2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

The 2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2017 and concluded in March 2017. Akron won the regular season title with a conference record of 14–4 over a cluster of four teams tied at 11–7. Sixth-seeded Kent State upset Akron in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament where they lost to UCLA in the first round.^[1][2]

2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season
League	NCAA Division I
Sport	Basketball
Number of teams	12
Regular season
League champions	Akron
Season MVP	Isaiah Johnson
Tournament
Champions	Kent State
Runners-up	Akron
Finals MVP	Jaylin Walker

2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
East
Akron	14	–	4		.778			27	–	9		.750
Ohio	11	–	7		.611			20	–	11		.645
Buffalo	11	–	7		.611			17	–	15		.531
Kent State †	10	–	8		.556			22	–	14		.611
Bowling Green	7	–	11		.389			13	–	19		.406
Miami (OH)	4	–	14		.222			11	–	21		.344
West
Ball State	11	–	7		.611			21	–	13		.618
Western Michigan	11	–	7		.611			16	–	16		.500
Toledo	9	–	9		.500			17	–	17		.500
Eastern Michigan	7	–	11		.389			16	–	17		.485
Northern Illinois	7	–	11		.389			15	–	17		.469
Central Michigan	6	–	12		.333			16	–	16		.500
† 2017 MAC tournament winner

Preseason awards

The preseason poll and league awards were announced by the league office on October 28, 2016.^[3]

Preseason men's basketball poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

East Division

1. Akron 194 (15)
2. Ohio 190 (16)
3. Buffalo 144 (5)
4. Kent State 116
5. Bowling Green 63
6. Miami 49

West Division

1. Eastern Michigan 178 (16)
2. Ball State 158 (12)
3. Northern Illinois 148 (5)
4. Toledo 100 (1)
5. Western Michigan 95
6. Central Michigan 77 (2)

Tournament champs

Akron (15), Ohio (11), Eastern Michigan (3), Buffalo (2), NIU (2), Central Michigan (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1).

Honors

Honor	Recipient
Preseason All-MAC East	Isaiah Johnson, Sr., C, Akron
	Blake Hamilton, Sr., W, Buffalo
	Jimmy Hall, Sr., F, Kent State
	Antonio Campbell, Sr., F, Ohio
	Jaaron Simmons, Jr., G, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West	Franko House, Sr., F, Ball State
	James Thompson IV, So., F/C, Eastern Michigan
	Marin Maric, Sr., C, Northern Illinois
	Jonathan Williams, Sr., G, Toledo
	Thomas Wilder, Jr., G, Western Michigan

Postseason

Mid–American tournament

Main article: 2017 MAC men's basketball tournament

NCAA tournament

Main article: 2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Postseason awards

^[4][5]

1. Coach of the Year: Keith Dambrot, Akron
2. Player of the Year: Isaiah Johnson, Akron
3. Freshman of the Year: Michael Weathers, Miami
4. Defensive Player of the Year: Dontay Caruthers, Buffalo
5. Sixth Man of the Year: Nick Perkins, Buffalo

Honors

^[6]

Honor	Recipient
Postseason All-MAC First Team	Isaiah Johnson, C, Akron, Senior
	Marcus Keene, G, Central Michigan, Junior
	Jimmy Hall, F, Kent State, Senior
	Jaaron Simmons, G, Ohio, Junior
	Thomas Wilder, G, Western Michigan, Senior
Postseason All-MAC Second Team	Kwan Cheatham Jr., F, Akron, Senior
	Tayler Persons, G, Ball State, Sophomore
	Blake Hamilton, Wing, Buffalo, Senior
	James Thompson IV, F, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore
	Steve Taylor Jr., F, Toledo, Senior
Postseason All-MAC Third Team	Franko House, F, Ball State, Senior
	Braylon Rayson, G, Central Michigan, Senior
	Marin Maric, C, Northern Illinois, Senior
	Jonathan Williams, G, Toledo, Senior
	Tucker Haymond, F, Western Michigan, Senior
Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention	Antino Jackson, G, Akron, Junior
	Zack Denny, G, Bowling Green, Senior
	C.J. Massinburg, G, Buffalo, Sophomore
	Michael Weathers, G, Miami, Freshman
	Jordan Dartis, G, Ohio, Sophomore
All-MAC Freshman Team	Michael Weathers, G, Miami
	Jason Carter, F, Ohio
	Reggie Jones, G, Western Michigan
	Dylan Frye, G, Bowling Green
	Eugene German, G, Northern Illinois
All-MAC Defensive Team	Trey Moses, C, Ball State, Sophomore
	Zack Denny, G, Bowling Green, Senior
	Dontay Caruthers, G, Buffalo, Sophomore
	Tim Bond, G/F, Eastern Michigan, Junior
	Deon Edwin, F, Kent State, Senior

See also

2016–17 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season

References

1. "Kent State beats rival Akron 70-65 for MAC title, NCAA bid". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
2. "TJ Leaf scores 23 points in UCLA victory over Kent State". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
3. "2016-17 MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL, PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAMS ANNOUNCED".
4. "AKRON'S DAMBROT, JOHNSON RECEIVE TOP MAC HONORS".
5. "MIAMI'S WEATHERS, BUFFALO'S PERKINS & CARUTHERS HONORED".
6. "MAC ANNOUNCES MEN'S ALL-MAC, ALL-FRESHMAN & ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMS".