This past season was successful for Kent State women’s and men’s basketball, as the men’s team tore through the MAC tournament en route to a berth in the NCAA tournament, while the women’s team increased their win total by 13 games from the 2015-2016 season, which was good for a MAC East title. 

Those accomplishments were recognized by coaches in the MAC, as both teams were ranked as second in the MAC East in their respective preseason coaches poll.

Men’s basketball 

The Kent State men’s basketball team earned 139 total points in the coaches poll to go along with two first place votes, marks that put them at second in the MAC East. Buffalo led the division with 166 points and 24 first place votes, while Ohio finished third in the ranking with 127 points and three first place votes. Akron was the only other team to earn a first place vote with one. 

Western Michigan led all MAC schools with 10 votes as MAC Champion, with Buffalo finishing a close second with nine. The Broncos finished as the first seed in the West Division, earning 169 points and 22 first place votes. 

Kent State earned two MAC Champion votes, which tied them for fourth with Toledo.

In addition, junior Jaylin Walker was named to the Preseason All-MAC East Team. Walker, who was named MVP of last year’s MAC tournament, is joined by Buffalo’s Nick Perkins and C.J. Massinburg, along with Ohio’s Jordan Dartis and Jason Carter. 

Western Michigan’s Thomas Wilder was named to the All-MAC West Team, the lone senior named to either team.

Women’s basketball

The women’s team was also predicted to finish second in the MAC East, and again was predicated to finish behind Buffalo. 

In total, the Flashes received 52 points and five first-place votes, while Buffalo received 69 points and 10 first-place votes. No other team in the East division received a first-place vote. 

Central Michigan was predicated to not only win the MAC West, but the Chippewas also received 10 regular season champion votes and nine tournament champion votes. 

Ball State, Buffalo and Western Michigan all received one tournament champion vote. 

Jordan Korinek was the Flashes’ lone representative on the preseason All-MAC East team, joining Bowling Green’s Carly Santoro, Buffalo’s Stephanie Reid, Miami (OH)’s Lauren Dickerson and Ohio’s Taylor Agler.  

Henry Palattella is the sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].