I was one of the few people who watched the Buffalo @ NIU game last evening. Buffalo lost by 4 and was 9 of 22 from the FT line. Also near the end of the game, an NIU player's shoe slipped off and a Buffalo player threw it into the stands resulting in a technical foul. Good times.
I take into account that Central won their last 2 games in Double OT, including over BG on Saturday. Zips had an extra day off and were on home court. Central's Pritchard had a pretty good shoulder injury. Central doesn't have the Zips talent or experience, so you combine that with the other factors outcome not surprising.
https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2024/02/judge-rules-tj-crumble-star-richmond-heights-basketball-prospect-ineligible-for-rest-of-sophomore-season.html
This is off-topic (and not behind a pay-wall). Thought this was as good a place as any other to drop this.
here is the MAC tourrnament simulator:
My first draft had Zips playing Ball State in the Quarters and the Flashes staying home.
https://bball.notnothing.net/bracket.php?conf=macm
My point was that the top tier MAC guys aren't making lateral moves to other MAC schools. Both Toledo and Akron poached from NIU. The benefit is that they have more familiarity with the players other than film and see developing potential and attitude problems (the latter something Senderoff missed with Bass).
I didn't watch the game but watched the replay, so I saw this and kept looking for Darrion Baker on the floor during the first few minutes. No..that's Dawson. Wait..nope that's Ali. Hmm.
When we get in late February, I will post the MAC tournament simulator. you can play out all the remaining MAC games to see how the teams will be seeded in different scenarios.