To show how unpredictable conference tournaments can be, Hartford (9-22 record) upset Albany (24-7 record) in the first round of the American East Tournament. Hartford finished 4-12 in the conference and beat an Albany team that finished 13-3 in the conference and is the three-time defending conference tournament champion. By the way, the game was played on Albany's home court.

What does this mean? That despite everything that has happened during the regular season, both good and bad, anything can happen in the tournament.
Go Rockets!

Exactly what I hate about Conference Tournaments.

They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

One footnote: Albany beat Hartford last Saturday night in Albany 74-59 and then turns around 4 days latter and loses to the same team. Toledo could have the same scenario happen if they beat EMU tomorrow night and then have to face them again at home as the 8th seed next Monday. Let's hope we win tomorrow night and finish with the 6th or 7th seed and not have to face EMU again Monday night.

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(03-03-2016 05:54 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You do realize that under that format:

10-7 Kent St
10-7 Ohio
10-7 Ball St
10-7 CMU

one of them would be the 2 seed and have to play 2 games

two would be the 3 & 4 seeds and play 3 games

one would be the 5 seed and play 5 games

awful set up

(03-03-2016 06:18 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:54 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You do realize that under that format:

10-7 Kent St
10-7 Ohio
10-7 Ball St
10-7 CMU

one of them would be the 2 seed and have to play 2 games

two would be the 3 & 4 seeds and play 3 games

one would be the 5 seed and play 5 games

awful set up

Actually...No. The season isn't over yet.

But the easiest way to keep yourself out of that predicament? WIN.

(03-03-2016 06:33 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 06:18 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:54 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You do realize that under that format:

10-7 Kent St
10-7 Ohio
10-7 Ball St
10-7 CMU

one of them would be the 2 seed and have to play 2 games

two would be the 3 & 4 seeds and play 3 games

one would be the 5 seed and play 5 games

awful set up

Actually...No. The season isn't over yet.

But the easiest way to keep yourself out of that predicament? WIN.

ahhh yea, because one game difference in an 18 game conference schedule calls for a 3 game advantage in the conference tournament, brilliant!!!

Atlantic Sun championship is the 4 seed vs 7 seed. 12-21 Stetson is playing to go to the dance

(03-03-2016 09:43 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  Atlantic Sun championship is the 4 seed vs 7 seed. 12-21 Stetson is playing to go to the dance

That's what it looks like, but Stetson is actually ineligible for the NCAA tournament. If they win the tounry, North Florida gets the auto bid since they were the regular season champ.

(03-04-2016 07:54 AM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 09:43 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  Atlantic Sun championship is the 4 seed vs 7 seed. 12-21 Stetson is playing to go to the dance

That's what it looks like, but Stetson is actually ineligible for the NCAA tournament. If they win the tounry, North Florida gets the auto bid since they were the regular season champ.

What logic I wonder in letting them play in the tournament? They basically just gave N. Florida two shots at the NCAAs.

Anyone have handy the tournament records? How many times has best MAC regular season record not gone to NCAA?

(03-03-2016 06:18 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:54 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourny the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You do realize that under that format:

10-7 Kent St
10-7 Ohio
10-7 Ball St
10-7 CMU

one of them would be the 2 seed and have to play 2 games

two would be the 3 & 4 seeds and play 3 games

one would be the 5 seed and play 5 games

awful set up

This season may not end that way but the potential is there for 5 teams to finish tied for first. Whether or not that is unfair or less-fair doesn't matter. The fact is the MAC could make the 12th seed team play all 5 of its opponents at the same time and if they win, they get the tourney championship and the auto-bid - making the regular season meaningless.

(03-04-2016 11:41 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 06:18 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

You do realize that under that format:

10-7 Kent St
10-7 Ohio
10-7 Ball St
10-7 CMU

one of them would be the 2 seed and have to play 2 games

two would be the 3 & 4 seeds and play 3 games

one would be the 5 seed and play 5 games

awful set up

This season may not end that way but the potential is there for 5 teams to finish tied for first. Whether or not that is unfair or less-fair doesn't matter. The fact is the MAC could make the 12th seed team play all 5 of its opponents at the same time and if they win, they get the tourney championship and the auto-bid - making the regular season meaningless.

I would take it a bit further.

