You're right on (3).

Division record doesn't count one seedings, only on who wins the division championships.

(02-20-2020 01:14 AM)cschierh Wrote:  You're right on (3).

Division record doesn't count one seedings, only on who wins the division championships.

Ahh that's right, I missed the footnote on the tiebreaker page, thanks! Division record might come into play with BGSU and Akron this year. I think projecting ahead, BGSU might have the edge if they end up tied.

There isn't much point in looking ahead to tie-breakers until after the February 25th game between the two. If Akron wins that game BG can only win the MAC if they finish with a better record than Akron.

The MAC is exploring the possibility of expanding to a 20-22 game conference slate.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/...6%3Fs%3D19

(04-15-2020 06:35 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  The MAC is exploring the possibility of expanding to a 20-22 game conference slate.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/...6%3Fs%3D19

Awesome. The MAC home schedule is always more interesting than the non-con home schedule. Play a double round robin and that’s a guaranteed 11 home games I’m interested in each year. Love seeing each team in the league every year.

(04-15-2020 06:54 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-15-2020 06:35 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  The MAC is exploring the possibility of expanding to a 20-22 game conference slate.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/...6%3Fs%3D19

Awesome. The MAC home schedule is always more interesting than the non-con home schedule. Play a double round robin and that’s a guaranteed 11 home games I’m interested in each year. Love seeing each team in the league every year.

Twenty makes no sense. It would be silly not to go all the way to 22 games

(04-15-2020 06:54 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-15-2020 06:35 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  The MAC is exploring the possibility of expanding to a 20-22 game conference slate.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/...6%3Fs%3D19

Awesome. The MAC home schedule is always more interesting than the non-con home schedule. Play a double round robin and that’s a guaranteed 11 home games I’m interested in each year. Love seeing each team in the league every year.

Which is a traditional complaint in the MAC, not being able to go double round robin like the MVC.

Really the only downside is it will kill teams from having the opportunity to build an at-large resume as they will now be restricted to 9 OOC instead of 13 if they go to a 22 conference schedule. The vast majority of MAC coaches schedule cupcakes to pad their win totals so its not like they have any chance of getting an at-large anyways.

Travel will be very interesting this year for schools like Buffalo, who in the past have began chartering to half the schools in the league: CMU, WMU, BSU, NIU, Miami, and Ohio...

My guess is we are going to add these games, but schools are going to be asked to cut their budgets, so my assumption is charter flights will be the first to go. This definitely sucks for those schools, who will be traveling on buses for 6-8 hours for half of their league games.

Yes I know BG, Toledo, and EMU has nothing to worry about with their locations!

Count me in for keeping the divisions. Toledo and BG have it in their contract to play twice, correct? It's not just about keeping rivalries but also helping to establish them. Who is Buffalo's rival? They've only been in the league so long but playing the teams closest to them twice has helped to establish competitive and bitter rivalries with Akron, Kent and Ohio. It also helps these teams have been fairly consistently good, of course. Someone said before that Ball State and NIU aren't rivals. But I think that's also because Ball State hasn't made much noise in Cleveland, and NIU doesn't have a basketball fan base. Geography and scheduling won't make a difference. Also, you can't just make an unbalanced schedule based on traditional rivals either, when the Michigans have a guaranteed two rivals but some teams have only one. You either keep it as is (or reduce to 16 games and keep it as is) or you do a full round robin with home and home vs everyone. Frankly 22 games against the MAC is too many. Do you want more critical games being played in front of hundreds of fans in December?

(04-17-2020 09:51 AM)Roberto Gato Wrote:  Count me in for keeping the divisions. Toledo and BG have it in their contract to play twice, correct?

In football, Bowling Green and Toledo are guaranteed an annual crossover game. I'm not sure two games are guaranteed in basketball, though. (Perhaps someone else knows for sure.)

Perhaps the talk of 20 or 22 conference games in basketball is a response to the pandemic?

(04-15-2020 09:40 PM)shankapotamus1 Wrote:  Twenty makes no sense. It would be silly not to go all the way to 22 games

The issue is indeed how many OOC games you want to give up.

20 games would be pretty easy to set up, previous season division 1/2 skip cross division 5/6, 3/4 skip 3/4.

(04-18-2020 11:39 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(04-15-2020 09:40 PM)shankapotamus1 Wrote:  Twenty makes no sense. It would be silly not to go all the way to 22 games

The issue is indeed how many OOC games you want to give up.

20 games would be pretty easy to set up, previous season division 1/2 skip cross division 5/6, 3/4 skip 3/4.

