Men's Basketball Tournament Schedule

March 10th - First Round - Campus Sites
Game 1: No. 12 Seed at No. 5 Seed, TBA
Game 2: No. 9 Seed at No. 8 Seed, TBA
Game 3: No. 10 Seed at No. 7 Seed, TBA
Game 4: No. 11 Seed at No. 6 Seed, TBA

March 12th - Second Round - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner. 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Game 3 Winner v. Game 4 Winner*

March 13th - Quarterfinals - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 4 Seed, 6:30 p.m.
Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 3 Seed*

March 14th - Semifinals - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 1 Seed, 6:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 2 Seed*

March 15th - Championship - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 11: Championship Game, TBA

(02-18-2014 03:39 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Men's Basketball Tournament Schedule

March 10th - First Round - Campus Sites
Game 1: No. 12 Seed at No. 5 Seed, TBA
Game 2: No. 9 Seed at No. 8 Seed, TBA
Game 3: No. 10 Seed at No. 7 Seed, TBA
Game 4: No. 11 Seed at No. 6 Seed, TBA

March 12th - Second Round - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner. 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Game 3 Winner v. Game 4 Winner*

March 13th - Quarterfinals - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 4 Seed, 6:30 p.m.
Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 3 Seed*

March 14th - Semifinals - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 1 Seed, 6:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 2 Seed*

March 15th - Championship - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 11: Championship Game, TBA

Here is how it stands if everything were to end right now (Afternoon of 2/19):

Top 4 seeds
1. Western Michigan
2. Toledo
3. Akron
4. Ohio

Campus Sites - First Round
Game 1: Central Michigan @ Buffalo, TBA
Game 2: Miami-OH @ Kent State TBA
Game 3: Bowling Green State @ Northern Illinois TBA
Game 4: Ball State @ Eastern Michigan, TBA

March 12th - Second Round - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 5: Central Michigan/Buffalo vs Miami-OH/Kent State 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Bowling Green State/Northern Illinois vs Ball State/Eastern Michigan

Big shakeup after the games of 2/19, there are the up-to-date matchups, Buffalo soars into the 3 slot.

Top 4 seeds
1. Western Michigan
2. Toledo
3. Buffalo
4. Akron

Campus Sites - First Round
Game 1: Ball State @ Ohio TBA
Game 2: Bowling Green State @ Northern Illinois TBA
Game 3: Miami-OH @ Kent State TBA
Game 4: Central Michigan @ Eastern Michigan TBA

March 12th - Second Round - Quicken Loans Arena
Game 5: Ball State/Ohio vs Bowling Green State/Northern Illinois 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Miami-OH/Kent State vs Central Michigan/Eastern Michigan

Remember UB has tiebreaker with Western.. That could come into play at some point here.

Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

Helped.

I agree it has helped. You should be rewarded for your play during the season, especially in an 18-game schedule.

(02-20-2014 12:55 AM)BullBoy Wrote:  I agree it has helped. You should be rewarded for your play during the season, especially in an 18-game schedule.

I agree.

Folks like, I think, that some Cinderella gets hot the last week of the regular season and wins a no-bye tourney makes a nice story but would be a disaster for the conference.

This year I would be shocked if someone other than the 'power six' wins the tourney.

This year the top 6 are so beautifully matched.

I posted elsewhere if I were setting odds to win the tourney today it might be something like:

Toledo 4:1
WMU and Akron 5:1
UB and EMU 5.5:1
Ohio 6:1 (based on some problems on that teams, e.g., injuries, etc.).

Then say NIU 15:1
Miami, Kent and BG 20:1

CMU and BSU: 75:1

(odds are associated with probabilities and probabilities should sum to 1. I didn't do the math so the sum of my odds aren't precise).

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Yea I think you have to do that for the regular season to mean enough. Realistically, which is a better measure of how good a team is, 18 games, or 4?

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

(02-20-2014 11:14 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

Agree it makes the top 4 (and obviously the top 2) likely tourney winners. Nine - 12 have a huge hill to climb as indicated. Lot of games to win, including the first on the road.

One thing I've noticed about the NCAAs is that, at least in the big time conferences) winning the conference tourney frequently is a MINUS for the team. They play too many games in too short a period of time, frequently playing on Selection Sunday and if they start the NCAA tourney on Thursday they frequently come up flat. Upset city.

