MAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

1. Akron Zips

Last Season: 22-11 (13-5 in MAC play)

Having been a top tier team in the conference for a handful of seasons now, Akron looks to continue their high-level status as the cream of the crop for the MAC this coming year. Known for their athletic play style, this year looks to be no different. They return some solid players such as Enrique Freeman who has developed into a formidable force in the post as well as Greg Tribble, a quick guard with the ability to move the ball and be a scrappy defender.

Akron also found some success in the transfer portal with what should be some great additions for the zips. Wichita State transfer Shammah Scott looks like a threat from beyond the arc. The Zips also landed Kaleb Thornton, a transfer from within the MAC hailing from Northern Illinois University. In his time at NIU, he consistently ranked near the top of the conference in metrics such as average assists, steals, and turnover ratio. Thornton brings control and command to the floor which should allow him to be a main facilitator on the Zip’s offensive attack.

Perhaps Akron’s most notable transfer is the return of Ali Ali. Having played at Akron for three seasons before transferring the Butler, Ali Ali has made his name known in the MAC. At Butler, he found success as well being a notable defender and rebounder for them.

All these pieces together suggest Akron will be in cruise control this year with some notable mid-major tests coming from Northern Kentucky, UNLV, and St Bonaventure before entering conference play. It would be surprising to not find Akron in conversations for a March Madness bid come early spring.

So that wraps up the MAC preseason rankings. A lot can change through the course of a season with injuries, transfers, and breakout players. However, more likely than not, the teams at the three levels (top tier, mid-tier, and bottom) should stay relatively in those margins. The MAC brings an exciting brand of basketball with upsets and parity throughout, so don’t be surprised to see a team excitingly exceed expectations or on the flip side, fall flat. With the first tip just a few weeks away, just know, that we’re almost there.