Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year explained

MAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Description:	the most outstanding basketball player in the Mid-American Conference
Country:	United States
Year:	1968
Holder:	Enrique Freeman, Akron

The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The award was first given following the 1967–68 season. Four players have won the award multiple times: Tom Kozelko, Ron Harper, Gary Trent and Bonzi Wells. Trent is the only player to have been honored as player of the year three times (1993–95). There have been no ties, nor has any player from the MAC ever won any of the national player of the year awards.

Through 2024, Ohio has the most all-time winners with 11. Toledo is second with eight winners. All current members of the MAC have had at least one winner.

Key

†	Co-Players of the Year
	Awarded a national player of the year award: Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79) UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96) Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present) John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present)
Player (X)	Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the MAC Player of the Year award at that point

Winners

Season	Player	School	Position	Class	Reference
1967–68		Miami	F		^[1]
1968–69		Toledo	C		^[2]
1969–70		Bowling Green	SF		^[3]
1970–71		Ohio	G		^[4]
1971–72		Toledo	PF		^[5]
1972–73	(2)	Toledo	PF		^[6]
1973–74		Ohio	SG		^[7]
1974–75		Central Michigan	PF / C		^[8]
1975–76		Western Michigan	SF		^[9]
1976–77		Northern Illinois	PF		^[10]
1977–78		Miami	PF		^[11]
1978–79		Northern Illinois	SF		^[12]
1979–80		Toledo	F		^[13]
1980–81		Toledo	SF		^[14]
1981–82		Central Michigan	SG		^[15]
1982–83		Ball State	PG		^[16]
1983–84		Ohio	C		^[17]
1984–85		Miami	SG		^[18]
1985–86	(2)	Miami	SG		^[19]
1986–87		Western Michigan	SF / SG		^[20]
1987–88		Eastern Michigan	PF		^[21]
1988–89		Ohio	SF / SG		^[22]
1989–90		Ohio	SG		^[23]
1990–91		Eastern Michigan	PF		^[24]
1991–92		Ohio	SF		^[25]
1992–93		Ohio	PF		^[26]
1993–94	(2)	Ohio	PF		^[27]
1994–95	(3)	Ohio	PF		^[28]
1995–96		Ball State	SF		^[29]
1996–97		Bowling Green	PG		^[30]
1997–98	(2)	Ball State	SF		^[31]
1998–99		Miami	SF / SG		^[32]
1999–00		Bowling Green	SF		^[33]
2000–01		Central Michigan	PG		^[34]
2001–02		Bowling Green	SG		^[35]
2002–03		Central Michigan	C		^[36]
2003–04		Western Michigan	SF / PF		^[37]
2004–05		Buffalo	PG		^[38]
2005–06		Kent State	PG		^[39]
2006–07		Akron	SF		^[40]
2007–08		Kent State	PG / SG		^[41]
2008–09		Miami	SG / SF		^[42]
2009–10		Western Michigan	G		^[43]
2010–11		Kent State	SF		^[44]
2011–12		Buffalo	C		^[45]
2012–13		Ohio	PG		^[46]
2013–14		Buffalo	PF		^[47]
2014–15		Buffalo	PF		^[48]
2015–16		Ohio	F		^[49]
2016–17		Akron	C		^[50]
2017–18		Toledo	SG / SF		^[51]
2018–19		Buffalo	SG		^[52]
2019–20		Akron	PG		^[53]
2020–21		Toledo	PG		^[54]
2021–22		Kent State	PG		^[55]
2022–23		Toledo	SG		^[56]
2023–24		Akron	PF		^[57]

Winners by school

School (year joined)	Winners	Years
Ohio (1947)	11	1971, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2013, 2016
Toledo (1951)	8	1969, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 2018, 2021, 2023
Miami (1948)	6	1968, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2009
Buffalo (1999)	5	2005, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019
Akron (1992)	4	2007, 2017, 2020, 2024
Bowling Green (1952)	4	1970, 1997, 2000, 2002
Central Michigan (1972)	align=center	4	1975, 1982, 2001, 2003
Kent State (1951)	4	2006, 2008, 2011, 2022
Western Michigan (1948)	4	1976, 1987, 2004, 2010
Ball State (1973)	3	1983, 1996, 1998
Eastern Michigan (1972)	2	1988, 1991
Northern Illinois (1973/1997)	2	1977, 1979
Marshall (1954/1997)	0	—

• Northern Illinois University was a member from 1973 to 1986, then left for a period. They rejoined in 1997 and continue as a member today.
• Marshall University was a member starting in 1954 before being expelled from the conference in 1969 due to NCAA violations. The Thundering Herd rejoined in 1997, but left in 2005 for Conference USA.

