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Ohio Men’s Basketball Selected at Top of Preseason Polls


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Ohio men's basketball is coming off one of the best seasons in program history in 2011-12, so it is only fitting that the team receives some recognition before the first tip off of 2012-13. The Bobcats were picked to take the first spot in the East Division in the MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.

Ohio received 141 votes from the MAC News Media Panel and 19 were first place votes. The Bobcats also earned 18 votes predicting they would win their second straight FirstEngergy MAC Tournament title. 

Point guard D.J. Cooper and guard Walter Offutt were selected to the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team. Joining them on the eastern side are Zeke Marshall from Akron, A'uston Calhoun of Bowling Green and Buffalo's Javon McCrea. Cooper was also voted to the honorable mention list of ESPN's "Best of the Best: The top 10 point guards" by Jason King.

Jim Christian will take over this season as Ohio's new head man, with 12 letter winners returing to the team. Christian owns the highest-winning percentage in conference history after taking Kent State to post season play five times during his time there from 2002-2008. The Golden Flashes also had two MAC titles under Christian's reign. 

Akron earned 122 votes for the second place in the east and Kent State, Buffalo, Bowling Green and Miami followed. The Toledo Rockets were selected as first in the MAC-West. 

Ohio will be in the Convo this week for an exhibition game against Mercyhurst at 2 p.m.