Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Releases 2021-22 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
11/3/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The poll, determined by a vote of the league’s 12 coaches, placed EMU at No. 11
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was selected 11th overall in the Mid-American Conference's preseason coaches poll, released today, Nov. 3.
The league's head coaches take part in the poll, with each providing their predicted order of finishing and 10 All-MAC player selections to the conference office. The results are then compiled into a point-based system to determine the final rankings.
Buffalo emerged as this year's favorite to win the conference, earning 143 total points in the poll, including 11 first place votes. Ohio, the MAC's 2021 tournament champion and representative in the NCAA Tournament, was picked second with 126 total points. Toledo (107, 1 first place vote), Kent State (98), and Akron (95) rounded out the top-five.
Eastern Michigan (29) was picked 11th, falling below No. 6 Bowling Green (93), Miami (92), Ball State (54) and Western Michigan (44). Northern Illinois was the final selection, earning 21 points.
The Bulls earned more recognition as they were also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Tournament, which will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, March 10-12. The MAC East representative and 2021 tournament runner-up secured eight championship votes. Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami, and Toledo each also received one vote in the tournament champion polling.
No EMU student-athletes were named to the preseason all-conference teams.
Eastern Michigan will officially kick off the 2021-22 season Tuesday, Nov. 9, when the Eagles travel to Bloomington, Ind. for a battle with the Big Ten's Indiana University. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Fans will be able to hear the game on the EMU Athletics or Varsity Network apps, available for free on both Google and Apple devices.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
Full 2021-22 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Buffalo – 143 points (11 first place votes)
Ohio – 126 points
Toledo – 107 points (1)
Kent State – 98 points
Akron – 95 points
Bowling Green – 93 points
Miami – 92 points
Ball State – 54 points
Western Michigan – 44 points
Central Michigan – 34 points
Eastern Michigan – 29 points
Northern Illinois – 21 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Buffalo (8), Bowling Green (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)
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
The league's head coaches take part in the poll, with each providing their predicted order of finishing and 10 All-MAC player selections to the conference office. The results are then compiled into a point-based system to determine the final rankings.
Buffalo emerged as this year's favorite to win the conference, earning 143 total points in the poll, including 11 first place votes. Ohio, the MAC's 2021 tournament champion and representative in the NCAA Tournament, was picked second with 126 total points. Toledo (107, 1 first place vote), Kent State (98), and Akron (95) rounded out the top-five.
Eastern Michigan (29) was picked 11th, falling below No. 6 Bowling Green (93), Miami (92), Ball State (54) and Western Michigan (44). Northern Illinois was the final selection, earning 21 points.
The Bulls earned more recognition as they were also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Tournament, which will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, March 10-12. The MAC East representative and 2021 tournament runner-up secured eight championship votes. Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami, and Toledo each also received one vote in the tournament champion polling.
No EMU student-athletes were named to the preseason all-conference teams.
Eastern Michigan will officially kick off the 2021-22 season Tuesday, Nov. 9, when the Eagles travel to Bloomington, Ind. for a battle with the Big Ten's Indiana University. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Fans will be able to hear the game on the EMU Athletics or Varsity Network apps, available for free on both Google and Apple devices.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
Full 2021-22 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Buffalo – 143 points (11 first place votes)
Ohio – 126 points
Toledo – 107 points (1)
Kent State – 98 points
Akron – 95 points
Bowling Green – 93 points
Miami – 92 points
Ball State – 54 points
Western Michigan – 44 points
Central Michigan – 34 points
Eastern Michigan – 29 points
Northern Illinois – 21 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Buffalo (8), Bowling Green (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)
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
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