MAC TOURNAMENT BRACKETS SET

[KingZip]

1) Miami (12-6)

2) Toledo (11-7) (1-0 vs WMU)

3) WMU (11-7) (3-2 in TB)

4) Ohio (11-7) (4-3 in TB) (1-0 vs Toledo)

5) Can't (11-7) (4-3 in TB) (0-1 vs Toledo)

6) Akron (11-7) (3-4 in TB)

7) Buffalo (11-7) (3-5 in TB)

8) BG (10-8) (1-0 vs Miami)

9) Ball State (10-8) (1-1 vs Miami)

10) NIU (7-11)

11) EMU (5-13)

12) CMU (4-14)

13) [screw 'em] (3-15)

First Round - Monday, March 7 - campus sites

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1 Northern Illinois at Buffalo

2 Eastern Michigan at Akron

3 Ball State at Bowling Green

4 Central Michigan at Can't State

5 Marshall at Ohio

Quarterfinals - Thursday, March 10

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6 Toledo vs. NIU/Buffalo , 12:00 PM ET

7 Western Michigan vs. EMU/Akron, 2:00 PM ET

8 Miami vs. Ball State/BGSU, 7:00 PM ET

9 Winner Game 4 vs. Marshall/Ohio, 9:00 PM ET

Semifinals - Friday, March 11

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10 Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 7:00 PM ET

11 Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7 9:00 PM ET

MAC Men's Basketball Championship - Saturday, March 12

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12 Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 7:00 PM ET

[Zip Watcher]

I couldn't agree more that this draw is pretty favorable:

- No Can't State, OU or Miami until the finals. Basically playing the West while the rest of the East plays in the other half of the bracket.

- Miami could likely have to play BG then Can't or OU .. that's a tough draw for a #1 seed.

- EMU played a great game today it appears & they will come to play. If I remember right, there is some size on that club, so the glass will need some attention.

- It was mentioned by French during the UB game that "No team that has played on Monday has gone on to win the MAC tournament in Gund Arena" .. that's amazing!! But it can't last forever. I think the 2 and 3 seeds aren't as strong right now as the 4-7 are IMHO.

Let's Go ZIPS!

How about a full house on Monday! I think it needs to be done!

[Z-Pouch]

It is a nice draw avoiding the stronger East until the semifinals or maybe finals but the league is so balanced. I dont know if anyone saw the special on KD and the Zips on Cleveland's WEWS sports special -- nicely done, 5 minute or so piece with coach, player and MAC commish interviews. But to the point, the rest of the special was about the MAC tourney and expectations that anyone can win it and there's going to be a lot of close contests. I dont think there are any clear favorites - Past years, clearly there was one team to beat. Not so this year, I'm with ZW - I think the string of champs coming from the #1-3 seeds will be ended.

[zipboy]

I wonder if the league is office is praying for no upsets in round 1. If everything goes according to plan, the top 8 draws including all 6 Ohio schools will be at Gund for the 1st time ever. A friday night semi of Akron/Buffalo and Miami vs Can't/OU could pull in 15K+.