2024-25 MAC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 6

Another installment of the weekly MAC basketball power rankings sees a new team on top!

The action of the Mid-American conference is in full swing as we move into the sixth week of the season. With six of the twelve teams above .500; it looks to be yet another competitive season. With conference play right around the corner; this next week of games is critical for teams to either ride the wave they are on, or get back on track.

Matchup of the week:  Akron vs. Milwaukee (Dec. 15 – 1:30 p.m)

Sneaky good matchup of the week:  Ohio vs. Marshall (Dec. 14 – 4 p.m.) 

All games listed are EST. 

1. Akron Zips

Preseason ranking: 2 (+1)

Record: 6-2

Last week: W vs. Northern Kentucky (86-73), W vs. SUNY Brockport (101-48)

Next week: at Milwaukee (Dec. 15 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Akron was projected to be a powerhouse in the MAC this season, and through the first six weeks of the season they have been just that. Redshirt Junior Nate Johnson has been the leader of this team averaging 12 PPG on 47% shooting and 42% from beyond the arc. James Okonwo has been beneficial off of the bench averaging eight rebounds per game. Akron is currently on a five-game winning streak, which is the longest in the MAC after they started the season 1-2. Akron is yet to pick up a win on the road this season, and they will have a true test this week against Milwaukee on the road.

2. Kent State Golden Flashes

Preseason ranking: 3 (+1)

Record: 7-2

Last week: W vs. Portland (76-57).

Next week: vs. Mercyhurst (Dec.15 – 5 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

To the surprise of no one; the two teams who played in last season’s thrilling MAC championship game are in the top two of this list. Last season’s MAC runner-ups Kent State are keeping up the momentum from their Cinderella run in last season’s MAC tournament. The Golden Flashes are currently tied for the best record in the MAC with Akron at 7-2. Redshirt Senior VonCameron Davis has been the go to guy when it comes to scoring for Kent State. However, it is no coincidence that Kent State’s ugliest loss of the season against UC Irvine came when Davis scored only 2 points on 1-9 shooting. If not for the UC Irvine game, maybe the Golden Flashes top this list.

3. Toledo Rockets

Preseason ranking: 4 (+1)

Record: 6-3

Last week: W vs. Defiance College (111-49)

Next week: at Youngstown State (Dec. 14 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Marshall

Bad losses: Oakland, UC San Diego

After last season’s heartbreaking ending in a first-round exit to Kent State, the question was: Where does Toledo go from here? So far, that road has been up and down. After a 5-1 start they have lost the last two games in blowout fashion. Sophomore Sonny Wilson has been the leader of this team after his all-MAC freshman team efforts last year. Wilson has not been held to under 10 points all season, and has scored over twenty points three times this season. The Rockets have lost two of their last three games, but we’ll see if their 62-point win over D3 Defiance College is a sign of them turning it around.

4. Miami (OH) Redhawks

Preseason ranking: 6 (+2)

Record: 5-3

Last week: W vs. Air Force (73-60), L vs. Indiana (76-57)

Next week: vs. Bethany (Dec. 15 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: at App State

Bad losses: vs. Wright State

Imagine if someone told you in early November that Miami OH would be one of the hottest teams in the MAC, and Bellarmine transfer Peter Suder would be one of the most efficient players in the country. I doubt many would believe it, but those have been the facts in the first six weeks of the season for the Redhawks. Peter Suder led Miami OH to two wins in the Fort Myers classic and took home the Fort Myers classic Palms Division MVP award. He then followed that up with a 42-point performance vs. Air Force. Miami OH has won three of their last four games, and it’s due in large part to their offseason accusation in Peter Suder.

5. Central Michigan Chippewas 

Preseason ranking: 8 (+3)

Record: 5-3

Last week: W vs. Purdue Northwest (115-69)

Next week: at Valparaiso (Dec.14 – 3 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

The Chippewas find themselves towards the middle of the pack, but that is to no fault of their own. Central Michigan has played impressively against great opponents. They lost under ten points to #5 Marquette and only lost by three to Minnesota. The team has three-point shooting threats like Damarion Bonds, and Kyler Vanderjagt. However, this team is led by preseason MAC player of the year and defensive hound Anthony Pritchard. Central Michigan is a team that can be successful in March, and we’ll truly see what they are made of when conference play begins.

