The Mid-American Conference released a tentative 2020-2021 conference schedule for the men’s and women’s basketball season.
Ohio’s men and women’s teams are each slated to play 20 conference games: 10 home, 10 away. Despite tradition, there will be no doubleheaders in 2020-2021.
Second-year head coach Jeff Boals will lead the Bobcats into conference play Jan. 2 at Ball State. Last season, the Bobcats lost to the Cardinals 65-54 in Muncie, Indiana. Ohio’s MAC home opener will take place Jan. 5 against Northern Illinois. Ohio went 17-15 last season and made it to the MAC Tournament quarterfinal before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
The women’s team also hopes to return to Cleveland in 2021. Ohio returns its star backcourt duo of Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson and will be favored by many to win the conference. The Bobcats journey to a MAC title begins Dec. 30 at Northern Illinois. Ohio’s conference home opener will go down Jan. 2 against the defending MAC regular season champ, Central Michigan.
This will be the first season the MAC tries its new 20-game basketball schedule. In past years, the conference played 18 games. This is also the first year the conference will play without divisions. Only the top eight teams will make it into the conference tournament, unlike years before when a lower seed could earn a quarterfinal spot by winning a play-in game.
Tentative 2020-2021 Ohio Men’s Basketball MAC schedule
Jan. 2 at Ball State
Jan. 5 vs. Northern Illinois
Jan. 9 at Toledo
Jan. 12 vs. Miami
Jan. 16 vs. Kent State
Jan. 19 at. Northern Illinois
Jan. 23 vs. Ball State
Jan. 26 vs. Western Michigan
Jan. 30 at Buffalo
Feb. 2 at Central Michigan
Feb. 6 vs. Eastern Michigan
Feb. 9 vs. Akron
Feb. 13 at Western Michigan
Feb. 16 vs. Central Michigan
Feb. 20 at Bowling Green
Feb. 23 at Akron
Feb. 27 vs. Buffalo
March 2 at Kent State
March 5 vs. Bowling Green
March 8 at Miami
Tentative 2020-2021 Ohio Women’s Basketball MAC schedule
Dec. 30 at Northern Illinois
Jan. 2 vs. Central Michigan
Jan. 6 at Miami
Jan. 9 vs. Toledo
Jan. 13 vs. Ball State
Jan. 16 at Central Michigan
Jan. 20 vs. Buffalo
Jan. 23 at Western Michigan
Jan. 27 at Eastern Michigan
Jan. 30 vs. Akron
Feb. 3 vs. Kent State
Feb. 6 at Bowling Green
Feb. 10 at Ball State
Feb. 13 vs. Western Michigan
Feb.17 vs. Northern Illinois
Feb. 20 at Kent State
Feb. 24 vs. Bowling Green
Feb. 27 at Buffalo
March 3 at Akron
March 6 vs. Miami