The MAC is quite the league in WBB and MBB.

WBB has about 6 teams with high level talent/ able to stay with top 10 teams on a regular basis. For some teams its coaching, and for others it's talent. The WBB MAC league has plenty of losses but is a 2 or 3 bid league based on merit of wins and quality of conference losses. UB and CMU and OU are going to have their losses but the losses to mid level MAC teams are quality! top 150 net/rpi teams are in our league and we will beat ourselves up with that many tough road quests.

MBB has a top 15 team with wins that keep looking better (WVU, CUSE), and a small few with gaudy win totals chasing that top team. If Toledo, CMU, Kent, and BG keep winning, it doesnt exactly point to league depth but it points to a "to be champ" with 30 wins and a bunch of other good resume teams with more than 20 wins. Even if resume's arent strong for all of the 20 win teams, its still an eye opener in the record dept.

Has the MAC ever had two 2 bid leagues at once? The Womens side may not get the Champ into the tourney with single digit losses, but like any power league its because of the parity and talent. On the mens side one team will be riding high, and could take the league out of contention for 2 bids because its so far superior....yet the league would be worthy in any other year????
Does each league need 4 top 100 teams to qualify as a 2 bid league? Whats the criteria?

Its a fun time of year folks. Enjoy.

To answer your last question. The MAC wouldn't need 4 top 100 teams. It needs 2 top 40 teams. If another MAC team went out and got OOC wins against comparable teams as Cuse, San Fran, and WVU while still being at 2 or fewer losses, we'd be talking about if the MAC could be a 3 bid league this year. Frankly, there isn't a 2nd team deserving of an at-large in men's hoops. To get a 2nd bid some team not named Buffalo will need to win the MAC tourney.

(01-20-2019 07:10 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  To answer your last question. The MAC wouldn't need 4 top 100 teams. It needs 2 top 40 teams. If another MAC team went out and got OOC against comparable teams as Cuse, San Fran, and WVU while still being at 2 or fewer losses, we'd be talking about if the MAC could be a 3 bid league this year. Frankly, there isn't a 2nd team deserving of an at-large in men's hoops. To get a 2nd bid some team not named Buffalo will need to win the MAC tourney.

Yes. That's always been the assumption. Any team above .500 wins the league while UB has 6 or less losses. UB can lose a couple but not a ton. But if UB wins the league and goes 2-1 against a team like Kent other Toledo. They can get in with a gaudy win total. 26-5 Kent will be in... Obviously easier said than done.

If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

It's more realistic the MAC beats up on itself and gets 0 teams into the NIT than it getting 3-4 teams in. Right now I'd say the only team that is in if the season ended today would be Toledo. Only 1 other MAC team is in NET top 100 (Ball St #87). After that the MAC has a bunch of teams in the 120-130 range.

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

WOW!!! ... a second MAC team, if it happens, is an 11 or 12 seed at worse, which is where a MAC team usually lands.

By MAC Tournament time, what usually happens is ... as other teams in the league and around the country lose, winning teams rise significantly. If teams like Loyola-Chicago and others that Ball State played continue winning in their conference tournaments, and BSU keeps winning as well, the Cardinals will rise significantly again.

Take a look at what happened with the A-10 last year. It was a 1-bid league until the final week of the season. Then things changed fast, and by selection Sunday the A-10 had 3 teams on the board.

It happens.

Let's hope it does for the MAC this season.

The big question is this the year that UB becomes the mid-major cinderella team and does like Loyola, George Mason, even Kent, etc. and make it to the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight (I would never predict anything more than an Elite Eight bid for any mid-major)?

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

Unless its a huge tournament upset from the bottom half of the league... no.

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

Interesting ... There are about five teams other than UB that if they had less than 8 losses they are a 10-13 seed. Toledo, BG and Kent have some to give. Toledo has 3 total losses.... You saying a 27-5 Toledo team is a 15 seed? UB is on track to be a 3 to 6 seed. They wouldn't even need upsets to get to the second weekend.

Now do I think we will beat each other up and for this all to be moot? Yeah ha. But we haven't had a top 15 caliber team in about ever? Really... So this season is different.

(01-20-2019 03:14 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

Interesting ... There are about five teams other than UB that if they had less than 8 losses they are a 10-13 seed. Toledo, BG and Kent have some to give. Toledo has 3 total losses.... You saying a 27-5 Toledo team is a 15 seed? UB is on track to be a 3 to 6 seed. They wouldn't even need upsets to get to the second weekend.

Now do I think we will beat each other up and for this all to be moot? Yeah ha. But we haven't had a top 15 caliber team in about ever? Really... So this season is different.

On another note ... thanks to Bowling Green ... The MAC East at the moment looks to be the better of the two divisions, in a year when the West was expected to dominate, even with Buffalo on the other side.

Interesting.

(01-20-2019 05:57 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 03:14 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

Interesting ... There are about five teams other than UB that if they had less than 8 losses they are a 10-13 seed. Toledo, BG and Kent have some to give. Toledo has 3 total losses.... You saying a 27-5 Toledo team is a 15 seed? UB is on track to be a 3 to 6 seed. They wouldn't even need upsets to get to the second weekend.

Now do I think we will beat each other up and for this all to be moot? Yeah ha. But we haven't had a top 15 caliber team in about ever? Really... So this season is different.

On another note ... thanks to Bowling Green ... The MAC East at the moment looks to be the better of the two divisions, in a year when the West was expected to dominate, even with Buffalo on the other side.

Interesting.

