Permutations in MBB

So, the question of the bye is done.  BG will play in the Thursday game in Cleveland.  That's important.  BG has a bye two times in a row for the first time ever.  It has only had a bye four times prior to now period...and one of those was last year.

There are still other things to be decided...let's take a look.

First, as to the MAC title, BG has a one-game lead.  If they win the same numbers of games as Akron coming home, then BG will win the regular-season title and the #1 seed.  In the 20 years since the tournament moved to Cleveland and adapted the current format, the #1 seed has won the tournament 9 times.

If Akron wins two more games than BG, they would take the #1 seed.

If BG and Akron end up tied, then things get a little more complicated.  The tiebreaker works that it's your winning percentage against the teams in descending order of the standings.  So, it depends on who finishes 3rd, 4th etc.  An asterisk indicates there are still games to be played in that tiebreaker.

So here are the records again teams in current descending order.  BG currently leads the UB tiebreaker, the Kent is up for grabs, BG wins UT, OU up for grabs and Miami still open too.  The UB one is most promising and would be locked up if UB beats Akron Saturday, which is certainly possible.

NIU:  BG 1-0, AK 1-0
UB:    BG 1-0* AK 0-1*
BS:  BG 2-0 AK 1-0
KS:  BG 0-1* AK  0-1*
CMU:  BG 0-1 AK 1-0
UT:  BG 2-0 AK 0-1
OU:   BG 2-0 AK 1-0*
EMU:  BG 1-0 AK 2-0
WMU:  BG 1-0, AK 2-0
MU  BG 1-0*, AK 2-0

OK, so what about the other positions.

Simply put, with one win by BG or one loss by NIU and UB, the Falcons would lock down at least a top-two finish.  If BG goes to Miami and takes care of business, they can finish no worse than 2nd.

Great year....gets better all the time.