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CLEVELAND – The defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Ohio men's basketball team were selected to finish second in this year's Preseason Coaches Poll. Meanwhile, redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team, while fifth year forward Jason Carter earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team. 
 
Ohio earned 126 points and no first-place votes and finished behind Buffalo who picked up 143 points and 11 first place votes. Toledo finished just behind the Bobcats with 107 points and one first place vote. Kent State (98) and Akron (95) rounded out the top five.
 
Meanwhile, Bowling Green (93), Miami (92), Ball State (54), Western Michigan (44), Central Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (29) and Northern Illinois (21) wrapped up the remainder of the league. 
 
Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team after wrapping up 2020-21 third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 76.4 percent from the free throw line. Vander Plas was named to the All-MAC Third Team and to the MAC All-Tournament Team this postseason. He also earned a spot on the Academic All-MAC Team. Vander Plas earned a spot on the Academic All-America® Second Team.
 
Carter (Jamestown, Ohio), in his return to Ohio for his final year, earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team. Carter spent the last two seasons at Xavier where he played in 53 games, starting 51 of them. He shot 39.1 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three and 64.2 percent from the line.  During his first stint at Ohio, Carter played in 65 games, starting 46 of them. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from three and 71.1 percent from the line. 
 
The Bobcats return to Athens on Saturday, Nov. 2 when Ohio takes on Capital in an exhibition. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Prior to the game, the Bobcats will celebrate last season's postseason success pregame with an unveiling of their 2021 NCAA Tournament banner.  
 
The Bobcats open the 2021-22 regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 9 when Ohio takes on Belmont. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and will be seen on ESPN3/+.
 
Single game tickets are on sale now. Those looking to purchase tickets can click here.
 
2021-22 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll  

1. Buffalo – 143 points (11 first place votes)
2. Ohio – 126 points
3. Toledo – 107 points (1)
4. Kent State – 98 points
5. Akron – 95 points
6. Bowling Green – 93 points
7. Miami – 92 points
8. Ball State – 54 points
9. Western Michigan – 44 points
10. Central Michigan – 34 points
11. Eastern Michigan – 29 points
12. Northern Illinois – 21 points

MAC Tournament Champions: Buffalo (8), Bowling Green (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1) 
 
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
Jeenathan Williams, Sr., F, Buffalo
Ben Vander Plas, R-Sr., F, Ohio
Ryan Rollins, So., G, Toledo
 
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
K.J. Walton, Grad., G, Akron
Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Dae Dae Grant, Jr., G, Miami
Jason Carter 5th-Sr., F, Ohio
B. Artis White, So., G, Western Michigan
 
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