 109 points
5. Ball State – 104 points
6. Toledo (1) – 93 points
7. Kent State – 65 points
8. Eastern Michigan – 57 points
9. Miami – 48 points
10. Northern Illinois – 43 points
11. Central Michigan – 40 points
12. Western Michigan – 13 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (4), Akron (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Eastern Michigan (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Loren Cristian Jackson, Senior, G, Akron
Justin Turner, Grad, G, Bowling Green
Jayvon Graves, Senior, G, Buffalo
Jason Preston, Junior, G, Ohio
Marreon Jackson, Senior, G, Toledo
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Ishmael El-Amin, Senior, G, Ball State
Daeqwon Plowden, Senior, F, Bowling Green
Josh Mballa, Junior, F, Buffalo
Danny Pippen, Senior, F, Kent State
Ben Vander Plas, R-Junior, F, Ohio
This year will be different as the conference will return to its original state with no divisions. For the MAC Tournament, only the top-eight teams will advance to the Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bowling Green emerged as the favorite to win the conference, as it received eight first-place votes and totaled 132 points. Followed behind the Falcons was Ohio, which received one first-place vote and accumulated 117 points. Akron, the reigning outright MAC Champions, came in third with 115 points and two-first place votes. Rounding out the top-six teams were Buffalo (109), Ball State (104), and Toledo (93).
Kent State was tabbed at seventh with 65 points. Eastern Michigan followed who tallied 57 points, while Miami was picked ninth with 48 points. Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan round out the league with 43, 40, and 13 points, respectively.
The Falcons were also picked as the favorite to capture the MAC Tournament title, collecting four championship votes, while Akron notched two. The Eagles received one championship vote along with Ball State, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami, and Toledo.
The Green and White look to open their 2020-21 season in late November, but will host the Toledo Rockets on Dec. 4 inside the Convocation Center at 7 p.m. to begin #MACtion.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 schedule is subject to change at any time.
In accordance with Eastern Michigan University guidelines, there will be no general admittance fans allowed at EMU men's basketball home games in 2020. EMU will continue to monitor the situations revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the season and will provide updates on any changes to the attendance policy that may be made via EMUEagles.com
For more information on Eastern Michigan men's basketball, follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
2020-21 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Bowling Green (8) – 132 points
2. Ohio (1) – 117 points
3. Akron (2) – 115 points
4. Buffalo – 109 points
5. Ball State – 104 points
6. Toledo (1) – 93 points
7. Kent State – 65 points
8. Eastern Michigan – 57 points
9. Miami – 48 points
10. Northern Illinois – 43 points
11. Central Michigan – 40 points
12. Western Michigan – 13 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (4), Akron (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Eastern Michigan (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Loren Cristian Jackson, Senior, G, Akron
Justin Turner, Grad, G, Bowling Green
Jayvon Graves, Senior, G, Buffalo
Jason Preston, Junior, G, Ohio
Marreon Jackson, Senior, G, Toledo
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Ishmael El-Amin, Senior, G, Ball State
Daeqwon Plowden, Senior, F, Bowling Green
Josh Mballa, Junior, F, Buffalo
Danny Pippen, Senior, F, Kent State
Ben Vander Plas, R-Junior, F, Ohio
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