While MACtion gained popularity during the autumn season, there is no justification for it to be any less thrilling in March.
This week marks the commencement of the Mid-American Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, where two Michigan teams aim to intensify the excitement and secure their spots in the NCAA Tournament.
On Wednesday afternoon, the women’s basketball team of Western Michigan, seeded 7th, is set to face off against the 2nd seed, Buffalo. Meanwhile, the men’s team of Central Michigan, seeded 8th, will play against the top seed, Toledo, at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
How to watch the MAC Tournament
The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio will host both the MAC tournaments for men and women. The women’s quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday while the men’s quarterfinals will take place on Thursday. However, the court will be shared by both tournaments for the semifinals on Friday and the finals on Saturday.
MAC teams have a knack for making a significant impact on March Madness, as the winners of their respective NCAA Tournament automatically secure a spot.
MAC Women’s Basketball Schedule
- The quarterfinals on Wednesday will be aired on ESPN+. The first game will be between No. 1 Toledo and No. 8 Ohio at 11 a.m. The second game, No. 4 Northern Illinois versus No. 5 Ball State, will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Following Game 2, there will be a matchup between No. 2 Buffalo and No. 7 Western Michigan, starting 30 minutes later. Lastly, No. 3 Akron will face No. 6 Bowling Green, commencing 30 minutes after Game 3.
- The semifinals will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and can be watched on ESPN+.
- The final match will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.
MAC Men’s Basketball Schedule
- The quarterfinals on Thursday will be aired on ESPN+. The first match will be between No. 1 Toledo and No. 8 Central Michigan at 11 a.m. Following that, there will be a match between No. 4 Akron and No. 5 Buffalo, starting 30 minutes after the first game. The third match will be between No. 2 Kent State and No. 7 Miami (OH), 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game. Lastly, No. 3 Ohio will face No. 6 Ball State, starting 30 minutes after the third game.
- The Semifinals will commence on Friday at 5 p.m. with Game 1, followed by Game 2 on CBS Sports Network just 30 minutes after.
- The finals will be aired on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
MAC Tournament odds
Toledo is the top contender in the men’s tournament, being favored heavily and having close to equal chances according to several sportsbooks.
Finishing the season on a high note, the Rockets dominated with a stellar 25-6 overall record, including an outstanding 17-3 conference record. Their remarkable performance in the final five games ensured their position as the top seed in the tournament.
It has been 41 years since Toledo last won the MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament in 1980.
Kent State and Ohio have taken divergent paths as they enter the tournament. After starting the season with a mediocre record, the Golden Flashes managed to win their last 12 games, securing the No. 2 seed. Their sole defeat occurred on January 21 against Buffalo, and since then, they have emerged victorious against all conference opponents, even securing a notable away win against Toledo.
Ohio, the defending tournament champion, experienced a downfall in its final three games of the season, ultimately losing its first-place tie with Toledo. Notably, the Bobcats suffered defeats against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, both of which failed to secure a spot in the conference tournament.
With a record of 7-22 (6-12 MAC), Central Michigan enters the tournament as a longshot. They have lost their last three games and eight out of their last nine.
No women’s futures odds
Despite the inclusion of women’s basketball games in the daily lineup of certain sportsbooks, the absence of conference tournament futures remains a notable gap.
Assuming their existence, Toledo would undeniably have the upper hand, having triumphed in a remarkable 19 games within the league this season. With an impressive overall record of 25-4 and an outstanding 19-1 record in the league, the Rockets are on a remarkable winning streak of 11 consecutive games as they enter the postseason. The only blemish on their league record occurred on January 26th when they suffered a home defeat against Ohio.
They are currently ranked just below the Associated Press Top 25, sharing the sixth position with other teams receiving votes.
Toledo has emerged victorious in the MAC women’s tournament on eight occasions, with their most recent triumph occurring in 2017.
With a 16-13 overall record and a 10-10 standing in MAC play, Western Michigan heads into the postseason. Their sole encounter with first-round adversary Buffalo concluded in a 71-64 defeat on February 7th.
