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The Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Basketball Tournament is a highly anticipated annual event. The tournament format has evolved over the years, with the number of qualifying teams and rounds changing. Since 2020, the MAC has reduced the tournament to 8 teams, with all games played in Cleveland. Historically, the tournament has seen variations in seeding advantages and bye structures, with adjustments made to the number of rounds and participating teams. The location for the tournament has also been subject to change, with Rocket Arena, formerly known as Quicken Loans Arena, hosting some of the games.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Years | 1980–1988: seven teams, three-round tournament |
| 1989: an eighth team was added | |
| 2000: expanded to four rounds with 13 conference teams | |
| 2012–2015: No. 1 and No. 2 seeds received byes to the semifinals | |
| 2016–2020: each conference member received a berth in the tournament | |
| 2020: reduced to 8 teams due to the pandemic | |
| 2023–2024: reduction to 8 teams remains in place | |
| Tournament Format | From 2012–2015, seeds 5–12 played two additional rounds. First-round games at higher seeds' home sites, remaining rounds at Rocket Arena (then Quicken Loans Arena). |
| Tiebreakers | 1. Head-to-head competition |
| 2. Division Record (if applicable) | |
| Championship Winners | Ball State, Kent State, and Ohio have the most tournament championships with seven. |
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What You'll Learn
The Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Basketball Tournament is an annual tournament featuring the top men's college basketball teams from the Mid-American Conference. The tournament typically features 8 teams, although the number of participating teams has varied over the years, ranging from 7 teams in the early years to as many as 12 or 13 teams in more recent editions.
The format of the tournament has also undergone changes. In the early years of the tournament, from 1980 to 1988, there were seven teams competing in three rounds, with the top seed receiving a bye into the semifinals. In 1989, an eighth team was added, and all teams participated in three rounds. The tournament expanded further in 2000, extending to four rounds and including all 13 conference teams. From 2012 to 2015, the format changed again, with the top two seeds receiving byes into the semifinals, and teams seeded 5 through 12 playing additional rounds at the higher seeds' home sites.
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Changes to the tournament due to the pandemic
The MAC Basketball Tournament refers to the Mid-American Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments. In May 2020, the MAC announced changes to its postseason tournaments due to the pandemic. These changes included:
- Reducing the number of teams in the men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland.
- Eliminating the basketball divisions and increasing the conference schedule from 18 to 20 games.
- Keeping these changes in place through at least the 2023-24 season.
Prior to these changes, the tournament format differed. For example, from 2012 to 2015, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds received byes straight to the semifinals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds started in the quarterfinals. Teams seeded 5-12 played two additional rounds, with the first round held at the higher seeds' home sites. To win the conference tournament, a team seeded fifth or lower would have to win four games in six days or five games in eight days.
The MAC Basketball Tournament has undergone various changes over the years. From 1980 to 1988, seven teams qualified for the three-round tournament, with the No. 1 seed receiving a bye to the semifinals. An eighth team was added in 1989, and the tournament was expanded in 2000 to four rounds, including all 13 conference teams. The venue for the men's tournament has been Rocket Arena since 2000, except for the first round of games, which were played at campus sites.
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Seeding and tiebreakers
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) Basketball Tournament is an NCAA Division I postseason single-elimination tournament. The seeding and tiebreakers for the MAC Basketball Tournament have varied over the years, but the current format involves the top eight teams in conference play qualifying for the tournament, with seeding based on winning percentage in conference play.
From 1980 to 1988, seven teams participated in the MAC Tournament, with the No. 1 seed receiving a bye into the semifinals. In 1989, an eighth team was added, and each team participated in all three rounds. The tournament expanded in 2000 to include all 13 conference teams and four rounds. From 2002 to 2011, each conference member received a berth in the tournament, with the top four seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals. Division winners were guaranteed a seed of at least No. 2.
From 2012 to 2015, the format changed slightly, with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receiving byes into the semifinals, and the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds starting in the quarterfinals. Teams seeded 5-12 played two additional rounds, with the first round games held at the higher seed's home sites. This format continued through 2016, with all 12 conference members participating. From 2016 to 2020, the top four seeds received byes into the quarterfinals, and seeds 5-12 played first-round games at the higher seed's campus.
In May 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAC announced a reduction in the number of teams to eight, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland. The tiebreakers for the tournament are:
Between two teams:
- Head-to-head competition
- Division Record (only if the two teams are tied for the Division lead)
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Tournament format from 2012-2015
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a post-season men's college basketball tournament. The tournament format was modified for the 2011-12 season. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds were rewarded with a bye into the semifinal round, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds received a bye to the quarterfinal round. Seeding was determined by winning percentage in conference games, regardless of division. First-round games were played on campus sites at the higher seed. Third-seeded Ohio won the 2012 tournament and received the MAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournament.
The 2013 tournament followed the same format as the previous year. The top two seeds received byes into the semifinals, with the three and four seeds receiving a bye to the quarterfinals.
In 2014, the tournament format remained consistent with the previous two years. The first-round games were held on campus sites at the higher seed, with the remaining rounds held at a set venue.
The 2015 tournament followed the same format as the previous three years, with the first-round games held on campus sites at the higher seed, and the remaining rounds held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The University at Buffalo won the 2015 tournament and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
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Tournament format from 2002-2011
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) men's basketball tournament is an NCAA Division I postseason single-elimination tournament. The tournament was first played in 1980 and has undergone several format changes over the years.
From 2002 through 2011, the format for the conference tournament was similar to the 2016-2020 format. Each conference member received a berth in the tournament, with the top four seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals. Under this format, division winners were guaranteed at least a No. 1 seed. The 2002 MAC women's basketball tournament followed a similar format, with the top three seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals.
Prior to 2002, the MAC tournament included fewer teams and rounds. From 1980 through 1988, only seven teams qualified for the three-round tournament. The No. 1 seed received a bye into the semifinals. In 1989, an eighth team was added, and each of the teams participated in all three rounds. The tournament was expanded in 2000 to four rounds and included all 13 conference teams.
Since 2000, the MAC Tournament has been held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with the finals broadcast on ESPN2 and the semifinals on CBS Sports Network. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAC made several changes to its postseason tournaments in 2020, reducing the men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8 teams and eliminating its basketball divisions. These changes will remain in place through at least the 2023-24 season.
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Frequently asked questions
The MAC basketball tournament is held in Cleveland.
Eight teams participate in the MAC basketball tournament.
Seeding is determined by winning percentage in conference play.
Yes, the format has changed over the years. For example, from 2012 to 2015, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds received byes straight to the semifinals, while teams seeded 5-12 played an additional two rounds. The tournament has also expanded over the years to include more teams and rounds.
