Eastern Michigan Athletics
Bates Named Preseason All-MAC Second Team
10/26/2022 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles selected to finish seventh in the league according to vote of MAC coaches
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Mid-American Conference announced its 2022-23 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-MAC Team selections today, Oct. 26, with Eastern Michigan University voted to finish seventh overall in a poll of the league coaches. Additionally, newcomer Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) was voted to the All-MAC Second Team.
Bates, who joined the program this summer following his freshman season at the University of Memphis, is the only preseason All-MAC selection that did not play in the conference last year. A 2021-22 Preseason American Athletic Conference Second Team selection with the Tigers, Bates was a consensus top five, five-star recruit that reclassified to the Class of 2021 and enrolled at Memphis, where he averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. During his prep days, Bates was the 2019 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year and followed that with the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Since the conference went away from east and west voting ahead of the 2020-21 season, Bates is the first Eagle to earn preseason recognition. Prior to his accolade, both James Thompson IV and Elijah Minnie earned placement on the All-MAC West Team ahead of the 2018-19 season.
In the team voting, second-year Head Coach Stan Heath's team received 68 points to place seventh on the ladder with Kent State University leading the way with 135 points and six first-place votes. The voting was close among the top three with the University of Toledo earning four first-place votes and 131 points total - just four behind KSU - while the University of Akron received 127 points and two first-place votes for third. Ball State University (94), Ohio University (91), and the University at Buffalo (82) rounded out the top six ahead of the Eagles. The remaining votes ranked Western Michigan University (66) eighth, Bowling Green State University (42) ninth, Central Michigan University (38) 10th, Miami University (36) 11th, and Northern Illinois University (26) 12th.
The coaches also were asked to select which team would win the 2023 MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, and five teams each earned at least one vote. KSU was selected four times, Toledo three, and Akron twice, while Eastern and Western both earned one vote to win the conference tournament.
TICKETS
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2022-23 men's and women's basketball campaigns with each purchase gaining entrance to both men's and women's games inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Reserved seating is limited and fans are encouraged to call the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 to reserve seats as soon as possible. Non-conference single-game tickets and group tickets for all games are currently on sale.
NEXT UP
The Eagles will play their lone exhibition game Thursday, Oct. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Grand Valley State University coming to town for a 7 p.m. tip. The game is free to attend.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
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
MAC Tournament Champion Votes: Kent State (4), Toledo (3), Akron (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)
2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Enrique Freeman, F, Akron, Jr.
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State, So.
Sincere Carry, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
JT Shumate, F, Toledo, Sr.
Lamar Norman Jr., G, Western Michigan, Sr.
Second Team
Xavier Castaneda, G, Akron, Sr.
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan, So.
Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan, So.
Malique Jacobs, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
Setric Millner Jr., F, Toledo, Sr.
Bates, who joined the program this summer following his freshman season at the University of Memphis, is the only preseason All-MAC selection that did not play in the conference last year. A 2021-22 Preseason American Athletic Conference Second Team selection with the Tigers, Bates was a consensus top five, five-star recruit that reclassified to the Class of 2021 and enrolled at Memphis, where he averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. During his prep days, Bates was the 2019 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year and followed that with the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Since the conference went away from east and west voting ahead of the 2020-21 season, Bates is the first Eagle to earn preseason recognition. Prior to his accolade, both James Thompson IV and Elijah Minnie earned placement on the All-MAC West Team ahead of the 2018-19 season.
In the team voting, second-year Head Coach Stan Heath's team received 68 points to place seventh on the ladder with Kent State University leading the way with 135 points and six first-place votes. The voting was close among the top three with the University of Toledo earning four first-place votes and 131 points total - just four behind KSU - while the University of Akron received 127 points and two first-place votes for third. Ball State University (94), Ohio University (91), and the University at Buffalo (82) rounded out the top six ahead of the Eagles. The remaining votes ranked Western Michigan University (66) eighth, Bowling Green State University (42) ninth, Central Michigan University (38) 10th, Miami University (36) 11th, and Northern Illinois University (26) 12th.
The coaches also were asked to select which team would win the 2023 MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, and five teams each earned at least one vote. KSU was selected four times, Toledo three, and Akron twice, while Eastern and Western both earned one vote to win the conference tournament.
TICKETS
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2022-23 men's and women's basketball campaigns with each purchase gaining entrance to both men's and women's games inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Reserved seating is limited and fans are encouraged to call the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 to reserve seats as soon as possible. Non-conference single-game tickets and group tickets for all games are currently on sale.
NEXT UP
The Eagles will play their lone exhibition game Thursday, Oct. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Grand Valley State University coming to town for a 7 p.m. tip. The game is free to attend.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
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
MAC Tournament Champion Votes: Kent State (4), Toledo (3), Akron (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)
2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Enrique Freeman, F, Akron, Jr.
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State, So.
Sincere Carry, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
JT Shumate, F, Toledo, Sr.
Lamar Norman Jr., G, Western Michigan, Sr.
Second Team
Xavier Castaneda, G, Akron, Sr.
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan, So.
Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan, So.
Malique Jacobs, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
Setric Millner Jr., F, Toledo, Sr.
Players Mentioned
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