With a tournament, the "regular" season is meaningless, regardless how the rest of the season unfolds IMO. A couple buys doesn't give a team significantly more of a chance of winning. These guys are conditioned to play every day, let alone every few days.

It's something the big conferences did to make money and the little conferences did to follow a trend. On average over the years, I don't believe results of a tourney win is going to have significant affects on a multi-bid conference. If anything, they might lose a seeding spot or two but get an additional team into the tournament. Mo money, mo money, mo money.

(03-04-2016 11:41 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  This season may not end that way but the potential is there for 5 teams to finish tied for first. Whether or not that is unfair or less-fair doesn't matter. The fact is the MAC could make the 12th seed team play all 5 of its opponents at the same time and if they win, they get the tourney championship and the auto-bid - making the regular season meaningless.

Akron has locked up the #1 seed outright. They are up 2 games, with only 1 game left.

The regular season has been relegated to being rather meaningless. The fact that every conference except the Ivy has a conference tournament to determine who represent in the Big Dance, means more or less we are stuck with it. I don't necessarily like the concept, but do enjoy the MAC Tournament. The set up they have gone back to, is the best set up, IMHO. Some advantages are given, but not ridiculous ones, especially for a conference that is usually tightly grouped. It also provides the best atmosphere in Cleveland, with 4 mens quarterfinal games in Cleveland on Thursday.

Well..... We are not going to have to worry about anything after Monday night.

To add to the madness,

Holy Cross, the 9th seed in the Patriot League, entered the conference tournament with a record of 10-19 (5-13). They also lost their last five games going into the tournament. They lost in the first round, right? No, they beat the 8th seed, then beat the 1st seed and the 4th seed. They are playing in the Patriot League Championship Game. Keep in mind, Holy Cross won all of these games on the road (they don't play the tournament on a neutral site).

Austin Peay, who entered the Ohio Valley Tournament with a 14-17 (7-9) record and the 8th seed, defeated the 5th, 4th, 1st, and 2nd seeds to win the tournament and automatic bid to the Big Dance.

This doesn't mean that Toledo will win the MAC Tournament or even that it is probable. I recognize the fact that it is very improbable. But, what Holy Cross and Austin Peay just did was also very improbable. This is why I say don't assume that Toledo has no chance. If you think Toledo is playing poorly going into the tournament, look at Holy Cross. They lost five straight going in, then proceeded to win three straight in the tournament, including beating the best team in the league, Bucknell, on their home court. Go Rockets!

Ivy League is starting a conference tournament in 2017.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...nament-bid

(03-03-2016 05:54 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:38 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 01:03 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  They should refrain from naming regular season champions if the regular season does not matter besides seeding... You should play the regular season for the seed... to be rewarded as the 1 seed. That's all.... no trophy, nothing. Not even an automatic NIT bid. The tourney matters. Play for seeding, and win win the bracket to advance.

If the regular season matters so much, then don't have a tourney. Honestly if we won the MAC tourney, as happy as I would be... it wouldn't be too fair considering we finished 4 or 5 games out of 1st place.... it's the rules, so it's fair. But how many games is enough to determine superiority? Obviously 21/22 according to our conference.

That's why I like the setup for the tourney the last few years. 1 & 2 seed automatically to the semi's, 3 & 4 go to the quarter finals. Everyone else would need to win 5 game in 6 days(IIRC). THAT made the regular season matter.

Bingo! Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Evidently most MAC coaches don't see it that way and that is exactly why the MAC went back to the old system this year. Some have argued that the week layoff that comes with a double bye plus having to play your first game in the Q against a team that just played a game there can actually work to the detriment of the top seeds.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/621576

I agree that the regular season championship which recognizes a team's performance over a 4 month period is probably more meaningful than a tournament championship that recognizes a team's performance over a one week period, yet a tournament is justifiable only if it is used to determine who gets the automatic NCAA tournament bid.....so the tourney champion is the one who is best rewarded, not the regular season champ. This is particular devastating for the mid-major conferences almost all of whom are 1-bid conferences.

Of course the major conferences make tons of money from their respective tournaments (which is of course why they exist in the first place) whereas the mid major conferences don't, but then that is business as usual and consistent with the mid-major compulsion to always try to mimic what the BIG BOYS are doing with the hope that it will make them look like big boys too.