The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

The new look MAC Tournament starts tomorrow night for eight league teams. Although I can't feel much sympathy for the path a team like NIU (4-25, 3-13) must take I do shake my head a littlle bit when Bowling Green (16-14, 9-7) is forced to take (virtually) the same road as Central Michigan, Miami and Toledo. But, that is the format. Here is a little breakdown of matchups and some predictions.

Kent State's side of the bracket:

NIU @ Eastern Michigan - Not only do I think Eastern Michigan will roll, I want them to roll! The two teams in the next game worry me more than EMU on a gut feeling alone.

Ball State @ Western Michigan - Each team won at home this season. Ball State hasn't won a road game since January 21 at NIU. BUT, Western is 2-8 in their last ten and is on a three game skid. I think Ball State finds a way behind Jarod Jones who wants (and deserves) another game at the Q.

So I see Kent State playing the winner of Eastern Michgan and Ball State. EMU would have a more favorable travel schedule as they were home on Monday Night. The Eagles beat Ball State twice during the regular season. I'll go with Eastern Michigan and hope they don't have me saying "be careful what you wish for."

Ohio University's bracket looks like this:

Miami @ Toledo - If I really wanted to become single and go on a hoops binge all week, I would make the trip. This game intrigues me. Could this be it for Charlie Coles? How good is Toledo? The Rockets won the matchup in Oxford 63-61. I think they have more firepower than Miami and will get a shot at their rival Bowling Green on Wednesday.

Central Michigan @ Bowling Green - I don't think Central wants any part of BG.

So its Ohio vs. the winner of Bowling Green and Toledo. BG vs. UT could draw a nice crowd for the Q. I think Bowling Green will take care of their rival on Wednesday and pull the upset on Thursday over Ohio.

Kent State vs. Akron - 7:00PM
Bowling Green vs. Buffalo - 9:30PM

The fact that you have us winning on Thursday scares me.

I cannot wait for this thing to get started. I admit to having tempered enthusiasm this year due to our "one half only" team. Some others have said here before, if we put two together we can beat anyone in this thing. I believe ! This is my 14th straight MAC Tournament. (Still pissed about having my day long drinking binge of Thursday taken away.)

Here is my prediction bracket up to Thursday:

Ball St. is done. Early on I thought they were the West favorites. Struggling Western beats them at home and will play Eastern. Wednesday's game is tough to predict as many are at the Q. I'll go with Western. EMU did beat WMU twice this year. By 3 at home in OT and by 1 on the road.

Kent over Western on Thursday.

On the other side:

I'm with Fallsdog on this side. I like BG over OU in a classic on Thursday.

(03-04-2012 12:35 PM)burden Wrote:  The fact that you have us winning on Thursday scares me.

I understand your concerns as my picks have pretty much been...well...terrible (see games to watch thread). But keep in mind that you will never catch me picking against Kent State. I have way too much fun with KSU hoops to do that.

The fact is that the three non - bye teams that worry me the most (Bowling Green, Miami and Toledo) are away from Kent State.

I may be giving Toledo too much credit but I see the Rockets as much more capable have a huge offensive night then Eastern Michigan, Ball State or Western. While UT has sort of exceeded expectations, Ball State and WMU have done the opposite and are reeling right now.

Even Miami, despite their record, seems to be a more of a matchup problem for the Flashes then any of the teams on KSU's half of the bracket. As for BG, I see a team that has multiple options on offense and has committed to a defense that may not be potent or perfect but is steady. They have given teams fits with their zone and when Orr jumps out of it he seems to know exactly when to do so.

Allright. Its a been a bit quiet on the basketball end of things here but the picture comes a bit clearer tonight. I am watching Ball State vs. WMU on the MAC site and the Cardinals have an early five point lead. Whitfield and Douglas with two early fouls.

NIU leads EMU 4-1 halfway through the first half. First to 20 wins?

haha. good call. i am also watching the redskins....errr...hawks game closely. love and honor!

my goodness man, you weren't kidding...with four minutes left in the half EMU has 7 points. Problem is, NIU only has 15.

WMU is on roll btw.

EMU is 3-22 shooting in the first half with 11 points with seconds left in the half. Good lord.

(03-05-2012 07:48 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  EMU is 3-22 shooting in the first half with 11 points with seconds left in the half. Good lord.

Check that. It's halftime and they have 11 points.

Some close ball games around the MAC tonight. If Northern Ill. beats EMU tonight I hope the MAC shakes their collective head for awarding Coach Murphy for a mediocre season and a pitaful home loss to a 4-22 squad. I hate to say this, but Reggie or Dambrot should have won that award. 14-17 EMU who was a loss away from .500 MAC season. That is bad PR!!!!!!

Yep. Rob Murphy as COY is a freaking joke.

A little update here....

NIU 28
EMU 26
13 minutes left

BGSU 35
CMU 30
15 minutes left

Toledo 43
Miami 30
15 left

WMU 41
Ball State 33
15 left

Miami just cut a 16 pt deficit to 6. Quick. And you know I bet Toledo -2.

Don't even get me started on the lines. I should know better than to ever touch the MAC. But, here we go....

CMU 42
BG 42
6 or so left

WMU 47
BSU 45
About 9 left

NIU 40
EMU 39
6 left

UT 56
Miami 53
three left

Notice the above edits....

Miami has turned its 16 point deficit into a 1 point lead. In 6 min.

NIU 49
EMU 47
2 minutes left

WMU 56
BSU 51
4 left

CMU and BG even at 46
4 left

UT 56
Miami 53
under 2 left

toldeo wins. that is final

WMU by two with :33 left

NIU by five under :30 left

CMU by one with :40 left