By Saturday, the mass confusion known as the MAC men's basketball East and West division races will finally be settled.
In the East, one game separates first-place Miami from Akron, Buffalo, Kent State and Ohio. The West is slightly less crowded at the top, with Bowling Green and Western Michigan sharing the top spot. Toledo trails by a game, but would need a lot of help to win the division.
Tonight's games will have a huge impact on how things will shake out. The two big games should be Kent State at Miami -the RedHawks have not lost this season in Millett Hall -while Bowling Green and Western Michigan tangle for sole possession of first place in the West.
Also, Buffalo visits Ohio in another key match-up. Saturday's big games are Akron at Buffalo and Ohio at Kent State.
If only they had LeBron
Don't be surprised by Akron's resurgence in the MAC this year, especially because three of its key members had much success in years past.
Guard Dru Joyce and forward Romeo Travis won three Ohio state titles playing alongside current Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Coincidentally, their current head coach at Akron, Keith Dambrodt, was also the head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary team until 2001. Dambrodt coached two of the Fighting Irish's three titles during a four-year span.
Women's tournament set to tip off
The MAC women's basketball Tournament will begin Saturday with first-round games at campus sites.
Bowling Green is the only team to have clinched a first-round bye, with Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Marshall, and Ball State in contention for the other two first-round byes. The first-round winners will meet the three teams with byes in Cleveland as the quarterfinals begin March 9.
---Jason Fazzone
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Jason Fazzone
