# 2008–09 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

The 2008–09 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2008, followed by the start of the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2009 and concluded in March 2009. Bowling Green and Buffalo shared the regular season title with a conference record of 11–5. Fifth-seeded Akron defeated Buffalo in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Gonzaga.

## Preseason awards

The preseason poll was announced by the league office on October 30, 2008.

### Preseason men's basketball poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

#### East Division

* Kent State (16) 124
* Miami (6) 109
* Bowling Green 70
* Akron 67
* Ohio 66
* Buffalo 35

#### West Division

* Western Michigan (15) 122
* Eastern Michigan (7) 105
* Central Michigan 79
* Toledo 71
* Ball State 55
* Northern Illinois 39

#### Tournament champs

Kent State (11), Miami (7), Bowling Green (2), Eastern Michigan (2)

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Nate Linhart, Akron |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Nate Miller, Bowling Green |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Al Fisher, Kent State |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Michael Bramos, Miami |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Jerome Tillman, Ohio |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Anthony Newell, Ball State |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Darion Anderson, Northern Illinois |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Tyrone Kent, Toledo |
| Preseason All-MAC West | David Kool, Western Michigan |

## Postseason
### Postseason awards

* Coach of the Year: Louis Orr, Bowling Green
* Player of the Year: Michael Bramos, Miami
* Freshman of the Year: Jarrod Jones, Ball State
* Defensive Player of the Year: Nate Linhart, Akron
* Sixth Man of the Year: Brett McKnight, Akron

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Michael Bramos, Miami, G/F |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Al Fisher, Kent State, G |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Nate Miller, Bowling Green, F |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Rodney Pierce, Buffalo, G |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Jerome Tillman, Ohio, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Darion Anderson, Northern Illinois G |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Brandon Bowdry, Eastern Michigan F |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Brett McKnight, Akron, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Tyrone Kent, Toledo, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | David Kool, Western Michigan, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Mike Allen, Ohio, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Tyler Dierkers, Miami, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Greg Gamble, Buffalo, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Jarrod Jones, Ball State, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Brandon Lampley, Ball State, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Nate Linhart, Akron, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Chris McKnight, Akron, F |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Brian Moten, Bowling Green, G |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Chris Singletary, Kent State, G/F |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Marcus Van, Central Michigan, F/C |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Anthony Hitchens, Akron, G |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Jarrod Jones, Ball State, F |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Mike DiNunno, Northern Illinois, G |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Steven Coleman, Ohio, G |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Flenard Whitfield, Western Michigan, F |