Written by Mike Perry

---

The First Energy Mid-American Conference Basketball Championship Tournament begins Wednesday, March 8 with four first-round games at campus sites. The action then moves to Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 9 with four second-round games, the first one tipping off at noon. The two semifinal games will take place Friday at 7 pm and 9 pm with the Championship Game being held Saturday at 6 p.m. All preliminary games at Quicken Loans Arena will be televised on SportsTime Ohio, and the Championship Game on ESPN.

Wednesday's games will all tip off at 7 p.m. Playing Wednesday will be (seeds in parenthesis): (10) Northern Illinois at (7) Bowling Green; (11) Eastern Michigan at (6) Akron; (9) Central Michigan at (8) Buffalo; (12) Toledo at (5) Ohio.

The match-ups and times of the second-round games can be found at www.mac-sports.com or consult the SportsTime Ohio broadcast schedule.

Here is a look at the team seedings, as well as a breakdown of each individual team:

1. Kent State University (21-10 overall, 12-4 in the MAC)

Scoring leaders – Justin Greene (15.6), Rodriquez Sherman (12.9), Carlton Guyton (12.7)

Rebounding leaders – Justin Greene (8.4), Michael Porrini (4.3), Justin Manns (4.2)

Assist leaders – Michael Porrini (4.2), Rodriquez Sherman (3.0)

Outlook – Kent State enters the MAC Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed for the second consecutive season, but Golden Flashes fans hope this year ends better than last year did. Kent was clipped in the second round by a red-hot Ohio team last season as the Bobcats made an epic run through the tourney and into the NCAA Championships. Kent got a bit of a bad break with its tournament draw, having to probably square off with Buffalo in the second round. The Bulls match up well with Kent and hammered the Golden Flashes earlier this season in Buffalo. Kent did win the return match-up played in Kent, and ended the season by winning a couple of tough games to clinch the regular season conference title. Though Kent has just one senior on its roster, Sherman, the Flashes are a tournament-tested team that knows what to expect. Kent might be the one MAC team that can lose in the conference tournament and still bag an invite to the NCAA Tournament, but coach Geno Ford would rather not take that chance. Win or lose, Kent will have plenty of support at Quicken Loans Arena is just 37 miles from downtown Kent, and over 6,200 fans showed up for the team's season finale against Akron Friday night.

2. Western Michigan University (19-11, 11-5)

Scoring leaders – Demetrius Ward (14.3), Flenard Whitfield (13.3), Juwan Howard Jr. (9.2)

Rebounding leaders – Flenard Whitfield (6.2), Matt Stainbrook (5.9), Nate Hutcheson (4.9)

Assist leaders – Mike Douglas (5.1), Demetrius Ward (2.6)

Outlook – Western Michigan is entering the tournament as the hottest team in the conference, winners of six of their last seven. In fact, in the Broncos only loss in that span, a 74-72 home loss to Kent State, WMU led by seven points with 4:27 remaining in the game and eventually lost on an 18-foot jumper by Michael Porrino with two seconds showing on the clock. WMU overtook Ball State to clinch the West title and earn the No. 2 seed with a blowout 87-70 win over the Cardinals in Kalamazoo Friday night. The Cardinals got a favorable draw and have smooth sailing into the semifinals. They will play the winner of Bowling Green and Northern Illinois in the second round, and the Broncos won all three contests against those teams this season. The Broncos were one of the top shooting teams in the conference this season, shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from 3-point range and 71.6 percent from the line as a team this season. One flaw in the Western Michigan defense is its ability to defend the 3-point line. Opponents hit at a 36 percent clip from distance against the Broncos this season.

3. Miami University (16-15, 11-5)

Scoring leaders – Julian Mavunga (14.8), Nick Winbush (12.7), Orlando Williams (9.5)

Rebounding leaders – Julian Mavunga (7.9), Nick Winbush (7.2), Orlando Williams (2.9)

Assist leaders – Julian Mavunga (2.9), Quinten Rollins (2.2), Orlando Williams (1.8)

Outlook – Miami played one of the most brutal non-conference schedules in the nation to get ready for the tournament, and became one of the top "feel-good" stories in college basketball by going on a tear after losing its leading scorer, Antonio Ballard, for the season to a wrist injury in late January. The RedHawks tested themselves against Duke, San Diego State, Ohio State, Dayton, Cincinnati and Kansas...two No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament for sure...before entering MAC play, and will not be intimidated in any situation. Power forward Julian Mavunga will get plenty of conference Player of the Year attention for hoisting the team on his shoulders and willing it into contention for the MAC East title. Mavunga and Nick Winbush are as good a frontcourt duo in the conference as you will find, and the RedHawks hit their free-throws (74 percent as a team) so they are very good at closing out games. You can't count Miami out and, despite sitting as the No. 3 seed, are one of the clear favorites to claim the tournament championship and automatic bid to the Big Dance.

