Kentucky has been chosen to win the regular season Mid-American Conference title by a vote of the league’s coaches. The Wildcats received 44 of a possible 49 points and four first-place votes in the preseason poll. Kentucky finished the 2000 season in a four-way tie for first place in the MAC, with a 4-2 record in conference play. Ending with an overall mark of 12-9-1, the Wildcats won the 2000 MAC Tournament and continued to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling 3-1 to SMU. Right behind the Wildcats in the preseason poll is Akron, finishing with 41 points and three first-place votes. The Zips have won the last four MAC regular season championships, including three outright (1997-99). Finishing the 2000 season with a 7-7-3 overall mark (4-2 MAC), the Zips will return a first team All-MAC selection at each position, including senior goalkeeper Kyle Milligan, a three-time first-teamer. Completing the four-way tie in 2000 were Bowling Green and Marshall, who are picked to finish third and fourth, respectively, in 2001. Bowling Green, tallying 34 points from the coaches, finished the 2000 campaign 9-8-1. Marshall, earning 32 points, will welcome back MAC Player of the Year, junior forward Byron Carmichael. The league leader in goals (20), points (41) and points per match (2.05) will lead the Herd, who finished with an impressive overall mark of 14-5-1. Northern Illinois finished fifth with 19 points. The Huskies, 12-8 overall in 2000 and 3-4 in the MAC, will return one member of the All-MAC second team, Nick Park. Western Michigan finished sixth in the balloting with 16 points, while Buffalo finished seventh, with 10. Both teams concluded the 2000 season with marks of 1-5. Western Michigan will return the MAC Newcomer of the Year in Reece Richardson, as well as four All-MAC second team members. Joining Richardson from the WMU second-team contingent are Mike Bravo, Rob Friend and Scott Duhl. Mid-American Preseason Poll (Regular-Season) 1. Kentucky (4) 44 2. Akron (3) 41 3. Bowling Green 34 4. Marshall 32 5. Northern Illinois 19 6. Western Michigan 16 7. Buffalo 10