TOLEDO, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference released its annual men's basketball preseason poll on Wednesday morning and defending champion Toledo has been picked to finish second, according to voting from the league's 12 head coaches. In addition to the team predictions, senior forwards JT Shumate and Setric Millner Jr. were named to the Preseason All-MAC First and Second Team squads, respectively.
 
The top three teams in the poll were separated by just eight points in the voting. The Rockets received 131 points, four points behind Kent State and four ahead of defending MAC Tournament champion Akron. Toledo and the Golden Flashes each received a league-best four votes to capture the MAC Tournament title at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on March 9-11.



Toledo returns four starters from last year's 26-8 squad. Millner (15.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Shumate (15.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will lead the Rockets' front court, while junior RayJ Dennis (12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg) and sophomore Ra'Heim Moss (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) are returning starters in the backcourt. The Rockets also have added three transfers with guards Tyler Cochran (Ball State) and Dante Maddox (Cal. State Fullerton) as well as forward Andre Lorentsson (Saint Louis).
 
Toledo's regular season begins when it hosts Valparaiso on Monday, Nov. 7. The Rockets open MAC play on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when it hosts Ball State at 7:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.

Season and individual game tickets for the men's basketball program are on sale now.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at the Sullivan Athletic Complex in Savage Arena, contact the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or go online to UTRockets.com/tix.

2022-23 MAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1. Kent State – 135 points (6 first place votes)
2. Toledo – 131 points (4)
3. Akron – 127 points (2)
4. Ball State – 94 points
5. Ohio – 91 points
6. Buffalo – 82 points
7. Eastern Michigan – 68 points
8. Western Michigan – 66 points
9. Bowling Green – 42 points
10. Central Michigan – 38 points
11. Miami – 36 points
12. Northern Illinois – 26 points

MAC Tournament Champions:  Toledo (4), Kent State (4), Akron (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)
 
Preseason All-MAC First Team
JT Shumate, Sr., F, Toledo
Enrique Freeman, Jr., F, Akron
Payton Sparks, So, C, Ball State
Sincere Carry, Sr., G, Kent State
Lamar Norman Jr., G, Western Michigan

Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Setric Millner Jr., Sr., F, Toledo
Xavier Castaneda, G, Akron, Sr.
Kevin Miller, So., G, Central Michigan
Emoni Bates, So., F, Eastern Michigan
Malique Jacobs, Sr., G, Kent State