I think a lot of power conference coaches aren't terribly upset at losing in the semis of their conference tourney and save their team for the really big dance, the one which really counts....

MAC has a good deal with the finals on Saturday and the winner probably playing only 2 or 3 games.

Maybe that's we can be dangerous in the Big Dance.

(02-20-2014 11:14 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

Never say never. I offer you the precautionary tale of what has befallen the Sun Belt Men's Tournament the last three seasons.

2011: Top Seed FAU Second Seed ASU: Results: FAU loses round 1 to 7th seed. ASU loses round 1 to 8th seed. 8th seed UALR wins the tournament. Gets relegated to the play in game and takes a bad loss.

2012: Top seed MTSU Second Seed UALR: Results: MTSU loses round 1 to the 9th seed. UALR loses round 1 to the 7th seed. 7th seed WKU wins tourney. Goes to play in game and wins, eventually beat by Kentucky

2013: Top Seed MTSU (19-1 league record) Second Seed: ASU Results: MTSU loses in Semifinals to 4th Seed. ASU loses in Semifinals to 6th seed. 6th seed WKU wins tourney. WKU avoids play in round, but MTSU gets in as an At Large and has to play in the first four, where they get beat.


Coaches and administrators got so annoyed at our constant trips to Dayton, that we completely re-designed the whole tournament multiple times in this period, and finally settled with this years format: Only the top 8 teams qualify for the tourney, and the top two seeds get a direct bye to the Semifinals. Problem is, complaints are already rolling in from every direction about the new format, and we're still a couple weeks out from the start date.

I disagree that the MAC top seeds are helped by only playing two games. In the sense they aren't tired is great. But this season Toledo was (probably isn't now) vying for an at large. Two wins and a loss would be better vs. RPI 50-150 teams than one before the loss in the championship. Especially if that win in the quarterfinals is a win vs. a team the top seed split against. This season for example Toledo could hypothetically beat EMU for the hypothetical second time assuming we beat em in two weeks. You never know if one more quality win is what the committee needed to see?

Why take the chance? The fewer games you have to play in a knockout format, the better.

(02-24-2014 01:48 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 11:14 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:32 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Has the tournament format with the higher seeds getting multiple byes helped or hurt in your opinion?

While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

Never say never. I offer you the precautionary tale of what has befallen the Sun Belt Men's Tournament the last three seasons.

2011: Top Seed FAU Second Seed ASU: Results: FAU loses round 1 to 7th seed. ASU loses round 1 to 8th seed. 8th seed UALR wins the tournament. Gets relegated to the play in game and takes a bad loss.

2012: Top seed MTSU Second Seed UALR: Results: MTSU loses round 1 to the 9th seed. UALR loses round 1 to the 7th seed. 7th seed WKU wins tourney. Goes to play in game and wins, eventually beat by Kentucky

2013: Top Seed MTSU (19-1 league record) Second Seed: ASU Results: MTSU loses in Semifinals to 4th Seed. ASU loses in Semifinals to 6th seed. 6th seed WKU wins tourney. WKU avoids play in round, but MTSU gets in as an At Large and has to play in the first four, where they get beat.


Coaches and administrators got so annoyed at our constant trips to Dayton, that we completely re-designed the whole tournament multiple times in this period, and finally settled with this years format: Only the top 8 teams qualify for the tourney, and the top two seeds get a direct bye to the Semifinals. Problem is, complaints are already rolling in from every direction about the new format, and we're still a couple weeks out from the start date.

Didnt WKU win the league a few years ago with a nice record? Thought I saw that a few years ago, so would assume they might have some experience in terms of the tournaments and big dance than everyone else. Seems strange they didnt replicate during the season though.

(02-24-2014 10:51 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-24-2014 01:48 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 11:14 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 08:20 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  While it doesn't feel like much of a "tournament" when two teams automatically go to the semi-finals in a 12 team league, I like that it places heavy importance on the regular season, as others have mentioned. That will make these last couple weeks very exciting, as teams know what is at stake.

Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

Never say never. I offer you the precautionary tale of what has befallen the Sun Belt Men's Tournament the last three seasons.

