2011–12 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

The 2011–12 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2011, followed by the start of the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2012 and concluded in March 2012. Akron won the regular season title with a conference record of 13–3 over second place Buffalo. Third-seeded Ohio defeated Akron in the MAC tournament final and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament where they defeated Michigan and South Florida then lost in the Sweet Sixteen to top-seeded North Carolina in overtime.

Preseason awards
The preseason poll and league awards were announced by the league office on October 28, 2015.

Preseason men's basketball poll
(First place votes in parentheses)

East Division

 * 1) Kent State 132 (16)
 * 2) Akron 104 (8)
 * 3) Ohio 94
 * 4)  80
 * 5) Buffalo 62
 * 6) Bowling Green 32

West Division

 * 1)  128 (14)
 * 2) Ball State 111 (9)
 * 3)  92 (1)
 * 4) Toledo 76
 * 5)  59
 * 6) Eastern Michigan 38

Tournament champs
Kent State (12), Akron (6), Ball State (3), Western Michigan (2), Central Michigan (1)

Postseason awards

 * 1) Coach of the Year: Rob Murphy, Eastern Michigan
 * 2) Player of the Year: Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
 * 3) Freshman of the Year: Julius Brown, Toledo
 * 4) Defensive Player of the Year: Zeke Marshall, Akron
 * 5) Sixth Man of the Year: Quincy Diggs, Akron