Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Released
10/21/2025 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eastern picked ninth of 13 schools
2025-26 Schedule | Tickets | Watch the Media Day Interview
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference standings in the 2025-26 season, as announced by the MAC Tuesday, Oct. 21, after polling the conference's 13 head coaches.
The Eagles (9th, 52 points) were placed ahead of in-state rivals Western Michigan (10th, 46 points) and Central Michigan (12th, 31 points) in the poll while Akron (1st, 143 points) received 11 of the 13 first-place votes as the predicted MAC champion.
Eastern, which features four returning players from the 2024-25 roster and nine players from the state of Michigan, did not have a player selected to the Preseason All-MAC Teams.
EMU is scheduled to open the regular season schedule with a home game against Georgia State University, Nov. 3. Fans can preview the 2025-26 Eagles in an exhibition game at Wayne State in Detroit, Mich., Oct. 30, as they take on Tuskegee University at 7:30 p.m.
Eastern finished tied for sixth in the 2024-25 season with a 9-9 mark in the MAC.
2025-26 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches'Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 143
2. Miami (2) – 133
3. Kent State – 122
4. Ohio – 108
5. UMass – 98
6. Toledo – 95
7. Bowling Green – 73
8. Ball State – 62
9. Eastern Michigan – 52
10. Western Michigan – 46
11. Buffalo – 37
12. Central Michigan – 31
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
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference standings in the 2025-26 season, as announced by the MAC Tuesday, Oct. 21, after polling the conference's 13 head coaches.
The Eagles (9th, 52 points) were placed ahead of in-state rivals Western Michigan (10th, 46 points) and Central Michigan (12th, 31 points) in the poll while Akron (1st, 143 points) received 11 of the 13 first-place votes as the predicted MAC champion.
Eastern, which features four returning players from the 2024-25 roster and nine players from the state of Michigan, did not have a player selected to the Preseason All-MAC Teams.
EMU is scheduled to open the regular season schedule with a home game against Georgia State University, Nov. 3. Fans can preview the 2025-26 Eagles in an exhibition game at Wayne State in Detroit, Mich., Oct. 30, as they take on Tuskegee University at 7:30 p.m.
Eastern finished tied for sixth in the 2024-25 season with a 9-9 mark in the MAC.
2025-26 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches'
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 143
2. Miami (2) – 133
3. Kent State – 122
4. Ohio – 108
5. UMass – 98
6. Toledo – 95
7. Bowling Green – 73
8. Ball State – 62
9. Eastern Michigan – 52
10. Western Michigan – 46
11. Buffalo – 37
12. Central Michigan – 31
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 Hankins-Sanford, Senior, Forward, UMass
Eian Elmer, Junior, Wing, Miami
Javan Simmons, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Junior, Guard, Toledo
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
Javan Simmons, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Junior, Guard, Toledo
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
2025-26 Field of 68 Men's Basketball Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tuesday, October 21
Men's Basketball Alumni Game All Call
Tuesday, October 21
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11