MAC Announces 2014-15 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Toledo Rockets & Akron Zips have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2014-15 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. The poll was announced prior to the league's preseason media teleconference and was determined by a 20-member MAC News Media Panel.



The Rockets also garnered 15 votes to win the MAC Men's Basketball Tournament. Ten of the league's top men's basketball players were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office.



Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is entering his fifth season and has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround since his arrival in 2010. Kowalczyk possesses a 65-61 record on the Rocket bench, including a 61-37 (.622) win-loss ledger over the last three seasons.



The Rockets return four starters from last year’s squad which set a school record with 27 victories, in addition to capturing its eighth Mid-American Conference title, appearing in its eighth National Invitation Tournament in program history and posting its first unbeaten (15-0) home record (fourth in school history) since the 1966-67 campaign.



Western Michigan followed Toledo in the preseason rankings in second, while Eastern Michigan was selected to finish third. Northern Illinois was picked to place fourth, while Central Michigan and Ball State rounded out the West Division selections. The Rockets garnered a total of 18 first place votes to win the division.



The Zips return four starters and nine letter-winners from last season's squad that posted a 21-13 overall record and a 12-6 mark in MAC play. UA posted 21 or more wins for a ninth-straight season, joining the likes of Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Over the last 10 seasons, the Zips have won 231 games, most by any team in the MAC and tied for 30th among all Division I programs.



The Zips were followed in the East Division preseason predictions by Ohio, while Kent State was selected to finish third and Buffalo fourth. Bowling Green was tabbed to finish fifth and Miami sixth to round out this year’s selections. Akron received 17 first place votes when it came to picking who would win the East crown.



The West Division preseason All-MAC representatives are Toledo's Julius “Juice” Brown and teammate Justin Drummond, Central Michigan’s Chris Fowler, Eastern Michigan’s Karrington Ward & 2013-14 MAC Player of the Year David Brown from Western Michigan.



The East Division All-MAC squad is comprised of Akron’s Demetrius “Tree” Treadwell, Bowling Green’s Richaun Holmes, Buffalo’s Will Regan, Kent State’s Kris Brewer & Ohio’s Maurice Ndour.



The MAC regular season gets underway on Friday, November 14 as five MAC programs take the hardwood. Conference action begins on Tuesday, January 6 as teams will start to fight for position in the MAC Men's Basketball Tournament that will take place on March 11-14 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

1. Akron – 117 points (17 1st Place)2. Ohio – 92 (2)3. Kent State – 664. Buffalo – 585. Bowling Green – 52 (1)6. Miami – 351. Toledo – 118 points (18 1st Place)2. Western Michigan – 94 (1)3. Eastern Michigan – 684. Northern Illinois – 635. Central Michigan – 49 (1)6. Ball State – 28Toledo (15), Akron (1), Bowling Green (1), Central Michigan (1), Ohio (1), Western Michigan (1)Demetrius “Tree” Treadwell, Sr., F, AkronRichaun Holmes, Sr., F, Bowling GreenWill Regan, Sr., F, BuffaloKris Brewer, Kent State, Sr., G, Kent StateMaurice Ndour, Sr., F, OhioChris Fowler, Jr., G, Central MichiganKarrington Ward, Sr., F, Eastern MichiganJulius “Juice” Brown, Sr., G, ToledoJustin Drummond, Sr., G/F, ToledoDavid Brown, Grad., G, Western Michigan