Busting Brackets
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MAC Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Jason Burgess

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Channel Banks #11 of the Akron Zips celelebrates a shot during a first round DC Holiday Fest college basketball game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Entertainment & Sports Arena on December 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Channel Banks #11 of the Akron Zips celelebrates a shot during a first round DC Holiday Fest college basketball game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Entertainment & Sports Arena on December 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 29: Josh Mballa #34 of the Buffalo Bulls (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 29: Josh Mballa #34 of the Buffalo Bulls (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

1st round

No. 5 Buffalo vs. No. 12 Miami-Ohio

The bottom eight teams must battle it out for the right to go to the quarterfinals in Cleveland, defending champ Buffalo (20-11, 11-7) hosts last-place Miami-Ohio. The Bulls swept the season series, winning a couple of close matchups, by five on the road and six at home. In both games Buffalo had five players score in double figures, but if the home team is to move on, they will have to shoot well from three and hope that their 66% free throw shooting doesn’t bite them this time, having missed 19 free throws in their two games with the Redhawks. I think Buffalo will go to the quarterfinals in another tight game.

Prediction: Buffalo 77, Miami-Ohio 70

No. 6 Kent State vs. No. 11 Eastern Michigan

No. 6 seed Kent State (19-12, 9-9) plays host to No. 11 Eastern Michigan (16-15, 6-12) in another first-round game. In their only meeting this season it was the 11th-seeded Eagles that won with ease, scoring a 21-point home victory. After trailing by two at the half, Kent State who averages 76 points per game, scored just 21 in the second stanza of the loss.

A lot went right in the game for the Eagles as they shot 50% from the field while holding the Golden Flashes to 29% and 5-31 from three-point land where Kent State has shot 34% on the year. Danny Pippen, Kent State’s leading scorer had 15, but the other three double-digit scorers combined for 12 points. I don’t think the rematch will be going quite as favorably for Eastern Michigan. Kent State will move on to Cleveland to face Ball State in the quarterfinals.

Prediction: Kent State 74, Eastern Michigan 63

No. 7 Toledo vs. No. 10 Western Michigan

The Toledo Rockets (16-15, 8-10) enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed and host No. 10 Western Michigan (13-18, 6-12) in another first-round game. When looking at the Rockets’ season sweep of the Broncos, they held them to just 59 points in each win and Western Michigan shot just 11-46 from deep and they only made a total of 42 field goals in the two games. Senior forward Willie Jackson who averages 12 points and 11.8 rebounds on the year was a beast against Western Michigan, averaging 15.5 points and 13 rebounds in the two games. I think the Broncos continue to struggle to stop Jackson and the Rockets lift off to Cleveland.

Prediction: Toledo 69, Western Michigan 60

No. 8 Ohio vs. No. 9 Central Michigan

The No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup in this tournament will feature the Ohio Bobcats (16-15, 8-10) hosting the Central Michigan Chippewas (14-17, 7-11). The two teams played once this season with Ohio coming away with a 77-69 win at home. The Bobcats were led by Jordan Dartis’ 27 points and shot over 48% from deep, while Central Michigan made just four shots from deep and committed 19 turnovers and the Bobcats had 12 steals in the game. I don’t see the three-point numbers being quite what they were for either team in this game, I don’t think Central Michigan turns it over 19 times and I think they get more than nine points from leading scorer David DiLeo to squeak out a win.

Prediction: Central Michigan 73, Ohio 71