Except if the decision to go to 20 games is adopted, that would most likely eliminate divisions. Finally. But your point is good. 1/2 skip 11/12, 3/4 skip 9/10 etc.

20 MAC games coming and divisions dropped.

Also 8 teams only in post season MAC tournament.

I agree with all this.

https://www.wtol.com/mobile/article/spor...a5a6d8fe3c

(05-12-2020 03:44 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  20 MAC games coming and divisions dropped.

Also 8 teams only in post season MAC tournament.

I agree with all this.

https://www.wtol.com/mobile/article/spor...a5a6d8fe3c

I agree w/none of it!

Playing 20 MAC games is suicide for a mid-major conference like the MAC. If this was the WCC, where three teams (Gonzaga, St. Mary's, BYU) dominate the league, that's one thing. But MAC history is loaded with MAC BB teams that rise up down the stretch then win the MAC Tournament, but overall sit in the back of the pack.

There is no dominant MAC BB program. Buffalo, Akron, Kent, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Ball State have all had strong runs. But nothing dominant. That's just not MAC basketball.

MAC BB history is loaded with tiebreakers up and down the standings. Do you want your team designated No. 9 via tiebreaker? I mean, how much did it cost Miami to go to Buffalo and pull a first-round upset? (Remedy? - Stay at 18 games and keep the first round home sites. DUH...).

To think this saves any appreciable $$$ is comical compared to the losses it leads to in regards to recruiting at the beginning of the year, transfers at the end of the year, coaching hiring/firing. This is clearly an administrative decision that did not look at the entire picture.

Remember, the MAC already dictates/mandates BB teams have to play a majority of their non-conference games at home, where the majority can mostly only pay for D2/D3 and HBCUs to come in.

Are teams now allowed to go almost exclusively on the road in non-con to help their budgets? The MAC ADS/Presidents/Commish can have it both ways?

No. None of this is good.

If Mississippi Valley State or High Point is replaced by another MAC team, I’m okay with that.

An 8 team post-season makes the regular season even more meaningful and important. If WMU finishes 9th (or worse) out of 12 teams, we don’t deserve a shot at the conference crown.

(05-12-2020 05:08 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  If Mississippi Valley State or High Point is replaced by another MAC team, I’m okay with that.

An 8 team post-season makes the regular season even more meaningful and important. If WMU finishes 9th (or worse) out of 12 teams, we don’t deserve a shot at the conference crown.

Would you rather play another MAC team at home in December ... or go on the road and play an ACC/B10/BEast/B12/AAC/A10/Mo-Valley team and pick up some $$$ and maybe (hopefully) an upset, too.

What if WMU finishes tied for 8th after turning its season around down the stretch, winning 8-of-10, including a road win over the league winner, then loses a tiebreaker to a team that goes 4-6 down the stretch including 3 home losses and two losses overall to the MAC winner?

Would you feel good about that? ... That's the MAC, brother.

Finally ... I ask, does four first round games on campus really cost/save that much $$$. If so, the solution is easy - play an extra 'pay' game in non-conference to cover the cost.

Coaches are going to hate the 8 team MAC tournament. This is going to put the 4 coaches who don't get their team to Cleveland on the hot seat. It will lead to more coaching changes.

(05-12-2020 06:05 PM)cleveland Wrote:  What if WMU finishes tied for 8th after turning its season around down the stretch, winning 8-of-10, including a road win over the league winner, then loses a tiebreaker to a team that goes 4-6 down the stretch including 3 home losses and two losses overall to the MAC winner?

Would you feel good about that? ... That's the MAC, brother.

Being 100% honest, I wouldn't be upset at the system.

Your scenario means we likely started the MAC slate 0-10, and that's what I'd point to as the culprit. And assuming the other team who got the tie-breaker beat us during the regular season, it's only fair they get the spot.

You actually kinda described our football season last year. We were finding our rhythm, and beat the MAC West and MAC East champions along the way. Then took a dump at a reeling NIU. No MACC game. No one to blame but the players/coaches.

(05-12-2020 06:49 PM)DICK Wrote:  Coaches are going to hate the 8 team MAC tournament. This is going to put the 4 coaches who don't get their team to Cleveland on the hot seat. It will lead to more coaching changes.

Not to nitpick, but 4 coaches don't make it to Cleveland in the current system either.

Getting the 10-seed and getting booted in the first round of the MAC tournament wouldn't (or shouldn't) be viewed differently than placing 10th and staying home.