MAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

While mentioned before that the 5-8 range is an interesting one in the MAC, Ohio are the team that rank highest, and probably pose the most threat to the next four the rankings.

In Jeff Boals’ first season at the helm, the Bobcats went 17-15 overall and 8-10 in MAC play. More importantly, they return their two highest averaging scorers and look to continue the track towards competing for a MAC title.

Junior Jason Preston is one of those returning players, leading the way last year for the team averaging 16.8 ppg and 7.4 apg, which ranked him fourth in the nation in assists per game. Preston put up those numbers, but also averaged over 38 minutes on the floor. The guy is a workhorse and is the go-to guy for Ohio.

The other is another junior in Ben Hander Plas, who averaged 15.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg. He provides some size, standing 6’8 and will be a focal point in the front-court.

Both were honored as All-MAC players last season. Preston on the first team, Vander Plas on the third.

The biggest loss for the Bobcats is Jordan Dartis, who knocked down a team-high 83 threes last year. His role can be filled as we take a peek at a couple of players to watch this season for the Bobcats:

• Jalen White – White is a true freshman out of Pasadena, Texas and can put the ball in the basket from distance. He canned 76 threes last year en route to a 23 points per game season. He is slightly taller than Dartis, but can fill that role of making it rain from downtown and be a key player for the Bobcats right off the bat.
• Nolan Foster – The other starter Ohio lost from last season was 6’10” Sylvester Ogbonda, who averaged roughly 6 and 6 per game. Foster is an interesting player, fitting the mold of Ogbonda and having playing experience from last season. He should expect to double his minutes from 8.8 minutes per game to above 15 and potentially provide a wingman for Vander Plas down low.

Overall, Ohio are an intriguing team, returning three starters; the other I haven’t mentioned is Lunden McDay (8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg). They also have a newcomer in Jalen White who can fill in the stat sheet and provide needed offense for the Bobcats. Like I mentioned above, Ohio are ranked 5th, but can easily, with a healthy season and a third go-to player offensively, be a team that contends for a MAC title.