2001–02 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

2001–02 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
Number of teams13
Regular season
League championsKent State
Season MVPKeith McLeod
Tournament
ChampionsKent State
  Runners-upBowling Green
Finals MVPTrevor Huffman
2001–02 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East
Kent State171 .944306  .833
Bowling Green126 .667249  .727
Ohio117 .6111711  .607
Miami (OH)99 .5001318  .419
Marshall810 .4441515  .500
Buffalo711 .3891218  .400
Akron513 .2781021  .323
West
Ball State126 .6672312  .657
Toledo117 .6111614  .533
Western Michigan108 .5561713  .567
Northern Illinois810 .4441216  .429
Central Michigan513 .278919  .321
Eastern Michigan216 .111624  .200
2002 MAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2001–02 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2001, followed by the start of the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2002 and concluded in March 2002. Ball State was the runner-up in the 2001 Maui Invitational Tournament. They opened their season by beating #4 Kansas and #3 UCLA before losing to #1 Duke in the final.

Kent State won the regular season title with a conference record of 17–1 by five games over second-place Ball State and Bowling Green. Kent State defeated Bowling Green in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament. There they defeated Oklahoma State, Alabama, and Pittsburgh before losing to then eventual national runner-up Indiana Hoosiers in the Elite Eight.