2011: Top Seed FAU Second Seed ASU: Results: FAU loses round 1 to 7th seed. ASU loses round 1 to 8th seed. 8th seed UALR wins the tournament. Gets relegated to the play in game and takes a bad loss.

2012: Top seed MTSU Second Seed UALR: Results: MTSU loses round 1 to the 9th seed. UALR loses round 1 to the 7th seed. 7th seed WKU wins tourney. Goes to play in game and wins, eventually beat by Kentucky

2013: Top Seed MTSU (19-1 league record) Second Seed: ASU Results: MTSU loses in Semifinals to 4th Seed. ASU loses in Semifinals to 6th seed. 6th seed WKU wins tourney. WKU avoids play in round, but MTSU gets in as an At Large and has to play in the first four, where they get beat.


Coaches and administrators got so annoyed at our constant trips to Dayton, that we completely re-designed the whole tournament multiple times in this period, and finally settled with this years format: Only the top 8 teams qualify for the tourney, and the top two seeds get a direct bye to the Semifinals. Problem is, complaints are already rolling in from every direction about the new format, and we're still a couple weeks out from the start date.

Didnt WKU win the league a few years ago with a nice record? Thought I saw that a few years ago, so would assume they might have some experience in terms of the tournaments and big dance than everyone else. Seems strange they didnt replicate during the season though.

They made the Sweet 16 several years back. The last couple years they have been frighteningly average in the regular season, and then they go on a major tourney run.

Unfortunately that doesn't stop them from making the play in game.

(02-24-2014 12:42 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-24-2014 10:51 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-24-2014 01:48 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 11:14 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  

(02-20-2014 10:17 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Good point, Sam.

The #1 and #2 seeds can win 2 games and the 'tourney'. That's a mini-tourney.

It really seems that the 'preliminary rounds' of the tourney are underway now for for the next couple weeks.

Truthfully, we dont need the 1 or 2 seeds playing the bottom feeders again or even the 7, 8 seeds. We know the 1 or 2s can beat them.

Also, I think as a Mid-Major, and going against the excitement of what March Madness is about, I think most would want our best "foot" forward team to represent in the tournament. Granted OU made it as a 5th MAC tourney seed or something like that if I remember right, so you can get hot at the moment, but I wouldn't believe a seed lower than that like a 10 who gets hot at the last moment and stuns everyone to make the tourney will do anything for representation of the conference.

Never say never. I offer you the precautionary tale of what has befallen the Sun Belt Men's Tournament the last three seasons.

2011: Top Seed FAU Second Seed ASU: Results: FAU loses round 1 to 7th seed. ASU loses round 1 to 8th seed. 8th seed UALR wins the tournament. Gets relegated to the play in game and takes a bad loss.

2012: Top seed MTSU Second Seed UALR: Results: MTSU loses round 1 to the 9th seed. UALR loses round 1 to the 7th seed. 7th seed WKU wins tourney. Goes to play in game and wins, eventually beat by Kentucky

2013: Top Seed MTSU (19-1 league record) Second Seed: ASU Results: MTSU loses in Semifinals to 4th Seed. ASU loses in Semifinals to 6th seed. 6th seed WKU wins tourney. WKU avoids play in round, but MTSU gets in as an At Large and has to play in the first four, where they get beat.


Coaches and administrators got so annoyed at our constant trips to Dayton, that we completely re-designed the whole tournament multiple times in this period, and finally settled with this years format: Only the top 8 teams qualify for the tourney, and the top two seeds get a direct bye to the Semifinals. Problem is, complaints are already rolling in from every direction about the new format, and we're still a couple weeks out from the start date.

Didnt WKU win the league a few years ago with a nice record? Thought I saw that a few years ago, so would assume they might have some experience in terms of the tournaments and big dance than everyone else. Seems strange they didnt replicate during the season though.

They made the Sweet 16 several years back. The last couple years they have been frighteningly average in the regular season, and then they go on a major tourney run.

Unfortunately that doesn't stop them from making the play in game.

Sweet 16 year is the year Im thinking about. Think coaching would motivate them for the regular season as well as the tourney push to NOT have the play in game.

They buzzerly-beat a really good Drake team in the first round. That Drake team was so good is duped Providence into giving Keno Davis a ton of money.