Men's Hoops Tabbed Second; Walker Named Preseason All-MAC
10/26/2017 11:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND – The Kent State University men's basketball team has been selected second in the East Division in the 2017-18 Mid-American Conference preseason poll, as announced Thursday. In addition, Jaylin Walker has been selected to the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team.
Kent State received two first place votes in a division that is tight at the top. Four teams in the east received first place votes, with Buffalo picked to win the division by a 27 point margin. In addition, the Golden Flashes received two votes in the MAC Tournament Champion poll. Western Michigan, slated to win the West Division, was predicted as the MAC Tournament Champions.
The Flashes return seven players from last year's MAC Tournament Championship team, including three starters in Walker, Jalen Avery and Mitch Peterson. Adonis De La Rosa and Danny Pippen are the returners in the front court, while seniors Kevin Zabo and Desmond Ridenour provide depth in the backcourt.
The core of last year's team assure an exciting product for Kent State fans on the court. Last year's team set the all-time record for total points scored in a season at 2,772. They also took a record 803 3-point attempts, 110 more than ever before.
Walker earns his first Preseason All-MAC nod after a breakout performance late last season, helping the Flashes finish the last 11 games at 9-2. Walker was named MAC Tournament MVP for hitting the game-winning floater to beat Ohio and scoring a career-high 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting in the championship game against Akron.
During the season, Walker was Kent State's second leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. He shot 40 percent from the floor and made 88 3-pointers throughout the season. He was efficient at the free throw line, shooting 78 percent.
Kent State will open the season Nov. 11 against Youngstown State in the Northeast Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer Doubleheader, hosted by Akron.
MAC East Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Buffalo – 166 points (24)
2. Kent State – 139 points (2)
3. Ohio – 127 points (3)
4. Akron – 84 points (1)
5. Bowling Green – 82 points
6. Miami – 32 points
MAC West Division MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Western Michigan – 169 points (22)
2. Ball State – 156 points (8)
3. Toledo – 107 points
4. Eastern Michigan – 103 points
5. Northern Illinois – 57 points
6. Central Michigan – 38 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Western Michigan (10), Buffalo (9), Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1)
MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
C.J. Massinburg, Buffalo, Jr., Guard
Nick Perkins, Buffalo, Jr., Forward
Jaylin Walker, Kent State, Jr., Guard
Jordan Dartis, Ohio, Jr., Guard
Jason Carter, Ohio, So., Forward
MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan, Jr., Forward/Center
Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan, Sr., Guard
Tayler Persons, Ball State, Jr., Guard
Jaelan Sanford, Toledo, Jr., Guard
Eugene German, Northern Illinois, So., Guard
