2010 MAC Conference Tournament Predictions

The 2010 MAC Basketball Championship will be held between March 7-13. All twelve teams are seeded in the tournament with the top four seeds getting a bye. Will Kent State manage to win the title out of the first seed or will it be a lesser seed? Let's examine the matchups of each team and work our way to see which team will advance past this tournament and into the real show. The times are also shown with each game. All the statistics used below are provided by Yahoo Sports.

March 7, First Round

#7 Western Michigan vs. #10 Bowling Green

Time 2:00 PM

Both teams are coming in cold. The two teams had a highly contested result that ended 65-64 which was won by Western Michigan. Bowling Green comes from the tougher East half of the conference, but Western Michigan is the higher seed. Sophomore Forward Scott Thomas of Bowling Green will make it to double figures for 16 of the last 17 games. The first upset is found when Bowling Green gets the best in this game.

Result: Bowling Green over Western Michigan

#6 Eastern Michigan vs. #11 Northern Illinois

Time 2:00 PM

The two teams split their decisions this year in almost equal scoring differentials. This game presents the opportunity to complete unfinished business. Eastern Michigan's point guard Carlos Medlock will make the threes rain down on his opponent. Northern Illinois counters with the greatest rebounding team in the conference. Unfortunately, they have little to rebound as Eastern Michigan makes shot after shot.

Result: Eastern Michigan over Northern Illinois

#8 Ball State vs. #9 Ohio

Time 2:00 PM

Both teams are coming in cold. The two teams had a highly contested result that ended 67-66 which was won by Ball State. This game is ripe for an upset just like Bowling Green's matchup with Western Michigan. Many question the mental fortitude of Ball State after their collapse down the stretch. Well, they will have a lot more to wonder about when Ohio continues Ball State slide.

Result: Ohio over Ball State

#5 Buffalo vs. #12 Toledo

Time 2:00 PM

Toledo has had far too much time since their last win in December as they have only one win in conference play. Yet, Toledo played Buffalo hard in their only matchup this year. Buffalo may have blown a chance at a bye in the first round, but they received an easy win as they take Toledo to task.

Result: Buffalo over Toledo

March 11, Quarterfinals

#2 Central Michigan vs. #10 Bowling Green

Time 12:00 PM

Bowling Green had a nice upset in the first round and they look to continue it against Central Michigan the Western Division regular season champion. The dynamic duo backcourt of Central Michigan is Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer. The two are both members of the 1,000 point club. They won't allow their college playing career to end this day as they stop Bowling Green's momentum.

Result: Central Michigan over Bowling Green

#3 Akron vs. #6 Eastern Michigan

Time 2:00 PM

Eastern Michigan is the lower seed, but Akron is the team that lost the battle they had early this season. This leaves Eastern Michigan to look forward to this game and have much hope when the tipoff comes. Akron has an unconventional 10 man rotation that has worked for them this entire year and they hope it doesn't fail them now. Eastern Michigan beats them in a more conventional way with an overpowering star as Carlos Medlock drops more than 20 points on them in this game. Medlock helps provide the second upset of the tournament and gives us hope for more excitement.

Result: Eastern Michigan over Akron

#1 Kent State vs. #9 Ohio

Time 7:00 PM

Kent State has won both games that the teams have faced off with, but the competitions have been close and Ohio is hopeful they can change their luck. Ohio thinks their smaller rotation could be an advantage in this game. Kent State has four guys on their team that can score large amounts in any game. Someone finds their stroke this night as they defeat Ohio.

Result: Kent State over Ohio

#4 Miami (OH) vs. #5 Buffalo

Time 9:00 PM

Each team has won a game at home against the other. Neither is at home in this game so no one has the home crowd behind them. But, Miami's win was on March 4^th and was the last game the team has played. Buffalo had an easy win against Drexel to warm up in and they use it to their advantage. In the end though Miami (OH) has the stingy defense and wins the game on pure grind.

Result: Miami (OH) over Buffalo

March 12, Semifinals

#2 Central Michigan vs. #6 Eastern Michigan

Time 7:00 PM

The battle of the teams of Michigan to see which one will get a chance to win the 2010 MAC Basketball Championship in the final. Central Michigan has won both games this year, but the last one Eastern Michigan forced a nail biter in a 55-56 loss. It is the battle of two Central Michigan's men against Eastern Michigan's Carlos Medlock. For once Medlock proves that two is not better than one as he turns in another spectacular performance as he puts up 30 points and hits plenty of threes.

Result: Eastern Michigan over Central Michigan

#1 Kent State vs. #4 Miami (OH)

Time 9:00 PM

The two teams split their decisions during the regular season. This game presents the opportunity to complete unfinished business in the semifinals and get a shot at the championship. The Miami Redhawks have a tough defense to face and recently they have found their shooting stroke and that is enough against Kent State in this game.

Result: Miami (OH) over Kent State

March 13, Final

#4 Miami (OH) vs. #6 Eastern Michigan

Time 6:00 PM

This tournament has been all about the upsets and this final is just one large display of it as the #4 and #6 seed meet in the finals after eliminating the #1 and #2 seeds in the semifinal games. The Redhawks have showed off their stifling defense all tournament and season long. They even shut down Eastern Michigan early this year 61-51 win at home. This game isn't at home and Carlos Medlock can't be shut down twice. The man is the MVP of his team and the tournament and no one can stop him in this league. The Senior lifts the championship above his head this day and gets ready for the NCAA Tournament. Overlook this sleeper, big boys, at your own peril.

Result: Eastern Michigan over Miami (OH)

2010 MAC Basketball Champion: Eastern Michigan

All the statistics used above are provided by Yahoo Sports.