MAC: 5 akeaways from the regular season

The Mid-American Conference regular season is usually full of chaos and surprises, and this year was no different. The MAC Tournament in Cleveland tips off on Thursday with eight teams looking for their spot in the NCAA March Madness tournament. Reflecting on the regular season, here are five of the most unexpected developments:

1. The Miami RedHawks surge to the top of the standings

The RedHawks entered the season predicted to finish sixth in the MAC from the coaches preseason poll. Instead, coach Travis Steele and his team defied expectations, finishing 14-4 in MAC play and 23-8 overall. This marked the program’s best season since the 1998-99 season, where they went 24-8 under coach Charlie Coles. Steele’s third year showed a remarkable improvement from the previous year.

Transfers Kam Craft and Antwone Woolfolk were key efficient pieces on both ends of the floor. The team’s ability to integrate and play around transfers while executing Steele’s game plan led them to the No. 2 seed in the MAC, where they aim to play for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless of their performance in the MAC Tournament, this season is a strong building block for Steele and his years to come as the coach of the RedHawks. 

2. The Akron Zips’ overall dominance of conference play

The Akron Zips lost four starters coming into the year, one of which was Enrique Freeman, the first Zip in program history to be selected in the modern NBA Draft (50th overall). The preseason poll had them selected to finish second in the conference, and many fans expected a rebuilding year. No one expected a 17-1 performance in the conference, matching the best conference record in MAC history.

John Groce and his team played a 10-deep rotation throughout the entire season, with 10 different Zips finishing a game as the leading scorer. Transfers like Seth Wilson, Isaiah Gray, James Okonkwo and Bowen Hardman all played extremely important roles, and got their moments to shine. The returning duo of guards Tavari and Nate Johnson provided a solid core for Groce’s team.

They are now heading into the conference tournament as the favorite to win it all and clinch the automatic spot in March Madness. Some of their games down the recent stretch have been shaky, such as a close win versus Northern Illinois, but the team just keeps winning. They have a lot left to prove in Cleveland. 

3. Kent State’s roller-coaster season

Kent State’s season was defined by inconsistency this year. The Golden Flashes finished as the third seed for the conference tournament, but sometimes, that did not feel like it would happen. They started conference play 2-3, with losses to Ball State and Western Michigan. They started to turn their season around after a crucial win at Toledo. Since February, they have been on a hot streak, winning seven of their last nine games. Their fluctuating performances kept fans on edge throughout the season, but they hope to continue their hot streak into postseason play at Cleveland. 

4. Central Michigan misses the conference tournament

In the previous season, the Chippewas had a promising 18-13 record. Their momentum did not continue into this season as they went 14-17 overall and 7-11 in the conference, missing the tournament entirely. The departure of key players, such as graduate Brian Taylor, and the unsuccessful integration of transfer players have led to the lack of cohesion the team experienced.

They were a game away from the tournament when Northern Illinois hit an accidental buzzer-beater to eliminate them from the field, making the way for Bowling Green to secure the eighth seed. The Chippewas will have to regroup and regroup to make a push for next season, but this one will ultimately end on a disappointing note.

5. Ohio not finishing atop the standings

Eleven of the conference’s 12 coaches picked the Bobcats to win the conference in the preseason poll. The season did not go as predicted for the Bobcats, as they ended up with the fifth seed for the tournament and finished with a 10-8 conference record, losing the tiebreaker to Toledo.

Several factors led to the Bobcats’ underwhelming performance, as they posted a 3-10 record on road games during the year. Three road wins is the same as Buffalo, who finished at the bottom of the conference. Another key factor is the Bobcats allowed opponents an average of 76.1 points per game. Better teams exposed these defensive struggles. The Bobcats still have a really strong chance to make the finals of the conference tournament, but their regular-season play was ultimately disappointing compared to how most expected their season to go. Winning in Cleveland could make all of that disappointment go away. 

Final Thoughts 

The Mid-American Conference proved again this year to be one of the most entertaining mid-major conferences to watch. It all comes down to who can win three more games and find themselves in the NCAA Tournament. The Zips are heavily favored, but nothing is guaranteed. They may run into the Bobcats, who spoiled their undefeated conference record, or their hated rivals Kent State, who are playing their best basketball. The MAC Tournament tips off on Thursday and figures to be must-watch basketball.