Ohio was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division preseason poll, the conference announced Wednesday.
Ohio also received two first-place votes, and Kent State was projected to finish first with nine votes.
The Bobcats are coming off a 36-21 (17-10, MAC) 2015 season, in which they won the MAC Tournament for the first time since 1997.
Central Michigan was picked to top the MAC West Division with six first-place votes. Ball State was picked second with three votes.
Ohio did not receive any votes to win the conference tournament.
The season begins Friday when Ohio plays at UNC Asheville.