I read an article by Mike DeCourcey in The Sporting News that the MAC essentially cannabalized itself with a conference eating 18 game schedule.

Dakich and other coaches have indicated they'd like to see the 18 game conference schedule reduced to 16 or 14 (14 sounds too few).

It will be discussed in June by the MAC.

No word if it could pass, but it is up for discussion.

I should have added that Chryst was quoted in the article as saying the issue could be discussed.

DeCourcy interviewed Chryst after the NCAA selections were made.

Chryst's major issue was that there was a "moving target" for selections.

With 12 teams, 16 games sounds about right. However, finding 2 extra games could be difficult. I don't have a problem with 18 games. The Big Ten has done it for years. It also show how important the MAC regular season is. Getting a top seed is important, and 18 games help determine who deserves those top seeds. Ball State,Miami and Western Michigan each started hot, but faded down the strech like a Derby winner in the Belmont. Ohio,Toledo, Akron and Buffalo started rather shaky, but were the better teams in the end.

it seems the options are to continue cannibalizing ourselves or give up 2 conference games and replace them by unattractive OOC games.

Neither choice is win-win.

Let's hope that we can both reduce the number of conference games AND improve the quality of out of conference games.

What factors can help in improving the quality of out of conference games?

1-the Bracket Buster event has helped some

2-you would think that improvements in facilities, like the one at Northern Illinois and those being discussed at Central Michigan, Toledo, and Bowling Green, would help through larger attendance, higher payouts, better image, etc.

3-comments have already been made about how inviting Temple and Western Kentucky could raise the image of the MAC and perhaps make it easier to schedule better out of conference games

4-we now have a new position in the MAC office devoted specifically to improving MAC basketball

5-maybe the MAC could tie football and basketball scheduling together more closely to improve out of conference scheduling, e.g., we'll play you in football if you'll also play a basketball game.

6-Can ESPN help in basketball the way it has in football, e.g., arranging noteworthy games between MAC and good out of conference teams? I think it would really help if we could get more out of conference games on TV. In fact, this might be the most important step of all.

I'm really brainstorming here trying to come up with possibilities.

One positive note I think is that it looks like Commissioner Chryst has decided to make improving MAC basketball a priority.