 CLEVELAND -- Kent State, Miami and Western Michigan have all been ranked among the Top 25 in the first CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll of the 2008-09 season.
The Golden Flashes are the highest ranked MAC team at No. 7, while Miami comes in ranked at No. 14. Western Michigan will enter the season ranked No. 24. Ohio and Eastern Michigan were listed among the other receiving votes.
Kent State finished last season with an overall record of 28-7 (13-3 MAC) and will be coming off its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 10 years. As the team enters its first season in the Geno Ford era, the Golden Flashes have their sights set on earning a second straight MAC Championship and extending its run of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, a feat accomplish by just seven programs in the country. KSU welcomes back eight letterwinners, including three starters. Among those returning for the Golden Flashes is 2008 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American, Al Fisher. Fisher finished last season with 13.9 ppg., 4.0 apg and helped KSU earn a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest seed in school history. Fisher will highlight a core group of eight returnees that made up 65.1 percent of the offensive productive from last season.
The RedHawks were selected to finish second in the MAC East Division and received seven votes to win the MAC Tournament Championship. Miami finished last season with a 17-16
overall record (9-7 MAC) and earned a berth in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) last season. The RedHawks will bring back 11 letterwinners, including four starters. Head Coach Charlie Coles welcomes back 2008 All-MAC second team selection Michael Bramos, as well as starters Tyler Dierkers, Kenny Hayes and Eric Pollitz. Overall, Miami returns 71.9 percent of its rebounding and 70.5 percent of its scoring from a season ago.
Western Michigan returns a talented cast of eight letterwinners, including last years entire starting backcourt. Western Michigan finished 20-12 in 2007-08 and 12-4 in conference play to claim the MAC West and the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. 2008 All-MAC first team selection David Kool will return after leading the conference in scoring with 17.8 points per conference game and 16.3 points in all games.
The Mid-Major Top 25 includes teams from America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Continent, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Sun Belt and West Coast Conference.
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25
1. Gonzaga (15) 0-0 754 5
2. Davidson (15) 0-0 751 1
3. St. Mary's (1) 0-0 616 7
4. Creighton 0-0 591 NR
5. Siena 0-0 577 9
6. VCU 0-0 572 10
7. Kent State 0-0 497 6
8. San Diego 0-0 481 13
9. ClevelandState 0-0 406 NR
10. Butler 0-0 361 2
11. Stephen F. Austin 0-0 308 14
12. Southern Illinois 0-0 302 NR
13. Wright State 0-0 282 NR
14. Miami (Ohio) 0-0 281 NR
15. Old Dominion 0-0 216 NR
16. Cornell 0-0 214 18
17. Middle Tennessee 0-0 203 NR
18. Belmont 0-0 183 11
19. South Alabama 0-0 181 8
20. Oral Roberts 0-0 159 17
21. Rider 0-0 141 25
22. Mount St. Mary's 0-0 139 NR
23. American 0-0 136 NR
24. Western Michigan 0-0 129 NR
25. CalState Northridge 0-0 118 NR
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Illinois State 111, Portland State 91, Morgan State 88, George Mason 85, Drake 78, Northeastern 75, Oakland 74, Murray State 56, Western Kentucky 56, Akron 55, Arkansas Little Rock 48, Fairfield 45, Boston University 44, Winthrop 41, Wisconsin-Green Bay 37, Chattanooga 36, Pacific 36, Texas-Arlington 36, IUPUI 35, North Texas 26, Vermont 25, Cal State Fullerton 24, UC Santa Barbara 23, Bradley 22, Northern Iowa 20, Northern Arizona 20, UC Davis 18, UT Martin 18, Robert Morris 17, Santa Clara 15, Lamar 14, Niagara 14, Illinois-Chicago 12, Eastern Michigan 11, North Dakota State 9, Hartford 9, Ohio 9, Austin Peay 7, Northwestern State 7, UMBC 6, Sam Houston State 6, Valparaiso 5, Montana 4, VMI 4, Appalachian State 3, Jacksonville 3, Georgia State 2, Pennsylvania 2, College of Charleston 1.
courtesy Mid-American Conference
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