CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Miami RedHawks have been picked to repeat as Mid-American Conference regular season champions and claim their first MAC Tournament title since 2007 in the 2026-27 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. The RedHawks received nine first-place votes to win the regular season title and five votes to capture the MAC Tournament championship at Rocket Arena in March.

The Toledo Rockets were picked to finish second with 177 points and received four votes to win the MAC Tournament.

Akron (110 points), Kent State (108) and Ohio (82) rounded out the top five in this year’s preseason poll. UMass received two votes to win the MAC Tournament, while Kent State earned one vote to claim the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Ten of the league’s top men’s basketball players were also selected to the Preseason All-MAC First and Second Teams.

2026-27 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
First Place Votes (x)
1. Miami – 130 (9)
2. Toledo – 117 (2)
3. Akron – 110
4. Kent State – 108 (1)
5. Ohio – 82
6. UMass – 79
7. Bowling Green – 63
8. Western Michigan – 58
9. Eastern Michigan – 56
10. Buffalo – 47
11. Ball State – 40
12. Central Michigan – 25

Tournament Champions: Miami (5), Toledo (4), UMass (2), Kent State (1)

Preseason All-MAC First Team
Mohammad Habhab, Eastern Michigan, Forward, R-So.
Evan Ipsaro, Miami, Guard, Sr.
Javan Simmons, Ohio, Forward, R-Sr.
Luke Skaljac, Miami, Guard, Jr.,
Chansey Willis Jr., Kent State, Guard, Sr.

Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Sean Jones, Toledo, Guard, R-Sr.
Evan Mahaffey, Akron, Wing, 5th-Sr.
Austin Parks, Toledo, Center, Sr.
Jackson Paveletzke, Ohio, Guard, 5th-Sr.
Tahj Staveskie, Akron, Guard, R-Sr.