The MAC Announces Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll and Preseason Award Winners
10/21/2025 8:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND – The Kent State Men's Basketball team was picked third in the Mid-American Conference 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced earlier today.
Kent State senior Delrecco Gillespie was named to the to the preseason All-MAC First Team. The Golden Flashes forward appeared in 35 games making 20 starts, and averaged 8.1 points per game, and a roster leading 8.1 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season.
Kent State will open its 2025-26 season at home on Monday, Nov. 3 against the Troy University Trojans as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
2025-26 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 143Â
2. Miami (2) – 133Â
3. Kent State – 122Â
4. Ohio – 108Â
5. UMass – 98Â
6. Toledo – 95Â
7. Bowling Green – 73Â
8. Ball State – 62Â
9. Eastern Michigan – 52Â
10. Western Michigan – 46Â
11. Buffalo – 37Â
12. Central Michigan – 31Â
13. Northern Illinois – 14
Tournament Champion: Akron (8), Miami (2), Kent State (1), Ohio (1), UMass (1)
2025-26 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Tavari Johnson, Senior, Guard, Akron
Javontae Campbell, Senior, Guard, Bowling Green
Delrecco Gillespie, Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Senior, Guard, Miami
Jackson Paveletzke, Senior, Guard, Ohio
Second Team
Evan Mahaffey, Senior, Wing, Akron
Shamah Scott, Graduate Student, Guard, Akron
Daniel Haskins-Sanford, Senior, Forward, UMass
Eian Elmer, Junior, Wing, Miami
Javan Simmons, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Junior, Guard, Toledo
Full Interview with The Field of 68:
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