MAC MBB Post-Season

Four MAC teams are in post-season play.  One in each tournament.

Of course, the one we want to watch is Buffalo.  They have a real shot to get to the Sweet 16 or further, and last year's win over Arizona gives them a great deal of confidence.  That's an experienced, senior-led team.  They were seeded #6, which had some Buffalo fans upset on Twitter.  I think that's a little unreasonable...and it is the highest a MAC team has been seeded since the tournament expanded to 64 teams.  They play Friday at 4 against the winner or AZ State or St. John's.  If it's the Sun Devils, that sets up an interesting match up between Buffalo and their former coach.

Toledo got into the NIT.  Toledo is a #6 seed and will play @ Xavier on Wednesday at 7:00

In the CBI, CMU is @ DePaul, Wednesday at 8 and then would play the winner of Southern Miss-Longwood

Lastly, in the CIT..Kent is @Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday at 8 pm.

As you know, BG opted to not accept any bids once the NIT selected someone else.  I've already said on Twitter that I support the decision...in the sense that if the players and coaches don't want it, they shouldn't have to do it.  The tournaments mean nothing and BG left everything they had on the floor at the Q.

Some people have also asked me about not getting into the NIT.  A couple of things.  First, the NIT already has to take every regular-season team that loses their conference tournament and didn't get into the NCAA.  By definition, those are all mid-majors.  The NIT is owned by the NCAA, and that's about all the mid-major they are going to be able to take.

Even assuming decisions are made rationally, BG's losses to Hartford, Detroit and Cleveland State make it tough to get an at-large bid.  BG finished with a kenpom of 106 and the lowest ranked team in the NIT as an at-large was Wichita State at 93.