# 2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

The 2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2017 and concluded in March 2017. Akron won the regular season title with a conference record of 14–4 over a cluster of four teams tied at 11–7. Sixth-seeded Kent State upset Akron in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament where they lost to UCLA in the first round.

## Preseason awards

The preseason poll and league awards were announced by the league office on October 28, 2016.

### Preseason men's basketball poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

#### East Division

* Akron 194 (15)
* Ohio 190 (16)
* Buffalo 144 (5)
* Kent State 116
* Bowling Green 63
* Miami 49

#### West Division

* Eastern Michigan 178 (16)
* Ball State 158 (12)
* Northern Illinois 148 (5)
* Toledo 100 (1)
* Western Michigan 95
* Central Michigan 77 (2)

#### Tournament champs

Akron (15), Ohio (11), Eastern Michigan (3), Buffalo (2), NIU (2), Central Michigan (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1).

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Isaiah Johnson, Sr., C, Akron |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Blake Hamilton, Sr., W, Buffalo |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Jimmy Hall, Sr., F, Kent State |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Antonio Campbell, Sr., F, Ohio |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Jaaron Simmons, Jr., G, Ohio |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Franko House, Sr., F, Ball State |
| Preseason All-MAC West | James Thompson IV, So., F/C, Eastern Michigan |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Marin Maric, Sr., C, Northern Illinois |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Jonathan Williams, Sr., G, Toledo |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Thomas Wilder, Jr., G, Western Michigan |

## Postseason
### Postseason awards

* Coach of the Year: Keith Dambrot, Akron
* Player of the Year: Isaiah Johnson, Akron
* Freshman of the Year: Michael Weathers, Miami
* Defensive Player of the Year: Dontay Caruthers, Buffalo
* Sixth Man of the Year: Nick Perkins, Buffalo

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Isaiah Johnson, C, Akron, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Marcus Keene, G, Central Michigan, Junior |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Jimmy Hall, F, Kent State, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Jaaron Simmons, G, Ohio, Junior |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Thomas Wilder, G, Western Michigan, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Kwan Cheatham Jr., F, Akron, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Tayler Persons, G, Ball State, Sophomore |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Blake Hamilton, Wing, Buffalo, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | James Thompson IV, F, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Steve Taylor Jr., F, Toledo, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Franko House, F, Ball State, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Braylon Rayson, G, Central Michigan, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Marin Maric, C, Northern Illinois, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Jonathan Williams, G, Toledo, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Tucker Haymond, F, Western Michigan, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Antino Jackson, G, Akron, Junior |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Zack Denny, G, Bowling Green, Senior |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | C.J. Massinburg, G, Buffalo, Sophomore |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Michael Weathers, G, Miami, Freshman |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Jordan Dartis, G, Ohio, Sophomore |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Michael Weathers, G, Miami |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Jason Carter, F, Ohio |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Reggie Jones, G, Western Michigan |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Dylan Frye, G, Bowling Green |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Eugene German, G, Northern Illinois |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Trey Moses, C, Ball State, Sophomore |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Zack Denny, G, Bowling Green, Senior |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Dontay Caruthers, G, Buffalo, Sophomore |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Tim Bond, G/F, Eastern Michigan, Junior |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Deon Edwin, F, Kent State, Senior |