Busting Brackets
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MAC basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament preview

By Charlie Salek

OMAHA, NEBRASKA-NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Nate Oats of the Buffalo Bulls reacts during their game against the Creighton Bluejays at the CenturyLink Center on November 29, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA-NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Nate Oats of the Buffalo Bulls reacts during their game against the Creighton Bluejays at the CenturyLink Center on November 29, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NEBRASKA-NOVEMBER 29: Tyler Clement
OMAHA, NEBRASKA-NOVEMBER 29: Tyler Clement /

The stakes are high in this tournament as the MAC will surely be a one-bid league. Buffalo is the team to beat, but the Bulls will definitely be challenged.

Buffalo enters the tournament as the one-seed and the clear favorite. However, seeing as how the MAC Tournament is in Cleveland from the quarterfinals and on, the Bulls will not benefit from any home court advantage. While they were clearly the best team in the MAC this season, the Bulls are not invincible.

Kent State, Northern Illinois, and Miami (OH) defeated Buffalo this season. Those three teams each finished the season with a losing record. On the plus side though, the Bulls were 3-0 versus the 2-4 seeds (Toledo, Eastern Michigan, and Ball State).

The top four seeds receive a bye, but this can occasionally backfire. While the lower-seeded teams have less rest, they also have a chance to gain positive momentum. We’ll see if this phenomenon has any impact in the MAC tournament.

Speaking of momentum, one of the top four seeds is trending in the wrong direction. The Ball State Cardinals lost three straight games to end the regular season and they look vulnerable. Although, Ball State has also earned impressive wins like the one at Notre Dame. The Cardinals may still prove to be a tough out in this tournament.

Eastern Michigan and Toledo are likely the biggest threats to Buffalo’s championship hopes. Eastern Michigan is the best defensive team in the conference and will make the Bulls earn their points. Toledo will not provide as much defensive resistance as EMU, but the Rockets will be able to keep up with Buffalo offensively.

Additionally, Kent State shows flashes (pun intended) of being a worthy adversary. Miami (OH) is capable of getting hot and could loom as a dangerous sleeper team. Central Michigan and Western Michigan are also capable of making deep runs.

The MAC Tournament is going to be fun.