The 2018–19 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2018, followed by the start of the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2019 and concluded in March 2019. The season marked the 76th season of Mid–American Conference basketball.

Preseason In the preseason, Buffalo, which returned five of its six leading scorers from a team that defeated Arizona Wildcats men's basketball in the NCAA tournament, was discussed as a team that could potentially make a "Cinderalla run" in the NCAA Tournament.

The preseason poll and league awards were announced by the league office on October 30, 2019.

Coaching changes

Preseason men's basketball poll (First place votes in parentheses)

East Division Buffalo 210 (35) Miami 127 Kent State 122 Ohio 121 Akron 97 Bowling Green 58

West Division Eastern Michigan 183 (17) Ball State 175 (11) Toledo 156 (5) Western Michigan 81 (1) Northern Illinois 73 Central Michigan 67 (1)

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

Honors

Honor Recipient Preseason All-MAC EastDemajeo Wiggins, Sr., Forward, Bowling GreenC.J. Massinburg, Sr., Guard, BuffaloJeremy Harris, Sr., Guard, BuffaloNick Perkins, Sr., Forward, BuffaloJaylin Walker, Sr., Guard, Kent State Preseason All-MAC WestTayler Persons, Sr., Guard, Ball StateJames Thompson IV, Sr., Forward/Center, Eastern MichiganElijah Minnie, Sr., Forward, Eastern MichiganEugene German, Jr., Guard, Northern IllinoisJaelan Sanford, Sr., Guard, Toledo

Watchlists

Regular season

Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.

  AkronBall StBGSUBuffaloCMUEMUKent StMiamiN. IllinoisOhioToledoWMUvs. Akron – 1–01–12–01–10–1–11–11–11–11–00–1vs. Ball St.0–1 – 1–01–01–12–01–02–01–12–01–10–2vs. BGSU1–10–1 – 1–10–20–10–2–00–11–11–00–2vs. Buffalo0–20–11–1 – 0–10–20–20–21–00–20–20–1vs. CMU1–11–12–01–0 – 0–20–10–11–10–12–00–2vs. EMU1–00–21–02–02–0 – 1–11–00–20–11–10–2vs. Kent St.1–10–12–02–01–01–1 – 0–20–10–20–10–2vs. Miami1–10–20–22–01–00–12–0 – 1–01–12–01–0vs. N. Illinois1–11–11–00–11–12–01–00–1 – 0–22–01–1vs. Ohio1–10–21–12–01–01–02–01–12–0 – 1–00–1vs. Toledo0–11–10–12–00–21–11–00–20–20–1 –0–2vs. WMU1–02–02–01–02–02–02–00–11–11–0 2–0–Total 8–10 6–12 12–6 16–2 10–8 9–9 11–7 7–11 8–10 6–12 13–5 2–16

Season summary & highlights

Points scored

Conference regular season

Midseason watchlists

Postseason

Mid–American Tournament

Highlights

NCAA Tournament

National Invitation Tournament

Awards and honors

Honors Honor Recipient All-MAC First TeamJustin Turner, G, Bowling Green, R-So.C.J. Massinburg, G, Buffalo, Sr.Nick Perkins, F, Buffalo, Sr.Jaylin Walker, G, Kent State, Sr.Jaelan Sanford, G, Toledo, Sr. All-MAC Second TeamDemajeo Wiggins, F, Bowling Green, Sr.Jeremy Harris, G, Buffalo, Sr.Larry Austin Jr., G, Central Michigan, Sr.James Thompson IV, F/C, Eastern Michigan, Sr.Eugene German, G, Northern Illinois, Jr. All-MAC Third TeamTayler Persons, G, Ball State, R-Sr.Shawn Roundtree Jr., G, Central Michigan, Sr.Nike Sibande, G, Miami, So.Jason Carter, F, Ohio, R-So.Seth Dugan, C, Western Michigan, Sr. All-MAC Honorable MentionDaniel Utomi, F, Akron, Jr.Paul Jackson, G, Eastern Michigan, R-Sr.Elijah Minnie F, Eastern Michigan, R-Sr.Nate Navigato, F, Toledo, Sr.Marreon Jackson, G, Toledo, So. All-MAC Freshman TeamAnthony Roberts, G, Kent State, Fr.Mekhi Lairy, G, Miami, Fr.Ben Vander Plas, F, Ohio, Fr.Jason Preston, G, Ohio, Fr.AJ Edu, F, Toledo, Fr. All-MAC Defensive TeamDontay Caruthers, G, Buffalo, Sr.Davonta Jordan, G, Buffalo, Jr.Larry Austin Jr., G, Central Michigan, Sr.James Thompson IV, F/C, Eastern Michigan, Sr.Darrian Ringo, G, Miami, Sr.

See also 2018–19 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season

References