It's Basketball Time

The Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournaments tip off at the Q beginning this afternoon, with opening-round action in the women's bracket. For the first time, all conference tournament games will be played in Cleveland, after years of having initial rounds played on the top seeds' home courts. Eight women's teams square off today; eight men’s teams meet on Wednesday. “With everyone on a neutral floor, any team can really claim the game,” says spokeswoman Aimee Chambers.

That’s the beauty of the MAC: The unpredictability of the tourneys makes it one of the most heated conferences in America. In men’s play, Akron and Kent State are among the title contenders yet again, with numerous other teams capable of playing the spoiler. On the women's side, Bowling Green looks to continue its dominant run after going unbeaten in regular-season conference play and 25-2 overall. Women's first-round games tip off at 1, 3, 5, and 7 p.m. today, followed by 1, 3, 5, and 7 for Tuesday's quarterfinals; semifinals are at noon and 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 9, with the title game at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10.

Men’s opening-round action starts at 1, 3, 5, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, followed by quarterfinals at noon, 2, 7, and 9 p.m. Thursday, March 8. Men's semifinals are at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, March 9. The men's champion -- and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament -- will be decided at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10. Each ticket is good for the entire day's action.
Sun., March 4, 1, 3, 5 & 7 p.m.; Mon., March 5, 1, 3, 5 & 7 p.m.; Tue., March 6, 1, 3, 5 & 7 p.m.; Thu., March 8, 12, 2, 7 & 9 p.m.; Fri., March 9, 12, 2:30, 7 & 9 p.m.; Sat., March 10, 1 & 7 p.m.