The Mid-American Conference (MAC) basketball season has come to a close, and the tournament has been set. Teams now prepare directly for the tournament to see who comes out on top.
Let’s take a look at each matchup and make some predictions.
In game 1, the No. 1 Miami RedHawks (31-0, 18-0) take on the No. 8 UMass Minutemen (16-15, 7-11). Miami enters this game as the only AP-ranked team in the MAC, at number 20. These two teams have played each other twice before, with the RedHawks emerging victorious both times. UMass kept it close, losing by less than ten each time.
The RedHawks have the best offense in the MAC, averaging 90.9 points per game. They are also the best shooting team both in the paint and from beyond the arc, 52.6% and 39.3% respectively. This is a mismatch for the Minutemen, as they struggle defending threes and, allowing 32.1% which leads the MAC.
The RedHawks have a talented roster, but none more impressive than the MAC Player of the Year, senior guard Peter Suder. He leads Miami with 13.7 points and 3.8 assists per game. He is also great from beyond the arc, shooting 42.0%.
Miami is the clear favorite in this game and is my pick to win. UMass is a gritty team, and they do well keeping games close, but it won’t be enough this time.
In game 2, the No. 4 Toledo Rockets (17-14, 11-7) will battle their archnemesis, the No. 5 Bowling Green Falcons (18-13, 9-9). The Battle of I-75 has been played twice in the regular season, with the series being split.
The two teams are fairly even statistically, with both offenses averaging 81.5 points per game. The Falcons have the edge defensively, averaging more blocks and steals per game. This is one of the more intriguing first-round games, as it’s rare to see such an intense rivalry in the tournament.
BG also has the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior guard Javontae Campbell. He leads the country in steals with 96, which is also a program record. He is also the leading scorer for Bowling Green, averaging 18.8 points per game.
This game will be a close one and could easily go in either direction. Defense will be the deciding factor, and as such, Bowling Green is my pick to win their game.
In the third game of the first round, No. 2 Akron Zips (26-5, 17-1) are slated to play the No. 7 Buffalo Bulls (17-14, 7-11). These two teams have also already played each other twice in the regular season, with Akron winning both times handily.
Akron’s offense is elite, second only to Miami in the MAC rankings. They average 89.6 points per game. They also shoot 50.7% from the field and 38.5% from three, both of which are also second in the conference.
The Zips are also home to the MAC Sixth Man of the Year, senior guard Shammah Scott. He’s played in all 31 games and started in 12. He has 12.6 points per game and has scored in the double-figures 17 times this season.
Because of that high-flying offense and Buffalo losing 3 of their last 4, the Zips are my pick to win and move on to the next round.
In the fourth and final game of the first round, the No. 3 Kent State Golden Flashes (23-8, 14-4) match up against the No. 6 Ohio Bobcats (15-16, 9-9). They’ve played just once in the regular season, a game in which the Golden Flashes had control and walked away with the win.
Ohio ended the season losing its final three games, while Kent State is coming off back-to-back wins. If OU wants to pull off the upset, it’ll have to turn around its momentum.
Kent State’s biggest key piece to their offense is senior forward Delrecco Gillespie. He’s their leading scorer with 18.1 points per game, and he shoots an efficient 52.5% in the paint.
Their skill offensively and high-flying momentum to end the season, I believe the Golden Flashes will roll through the first round and come away with a win.
