Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is the NCAA Division I postseason single-elimination tournament for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The winner of the tournament receives the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. As of the next MAC tournament in 2021, the top eight teams in conference play will qualify for the tournament.[1] Since 2000, the MAC Tournament has been held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The finals are broadcast on ESPN2 and the semi and quarterfinals are broadcast on Spectrum Sports and ESPN3.

Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Conference Basketball Championship
SportBasketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Number of teams8
FormatSingle-elimination tournament
Current stadiumRocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Current locationCleveland, Ohio
Played1980–present
Last contest2020 (canceled in progress)
Current champion2019 Buffalo Bulls (4th)
Most championshipsBall State Cardinals (7)
TV partner(s)Spectrum Sports, ESPN2
Official websitegetsomemaction.com – Men's basketball
Sponsors
VisitMyrtleBeach.com (2016–present)
FirstEnergy (2009–2015)
Kraft Foods (2001–2008)
Host stadiums
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (2000–present)
SeaGate Centre (1996–1999)
Savage Arena (1985, 1987–1989, 1995)
Battelle Hall (1993–1994)
Cobo Arena (1990–1992)
Rockford MetroCentre (1984, 1986)
Crisler Arena (1980–1982)
Host locations
Cleveland, Ohio (2000–present)
Toledo, Ohio (1985, 1987–1989, 1995–1999)
Columbus, Ohio (1993–1994)
Detroit, Michigan (1990–1992)
Rockford, Illinois (1984, 1986)
On-campus sites (1983)
Ann Arbor, Michigan (1980–1982)

The tournament was first played in 1980 and expanded to include all conference members in 2000. The tournament continued to involve all conference members (barring postseason bans due to NCAA sanctions) through the 2020 edition, which was canceled in progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, as part of a broader suite of changes to MAC postseason tournaments triggered by the pandemic, the MAC announced it would reduce its men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8 teams, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland. Additionally, the MAC will eliminate its basketball divisions and increase its conference schedule from 18 to 20 games. These changes will remain in place through at least the 2023–24 season.[1] Ball State has the most tournament championships with seven, followed by Kent State and Ohio, each with six titles.

Format

Seeding for the tournament is determined by winning percentage in conference play; during the era of MAC divisional play, divisional alignment did not figure into tournament seeding. The following tiebreakers are used:

1. Between two teams: A. Head-to-head competition; B. Division Record (only used if the two teams in question are tied for the Division lead); C. Winning percentage vs. ranked conference teams (top to bottom, regardless of division, vs. common opponents regardless of the number of times played); D. Coin flip

2. For multiple (3 or more) team ties: A. Total won-lost record/winning percentage of games played among the tied teams; B. Two (2)-team tie-breaker procedure goes into effect

Historical formats

From 2016 through the abbreviated 2020 edition, all 12 conference members participated in the tournament. The top four seeds received byes into the quarterfinals; seeds 5-12 played first-round games at the campus of the higher seed. Winners of the first-round games advanced to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinal round in Cleveland.

From 2012 through 2015, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds received byes straight to the semifinals, with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds beginning tournament play in the quarterfinals. Teams seeded 5–12 played an additional two rounds. First round games were played at the home sites of the higher seeds, with the remaining rounds being contested at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, then known as Quicken Loans Arena.[2] Under this format, a team seeded fifth or lower had to win four games in six days, while playing five games in eight days, to win the conference tournament. The division winners were guaranteed to receive a seed not lower than four.[3]

From 2002 through 2011, the format for the conference tournament was similar to the current format. Each conference member received a berth in the tournament, with the top four seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals. Unlike the current format, division winners were guaranteed at least the No. 2 seed. First round games for seeds 5–12 were played at the home sites of the higher seeds, with the remaining rounds being contested at Quicken Loans Arena.

From 1980 through 1988, seven teams qualified for the three-round tournament. The No. 1 seed received a bye into the semifinals. In 1989, an eighth team was added and each of the teams participated in all three rounds. The tournament was expanded in 2000 to four rounds and included all 13 conference teams. The top three teams received byes into the quarterfinals.[4]

