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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Return to MAC Tourney "First Round" Format?
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Cellis033
3/15/2022 2:41 PM
I was diving deep into past MAC seasons and discovered around the late 90's - early 00's included a "First Round" format where higher seeded teams would get the home advantage over bottom feeder teams. Idk if it's just me craving another home game in the Convo but I wouldn't be opposed to a return of this format. What do we all think?
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Deciduous Forest Cat
3/15/2022 3:22 PM
Cellis033 wrote:expand_more
I was diving deep into past MAC seasons and discovered around the late 90's - early 00's included a "First Round" format where higher seeded teams would get the home advantage over bottom feeder teams. Idk if it's just me craving another home game in the Convo but I wouldn't be opposed to a return of this format. What do we all think?
I would think by next year it might return to an all-teams format where the bottom 8 play at higher seed host sites and the top 4 get the bye to cleveland again.

Even with the sparse quarterfinal crowds, I personally like starting the quarters in Cleveland with the full day of hoops.
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Victory
3/15/2022 3:50 PM
According to the Wikipedia page:

"In May 2020, as part of a broader suite of changes to MAC postseason tournaments triggered by the pandemic, the MAC announced it would reduce its men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8 teams, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland. Additionally, the MAC eliminated its basketball divisions and increased its conference schedule from 18 to 20 games. These changes will remain in place through at least the 2023–24 season"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-American_Conference_Men...
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Cellis033
3/15/2022 4:08 PM
Victory wrote:expand_more
According to the Wikipedia page:

"In May 2020, as part of a broader suite of changes to MAC postseason tournaments triggered by the pandemic, the MAC announced it would reduce its men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8 teams, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland. Additionally, the MAC eliminated its basketball divisions and increased its conference schedule from 18 to 20 games. These changes will remain in place through at least the 2023–24 season"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-American_Conference_Men...
Oof. I think that’s a not great decision IMO. Hopefully by 2023-24 we return to the divisions and first round format.
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Pete Chouteau
3/15/2022 5:17 PM
Our AD was interviewed during the Ball State halftime and voiced support for the 8 team tournament.

We won in 2010 as a 9 seed.
Last Edited: 3/15/2022 5:18:51 PM by Pete Chouteau
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bornacatfan
3/15/2022 8:23 PM
Pete Chouteau wrote:expand_more
Our AD was interviewed during the Ball State halftime and voiced support for the 8 team tournament.

We won in 2010 as a 9 seed.
We did.

Maybe she is planning on staying on top for a while

Geno and Dambrot changed the format to prevent that from happening again giving the higher seeds the byes. I am not opposed to that format but I like a team that can get all their players back and battle through a tourney. I think it carries well into the tournament with a better possibility of the team moving past the first round. Just MHO
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Ohio69
3/15/2022 8:42 PM
Regular season champ should get either a big big fat check or a bye into tourney finals.

Next year if we are secure in top 8 but no chance at regular season title we should rest Sears and Wilson and etc down the stretch as regular season just doesn’t matter much.

Convince me I’m wrong.
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Alan Swank
3/15/2022 8:54 PM
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
Regular season champ should get either a big big fat check or a bye into tourney finals.

Next year if we are secure in top 8 but no chance at regular season title we should rest Sears and Wilson and etc down the stretch as regular season just doesn’t matter much.

Convince me I’m wrong.
In all my time of playing sports and coaching at the high school varsity level in two different sports, I can't ever remember taking the floor with any other thought than playing/coaching the best game possible and trying to win the game.
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Scott Woods
3/15/2022 9:31 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Regular season champ should get either a big big fat check or a bye into tourney finals.

Next year if we are secure in top 8 but no chance at regular season title we should rest Sears and Wilson and etc down the stretch as regular season just doesn’t matter much.

Convince me I’m wrong.
In all my time of playing sports and coaching at the high school varsity level in two different sports, I can't ever remember taking the floor with any other thought than playing/coaching the best game possible and trying to win the game.
+1

You play to win the game.

https://youtu.be/b5-iJUuPWis
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Jeff McKinney
3/15/2022 9:39 PM
The change of format has only been going on for two years.
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Ohio69
3/15/2022 10:41 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Regular season champ should get either a big big fat check or a bye into tourney finals.