4. Ball State University (18-12, 10-6)

Scoring leaders – Jarrod Jones (14.7), Jauwan Scaife (11.4), Randy Davis (10.0)

Rebounding leaders – Jarrod Jones (8.3), Malik Perry (5.7), Chris Bond (4.5)

Assist leaders – Randy Davis (5.2), Tyrae Robinson (2.1)

Outlook – Ball State started the season like a house of fire, but at the end limped towards the finish line headed in the wrong direction. The Cardinals were once 13-4 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference play, but lost eight of their last 12 games and went 4-7 down the stretch in the MAC, including that 87-70 pounding in Western Michigan with the division championship on the line. However, Ball State is the kind of team that can shoot its way out of trouble. The team shot 44.7 percent from the field during the season while holding its opponents to just 42.1 percent. The Cardinals, at 70.2 percent as a team, also hit their free-throws. Ball State had big hopes earlier this season, but those hopes quickly faded as the losses mounted. The Cardinals could erase a lot of those bad memories with a strong run in the conference tournament.

5. Ohio University (17-14, 9-7)

Scoring leaders – DJ Cooper (16.5), DeVaughn Washington (12.7), Tommy Freeman (11.3), Ivo Baltic (11.2)

Rebounding leaders – Ivo Baltic (5.8), DeVaughn Washington (5.4), DJ Cooper (5.1)

Assist leaders – DJ Cooper (7.4), Nick Kellogg (1.9)

Outlook – It appears that Ohio University has the rest of the MAC right where it wants it. Last season the Bobcats entered the MAC Championship Tournament as the No. 9 seed, sporting a record of 18-14 overall, 9-7 in the league. Ohio then proceeded to march through the field. First they knocked off Ball State, 85-77. They then toppled top-seeded Kent 81-64. This was followed by a 54-42 win over fourth-seeded Miami in the semifinal and an 81-75 victory over third-seeded Akron in the MAC Championship Game. However, Armon Bassett, who averaged 29 points per game in the conference tournament in claiming MVP honors, is gone to graduation. However, Ohio has the talent to go on another strong run. Late this season the Bobcats went on a run that put them in position to contend for the MAC East title, winning on the road at Buffalo, defeating Bowling Green at home, winning at Kent State and knocking off Akron at home. This was not enough to put the Bobcats over the top and win them the MAC East crown, but another four-game run like this in the MAC Tournament will give them the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

6. University of Akron (19-12, 9-7)

Scoring leaders – Nikola Cvetinovic (12.3), Brett McClanahan (10.1), Brett McKnight (10.1)

Rebounding leaders – Nikola Cvetinovic (6.9), Zeke Marshall (4.5)

Assist leaders – Alex Abreau (3.5), Steve McNees (2.8), Nikola Cvetinovic (2.1)

Outlook – Akron is one of the most confusing teams in the country. The Zips have plenty of talent, a legitimate seven-footer in the middle and an accomplished head coach that knows how to coach in a tournament setting. The Zips reeled off seven straight victories (six in the conference) at one point this season and own wins over all top four seeds (Kent, Western Michigan, Ball State and Miami).

However, they also have some confusing losses, including losses to Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. For the Zips to do something in the tournament, 7-foot center Zeke Marshall, one of the most highly-touted recruits in MAC history, has to live up to the hype. The sophomore averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest this season against other centers he physically towered over. If Marshall shows up the Zips can have a magical run. If not they will be going home early.

7. Bowling Green State University (13-18, 8-8)

Scoring leaders – A'uston Calhoun (12.1), Scott Thomas (11.4), Dee Brown (9.8)

Rebounding leaders – Scott Thomas (6.9), A'Ustin Calhoun (5.3), Cameron Black (3.9)

Assist leaders – Jordon Crawford (4.2), Scott Thomas (3.3)

Outlook – The Falcons have a problem when it comes to matching up with the rest of the Mid-American Conference...size. Bowling Green simply is not big enough to go up against the larger, more physical frontcourts in the rest of the conference. However, the answer to their problem might usually be sitting about eight feet away from BG head coach Louis Orr during their games. Senior Mike Dabney, at 6-foot-8, is a long, athletic forward/center with outstanding leaping ability and a nose for the ball. In a late-season game against Kent Dabney came off the bench and changed the tone of the game for awhile. He scored eight points in 20 minutes of action, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot. Overall Dabney has played in just 14 games this season, scoring 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in nine minutes of action. In those 14 games Dabney blocked 11 shots. Dabney could also give the Falcons frontcourt some much-needed height. BG goes 6-7 (Thomas), 6-7 (Calhoun) and 6-7 (Taurian Oglesby) across the front, not big enough to be a serious contender in the MAC. The Falcons rarely win the battle on the glass and finished the regular season with a negative rebounding margin of over two rebounds per game in both conference and non-conference action.