Tournament champions

YearChampionScoreRunner-upTournament MVPVenueCity
1980Toledo85–70Bowling GreenJim Swaney, ToledoCrisler Arena (first round on-campus)Ann Arbor, Michigan
1981Ball State79–66Northern IllinoisRay McCallum, Ball StateCrisler Arena (first round on-campus)Ann Arbor, Michigan
1982Northern Illinois79–75 (OT)Ball StateAllen Rayhorn, Northern IllinoisCrisler Arena (first round on-campus)Ann Arbor, Michigan
1983Ohio59–56Bowling GreenJohn Devereux, OhioOn-campus (championship at Anderson Arena)Bowling Green, Ohio
1984Miami42–40Kent StateChuck Stahl, MiamiMetroCentreRockford, Illinois
1985Ohio74–64MiamiRon Harper, MiamiCentennial HallToledo, Ohio
1986Ball State87–79MiamiDan Palombizio, Ball StateMetroCentreRockford, Illinois
1987Central Michigan64–63Kent StateDan Majerle, Central MichiganCentennial HallToledo, Ohio
1988Eastern Michigan94–80OhioGrant Long, Eastern MichiganCentennial Hall (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
1989Ball State67–65Kent StateBilly Butts, Ball StateCentennial HallToledo, Ohio
1990Ball State78–56Central MichiganBilly Butts, Ball StateCobo ArenaDetroit, Michigan
1991Eastern Michigan67–66ToledoMarcus Kennedy, Eastern MichiganCobo ArenaDetroit, Michigan
1992Miami58–57Ball StateBill Gillis, Ball StateCobo ArenaDetroit, Michigan
1993Ball State79–64Western MichiganSteve Payne, Ball StateBattelle HallColumbus, Ohio
1994Ohio89–66MiamiGary Trent, OhioBattelle Hall (first round on-campus)Columbus, Ohio
1995Ball State77–70Eastern MichiganSteve Payne, Ball StateSavage Hall (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
1996Eastern Michigan77–63ToledoBrian Tolbert, Eastern MichiganSeaGate Convention Centre (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
1997Miami96–76Eastern MichiganDevin Davis, MiamiSeaGate Convention Centre (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
1998Eastern Michigan92–77MiamiEarl Boykins, Eastern MichiganSeaGate Convention Centre (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
1999Kent State49–43MiamiJohn Whorton, Kent StateSeaGate Convention Centre (first round on-campus)Toledo, Ohio
2000Ball State61–58MiamiDuane Clemens, Ball StateGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2001Kent State67–61MiamiTrevor Huffman, Kent StateGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2002Kent State70–59Bowling GreenTrevor Huffman, Kent StateGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2003Central Michigan77–72Kent StateChris Kaman, Central MichiganGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2004Western Michigan77–66Kent StateMike Williams, Western MichiganGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2005Ohio80–79 (OT)BuffaloLeon Williams, OhioGund Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2006Kent State71–66ToledoKevin Warzynski, Kent StateQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2007Miami53–52AkronTim Pollitz, MiamiQuicken Loans ArenaCleveland, Ohio
2008Kent State74–55AkronHaminn Quaintance, Kent StateQuicken Loans ArenaCleveland, Ohio
2009Akron65–53BuffaloNate Linhart, AkronQuicken Loans ArenaCleveland, Ohio
2010Ohio81–75 (OT)AkronArmon Bassett, OhioQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2011Akron66–65 (OT)Kent StateZeke Marshall, AkronQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2012Ohio64–63AkronD. J. Cooper, OhioQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2013Akron65–46OhioDemetrius Treadwell, AkronQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2014Western Michigan98–77ToledoDavid Brown, Western MichiganQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2015Buffalo89–84Central MichiganXavier Ford, BuffaloQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2016Buffalo64–61AkronWillie Conner, BuffaloQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2017Kent State70–65AkronJaylin Walker, Kent StateQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2018Buffalo76–66ToledoWes Clark, BuffaloQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2019Buffalo87–73Bowling GreenJeremy Harris, BuffaloQuicken Loans Arena (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio
2020Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemicRocket Mortgage FieldHouse (first round on-campus)Cleveland, Ohio

Performance by school

SchoolChampionshipsWinning yearsAppearancesWLPct
Ball State 7 1981, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000 333727.578
Ohio 6 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2010, 2012 333826.594
Kent State 6 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017 323427.557
Miami 4 1984, 1992, 1997, 2007 333828.576
Eastern Michigan 4 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998 332528.472
Buffalo 4 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 151114.440
Akron 3 2009, 2011, 2013 172013.606
Central Michigan 2 1987, 2003 221420.412
Western Michigan 2 2004, 2014 292029.408
Toledo 1 1980 302628.481
Northern Illinois 1 1982 211118.379
Bowling Green0321931.380
Marshall *0858.385

* No longer member of MAC

Broadcasters

Year Network Play-by-play Analyst
2020 ESPN2 Roy Philpott David Padgett
2019 ESPN2 Robert Lee Julianne Viani
2018 ESPN2 Clay Matvick Rob Kennedy
2017 ESPN2 Mike Morgan Chris Spatola
2016 ESPN2 Mike Morgan Chris Spatola
2015 ESPN2 Bob Wischusen LaPhonso Ellis
2014 ESPN2 Bob Wischusen LaPhonso Ellis
2013 ESPN2 Bob Wischusen Stephen Bardo
2012[5] ESPN2 Bob Wischusen Stephen Bardo
2011[6] ESPN2 Bob Wischusen Stephen Bardo
2010[7] ESPN2 Ron Franklin Mark Adams
2009[8] ESPN2 Bob Wischusen Mark Adams
2008[9] ESPN2 Jon Sciambi Mark Adams
2007[10] ESPN2 Michael Reghi Mark Adams
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See also

References

  1. Strack, Jordan (May 12, 2020). "Major changes coming to Mid-American Conference". Toledo, OH: WTOL. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2011-08-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Graham, Couch. "MAC changes its basketball tournament format, adds emphasis to regular season and protects teams with NCAA tournament at-large chances". Kalamazoo Gazette. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  4. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205424/http://mac-sports.com/downloads1/360193.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2012-02-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/02/28/championship-week-presented-by-dick%e2%80%99s-sporting-goods-schedule/?s-sporting-goods-schedule/
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-12-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2009-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2008_03_mar/20080303_ChampionshipWeek.htm%5B%5D
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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