The 2021–22 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2021, followed by the start of the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference began in January 2021 and concluded in March 2022. Toledo won their second straight MAC regular season title with a 17–3 conference record.
Fourth seeded Akron defeated Kent State in the final of the MAC tournament. With the automatic bid, Akron was the only MAC schools to qualify for the NCAA tournament where they lost to UCLA in the first round. Toledo accepted a bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost to Dayton in the first round. Ohio accepted a bid to the College Basketball Invitational. Kent State accepted a bid to The Basketball Classic.
Preseason awards
The preseason coaches' poll and league awards were announced by the league office on November 3, 2021.
Preseason men's basketball coaches poll
(First place votes in parentheses) Buffalo (11) 143 Ohio 126 Toledo (1) 107 Kent State 98 Akron (2) 95 Bowling Green 93 Miami 92 Ball State 54 Western Michigan 44 Central Michigan 34 Eastern Michigan 29 Northern Illinois 21
MAC tournament champions: Buffalo (8), Bowling Green (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)