Both Kent State men’s and women’s basketball have the chance to advance to the NCAA tournament this season.

But according to the Mid-American Conference preseason polls, only the women’s team was picked to place second in the MAC East Division.

The men were voted in a tie for third place with Miami.

“We’ll answer when the games are played,” said Kent State coach Jim Christian. “We put a lot of stock in how we see our team.”

Picked to win the MAC East for the men is Ohio, the defending MAC champions.

“We just have to defeat the defending champs,” Christian said. “Everybody else has things to prove.”

Christian said that the team’s success will be on the shoulders of its seniors.

One of those seniors, forward Kevin Warzynski, was selected for the 2005-2006 Preseason All-MAC East Division team.

Warzynski said he is looking forward to his final season at Kent State.

“We’re expected to win as a group,” Warzynski said. “anything less wouldn’t be a successful season.”

-Kali Price