An issue with MAC seeding

[Ryan Autullo]

Ball State won the MAC West regular season title which was followed by them earning a No. 2 seed at the MAC tournament.

Dumb, dumb rule in my opinion.

Umm, Ball State (again, your second seed) was a lousy 7-9 in conference play. All but one East team was better than 7-9, and the other (Ohio) was 7-9. The West was awful by anyone's criteria, yet its 7-9 champion gets the #2 seed over Buffallo (11-5) and Akron, Kent and Miami (all 10-6). Does this seem fair to anyone?

So what we have now is a LOADED top bracket (BG, Ohio, Akron, Miami) and a weak lower bracket (Buffalo, Kent). I'll ask again --- does this seem fair to anyone?

My solution: guarantee both division champions a top four seed (meaning a first round bye) but that is it. If three East teams have a better record than the West champion, then the West champion is your fourth seed.

This would make for a more competitive tournament, and in all likelihood would place the four best teams in the semifinals. Instead, the winner of tonight's game between Buffalo and Kent (both good teams) will be in a GREAT situation in the semifinals, playing either Ball State or Central Michigan.

[TG1996]

My solution: guarantee both division champions a top four seed (meaning a first round bye) but that is it. If three East teams have a better record than the West champion, then the West champion is your fourth seed.

That would be a great solution. BG's reward for winning the tiebreakers over Buffalo is a potential matchup with Miami(OH). I think with unbalanced scheduling, the division winners probably have to be given a top seed, but I had never thought of it in your way before.

[redskins4ever]

How about not having divisions? then we don't have this issue at all...

Divisions are what the worst things that has ever happened in college sports, because too often people lookt at it from a north/south, east/west perspective instead of trying to protect rivalaries.

If the ACC/Big 12 don't need divisions for basketball neither does the MAC.

[BleedOrange]

Yep.
Yep.
Yep.

All of the above. Money.

(Ryan, by the way, any insight on who we'll sign in April? )

[Ryan Autullo]

I don't know anything for sure, but I'd expect the staff to bring in either a point guard or a center.

Jakubowski will be the only true point guard on next year's roster (Brown isn't quick enough to play PG, and the reports on Kraus have him as more of a combo guard). Maybe you bring in a short, shifty guard to complement Jakubowski's speed and strength.

But I'd argue that center is more of a pressing need. Polk and Larson are gone after next year, and McElroy is probably not big enough (6-7, 210 pounds) to defend 5's every night (especially considering Akron is bringing in a blue-chip 7-footer). If a talented center is out there, especially a JUCO, he deserves a serious look.

You also never know when a transfer will show up at your door, ala Adrion Graves.

Sorry, wish I could tell you more.

[San Fran Falcon]

How about not having divisions? then we don't have this issue at all...

Divisions are what the worst things that has ever happened in college sports, because too often people lookt at it from a north/south, east/west perspective instead of trying to protect rivalaries.

If the ACC/Big 12 don't need divisions for basketball neither does the MAC.

Agreed! That's exactly what I thought before I scrolled down to r4e's post.