2024-25 MAC Basketball Preview

Conference Preview

Join us for our 2024-25 MAC Basketball Preview, where we dive into an exciting mid-major conference filled with talent. Last season’s conference tournament ended in heartbreak for the Kent State Golden Flashes, who lost after Julius Rollins fouled Akron’s Greg Tribble in a lapse of concentration, allowing Akron to clinch the win. Watching the emotions following that moment speaks to the emotion involved in college basketball. This season promises fierce competition and ignited rivalries as teams strive for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Ohio tops the field this year, returning two impact starters, AJ Clayton and Shereef Mitchell, both capable of winning Player of the Year. Additionally, they’ve landed one of the best transfers in the conference with Iowa State’s Jackson Paveletzke, who is expected to be a key contributor.

Last year’s runners-up, Kent State, received great news when Jaden Sullinger withdrew his commitment from Furman to rejoin the Golden Flashes. Pairing him with new point guard Cian Medley, a Saint Louis transfer, and last year’s redshirt guard Morgan Safford gives them one of the top backcourt trios in the conference.

Last year’s champions, Akron, lost NBA Draft pick and star Enrique Freeman but dug into the transfer portal to acquire a group of Power 5 transfers looking for expanded roles and more playing time. How well these players can adjust to full-time starting roles will be key for the Zips this season.

Since 2021, Toledo has been the regular season conference champion but has not won a Conference Tournament in four seasons. This year, they hope to reverse this trend, bringing back star Javan Simmons and a group of intra-conference transfers with experience in starting and scoring.

Ball State will introduce an almost entirely new projected starting lineup made up of transfers, including Indiana transfer Payton Sparks, who returns to the fold. The offensive profile is promising for the Cardinals, but the question remains: can they combine their acquired talent into a cohesive unit?

Bowling Green has added Division II star Marcus Johnson to pair with a group of returning starters and high-major transfer Youssef Khayat, who is seeking a breakout season. Miami Ohio features one of the biggest X-factors in the conference in Xavier transfer Kam Craft, who redshirted last season due to injury. His development as a starter will be critical, as he has the potential to be one of the best players in the conference.

Eastern Michigan brings in two impact transfers from DePaul—power forward Da’Sean Nelson and point guard Jaylen Terry—who could become top performers in the conference. However, the depth of the rest of the team remains a concern. Central Michigan returns the only member of last season’s All-MAC First Team, point guard Anthony Pritchard, a star on defense. The question for the Chippewas is whether the talent acquired in the transfer portal can complement Pritchard.

Western Michigan boasts a team of solid contributors but will look for a breakout star to emerge among them. Northern Illinois may have the best freshman in the conference in Terry Copeland Jr., a three-star recruit with high-major offers, who should contribute immediately at the five spot. Finally, Buffalo endured a tough season last year, and challenges may continue as the team seeks both returners and transfers to take on bigger roles.

The MAC will be an exciting conference to watch, with the rivalries between the Ohio and Michigan teams always at the center of the action. As you dive into our 2024-25 MAC Basketball Preview, get ready for thrilling matchups that will excite fans throughout the season.

MAC Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Ohio
2. Kent State
3. Akron
4. Toledo
5. Ball State
6. Bowling Green
7. Miami (OH)
8. Eastern Michigan
9. Central Michigan
10. Western Michigan
11. Northern Illinois
12. Buffalo

MAC Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: AJ Clayton, Ohio

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Pritchard, Central Michigan

Newcomer of the Year: Jackson Paveletzke, Ohio

Freshman of the Year: Terry Copeland, Jr., Northern Illinois

Coach of the Year: Jeff Boals, Ohio

MAAC Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Shereef Mitchell, Ohio

Anthony Pritchard, Central Michigan

Jackson Paveletzke, Ohio

Javan Simmons, Toledo

AJ Clayton, Ohio

Akron Zips

Projected Starters:

PG: Isaiah Gray (9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.2 apg @ Cornell)

SG: Seth Wilson (3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.9 apg @ West Virginia)

SF: Nate Johnson (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)

PF: Josiah Harris (5.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.7 apg @ West Virginia)

C: James Okonkwo (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg @ North Carolina)

6M: Bowen Hardman (1.8 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Ohio State)

Ball State Cardinals

Projected Starters:

PG: Juanse Gorosito (8.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg @ Portland)

SG: Jermahri Hill (14.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg @ JUCO South Plains)

SF: Jeremiah Hernandez (17.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg @ Southern Indiana)

