Blake Hamilton Named Preseason All-MAC; Bulls Selected Third In MAC East
10/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Blake Hamilton Named Preseason All-MAC; Bulls Selected Third In MAC East
BUFFALO, NY – Senior Blake Hamilton was named to the preseason All-MAC East Division Team and the University at Buffalo men's basketball team was picked third in the MAC Preseason Poll, the league announced on Friday morning. The poll was voted on by the 12 head coaches, as well as a 24-member MAC News Media Panel.
Hamilton was named to the All-MAC Third Team last season and enters 2016-17 as the Bulls returning leading scorer and rebounder at 13.7 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. Hamilton had a stellar first season with UB in 2015-16, but it will be his shot at the end of the MAC Championship game that will always be remembered by Bulls fans. He had a career-high 24 points last season against Bowling Green and finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio. Hamilton had a career-best 16 rebounds in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals against Miami (OH).
Hamilton is joined on the East Division team by Isaiah Johnson from Akron, Jimmy Hall from Kent State and Ohio's Antonio Campbell and Jaaron Simmons.
The Bulls were picked to finish third in the MAC East, receiving five first place votes. Last year, the Bulls were picked fourth in the East before winning the MAC Championship in Cleveland. Akron was picked first with 15 first place votes and 194 total points, while Ohio was second with 16 first place votes and 190 points. After UB, Kent State was picked fourth, while Bowling Green and Miami were picked fifth and sixth, respectively.
Buffalo also received two votes to win the MAC Tournament title in Cleveland, which would be its third straight tournament title, something never done in the history of the league. Akron received 15 votes, followed by Ohio and Eastern Michigan. In addition to UB, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Kent State and Miami each received votes.
Buffalo will open the 2016-17 ledger next Friday when it hosts Daemen on Friday night at 8:30 pm. Prior to the game, the Bulls will raise their 2016 MAC Championship banner.
2016-17 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Akron (15 first place votes) – 194 points
2. Ohio (16) – 190 points
3. Buffalo (5) – 144 points
4. Kent State – 116 points
5. Bowling Green – 63 points
6. Miami – 49 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Eastern Michigan (16) – 178 points
2. Ball State (12 first place votes) – 158 points
3. NIU (5) – 148 points
4. Toledo (1) – 100 points
5. Western Michigan – 95 points
6. Central Michigan (2) – 77 points
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
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 Division Team
Franko House, Sr., F, Ball State
James Thompson IV, So., C, Eastern Michigan
Marin Maric, Sr., C, Northern Illinois
Jonathan Williams, Sr., G, Toledo
Thomas Wilder, Jr., G, Western Michigan
