DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEVELAND — Coaches and media from Mid-American Conference basketball aren't convinced that the return of two key starters from last year's MAC Tournament championship team is enough to propel the Miami RedHawks to this year's East Division title.

Coach Charlie Coles' team was picked to finish second in a poll of the league's coaches and the MAC News Media Association, the conference office announced Thursday at its annual media day.

Kent State edged Miami by 1 point in the voting.

The Golden Flashes received 147 total points and 10 first-place votes. The RedHawks got 146 points and nine first-place votes.

Ohio was predicted to finish third and earned eight first-place votes, followed by Akron, Buffalo and Bowling Green.

Coles would be the first to concede that the RedHawks are anything but a lead-pipe cinch to win the East championship.

"We've got a lot of questions we've got to sort out. Who are our best (five) players? That's been hard to pick out," Coles said, adding that he has no doubts about Tim Pollitz and Michael Bramos, talented players who are expected to have stellar seasons.

"We've got more guys who can play this year, more quickness," the Miami coach said. "But I don't think we have more of what we had last year, which are the little things. Who's going to get the rebounds? Who's going to be a good defensive player every night?"

Coles added that he hopes those questions will be answered before Miami's season opener at home Nov. 13 against Xavier.

Western Michigan is the favorite to win the West Division title with 23 first-place votes and 173 points, followed by Toledo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Ball State.

Seven schools earned votes to win the MAC Tournament. Kent State is the slight favorite with seven votes, followed in the top four by Western Michigan (six) and Miami and Ohio (five each).