I think BG will fall back to earth a bit. Defending home court is important though. Kent State and Akron will inch back and forth for 2nd in the East. Right now I'd def take UB, BG, Akron and Kent State over Toledo, BSU, EMU and CMU.

BG already has 2 road wins including @Kent. That puts them 2 1/2 games up over Kent and 3 over Akron. Maybe Kent can win @BG and get back into the race, but no way Akron is finishing 2nd in the East. We've yet to win on the road and even our home wins have been ugly. We'll play spoilers and pick up some wins over some good teams along the way, but we lack the offensive firepower to string together 3-4 consecutive wins to get back into the race.

(01-20-2019 06:06 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 05:57 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 03:14 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed. They would then lose their first game against a top 10 opponent. Realistically, the MAC could get 3 or 4 teams in the NIT. A MAC team could then make a deep run in the NIT.

It would be great if the MAC had Buffalo as an elite 8 team and another MAC squad in the finals of the NIT. That would be the best scenario for the conference.

Interesting ... There are about five teams other than UB that if they had less than 8 losses they are a 10-13 seed. Toledo, BG and Kent have some to give. Toledo has 3 total losses.... You saying a 27-5 Toledo team is a 15 seed? UB is on track to be a 3 to 6 seed. They wouldn't even need upsets to get to the second weekend.

Now do I think we will beat each other up and for this all to be moot? Yeah ha. But we haven't had a top 15 caliber team in about ever? Really... So this season is different.

On another note ... thanks to Bowling Green ... The MAC East at the moment looks to be the better of the two divisions, in a year when the West was expected to dominate, even with Buffalo on the other side.

Interesting.

I think BG will fall back to earth a bit. Defending home court is important though. Kent State and Akron will inch back and forth for 2nd in the East. Right now I'd def take UB, BG, Akron and Kent State over Toledo, BSU, EMU and CMU.

Actually, BG is 1 or 2 in the East ... everybody else is scratching for third in the division. Unlike the old days, tough to see either division getting more than two of the four byes ... all others playing for mac-tournament home game.

Therefore I am

Projected Final Standings:

East

1. Buffalo 17-1
2. Bowling Green 11-7
3. Kent State 9-9
4. Akron 7-11
5. Ohio 7-11
6. Miami 6-12

West

1. Toledo 12-6
2. Ball State 11-7
3. Central Michigan 10-8
4. Northern Illinois 10-8
5. Eastern Michigan 6-12
6. Western Michigan 3-15

(01-20-2019 03:00 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

Unless its a huge tournament upset from the bottom half of the league... no.

Right. In my time watching, I dont think the MAC has ever been a 15 or 16 seed. It would take a BAD team winning the tournament to warrant that. Even still, our low end teams will have a better NET than a lot of the bottom conference tournament winners.

(01-22-2019 12:03 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 03:00 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

Unless its a huge tournament upset from the bottom half of the league... no.

Right. In my time watching, I dont think the MAC has ever been a 15 or 16 seed. It would take a BAD team winning the tournament to warrant that. Even still, our low end teams will have a better NET than a lot of the bottom conference tournament winners.

Akron was a 15th seed in 2011. They won the MAC tournament as a 6th seed. I'm sure there has had to of been other 15 seeds. I highly doubt the MAC has had a 16th, at least in modern history.

(01-22-2019 01:05 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(01-22-2019 12:03 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 03:00 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

Unless its a huge tournament upset from the bottom half of the league... no.

Right. In my time watching, I dont think the MAC has ever been a 15 or 16 seed. It would take a BAD team winning the tournament to warrant that. Even still, our low end teams will have a better NET than a lot of the bottom conference tournament winners.

Akron was a 15th seed in 2011. They won the MAC tournament as a 6th seed. I'm sure there has had to of been other 15 seeds. I highly doubt the MAC has had a 16th, at least in modern history.

Ball St was a 15 seed in 1993 and played Kansas tough in the first round, eventually losing by 22. I am pretty sure Roy Williams was the HC at Kansas at the time and I recall him saying no way was Ball St a 15 seed.

(01-24-2019 02:31 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  

(01-22-2019 01:05 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(01-22-2019 12:03 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 03:00 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 11:13 AM)Rocket75 Wrote:  If any team other than Buffalo gets in, they would likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

Unless its a huge tournament upset from the bottom half of the league... no.

Right. In my time watching, I dont think the MAC has ever been a 15 or 16 seed. It would take a BAD team winning the tournament to warrant that. Even still, our low end teams will have a better NET than a lot of the bottom conference tournament winners.

Akron was a 15th seed in 2011. They won the MAC tournament as a 6th seed. I'm sure there has had to of been other 15 seeds. I highly doubt the MAC has had a 16th, at least in modern history.

Ball St was a 15 seed in 1993 and played Kansas tough in the first round, eventually losing by 22. I am pretty sure Roy Williams was the HC at Kansas at the time and I recall him saying no way was Ball St a 15 seed.

Having said that, if some one other than Buffalo wins the MAC, they won't be a 15 or 16 seed, unless they are one of the lower seeds in the conference tournament.

There are 14 conference leaders (that takes care of the 14-16 seeds) in the RPI with worse RPI than: UB, Ohio, BGSUcks, KSU & Toledo.

There are 14 conference leaders (takes care of the same 14-16 seeds) with NET rankings worse than: UB, Ball St, BGSUcks, & Toledo.

Prior to last nights loss BGSU was in sole possession of 1st place. Lunardi therefore had BGSU added to his bracket as the MAC's auto-bid. He gave them a 14 seed in his bracket which sounds about right given their slow start in the OOC season.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...acketology