MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament set to begin

Ball State looks to repeat as champs while holding off a new wave of MAC talent

Some new and some old are showcased at this year’s upcoming MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament starting Wednesday down at Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland. The new include Miami (OH) and Massachusetts making their debuts as part of the Top 4 seeds. The old in Ball State, who are the reigning champs and Central Michigan, who return to the Top 4 mix after having several subpar seasons. Central Michigan had been a very consistently solid program for a decade of time where they were crowned champions in 2013, 2018, and 2021.

Miami (OH) and Ball State ended the regular season with identical 16-2 records in league play, but Miami (OH) held onto the No. 1 seed because they beat Ball State twice during the regular season. Miami did lose to Ohio University this past Saturday so that’s not ideal for a young program coming into the big tournament.

Typically, only the team that wins the MAC tourney gets the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Despite the league having several excellent basketball programs year in and year out, the MAC still gets overlooked by the NCAA. Only on rare occasions have two MAC teams made it to “The Dance.” Back in 2018, both Central Michigan and Buffalo made it to the NCAA tourney and each played terrific in winning a pair of games each and making the Sweet 16 of the tournament. Florida State, Ohio State, South Florida, and LSU all got beat that year by those two MAC teams.

So even though the MAC teams would likely perform well in the NCAA tournament, the powers to be just don’t care to see the big-name programs go down to defeat like in 2018.

So, it’ll be a battle amongst the top teams in the MAC tourney this week.

Miami (OH) will play the No. 8 seed Kent State on Wednesday, March 11th at 11:00 AM to kick the tourney off. Kent State was a top 4 seed a year ago and will be a good test for Miami (OH).

Ball State, as the No. 2 seed, will take on Bowling Green, who’s the No. 7 seed. Ball State has a relatively new roster this season after having won the tournament a year ago. But they have the most experienced coach in Brady Sallee and would expect to see them get to the championship game.

Massachusetts, new to the MAC is the No. 3 seed and while they are new, they aren’t lacking an experienced team roster who won a lot in their old Atlantic 10 Conference. They play Toledo, who played in the championship game a year ago, so it’ll be a good opening contest.

The No. 4 seed Central Michigan will battle the No. 5 Ohio in the final matchup of the quarterfinals round. Ohio upended Miami (OH) on Saturday and have been surging a bit in league play. Central Michigan has been improving in league play over the past two seasons after earning a 12-6 record in league play. This matchup will be fun to watch.

There is usually an upset in the tourney so expect anything. I do think Ball State, with their coach in Brady Sallee have the best shot at repeating as champs. I think Miami (OH) is a solid squad but winning the tournament takes mental and physical excellence and they are relatively new to winning basketball.

 

My predications:

Quarter final Round, March 11th

No. 1 Miami (OH) will defeat No. 8 Kent State

No. 4 Central Michigan will defeat No. 5 Ohio

No. 2 Ball State will defeat No. 7 Bowling Green

No. 3 Massachusetts will defeat No. 6 Toledo

 

Semifinal Round: Friday March 13th

 

No. 1 Miami will lose to No. 4 Central Michigan

No. 2 Ball State will defeat No. 3 Massachusetts

 

Championship, Saturday March 14th

 

No. 2 Ball State will defeat No. 4 Central Michigan