Miami leads MAC men’s poll as Ball State tops a close women’s race

Miami is the leading choice in the Mid-American Conference men’s basketball preseason poll, while Ball State heads a much tighter women’s race in the coaches’ forecasts released Tuesday.

The men’s coaches gave Miami nine first-place votes and five votes to win the conference tournament. Toledo received four tournament votes, UMass two and Kent State one. These are preseason predictions for 2026–27, with the automatic NCAA Tournament berth still to be decided on the court.

Miami’s guards set the expectations

Miami senior Evan Ipsaro and junior Luke Skaljac both made the preseason All-MAC first team. They join Eastern Michigan’s Mohammad Habhab, Ohio’s Javan Simmons and Kent State’s Chansey Willis Jr.

The Miami Student’s Cooper Meneghetti reported that the RedHawks were the only men’s team with two first-team selections. His report connects those expectations to an experienced backcourt after Miami’s unbeaten regular season and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Meneghetti also reported that Miami plans to unveil banners for those men’s achievements and the women’s MAC tournament championship and NCAA berth during the October 26 men’s exhibition against Indiana East. That exhibition is separate from the regular-season schedule.

Four women’s teams share tournament backing

Ball State received 111 points and five first-place votes in the women’s poll. Miami followed with 108 points and four first-place votes, ahead of UMass on 103 and Toledo on 98.

The tournament prediction was even less settled: Ball State and Toledo each received four votes, Miami three and UMass one. Coaches were barred from voting for their own team in the women’s poll.

Miami’s Amber Tretter made the first team, with Julianna Lamendola on the second. Meneghetti noted that Toledo had three preseason All-MAC selections, the most of any women’s program, while Miami was one of three teams with two honorees.

Tuesday’s conference media-day program brought coaches and players from all 12 men’s and women’s programs together for interviews with The Field of 68. The program is available in the recording below.

Sources

• The Field of 68: 2026 MAC men’s and women’s basketball media day
• MAC: 2026–27 men’s preseason poll and All-MAC teams
• MAC: 2026–27 women’s preseason poll and teams
• Cooper Meneghetti, The Miami Student: Miami stands out at preseason MAC awards
• BGSU: MAC basketball media-day program