MAC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Poll is in

And the news is not promising for the Falcons, who were picked to finish last in the East.

Look, this is not a surprise.  In fact, we were not setting up for a very good year even if there hadn't been a coaching change.  The turmoil, loss of two additional players, shifts in recruited players and then the introduction of a new coach who has never been a head coach just made the problem worse.

Doesn't mean this is what will happen, but I think it is a reasonable pick based on what we know now.  BG lost 66% of its scoring from last year and 58% of its rebounds.  The Falcons return only six scholarship players, two of which are Garret Mayleben and JD Tisdale.

Now, there are 2 transfers, 3 true freshmen and 1 redshirt freshman being added to the mix, which is tough to predict.

Again, who knows.  But the smart money would be on last place.  For Falcon fans, I think this season is watching to see how Coach Huger develops the team, how the team improves over the year, and figuring out if the program is finally making progress toward competing for a MAC title.

2015-16 MAC East Division Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1. Akron – 132 points (17)
2. Kent State – 116 (5)
3. Ohio — 69
4. Buffalo – 64 (1)
5. Miami — 60
6. Bowling Green — 42

2015-16 MAC West Division Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1. Central Michigan — 138 points (23)
2. Toledo — 110
3. Western Michigan — 94
4. Eastern Michigan — 71
5. Northern Illinois — 37
6. Ball State — 33

Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (15), Akron (6), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1)

MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Pat Forsythe, Sr., C, Akron
Lamonte Bearden, So., G, Buffalo
Jimmy Hall, R-Jr., F, Kent State
Eric Washington, Sr., G, Miami
Antonio Campbell, Jr., F, Ohio

MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Chris Fowler, Sr., G, Central Michigan
John Simons, Sr., F, Central Michigan
Raven Lee, R-Jr., G, Eastern Michigan
Nathan Boothe, Sr., C, Toledo
Connar Tava, Sr., F, Western Michigan