[align=center][size=large]MAC MADNESS AT THE Q![/size]
[size=large]CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OHIO BOBCATS!!!!!!!!!![/size]



Click here to view a PDF Bracket

FIRST ROUND - SUNDAY, MARCH 7 (Campus Sites)
(7) Western Michigan 75, (10) Bowling Green 73
(6) Eastern Michigan 65, (11) Northern Illinois 59
(9) Ohio 85, (8) Ball State 77 F/OT
(5) Buffalo 72, (12) Toledo 54

QUARTERFINALS - THURSDAY, MARCH 11 (Quicken Loans Arena)
(7) Western Michigan 69, (2) Central Michigan 60
(3) Akron 97, (6) Eastern Michigan 89 F/2OT
(9) Ohio 81, (1) Kent State 64
(4) Miami 73, Buffalo 59

SEMIFINALS - FRIDAY, MARCH 12 (Quicken Loans Arena)
(3) Akron 66, (7) Western Michigan 64
(9) Ohio 54, (4) Miami 42

FINALS - SATURDAY, MARCH 13 (Quicken Loans Arena)
(9) Ohio 81, (3) Akron 75 F/OT

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The conference has yet to have one quality win OOC. It looks like only one team will make it to the NCAA's and they will probably be one and done.

FairwoodKing wrote: The conference has yet to have one quality win OOC. It looks like only one team will make it to the NCAA's and they will probably be one and done.

The MAC is pretty bad right now. They were a one bid league to begin with, and have done nothing but solidify that position.

I look for Miami to make a little noise, at least I hope so. They have so many tough and close losses.

Azubuike24 wrote: I look for Miami to make a little noise, at least I hope so. They have so many tough and close losses.

I agree with that. I was actually shocked when I saw their overall record. They played so well against Kentucky, Cinci, and Xavier.

I went up against Nick Winbush in summer leagues a couple of times in high school. Tough guy to guard.

My boy Scott Thomas at BG just dropped 27pts on Kent St I think it was. I remember on JJ where someone kept chiming in to repeat how bad BG would be this year. They are young and solid this year.

Mulva wrote:

Azubuike24 wrote: I look for Miami to make a little noise, at least I hope so. They have so many tough and close losses.

I agree with that. I was actually shocked when I saw their overall record. They played so well against Kentucky, Cinci, and Xavier.

I went up against Nick Winbush in summer leagues a couple of times in high school. Tough guy to guard.

That's the part thats confusing to me as well. That team had Kentucky and Cinci beat practically, and for us hung around every second of the game but just couldn't finish.

HiddenGems wrote: My boy Scott Thomas at BG just dropped 27pts on Kent St I think it was. I remember on JJ where someone kept chiming in to repeat how bad BG would be this year. They are young and solid this year.

I was one of those who didn't (and doesn't) think BG will be anything but a .500 team at best in the MAC. I'm also a graduate, so I hope I'm wrong.

Yeah Miami has had a crazy season.

Lost to Louisiana Tech by 12, Dayton by 7, Kentucky by 2, Xavier by 3, Wisconsin-Milwaukee by 7 and Colorado by 2. They also played Temple and New Mexico.

Can't accuse them of not playing anyone OOC. Then again, this has worked for them in the past. That's why they can possibly make noise in the MAC.

My boys from Kent State have disappointed me this year. So far we have four close losses, including two in overtime. We are only a few points away from having a stellar season.

I think Kent will take the conference, but I don't expect us to make any noise in the NCAA assuming we get there. KSU has had some painful losses this year.

Kent is in first place now, but just by a hair. I still predict that they will win the MAC.

Michael Reghi is still cleaning the load out of his pants after calling this dunk (and 1) that Kent won with on Saturday.

BracketBusters pairings come out today, times and TV for them next Monday.

I remember a couple of naysayers on the freehuddle concerning Bowling Green being so terrible this year and as I pointed out at the time, Coach Orr knows what he's doing and while the Falcons aren't headed for the Tournament, they are having a very successful year with a bunch of really young guys who have, for the most part, bought into what Coach Orr has been preaching to them.

Kent won their seventh in a row today. If we had played better against Miami and BG earlier in the season, we would be blowing out the MAC right now. Kent should still be the favorite, but it will be tough.

Kent won again tonight. This makes eight in a row.

I'm really looking forward to Saturday. I get to see both of my teams (Kent and Dayton) on TV out here in Seattle.

The only two teams in the MAC with decent records are Kent and Akron, and both of them have some bad losses. It's clear that the MAC will only get one team in the NCAA's and probably only one in the NIT.

FairwoodKing wrote: The only two teams in the MAC with decent records are Kent and Akron, and both of them have some bad losses. It's clear that the MAC will only get one team in the NCAA's and probably only one in the NIT.

Miami could still screw Kent or Akron out of any relevant postseason play with the way they are playing, either by sneaking out the regular season crown (guarantees you the NIT if you miss the NCAA) or knocking off Kent and/or Akron in the tourney.

They are the only 3 teams that can realistically win the regular season or the tourney in my opinion.

The MAC is pretty much doomed this season as far as the NCAA or NIT Tournaments are concerned. They will only get one team in each Tournament, given the very poor over-all records and the multitude of "bad losses" they have piled up over this season.There isn't really any possible "Cinderella's " coming out of the Mac Tournament either. Unless something very strange happens, it looks like a possible double "one and done" Tournament season for the MAC. There won't even be the need for some MAC supporter to bewail the lack of respect for MAC Basketball this season. Respect hasn't really been earned. I still like this Bowling Green team for the future. I think they are a lot further ahead of schedule than many thought. Now, if they can just keep their team in tact and come back next season with the "fire" necessary to make a legitimate run at a League Title. BG could be the kind of team that may be able to pick up an unexpected victory or two in the post season. They have absolutely nothing to lose and are very young.

swamp: Doesn't BG lose a few starters again after this season? I don't see enough talent on the team right now (that's coming back) to make that big of a turnaround in one season.

Now, with the new arena coming, I can see BG stepping up its recruiting and the program taking a jump forward; but that won't happen for a few years, at least.

Trust me Swamp Fox, no one is going to say the MAC is getting screwed.

Anyone who watches the MAC knows that it's horrible and has been for a few years, there's no respect to be had for the MAC and people realize that.

I was at least hoping that Kent and Akron would end up with respectable records, but after watching Kent today, I'm not expecting anything.

At least Kent got back on the winning track today. Pity that Kent only won 19 games last year. That snapped a 10-year streak of winning at least 20 games per season.

The MAC did pretty well in the Bracketbusters today. The glaring exception was Akron. I watched the game and I still don't know how they got blasted that badly.

My boys from Kent State won, but we didn't look that good. Oh, well, a win is a win.

Although Ohio hasn't been playing particularly well this season, to put them in the same category as Toledo is a great disservice to the Bobcats. They are still at 15-13 overall and while 5-8 isn't a great MAC record, it trumps by quite a distance, the abysmal Toledo record of 0-13 in the MAC and 3-25 overall. Ohio is having a sub-par season. Toledo is currently experiencing one of the worst seasons any team has ever gone through in MAC history.