=>Looks like the MAC will use a new format for this year's tournament.

Very interesting if I am reading it correct. In the quarterfinals, the after noon session has #1 seed plays first then #2 seed. In the evening, the #3 seed plays first, then #4 in the late game.

In the past, the #1 and #4 were paired up in a session and the #2 and #3 paired up in the other session. This made sense since you are paired up with the teams you would face in the semifinals.

In this new format, the #1/#8/#9 semifinalist would get much more rest before semifinals (play 1st semi at noon Thurs, then 1st game at 7pm Friday) and the opponent (#4/#5/#12) would get minimum rest (play last game at 9:30pm on Thurs and then 1st game at 7pm Friday). This would give maximum protection possible to the #1 seed. #2 seed is also protected more as well.

First Round (Campus Sites): Tuesday, March 8, 2011
GM 1: 12 seed @ 5 seed – TBA
GM 2: 11 seed @ 6 seed – TBA
GM 3: 10 seed @ 7 seed – TBA
GM 4: 9 seed @ 8 seed – TBA

Quarterfinals (Cleveland): Thursday, March 10, 2011
GM 5: 1 seed (Division Champ) vs. Winner GM 4 – 12:00pm (STO)
GM 6: 2 seed (Division Champ) vs. Winner GM 3 – 30 mins after end of GM 5 (approx 2:30pm) (STO)
GM 7: 3 seed vs. Winner GM 2 – 7:00pm (STO)
GM 8: 4 seed vs. Winner GM 1 – 30 mins after end of GM 7 (approx 9:30pm) (STO)

Semifinals (Cleveland): Friday, March 11, 2011
GM 9: Winner GM 5 vs. Winner GM 8 – 7pm (STO)
GM 10: Winner GM 6 vs. Winner GM 7 – 30 mins after end of GM 7 (approx 9:30pm) (STO)

Finals (Cleveland): Saturday, March 12, 2011
GM 11: Winner GM 9 vs. Winner GM 10 – 6:00pm (ESPN2)

Tourney Front Page:

http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?D...R_CONTENT=

This makes good sense.

I will believe it when I see it. The MAC has a history of changing the tournament at the last minute to make it fit best for what they think will be the best draws.

This makes sense to protect the top seeds, but it would be incredibly outside of the box for the MAC given that I don't know of a conference that has ever done this.

Hasn't it always been like that?
Or did the 12-1, 11-2, 10-3, 9-4, 8-5, 6-7?

it makes sense. it's always been paired by brackets w the 1 and 4 seed playing in one and the 2 and 3 in another. it turns it into more of an afternoon session instead of evening. tv for the quarters is irrelevent, imo. its about getting fans and energy into the building and throwing a great tournament. the mac is known for having lots of really close exciting tourney games. if you've never gone try and go

Don't we still have the MBB and WBB tourny the same weekend and same location? If so, how will it affect the WBB schedule?

The Women have always played early. Usually women would play at 11 or 12, then 1 or 2. Then the men would play at like 5 and then 7:30. 4 games is the most they played in a day I believe.

(01-15-2011 12:48 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Hasn't it always been like that?
Or did the 12-1, 11-2, 10-3, 9-4, 8-5, 6-7?

What????

It seems like the MAC has always adjusted the quarterfinals to have Kent St &/or Akron in the evening session, but they have kept the bracket integrity of having the 1 and 4 seeds in the same session and the 2 and 3 in the other session.

It always seemed strange to me that you would have the 2 seed playing the noon game, and having the 1 seed play the first game of the evening session.

If they actually go with this new format, remains to be seen, I like the fact that it would give more rest to the higher seeds. Maybe it would lead to fewer upsets???

(01-15-2011 11:16 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  The Women have always played early. Usually women would play at 11 or 12, then 1 or 2. Then the men would play at like 5 and then 7:30. 4 games is the most they played in a day I believe.

When they took all 12 mens and all 12 womens teams to Cleveland, they actually played six games in one day. The women started play at 9am if I am not mistaken.

With 8 mens and 8 womens teams going to Cleveland, it should follow the normal format.

WQF - All Day Wed
MQF - All Day Thur
WSF - Friday Afternoon
MSF - Friday Night
WF - Saturday Afternoon
MF - Saturday Night

Okay thanks, I haven't followed the tourny very closely in the last couple years because Toledo has been non existant for the most part. The Akron game in 09 was amazing tho!