NCAA Basketball: Preview of MAC and Conference USA title games

The MAC and Conference USA conference tournament final games will have implications on who may or may not get a bid for the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Toledo

Best Wins: UAB (93-85), Richmond (90-67), at Vermont (84-72), Ohio (90-75),  at Buffalo (86-77), at Akron (84-63), at Ball State (87-81)

Notable Defeats: East Carolina (75-86), at George Mason (73-80), at Marshall (85-100), Ball State (83-90), at Kent State (63-75)

Conference Tournament Wins: Miami (OH) ( 91-75) and Ohio (82-75)

NET Ranking: 77

KenPom Ranking: 83

RPI Ranking: 61

College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 77

Sagarin Ranking: 69

Quadrant 1 Wins: Zero

Quadrant 2 Victories: Three

Quadrant 3 Wins: Eight

If they win, they are projected as a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If they lose, they will receive an automatic bid to the NIT tournament due to their winning the regular season Mid-American conference title.

Kent State

Best Wins: Portland (77-65), South Dakota State (83-68), at Cleveland State (67-58), New Mexico State (73-63), at UTEP (47-46), at Northern Kentucky (79-57), Toledo (75-63), at Ohio (70-65), Ball State (86-65), Buffalo (74-68), Akron (89-84), at Buffalo (72-65), and Ohio (82-75)

Notable Defeats: At Charleston (72-74), at Houston (44-49), at Gonzaga (66-73), at Ball State (70-82), at Akron (55-67), and at Northern Illinois (76-86)

Conference Tournament Wins: Northern Illinois (76-57) and Akron (79-73)

NET Ranking: 63

KenPom Ranking: 78

RPI Ranking: 36

College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 75

Sagarin Ranking: 76

Quadrant 1 Wins: Zero

Quadrant 2 Victories: One

Quadrant 3 Wins: Eleven

If Kent State wins, they are projected as a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If they lose, they may receive a bid to the NIT tournament due to their good NET ranking but at minimum, they would receive an invitation to the CBI post-season tournament.

Rivalry History

Last 10 games of this rivalry: Kent State has won six out of the previous ten games against Toledo.

Current Win Streak: The Golden Flashes have won the last three games two between these two schools, having a three-game winning streak in this rivalry.

The last meeting between both schools: Kent State defeated Toledo at home by a final score of 75-63.

Why Kent State wins this game

The Golden Flashes have won nine of their last ten games. Kent State has played a tough schedule this season and it has played a role in them having a top 40 RPI rankings. For example, the Golden Flashes lost on the road to Charleston by only two points, they played Houston tough but fell by five, and they played well against Gonzaga but lost by seven. Kent State has won three straight against Toledo and the Golden Flashes looked good against a quality opponent in Akron in the semifinals of the conference tournament. The Rockets have won 17 straight but their last loss was to Kent State. Expect this to be a really entertaining game but the Golden Flashes will punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by winning this game by a final score of 78-73.

UAB

Best Wins: Georgia (87-73), South Carolina (84-70), Charlotte (76-68), Jacksonville (80-61), South Alabama (76-68), Charlotte (76-68), UTEP (79-73), at Louisana Tech (81-74), at Rice (70-52), Florida Atlantic (86-77), Middle Tennessee (92-69), at UTEP (79-66), at Western Kentucky (72-60), and at Charlotte (93-91)

Notable Defeats: Toledo (93-85), at West Virginia (70-81), at Florida Atlantic (86-88), at Florida International (87-90), Western Kentucky (78-80), at Middle Tennessee (73-74), North Texas (52-63), at North Texas (79-82)

Conference Tournament Wins: Rice (87-60) and North Texas (76-69)

NET Ranking: 52

KenPom Ranking: 54

RPI Ranking: 56

College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 49

Sagarin Ranking: 53

Quadrant 1 Wins: Two

Quadrant 2 Victories: One

Quadrant 3 Wins: Nine

If UAB wins, they are projected as a No. 12 in the NCAA Tournament. If they lose, they are almost certain to receive an invitation to the NIT Tournament due to their playing in a top-tier mid-major conference and their impressive basketball resume this season.

Florida Atlantic

Best Wins: At Florida  (76-74), Florida Gulf (85-53), South Alabama (84-59), at North Texas (50-46), UAB (88-86), Charlotte (71-67), North Texas (66-62), Middle Tennessee (85-67), at Charlotte (67-52), at Louisana Tech (76-72), Bryant (85-74), Florida Gulf Coast (85-53), and Northern Kentucky (67-52)

Notable Defeats: At Mississippi (67-80), at Middle Tennessee (70-74), and at UAB (77-86)

Conference Tournament Wins: Western Kentucky (75-51) and Middle Tennessee (68-65)

Net Ranking: 14

KenPom Ranking: 29

RPI Ranking: 12

College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 42

Sagarin Ranking: 50

Quadrant 1 Wins: Two

Quadrant 2 Victories: Three

Quadrant 3 Wins: Eleven

FAU is projected as a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless if they win or lose this game. There is a small chance depending on who wins today and tomorrow that FAU can receive a No. 7 seed with a victory but even if FAU defeats UAB, a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament is unlikely.

Rivalry History

Last 10 games of this rivalry: UAB has won eight out of the previous ten games against FAU.

Current Win Streak: The Blazers have won the last game two between these two schools, having a one-game winning streak in this rivalry.

The last meeting between both schools: UAB defeated FAU at home by a final score of 86-77.

Why FAU wins this game

Florida Atlantic won the Conference USA regular season title this year and an argument can be made that this has been the best the conference has been in years. They also have won their last seven games and ten of the last eleven and the Owls have played well the entire season starting with a non-conference victory over Florida on the road and ending with road victories over Charlotte and Louisana Tech. FAU split with UAB this season with both teams winning at home. UAB has won 12 out of their last 13 games but they had a rough stretch of play in January when they lost five out of six games.

UAB should have more motivation to win this game but FAU on a neutral court should play well and the Owls will win this game in overtime by a final score of 85-83 to capture the Conference USA Tournament title.