CLEVELAND, Ohio – On Tuesday morning, the Mid-American Conference announced that the Miami University men’s basketball team was ranked first in the 2026-27 preseason coaches poll. Behind fifth-year head coach Travis Steele, the RedHawks are coming off the most wins in program history, a perfect 31-0 regular season and a win in the NCAA Tournament. Miami returns 11 players from 2025-26, including Evan Ipsaro and Luke Skaljac, who were each named to this year’s Preseason All-MAC First Team.
The complete preseason poll can be found below.
2026-27 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
First Place Votes (x)
1. Miami – 130 (9)
2. Toledo – 117 (2)
3. Akron — 110
4. Kent State – 108 (1)
5. Ohio – 82
6. UMass – 79
7. Bowling Green – 63
8. Western Michigan – 58
9. Eastern Michigan – 56
10. Buffalo – 47
11. Ball State – 40
12. Central Michigan – 25
Tournament Champions: Miami (5), Toledo (4), UMass (2), Kent State (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Mohammad Habhab, Eastern Michigan, Forward, R-So.
Evan Ipsaro, Miami, Guard, Sr.
Javan Simmons, Ohio, Forward, R-Sr.
Luke Skaljac, Miami, Guard, Jr.,
Chansey Willis Jr., Kent State, Guard, Sr.
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Sean Jones, Toledo, Guard, R-Sr.
Evan Mahaffey, Akron, Wing, 5th-Sr.
Austin Parks, Toledo, Center, Sr.
Jackson Paveletzke, Ohio, Guard, 5th-Sr.
Tahj Staveskie, Akron, Guard, R-Sr.