Notes and References

1. News: Miami's Fred foster MAC Player of Year . . . March 6, 1968 . 29. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
2. News: Locke, Mix MAC's Best . Dayton Daily News . Dayton, Ohio . March 10, 1969 . 19. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
3. News: MAC Hoop Star Man on the Move . Dayton Daily News . Dayton, Ohio . March 8, 1970 . 69. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
4. News: Ken Kowall MAC's Choice . . . March 10, 1971 . 21. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
5. News: Tom Kozelko Of Toledo Named Player Of Year . . . March 14, 1972 . 13. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
6. News: Tom Kozelko named top MAC player . . . March 14, 1973 . 18. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
7. News: Bob Nichols, Walter Luckett MAC's Top Coach, Player . . . March 28, 1974 . 23. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
8. News: Roundfield, Parfitt receive MAC honors . . . April 2, 1975 . 15. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
9. News: Fostoria's Jeff Tyson MAC Player of Year . News Herald . . March 24, 1976 . 10. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
10. News: Hicks the best . . . March 15, 1977 . 7. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
11. News: Miami's Aldridge named most valuable MAC player . . . March 22, 1978 . 41. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
12. News: Dawkins, Rayhorn honored . . . April 11, 1979 . 14. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
13. News: Rockets dominate All-MAC . . . March 18, 1980 . 9. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
14. News: MAC honorees . . . March 18, 1981 . 13. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
15. News: Basketball . . . March 18, 1982 . 28. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
16. News: Ball State's McCallum honored . . . March 16, 1983 . 14. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
17. News: Media cites Devereaux . Daily Chronicle . DeKalb, Illinois . March 9, 1984 . 11. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
18. News: Harper named MAC's best . . . March 9, 1985 . 12. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
19. News: MAC's Player of Year improving in class, too . . . March 9, 1986 . 42. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
20. News: Booker James Named MAC Player of Year . . . March 7, 1987 . 23. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
21. News: Long honored . Telegraph-Forum . . March 15, 1988 . 10. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
22. News: Graham, Bukovac best in MAC . Sentinel-Tribune . Bowling Green, Ohio . March 14, 1989 . 12. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
23. News: Zaleski. Doug. Eckert, Jamerson named MAC's top players . . Muncie, Indiana . March 13, 1990 . 11. Newspapers.com. January 31, 2024.
24. News: Bullet in thigh is Kennedy's lesson . . . March 22, 1991 . 20. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
25. News: OU's Geter takes top MAC honor . . . March 17, 1992 . 6. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
26. News: Trent nabs sweep of MAC's awards . . . March 16, 1993 . 8. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
27. News: Barreiro. Dan. And the winners are... . . . March 17, 1994 . 11. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
28. News: MAC tournament tough to predict . Lancaster Eagle-Gazette . Lancaster, Ohio . March 10, 1995 . 17. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
29. News: Benson. Randy. Bonzi earned MAC award . The Star Press . Muncie, Indiana . March 12, 1996 . 11. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
30. News: Daniels player of the year . Dayton Daily News . Dayton, Ohio . March 7, 1997 . 40. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
31. News: Wilson. Phillip B.. Cleaning Up His Act: BSU's Wells has grown up on and off the court . . . March 3, 1998 . 17. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
32. News: Condotta. Bob . The Man for Miami . . . March 11, 1999 . 36. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
33. News: Seabum . John. Waters named MAC's top coach . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 10, 2000 . 34. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
34. News: Williams. Marty. Miami: In MAC semifinals . Dayton Daily News . Dayton, Ohio . March 9, 2001 . 18. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
35. News: McLeod voted top MAC player . . . March 7, 2002 . 9. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
36. News: Albom. Mitch. Small-town roots lead CMU to the big time . . . March 20, 2003 . 39. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
37. News: Williams named top player, Reed also honored . Battle Creek Enquirer . Battle Creek, Michigan . March 11, 2004 . 9. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
38. News: DiCesare. Bob. Cage finds ideal remedy for illness . . . March 11, 2005 . 3. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
39. News: Farrell. Perry A.. Haynes player of year in MAC . Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan . March 10, 2006 . 71. Newspapers.com. February 1, 2024.
40. News: Akron's Travis MAC's top player . . . March 7, 2007 . 16. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
41. News: Storm. Stephanie. KSU's Al Fisher named MAC Player of Year . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 12, 2008 . C003. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
42. News: Beaven. Michael. Bramos, RedHawks await the leftovers . . . March 14, 2009 . 28. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
43. News: MAC honors Zips, Flashes . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 11, 2010 . C003. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
44. News: St. Myer. Thomas. Preseason seminar contributes to Cardinals' success . The Star Press . Muncie, Indiana . March 8, 2011 . 7. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
45. News: Watt puts Bulls ahead . The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York . March 4, 2012 . 3. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
46. News: Ohio University's Cooper, Akron's Dambrot awarded top MAC honors . The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York . March 14, 2013 . B3. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
47. News: Mandelaro. Jim. Leader of the MAC: Newark's McCrea named the conference's Player of the Year . . . March 13, 2014 . D1. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
48. News: Key play put Mountaineers on top . . . March 21, 2015 . 20. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
49. News: Gaughan. Mark. UB one win away from return trip to NCAAs . The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York . March 12, 2016 . 13. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
50. News: Crawford. Dakota. Ball State vs. Akron: 3 things to watch . The Star Press . Muncie, Indiana . March 10, 2017 . B1. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
51. News: Toledo 71, Miami 69 . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 9, 2018 . C005. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
52. News: No. 18 Buffalo 82, Akron 46 . . . March 15, 2019 . 53. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
53. News: Thomas. George M.. March Madness over . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 13, 2020 . C1. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
54. News: O'Connor. John. UR shows grit with its top scorers out . . . March 18, 2021 . B2. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
55. News: Thomas. George M.. Zips shut down Sincere Carry . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 14, 2022 . C5. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
56. News: Akron, Kent State earn multiple spots on All-MAC teams . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio . March 10, 2023 . B5. Newspapers.com. February 3, 2024.
57. News: Creighton 77, Akron 60 . . . March 22, 2024 . C3. Newspapers.com. June 23, 2024.