Next year if we are secure in top 8 but no chance at regular season title we should rest Sears and Wilson and etc down the stretch as regular season just doesn’t matter much.

Convince me I’m wrong.
In all my time of playing sports and coaching at the high school varsity level in two different sports, I can't ever remember taking the floor with any other thought than playing/coaching the best game possible and trying to win the game.
Resting starters like the NBA and MLB do frequently doesn’t mean the folks on the court/field and coaches aren’t still trying to win that specific game, no?

That said, I once drove a few hours to see Ken Griffey Jr. in his prime and he sat that day….
Last Edited: 3/15/2022 10:42:12 PM by Ohio69
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Alan Swank
3/16/2022 11:33 AM
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
Regular season champ should get either a big big fat check or a bye into tourney finals.

Next year if we are secure in top 8 but no chance at regular season title we should rest Sears and Wilson and etc down the stretch as regular season just doesn’t matter much.

Convince me I’m wrong.
In all my time of playing sports and coaching at the high school varsity level in two different sports, I can't ever remember taking the floor with any other thought than playing/coaching the best game possible and trying to win the game.
Resting starters like the NBA and MLB do frequently doesn’t mean the folks on the court/field and coaches aren’t still trying to win that specific game, no?

That said, I once drove a few hours to see Ken Griffey Jr. in his prime and he sat that day….
This is a bit different in that it's one and done. In an 82 or 162 game season with paid professionals, one game is a tad different in that you're just trying to make the playoffs. Can you imagine if major league sports had a post season tournament for those who didn't qualify for the real tournament?
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Ohio69
3/16/2022 6:43 PM
I guess I didn’t explain it right. If OU is comfortably in 4th or 5th place in early February and a lock to go to Cleveland for MAC tourney, then rest your best players the last few weeks and be fresh in Cleveland.
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AZBobcat
3/16/2022 7:33 PM
Cellis033 wrote:expand_more
I was diving deep into past MAC seasons and discovered around the late 90's - early 00's included a "First Round" format where higher seeded teams would get the home advantage over bottom feeder teams. Idk if it's just me craving another home game in the Convo but I wouldn't be opposed to a return of this format. What do we all think?
That home game is real fun until a bad Central Michigan team comes in and beats a team you think can maybe go all the way. Not that I speak from experience from my student days, *cough*...

IIRC that's the only game at the Convo as a student where I ever had to pay cash to get in, or maybe it was the year prior against Buffalo. One of those games I had to pay $5 or something.
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Buckeye to Bobcat
3/17/2022 12:57 AM
It doesn't matter the format.

At the end of the day, if we as a conference suck a tailpipe, along with scheduling half of D2/D3/NAIA Michigan and losing to them, nothing will change. All that should matter for the MAC is winning in November/December. Scheduling big games and dare I say getting lucky. Because the #20 NET ranking as a conference is pretty damning and pretty accurate.

I have reached the conclusion that the MAC's best chance of moving up rides with the women's programs. Yes I said it. The Women's basketball programs of the MAC are going to be huge. When the NCAA gets the new TV deal and they build in similar success barometers the men have (block system), the mid-major conference best-positioned for that will begin to reap benefits beyond the eye. I would be doing everything I could to angle for that money when the time comes.
Last Edited: 3/17/2022 12:58:20 AM by Buckeye to Bobcat
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Pataskala
3/17/2022 2:03 PM
They went from the 12-team format to the eight-team format because of covid. Most teams couldn't have fans at games last season so it became cost-prohibitive to have the on-campus games. Plus there was concern about cancellations. Just guessing, but I think they put the eight-team in effect through '24 because they just weren't sure about this season and maybe next regarding covid, plus they wanted to have enough seasons with the eight-team format to gauge schools' opinions about it.

I'd be in favor of a tourney that includes only the teams that were .500 or better in conference play. This year, it would've been a five-team tourney, with #4 Akron vs #5 Buffalo on the first night, then the semis would have that winner vs #1 Toledo and #2 Kent vs #3 Ohio. Probably won't happen but it would be the best way to weed out the less-deserving teams.
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