MAC Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview and predictions
By Karl Heiser
The MAC is no stranger to exciting basketball, or to sending representatives capable of winning a game in the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps you recall last season’s Ohio Bobcats team that defeated Virginia in the opening round or the 2018 Buffalo squad that dominated Arizona en route to an upset victory. The 2021-22 MAC Basketball season has produced multiple teams that could contribute to the madness of March, and the conference tournament will separate one from the rest.
The 2022 MAC Tournament will take place in Cleveland, Ohio from March 10-12. Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, will host all seven tournament games. Unlike many other conferences, only the top eight finishers from regular season play qualify for the MAC Tournament. The quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday, March 10, and can be viewed on ESPN+. Semifinal games are set to take place on Friday, March 11, and will be available on CBS Sports Network. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 PM on ESPN2.
Toledo took home the regular-season crown after compiling an impressive 17-3 record in conference play and 25-6 record overall. The Rockets have a dynamic offense with four 12 PPG scorers, headlined by guard Ryan Rollins and his 19.2 points per game.
Kent State finished second in the regular season and has won 12 consecutive games entering postseason play. The Golden Flashes are the only MAC team to reside within the top-100 of KenPom‘s Adjusted Defensive Efficiency rankings.
Ohio stumbles into the MAC tourney as losers of three straight. However, Head Coach Jeff Boals and star guard Mark Sears will look to get an experienced Bobcats team to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
No. 4 Akron might not have the same flash as other top teams in the MAC, but the Zips should not be overlooked as they enter the tournament on a five-game winning streak and four double-digit scorers.
Star forward Jeenathan Williams and No. 5 Buffalo look to unlock the potential that saw the Bulls top the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Although they never quite found their groove during the conference slate, Buffalo is still a team to watch out for.
The bottom three seeds in the tournament field – Ball State, Miami (OH), and Central Michigan – seem wildly outmatched when compared to the top of the MAC, but each side has played the top teams close at one point or another and will enter the tournament with upsets in mind.