Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
MAC Men's Hoops Announces 2017-18 Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams
10/26/2017 10:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior forward James Thompson IV named All-MAC West Division Team
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - After receiving votes from the conference's 12 head coaches and a 18-member media panel, the Mid-American Conference announced Thursday, Oct. 26, that the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the MAC West Division for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign. The Eagles received 103 total points, which was just four points behind third place. In addition, EMU junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) was named to the preseason All-MAC West Division Team.
Leading the MAC West Division was Western Michigan, who garnered 169 total points and 22 first-place votes. Ball State was the only other team to receive first place votes in the West, collecting eight and finishing with 156 total points. Toledo landed in a distant third at 107 points, with Eastern close behind at 103. Northern Illinois and Central Michigan rounded out the West Division with 57 and 38 points respectively.
On the other side of the conference, Buffalo was selected as the favorite in the MAC East with 166 points, but Kent State did not trail by much, racking up 139 points in the poll. Ohio was selected third with 127 points, followed by Akron (84), Bowling Green (82) and Miami (32). Despite being selected third in the division, Ohio earned more first place votes on the East side of the preseason poll than second place Kent State.
In addition to being named the favorite in the West, Western Michigan earned the most votes as the predicted 2017 MAC Tournament Champion with 10. Buffalo was next in line with 9, followed by Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), and Miami (1).
Following another standout season where he was named All-MAC Second Team, Thompson was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team for the second straight season. The 6-foot-10 front court member built on his MAC Freshman of the Year campaign of 2015-16 by averaging 14.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in 2016-17. Thompson is already tied for third in EMU history with 39 career double-doubles, and is climibing up the ranks in rebounds and scoring as well. The Baton Rouge, La. native currently sits in 9th place all-time with 710 rebounds and needs just 36 points to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau. Thompson also earned Academic All-MAC status and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 14 Second Team.
In addition to Thompson, the Eagles have valuable experience to its lineup for the 2017-18 season. Senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) returns to the lineup after posting 9.1 points per contest and earning a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team for the second straight season. As a junior, Bond led the Mid-American Conference with 2.1 steals per game and 69 total swipes, an EMU record for total steals in a season, while also leading the Eagles in assists per game. Additionally, redshirt junior Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) returns to the court after making 11 starts for the Eagles a season ago. He averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the 2016-17 campaign.
The Green and White open up the 2017-18 slate Friday, Nov. 10, when it welcomes Spring Arbor to the Convocation Center for the first game in NCAA Division I basketball at 10:30 a.m. That game will be the first of 16 regular season home games for the Eagles in 2017-18.
Eastern begins the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule Tuesday, Jan. 2, when the Eagles travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State. With all 12 teams participating in the MAC Tournament, the postseason opens with first round games Monday, March 5, at campus sites. The final three rounds of the tournament will be played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 8-10.
Eastern Michigan men's and women's basketball tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282, or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
2017-18 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Buffalo (24 first place votes) – 166 points
2. Kent State (2) – 139 points
3. Ohio (3) – 127 points
4. Akron (1) – 84 points
5. Bowling Green – 82 points
6. Miami – 32 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Western Michigan (22 first place votes) – 169 points
2. Ball State (8) – 156 points
3. Toledo – 107 points
4. Eastern Michigan – 103 points
5. Northern Illinois – 57 points
6. Central Michigan – 38 points
2018 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Western Michigan (10), Buffalo (9), Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
C.J. Massinburg, Jr., G, Buffalo
Nick Perkins, Jr., F, Buffalo
Jaylin Walker, Jr., G, Kent State
Jordan Dartis, Jr., G, Ohio
Jason Carter, So., F, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
James Thompson IV, So., F/C, Eastern Michigan
Thomas Wilder, Sr., G, Western Michigan
Tayler Persons, Jr., G, Ball State
Jaelan Sanford, Jr., G, Toledo
Eugene German, So., G, Northern Illinois
Leading the MAC West Division was Western Michigan, who garnered 169 total points and 22 first-place votes. Ball State was the only other team to receive first place votes in the West, collecting eight and finishing with 156 total points. Toledo landed in a distant third at 107 points, with Eastern close behind at 103. Northern Illinois and Central Michigan rounded out the West Division with 57 and 38 points respectively.
On the other side of the conference, Buffalo was selected as the favorite in the MAC East with 166 points, but Kent State did not trail by much, racking up 139 points in the poll. Ohio was selected third with 127 points, followed by Akron (84), Bowling Green (82) and Miami (32). Despite being selected third in the division, Ohio earned more first place votes on the East side of the preseason poll than second place Kent State.
In addition to being named the favorite in the West, Western Michigan earned the most votes as the predicted 2017 MAC Tournament Champion with 10. Buffalo was next in line with 9, followed by Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), and Miami (1).
Following another standout season where he was named All-MAC Second Team, Thompson was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team for the second straight season. The 6-foot-10 front court member built on his MAC Freshman of the Year campaign of 2015-16 by averaging 14.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in 2016-17. Thompson is already tied for third in EMU history with 39 career double-doubles, and is climibing up the ranks in rebounds and scoring as well. The Baton Rouge, La. native currently sits in 9th place all-time with 710 rebounds and needs just 36 points to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau. Thompson also earned Academic All-MAC status and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 14 Second Team.
In addition to Thompson, the Eagles have valuable experience to its lineup for the 2017-18 season. Senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) returns to the lineup after posting 9.1 points per contest and earning a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team for the second straight season. As a junior, Bond led the Mid-American Conference with 2.1 steals per game and 69 total swipes, an EMU record for total steals in a season, while also leading the Eagles in assists per game. Additionally, redshirt junior Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) returns to the court after making 11 starts for the Eagles a season ago. He averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the 2016-17 campaign.
The Green and White open up the 2017-18 slate Friday, Nov. 10, when it welcomes Spring Arbor to the Convocation Center for the first game in NCAA Division I basketball at 10:30 a.m. That game will be the first of 16 regular season home games for the Eagles in 2017-18.
Eastern begins the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule Tuesday, Jan. 2, when the Eagles travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State. With all 12 teams participating in the MAC Tournament, the postseason opens with first round games Monday, March 5, at campus sites. The final three rounds of the tournament will be played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 8-10.
Eastern Michigan men's and women's basketball tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282, or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
2017-18 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Buffalo (24 first place votes) – 166 points
2. Kent State (2) – 139 points
3. Ohio (3) – 127 points
4. Akron (1) – 84 points
5. Bowling Green – 82 points
6. Miami – 32 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Western Michigan (22 first place votes) – 169 points
2. Ball State (8) – 156 points
3. Toledo – 107 points
4. Eastern Michigan – 103 points
5. Northern Illinois – 57 points
6. Central Michigan – 38 points
2018 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Western Michigan (10), Buffalo (9), Ball State (5), Kent State (2), Toledo (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
C.J. Massinburg, Jr., G, Buffalo
Nick Perkins, Jr., F, Buffalo
Jaylin Walker, Jr., G, Kent State
Jordan Dartis, Jr., G, Ohio
Jason Carter, So., F, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
James Thompson IV, So., F/C, Eastern Michigan
Thomas Wilder, Sr., G, Western Michigan
Tayler Persons, Jr., G, Ball State
Jaelan Sanford, Jr., G, Toledo
Eugene German, So., G, Northern Illinois
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