How Central Michigan can clinch first-round bye in MAC Tournament
Sophomore Matt Beachler shoots a wide open three-pointer against Northern Illinois March 5 at McGuirk Arena.
One game remains. It's for all the marbles, especially if the cards fall the right way.
For the Central Michigan men's basketball team to clinch the No. 4 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, the Chippewas need a win.
But Keno Davis' team also needs Kent State to lose.
The only way CMU can avoid hosting a first-round game and take a bye straight to Cleveland is by defeating Western Michigan and watching Kent State fall at the hands of Akron. Both games take place on March 8.
The Chippewas (20-10, 9-8 MAC) tip off against the Broncos (8-22, 2-15 MAC) on the road at 7 p.m., while the Golden Flashes (21-9, 10-7 MAC) and Zips (16-14, 8-9 MAC) duke it out beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
It's unclear if CMU junior forward Rob Montgomery, a starter in 28-of-30 games, will return against Western Michigan. He missed the last two games with a groin injury. Of the two games he has missed, the Chippewas dropped both.
Throwing out the records, CMU's game against Western Michigan is a toss-up. It's a rivalry road game, and in the MAC, anything can happen. The Broncos, already slated for the No. 12 spot in the tournament, have absolutely nothing to lose, but the Chippewas have everything to lose.
Montgomery also did well containing Western Michigan's 7-foot senior center Seth Dugan back when CMU earned an 85-64 win at home on Feb. 2. Without Montgomery to contend, Dugan could have a field day inside.
Even if CMU can escape Kalamazoo victorious, its fate is in the hands of Kent State coach Rob Senderoff's group. The Chippewas need Akron to top Kent State, otherwise, all hope for a first-round bye is gone.
But if the Golden Flashes win, they control the No. 4 seed automatically. At this point, CMU can do no worse than hosting a first-round game, but that provides a risk.
The Chippewas could end up with the No. 5 seed, potentially forcing CMU to play WMU in back-to-back games, which wouldn't be plausible. Now, if CMU falls to the No. 6 seed, it would likely take on Ohio or Ball State. The Chippewas went 1-1 against the Cardinals in the regular season and won their only contest against the Bobcats.
Here's how the rest of the MAC Tournament seeding shakes out:
- Buffalo has clinched the No. 1 seed.
- Toledo clinches the No. 2 seed with a win or Bowling Green loss.
- Bowling Green clinches the No. 2 seed with a win and Toledo loss.
- Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Akron and Kent State can do no worse than hosting a first-round game.
- Eastern Michigan cannot clinch first-round bye but is guaranteed to host in the first round.
- Northern Illinois clinches a first-round home game with a win.
- Miami secures a first-round home game with a win and Northern Illinois loss.
- Ball State, Ohio and Western Michigan will all play road games in the first round.
- Western Michigan has clinched the No. 12 seed.