6. Buffalo Bulls

Preseason ranking: 12 (+6)

Record: 5-5

Last week:  W vs. Pitt Bradford (100-65), L vs. St. Bonaventure (65-55)

Next week: N/A

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: vs. Bryant

Oh how the tables have turned; who would have expected Buffalo to be in this position after a four win season last year? Ryan Sabol and Tyson Dunn are the dynamic duo Buffalo needed and this was evident when Dunn hit the game-winner on opening night against Old Dominion. Ryan Sabol is averaging 18 PPG 46% shooting and has shown no signs of slowing down. Don’t be fazed by the St. Bonaventure loss; the Bulls kept it close with one of the best mid-major teams in the country. Don’t look now, but Buffalo is shocking the college basketball world one win at a time.

7. Eastern Michigan Eagles 

Preseason ranking: 9 (+2)

Record: 5-4

Last week: L vs. Loyola Chicago (76-54). 

Next week: vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 15 – 2.pm.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: vs. Texas State

The Eagles of Eastern Michigan are the last of the 6 MAC teams above .500 on this list, and that’s mainly due to their last two games. A 22-point loss to Loyola Chicago and 9 point loss to Detroit Mercy. The big three of Da’Sean Nelson, Christian Henry, and Jalen Terry have catapulted the Eagles into the top eight of the MAC despite the current two-game losing streak. With three games left for them until conference play, we’ll see if Eastern Michigan can get past this small bump in their great start to the 2024-25 campaign.

8. Ohio Bobcats

Preseason rankings: 1 (-7)

Record: 4-5

Last week: W vs. Morehead State (88-76)

Next week: vs. Marshall (Dec. 14 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Texas State

Definitely not the start most Ohio basketball fans envisioned when the regular season tipped off, but there is hope. They have won two of their last three games and in those two games they played some of their best basketball. AJ Clayton has been one of the best players in the MAC averaging 16 PPG and 7 rebounds. There are a lot of positives despite this 4-5 start for the Bobcats. The team is currently on a two-game winning streak with three games left on the docket until conference play.  This is a team that has plenty of time to right the ship and can compete for a MAC championship come March, but they are not on that pace right now.

9. Bowling Green Falcons

Preseason ranking: 5 (-4)

Record: 4-5

Last week: W vs. Morgan State (102-81).

Next week: at Kansas City (Dec. 14 – 8 p.m.) 

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Southern Miss, Bellarmine

Bowling Green very much falls into the same category as Ohio. A team with high expectations that hasn’t quite met those expectations, but have still shown signs of life throughout the early part of the season. Marcus Johnson has been a bright spot averaging 16 PPG after transferring in from D2 Wheeling. The Falcons have been disappointing to start the season, but conference play will be the true test.

10. Ball State Cardinals

Preseason ranking: 7 (-3)

Record: 3-7

Last week: L vs. SIUE (82-69).

Next week: at Bellarmine (Dec. 14 – 3 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Detroit Mercy

The Ball State Cardinals have had an up and down start to the season that has featured quite a bit of surprises. Many expected Senior Payton Sparks who is returning after spending a season with the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten to lead the Cardinals into a potential MAC tournament spot. In actuality, this has been Jermahri “Fatt” Hill’s team. Hill comes from South Plains JUCO college and is currently averaging 16.2 PPG on 45% shooting. The Cardinals have been in the thick of it in their losses to Georgia State, Indiana State, and Dayton, but have lost a lot of these games due to not defending the three as well. Ball State is a team that has what it takes to win, but most of it depends on their perimeter defense.

11. Western Michigan Broncos 

Preseason ranking: 10 (-1)

Record: 3-5

Last week: L at Dayton (77-69)

Next week: at St. Thomas (Dec. 13 – 9.pm.), at North Dakota State (Dec. 15 – 2. pm.) 

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: SIUE

The Western Michigan Broncos were a team that not many expected to make an impact in 2024-2025, and for the most part; those people are right. Owen Lobsinger and Markhi Strickland have been bright spots for a Western Michigan team that has only taken down two Division One opponents this season. The season is still young, so it’s hard to count out the Broncos or any team for that matter.

12. Northern Illinois Huskies

Preseason ranking: 11 (-1)

Record: 3-7

Last week: W vs. Benedictine (89-70), L vs. Northern Iowa (101-57)

Next week: N/A

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Elon, Northern Iowa

It’s been a tough season for the Huskies. They are yet to defeat a Division One opponent, and only one of their seven losses came within ten points. There is only so much that Quentin Jones can do. On average they are being out rebounded by six boards per game. The season is still young, but the clock is ticking for Northern Illinois to figure it out; especially with conference play around the corner.