CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference released it's 2018-19 men's basketball preseason poll on Tuesday with Western Michigan men's basketball picked to finish fourth in the MAC West as voted on by the leagues' head coaches and media.

The Broncos who return nine from last year's squad received 81 points in the west division and one first place vote. WMU was picked ahead of Northern Illinois and in-state rival Central Michigan. Eastern Michigan is the favorite to win the west division with 17 first-place votes followed by Ball State with 11 and defending MAC West champion Toledo with five.

Buffalo is the preseason favorite to win the MAC regular season and tournament championship. The Bulls received all 35 first-place votes to win the east division and 25 votes to win the conference tournament. The Broncos along with three other teams each received one vote to win the MAC tournament.

WMU will play its final exhibition on Saturday, Nov. 3 against neighbor Kalamazoo College with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m. The Broncos begin the 2018-19 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 6 inside University Arena against Detroit Mercy. For tickets visit the Bronco Ticket Office, purchase online at wmubroncos.com/tickets or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-Tix.

West Division – Points (first place votes)
1. Eastern Michigan – 183 (17)
2. Ball State – 175 (11)
3. Toledo – 156 (5)
4. Western Michigan – 81 (1)
5. Northern Illinois – 73
6. Central Michigan – 67 (1)

East Division – Points (first place votes)
1. Buffalo – 210 (35)
2. Miami – 127
3. Kent State – 122
4. Ohio – 121
5. Akron – 97
6. Bowling Green – 58

Tournament Champion: Buffalo (25), Eastern Michigan (3), Toledo (3), Western Michigan (1), Central Michigan (1), Miami (1), Northern Illinois (1)

West Division Preseason All-MAC
Tayler Persons – Ball State
James Thompson IV – Eastern Michigan
Elijah Minnie – Eastern Michigan
Eugene German – Northern Illinois
Jaelan Sanford – Toledo

East Division Preseason All-MAC
Demajeo Wiggins – Bowling Green
C.J. Massinburg – Buffalo
Jeremy Harris – Buffalo
Nick Perkins – Buffalo
Jaylin Walker – Kent State