PF: Mickey Pearson, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

C: Payton Sparks (2.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Indiana)

6M: Joey Hart (0.4 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Kentucky)

Bowling Green Falcons

Projected Starters:

PG: Trey Thomas (11.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)

SG: Derrick Butler (10.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Central Michigan)

SF: Youssef Khayat (1.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.1 apg @ Michigan)

PF: Marcus Johnson (21.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.1 apg @ D2 Wheeling)

C: Sam Towns (6.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Javontae Campbell (26.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.9 apg @ JUCO Northern Oklahoma)

Buffalo Bulls

Projected Starters:

PG: Tyson Dunn (15.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.4 apg @ Western University (Canada))

SG: Ryan Sabol (8.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)

SF: Anquan Boldin, Jr. (7.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)

PF: Noah Batchelor (1.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Maryland)

C: Frederiks Meinarts (FR)

6M: Bryson Wilson (2.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)

Central Michigan Chippewas

Projected Starters:

PG: Anthony Pritchard (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg)

SG: Cayden Vasko (4.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)

SF: Jakobi Heady (15.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Bethune-Cookman)

PF: Bryan Ndjonga (3.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.4 apg @ Cal State Northridge)

C: Armani Mighty (0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Boston College)

6M: Ugnius Jarusevicius (5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Cal State Bakersfield)

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Projected Starters:

PG: Jaylen Terry (8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg @ DePaul)

SG: Christian Henry (13.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.9 apg @ JUCO Panola)

SF: Arne Osojnik (8.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 apg)

PF: Da’Sean Nelson (9.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.9 apg @ DePaul)

C: Jalin Billingsley (7.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Trey Pettigrew (1 Game @ Bradley: 2023-24) /

(3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Nevada) 2022-2023 Stats

Kent State Golden Flashes

Projected Starters:

PG: Cian Medley (4.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.9 apg @ Saint Louis)

SG: Jalen Sullinger (15.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.4 apg)

SF: Morgan Safford (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.4 apg @ Miami Ohio) 2022-2023 Stats

PF: VonCameron Davis (13.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)

C: Cli’Ron Hornbeak (6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.3 apg)

6M: Marquis Barnett (14.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg @ Presbyterian)

Miami (OH) RedHawks

Projected Starters:

PG: Mekhi Connor (6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)

SG: Peter Suder (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg @ Bellarmine)

SF: Kam Craft (2.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Xavier) 2022-2023 Stats

PF: Eian Elmer (7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.5 apg)

C: Antwone Woolfolk (3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.5 apg @ Rutgers)

6M: Evan Ipsaro (6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Northern Illinois Huskies

Projected Starters:

PG: Dominic Gooden (26.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.6 apg @ JUCO Hillsborough CC)

SG: Quaran McPherson (4.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.3 apg)

SF: Quentin Jones (9.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Cal Poly)

PF: Ethan Butler (3.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg)

C: Terry Copeland, Jr. (FR)

6M: Joe Munden, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg @ FDU)

Ohio Bobcats

Projected Starters:

PG: Shereef Mitchell (13.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.4 apg)

SG: Jackson Paveletzke (3.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg @ Iowa State)

SF: AJ Brown (9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 apg)

PF: Aidan Hadaway (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)

C: AJ Clayton (12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Elmore James (7.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Toledo Rockets

Projected Starters:

PG: Sonny Wilson (8.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)

SG: Seth Hubbard (14.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 apg @ Western Michigan)

SF: Isaiah Adams (12.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg @ Buffalo)

PF: Andre Lorentsson (5.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.4 apg)

C: Javan Simmons (12.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)

6M: Sam Lewis (3.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Western Michigan Broncos

Projected Starters:

PG: Chansey Willis, Jr. (20.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 7.0 apg @ JUCO Henry Ford)

SG: JaVaughn Hannah (9.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)

SF: Donovan Williams (9.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 apg)

PF: Owen Lobsinger (8.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)

C: Max Burton (3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: Brandon Muntu (6.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.0 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 MAC Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the MEAC. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

• America East Conference Preview
• American Athletic Conference Preview
• ACC Conference Preview
• ASUN Conference Preview
• A10 Conference Preview
• Big East Conference Preview
• Big Sky Conference Preview
• Big South Conference Preview
• Big Ten Conference Preview
• Big 12 Conference Preview
• Big West Conference Preview
• CAA Conference Preview
• CUSA Conference Preview
• Horizon Conference Preview
• Ivy Conference Preview
• MAAC Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Mid-American Conference (MAC)