The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Picked First in Blue Ribbon Sports Preseason Poll - Tavari Johnson Named to the All-MAC Preseason Team
September 08 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio - Coming off its second consecutive MAC Title and NCAA appearance, the Akron men's basketball team was picked to finish first in the Blue Ribbon Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, while Tavari Johnson was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Zips finished the 2024-25 season with a program-best 28 wins (28-7) while going 17-1 in the MAC. Akron set program records in FG made (1,060), total points scored (2,941) and assists (621).
Returning for his senior season, Johnson was named an All-MAC First Team selection the past season. He was second on the team in scoring (13.0) while leading the Zips in assists (3.8) per game. He recorded a team-high seven games of 20 or more points this season while ranking second on the Zips for double-figure scoring games (23). He also led the team in games with five or more assists (11).
BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1.   Akron
2.   Miami (Ohio)
3.   Kent State
4.   Ohio
5.   Toledo
6.   Massachusetts
7.   Bowling Green
8.   Eastern Michigan
9.   Buffalo
10.  Western Michigan
11.  Ball State
12.  Central Michigan
13.  Northern Illinois
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
F - Delrecco Gillespie, SR, Kent State
G - Javontae Campbell, SR, Bowling Green
G - Tavari Johnson, SR, Akron
G - Jackson Paveletzke, SR, Ohio
G - Peter Suder, SR, Miami (Ohio)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Peter Suder, SR, Miami
