MAC Preseason Polls Released: Toledo, Akron on Top

The Mid-American Conference released their first poll for the 2014-2015 basketball season, with the Toledo Rockets chose as the preseason favorite to represent the MAC in the NCAA Tournament next March.  The Rockets were selected to win the West, while the Akron Zips are predicted to win the East.

The Western Michigan Broncos, last year's MAC team in the NCAA Tournament, were picked to finish second in the West, which is where WMU finished last season behind Toledo.  Last year's Eastern Division champions, the Buffalo Bulls, sit fourth.

The poll, which is composed of votes from twenty media members around the MAC, also featured the preseason All-MAC teams for each division.  Toledo landed two spots in the West team, senior guard Julius Brown and senior G/F Justin Drummond.  Akron forward Demetrius Treadwell headlines the East squad.

The full poll results and All-MAC teams are below.

East Division (in predicted order of finish)

1. Akron - 117 points (17 first place votes)
2. Ohio - 92 (2)
3. Kent State - 66
4. Buffalo - 58
5. Bowling Green - 52 (1 - wut?)
6. Miami - 35

West Division (in predicted order of finish)

1. Toledo - 118 points (18 first place votes)
2. Western Michigan - 94 (1)
3. Eastern Michigan - 68
4. Northern Illinois - 63
5. Central Michigan - 49 (1 - ahhhhhhhhhhahahahahaha)
6. Ball State - 28

MAC Tournament Champion: Toledo (15 votes); Akron (1); Ohio (1); Western Michigan (1); Bowling Green (1)*; Central Michigan (1)*

All-MAC Preseason Team - East Division

Demetrius Treadwell - F, Akron
Richaun Holmes - F, Bowling Green
Will Regan - F, Buffalo
Kris Brewer - G, Kent State
Maurice Ndour - F, Ohio

All-MAC Preseason Team - West Division

Chris Fowler Jr. - G, Central Michigan
Karrington Ward - F, Eastern Michigan
Julius Brown - G, Toledo
Justin Drummond - G/F, Toledo
David Brown - G, Western Michigan

The season tips off November 14th.

*-oh, sweet Jesus... why must you forsake me?