MAC basketball tournament format changed

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The Mid-American Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournament format has changed.

Instead of the winners of each division getting an automatic one and two seed, it will go to the two best records.

Also, instead of the top four teams getting byes to the quarterfinals, the top two will get byes all the way to the semifinals and the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals.

The higher of the 5-12 seeds will still host the first game at its campus earlier in the week before the winners head to Cleveland.

“It’s different,” men’s basketball head coach Ernie Zeigler said. “It remains to be seen (how it works). I worry about what we can control. In March we just want to be in the tournament and we’ll see what cards we’re dealt.”

Last season, the Chippewas were one-and-done against Buffalo in the MAC Tournament, losing by 14 points on the road.

This season Zeigler is excited to get started with a majority of youth on the team.

“I’m excited to see how Andre Coimbra improves as a junior college transfer in his second year,” he said. “Austin Keel and Jordan Myrick give us quickness and suaveness and both can shoot the ball.”

The tournament format is adjusting for both men and women. Last season the CMU women’s basketball team made it to the semifinals, but lost to Bowling Green 80-72. The Chippewas finished 20-11 last season, winning 11 conference games.

Women’s head coach Sue Guevara is happy with the tournament changes and likes the fact that the best teams are rewarded.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s putting a lot of emphasis on your games in conference play.”

She focused on the fact that the seeding will reward the best teams, despite the division the team belongs to.

“You might be 13-3 and in third place on your side and you’re still going to get seeded right,” she said.

The Chippewas season ended in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament with a 72-59 loss against Illinois State in 2010.

The MAC also agreed on a six-year extension with Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena to keep the First Energy MAC men’s and women’s Basketball Tournament at the arena through 2017.

The 2012 MAC Tournament will begin on March 7 and finish on the 10th.