8. University of Buffalo (17-12, 8-8)

Scoring leaders – Zach Filzen (16.2), Byron Mulkey (13.9), Javon McCrea (11.1)

Rebounding leaders – Javon McCrea (6.3), Mitchell Watt (5.3), Dave Barnett (4.7)

Assist leaders – Byron Mulkey (4.7), Javon McCrea (1.9)

Outlook – In a tournament setting the team with the best guards is usually at a distinct advantage. And you will have to look pretty hard to find a better guard tandem in the MAC than Buffalo's Byron Mulkey and Zach Filzen. All season as Mulkey and Filzen went, so went the Bulls, and the statistics paint a clear picture of how heavily Buffalo relies on its talented guards. In Buffalo's 17 victories this season, the duo of Mulkey and Filzen combined to average 33.9 points and just 3.9 turnovers. The pair shot 53 percent from the field in Buffalo's wins (190-of-358), including 46.2 percent from 3-point range (99-of-214). In the Bulls' losses Mulkey and Filzen combined to score 23.7 points and 4.6 turnovers. They shot 33.9 percent from the field (98-of-289) and 32.6 percent from 3-point range (46-of-141). If Buffalo's guards catch fire early in the tournament and stay hot from the field the Bulls could go a long way.

9. Central Michigan University (10-20, 7-9)

Scoring leaders – Trey Zeigler (16.8), Jalin Thomas (15.9)

Rebounding leaders – William McClure (5.8), Trey Zeigler (5.4), Jalin Thomas (5.3), Andre Coimbra (4.6)

Assist leaders – Amir Rashid (2.6), Trey Zeigler (2.2)

Outlook – Central Michigan is going to be a force in the Mid-American Conference very soon. But not this season. The Chippewas have a solid young core in place that revolves around probable MAC Freshman of the Year Trey Zeigler, who stepped right into the CMU starting line-up and produced at a high rate all season. Zeigler has to work on taking better shots and getting his teammates more involved in the offense, but he proved to be worthy of the pre-season hype that put him on the Pre-Season All-MAC Team. Zeigler looks like a potential multiple winner of MAC Player of the Year honors in the future. This season his running mate, Jalin Thomas, also put up big numbers. If Thomas and Zeigler catch fire together the Chippewas could pull off a big upset, but the odds of them running through the field and to the tournament title are very thin. Then again, last season the No. 9 seed ended up in the Big Dance so CMU winning the MAC Tournament championship would not be without precedent.

10. Northern Illinois (9-20, 5-11)

Scoring leaders – Xavier Silas (22.3), Tim Toler (9.5)

Rebounding leaders – Tim Toler (5.2), Lee Fisher (4.8), Xavier Silas (4.6)

Assist leaders – Bryan Hall (3.0), Xavier Silas (1.8)

Outlook – The Huskies aren't going to win anything, but it would be a lot of fun to see how many points Xavier Silas could score in a four-game tournament run.

 

11. Eastern Michigan University (9-21, 5-11)

Scoring leaders – Brandon Bowdry (19.9), Derek Thompson (9.7)

Rebounding leaders – Brandon Bowdry (9.5), Jamell Harris (4.2)

Assist leaders – Darrell Lampley (3.8), Jay Higgins (1.9)

Outlook – The Eagles have one of the most underrated players in the country in Brandon Bowdry. He came a half-rebound shy of averaging a double-double this season and has an NBA body. He's also a lot of fun to watch because he gives maximum effort every time out.

12. University of Toledo (4-27, 1-15)

Scoring leaders – Malcolm Griffin (12.7), Reese Holliday (10.5)

Rebounding leaders – Reese Holliday (6.6), Hayden Humes (5.2), Delino Dear (4.9)

Assist leaders – Malcolm Griffin (4.0), Reese Holliday (2.1), JT Thomas (1.7)

Outlook – The Rockets will close out what has been a very long season with a very short MAC Tournament.